This is a fabulous self drive adventure in the Yucatan Peninsula. See flamingos in Rio Lagartos, the colonial towns of Valladolid and Merida before heading off the beaten path to the ancient Mayan Ruins of Calakmul deep in the jungle, once one of the most powerful cities of the region, great rivals to neighbouring Tikal in Guatemala and Caracol in Belize.
Visiting the Bacalar Lagoon and see the azure blue waters, spot wildlife and birds in the mangroves and relax in a hammock before heading back towards Cancun and spending the end of your holiday on the beautiful Isla Mujeres.
*This is a self drive itinerary and included is 11 nights car hire with standard insurance and coverage.
Day to Day
Below is an example day by day itinerary
Day 1
Met on arrival at Cancun International Airport and transferred to your hotel on the beach the Adhara Cancun.
Day 2
Today you will pick up your rental car and drive to the town of Vallodolid in the centre of the Yucatan and an excellent base to do nearby excursions such as Chichen Itza, Ek Balam and many cenotes. Overnight Le Muuch (B).
Day 3
Today you will drive to Rio Lagartos, an small fishing village and lagoon at the northern tip of the peninsula, where you take a boat tour through the mangroves and into the lagoon. You may see birds such as white ibis and white heron, but the main attraction is the large numbers of flamingos (up to 43,0000) that can be seen feeding in groups. After the tour you can explore the pink lakes of Las Colorados before driving back to Valladolid. Overnight Le Muuch (B).
Day 4
Today you will have a day at leisure to enjoy wandering around the streets of Valladolid with its colonial buildings, churches and square. Within driving distance is Chichen Itza and Ek Balam. Overnight Le Muuch (B).
Day 5
Drive to Merida the capital city of the Yucatan which has markets, churches and various museums in the centre. The Plaza Mayor is a lively meeting place where the locals enjoy traditional drinks, such as champola or sorbet, under the arches. You could take a guide city tour or wander at leisure. Driving time approx. 2 hours. Overnight in Hotel Casa Lucia (B).
Day 6
Day at leisure to enjoy the city. *Optional excursions include visiting the hidden cenotes where you will visit two remove cenotes for a refreshing swim and an authentic look at everyday life in the small villages here. You will have lunch local style prepared by a family from the village, before returning to Merida. Alternatively you could visit a local market and take a cooking class. You will discover surprising traditional dishes, enjoy local fruits and learn about the customs and traditions of the Yucatan. After purchasing the ingredients, you will take the bus to a local home where the host and the guide will take you through preparing a traditional menu, step by step. Overnight Hotel Casa Lucia (B).
Day 7
After breakfast you will drive to the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve which is home to one of the largest, yet not highly visited archaeological sites, Calakmul. The journey will take approx. 5.5 hours. If you leave early enough you may have time to visit Xpujil which closes at 5pm. Your accommodation will be in Hotel Puerta Calakmul which is in a remote location approx. 60 kms from the main entrance of the Calakmul ruins. It is a small, simple hotel set in the middle of the jungle with a swimming pool and restaurant and gives a very back to nature experience (no wifi, cash only). Overnight Hotel Puerta Calakmul (B).
Day 8
An early start will see you visit the jungle with a naturalist guide to listen to the sounds of the jungle and observe the unique flora an fauna. After you will have a guided visit of the ruins of Calakmul. During the Maya era this entire region had a large population. Ruins are scatter everywhere, but many of them are still hidden in the jungle. During Calakmul's golden age the city covered an area of about 70 square kilometres and experts estimate there were approx. 6,000 structures. It's great rivals were believed to be Tikal in Guatemala and Caracol in Belize which also have towering pyramids and temples with burial chambers. The site is little excavated and only a few buildings are accessible, including two large temples that are located side by side and reach a height of 50 metres, they can be climbed affording spectacular 360 views of the surrounding jungle. Overnight Puerta Calakmul (B).
Day 9
Your next stop will be the Bacalar Lagoon with it's incredible blue colours and is home to unique mangroves and a variety of wildlife and birds (journey time approx. 4.5 hours). This afternoon take a swim in the lagoon, relax by the pool or take the complimentary kayaks out onto the lagoon. Overnight Rancho Encantado (B).
Day 10
Enjoy a shared boat trip on the Bacalar Lagoon and discover the different cenotes in the lagoon, such as the Esmeralda cenote or the Cocalitos cenote. You will encounter various bird species, particularly notable are the vibrant kingfishers. Lastly, you will have the opportunity to enjoy a refreshing swim in the Pirates' Canal. Overnight Rancho Encantado (B).
Day 11
Day at leisure to explore the lake and surroundings. *Optional excursions could include a kayak tour or stand up paddle board. This trip starts early to see the sunrise from the beautiful blue waters of the lagoon. With your guide you will kayak and they will point out all the flora and fauna from the water.
Overnight Rancho Encantado (B).
Day 12
Drive to Cancun and beyond to Punta Sam where you will leave your car hire before purchasing ferry tickets to Isla Mujeres. Overnight at Na Balam (BD).
Day 13
Day at leisure to explore this small island on foot or by bike. Snorkelling and diving trips to the nearby coral reefs can be arrange, or relax on the sandy beach at Playa Norte with its azure waters. Between May and September you can take a boat trip to snorkel with Whale Sharks! Overnight Na Balam (BD).
Day 14
Day at leisure on Isla Mujeres. Overnight Na Balam (BD)
Day 15
Return by passenger ferry to the port Punta Sam on the Mexico mainland where you will be met by a driver who will transfer you in an air-conditioned vehicle to Cancun International Airport for your flight back to the UK.