General Information

Duration:

8 Days

Location Start:

Villahermosa

Location Finish:

Merida

Phone:

800-499-5685

Fax:

520-803-1355

Payment Types:

Paypal, Payment Transfer

We Speak:

Spanish, English

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Villahermosa, Hotel Cencalli

Day 2

Visit "La Venta" Museum Park
Transfer to Palenque

Chan-Kah Hotel in the Jungle
Morning tour to La Venta Museum where the colossal remains of Olmec sculptures and carved altars can be admired. Each of these gigantic heads 2.7 meters high and 20 tons of weigh were carved in the IV century.
Take a three-hour afternoon transfer to Chiapas and the Chan-Kah Hotel Resort near Palenque archeological site. The Chan-Kah Hotel Resort is a tourist attraction in itself. Swim in the most exotic pool you will ever see.

Day 3

Palenque Ruins
Chan-Kah Hotel

Palenque is located on a natural balcony that opens up to extraordinary jungle plains. Among the mos aesthetically impressive ruins in Mesoamerica, it has been described as the most beautiful Mayan ruin of all. The ancient city reached its peak from the 6th to the 8th centuries A.D. Visit the archeological site and the Temple of the Inscriptions, the Royal Tomb, The Palace, et. Surrounded by exquisite jungle flora and fauna.

Day 4

Train Ride to Campeche
Hotel Del Mar

Enjoy your 8-hour train journey on the Expreso Maya train pulled by a private engine with a selection of themed cars allusive to the Peninsula culture to Campeche. our professional Chef will prepare an exquisite breakfast. While watching the landscape, exotic vegetation will be appearing. Experience a refreshing stop around noon at the exotic Agua Azul"cenote" (open air pond of an undergroud river) hidden in the jungle. A special four-course lunch will be served at 1:30 pm with wine and complimentary beer. At the club/bar car, conferences will be held and a great variety of books can be consulted. Feast on a delicious dinner aboard the train, too.
Upon arrival at Campeche, enjoy sightseeing of this beautiful city located at the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Founded in 1540, it became an upstanding commercial port during the colonial era. harried by pirates, the city was fortified with thick walls and bastions for protection. Visitors can see the remains of the walls and fort of the old city.

Day 5

Edzna Archeological Zone and Fort San Miguel

Visit the archeological zone of Edzna and Fort San Miguel. Take time to stroll the quiet streets of this colonial city and admire the colorful facades of the houses.
Walk the old city walls (Coaches are also available) around 8PM. Enjoy a spectacular light and sound show remembering the golden years of the Mayas living in "Ah-Kim-pech" and the battles between the pirates and the Spaniards.

Day 6

Train Ride Campeche to Merida
Uxmal Archeological Site

Eat a delicious breakfast in the "Merida" dining car abourd the train. The first stop will be at Maxcanu where you will transfer by bus to the beautiful Uxmal Mayan city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. An exquisite lunch will be served aboard as you continue your journey to Merida, capital of the state of Yucatan. It is well known as the "White City" because of the neatness and cleanliness of its streets and people.

Day 7

Tour to Chichen-Itza

Visits may include the pyramid of Kinich Kakmo and the Franciscan convent-"San Antonia de Padua" from the 16th century in the ancient city of Izamal on the way to Chichen. Visit the historical ruins of Built in the late Classic Period, it is arguably the best known and most popular among the Mexican ruins. It is the most completely restored archeological site in the Yucatan. This famous ceremonial center has been a sacred place to the Mayans for centuries. The earliest buildings date from 600 AD. The most impressive are the Ball Game Court, the Temple of the Thousand Columns, the Castle and the Observatory, as well as the old city.

Day 8

Departure

Extra Information

Inclusions -

certified bilingual guide

Exclusions -

meals not specified in the itinerary

Extras -

Enjoy being pampered with four-course meals on the new luxury Maya Express train, re-live ancient history at the classic period Mayan centers of Chichen-Itza and Uxmal, relax in the historical seaport of Campeche, retreat to your own little bungalow surrounded by the Chiapas jungle at Palenque and soak up the mysterious history at La Venta Park in Mexico's "Garden of Eden"-Villahermosa. {italic}We also offer optional extensions. {-italic}