MayaSites Travel Services - 8 night tour of the Yucatan and Palenque area

Day 1: At 8 am your driver and guide will pick you up at your hotel (any hotel between Cancun and Tulum) and take you to spectacular Tulum, the most visited of Mayan archeological sites. Perched atop a cliff overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, it is a photographer´s dream come true! Colorful iguanas bask lazily on rocks in the sun; gentle waves caress the shore. The pristine beach is so beautiful it is almost surreal. It is easy to imagine the ancient Maya landing at this bustling seaport with their canoes filled with trade goods

The Mayan ruins at Tulum have a number of interesting structures from the ancient Mayan world. Graceful columns and elegant carvings give one an appreciation for the architectural achievements of the Maya. Inside the Temple of the Frescoes are fantastic 13th century murals depicting ancient ceremonies. One of the few surviving images of the Mayan goddess of fertility and medicine, Ixchel, can be found here. Red paint still clings to the stucco on the outside of the temple. It is believed that at one time all the buildings in Tulum were painted red. Swim or sun at Tulum´s gorgeous beach or shop for local crafts the many shops at the entrance to the ruins.

In the afternoon you visit the extensive jungle ruins at Coba. You may explore the ruins by foot, bicycle or human-powered tricycle. Coba is situated in a lush natural setting filled with many species of animals, birds and butterflies and is a real nature lovers delight. It is also home to the tallest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan. From its top you can see the jungle canopy stretch for miles in each direction. On these quiet and peaceful grounds it´s hard to imagine that Cobá may have once had the largest population of all the ancient Mayan cities. The vast archaeological site dates from 600-900 A.D. with an estimated population of 100,000 people. It was the heart of a large metropolis of many cities within the eastern Yucatan. Then to the Villas Arqueologicas Hotel with excellent restaurant, pool & bar located near the archaeological site in Chichen Itzá. In the evening you can attend the entertaining light and sound show at the ruins.

Day 2: By overnighting in Chichen Itza you'll beat the "big bus" crowds this morning while you visit majestic Chichen Itzá, the most famous of Mayan archeological sites, one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World", and a UNESCO World Heritage site. Chichen Itzá has numerous monuments to explore. El Castillo, or the grand pyramid, has a staircase on all four sides, each with 91 steps that totaled with the last step on top equal the 365 days in a solar year. Other important areas of this great ancient city are: the Main Ball Court, which is the largest discovered from the ancient Mayan world; the Sacred Well or Cenote, where archeologists discovered a number of well-adorned skeletons of sacrificial victims; the Temple Of The Warriors, with its 1,000 columns dedicated to the warriors of Chichen Itzá; and the Caracol or Observatory.

Then to the lovely colonial city of Valladolid for lunch and sightseeing. This is a modern Mayan city with an important history where you can experience the best in traditional Yucatecan dishes. You can also take time out to shop in the plaza, where authentic Mayan goods are sold.

Then you Ek Balam, a newly uncovered Mayan archaeological site with some very distinct features. The wonderfully preserved state of the sculptures and frescos Ek Balam are some of the most outstanding examples of the art of the ancient Maya. Some figures are winged, some in meditative ¨lotus¨ position, one sits headless above the "Witz Monster" (entry to the underworld)". All are beautiful and exquisitely crafted.

In the late afternoon you'll go to historic colonial Merida for the evening. Stroll the main square, enjoy live traditional music, take a horsedrawn carriage on a tour of the local monuments. You'll overnight at the Hotel Casa Del Balam, located 2 blocks from the main square in Merida. (If possible, MayaSites schedules this tour for you to be in Merida for "Merida Sunday", a weekly local fiesta with live entertainment, music and market.)
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Day 3: This morning you visit the magnificent Maya ruins of Uxmal. Uxmal is one of the finest examples of the "Puuc Maya" architectural style. Graced with two of the largest pyramids in the Yucatan and a multitude of incredibly preserved frescos paying homage to the rain god Chac and the serpent god Quetzecoatal, it is a site that inspires both awe and mystery.

After a lunch break visit nearby Kabah. Although only a small part of this site has been excavated the Palace of Masks, with its 250 masks of the Mayan rain god Chac, is one of the most impressive in Mayan architecture. Kabah also has a large and remarkably preserved arch with a sacbe (ancient Maya road) leading to Uxmal. Then you'll continue on to the ruins at Labna, also home to many Chac masks and a beautiful corbeled arch. One of its interesting features is a carving of a Vision Serpent with a human head emerging from its outstretched mouth. Your hotel for the night will be the Villas Arqueologicas hotel in Uxmal which is adjacent to the archeological site with excellent restaurant, pool and bar. In the evening you may attend the entertaining light show at the Uxmal ruins.

Day 4: Today you'll be transported to Palenque (5 hours drive from Uxmal). On the way you'll have time to stop for sightseeing and lunch in historic Campeche City. The town of Palenque is 5 miles from the archeological site. Like its Mayan ruins, it exudes character, charm and an energy all its own. Against the backdrop of the rainforest, with all the modern conveniences (banks, pharmacies, laundry, photo development, internet cafes), Palenque gives off the feel of a fun, wild-west frontier town. Overnight at Maya Tulipanes Hotel in Palenque.

Day 5: Today you have an entire day to visit the spectacular ruins of Palenque and the Palenque archaeological museum. A UNESCO historical monument, Palenque is considered a world treasure. Ancient structures rise out of the lush rainforest on multiple terraces set against the mountains. There are many major buildings to explore and new buildings are now being uncovered and studied. Many wonderful examples of Maya art and history are carved into the building´s facades, some of them the most famous depictions from the ancient Maya world.

Palenque is exciting because of the vast amounts of information that has been painstakingly brought to light by archeologists over the years. Here you will find the unique building styles that caused early explorers to think that the builders of Palenque were influenced by Eastern or Asian architectural concepts. Overnight at Maya Tulipanes Hotel in Palenque.

Day 6: Today you journey to Bonampak and Yaxchilan. First you go to Bonampak, home of famous Mayan murals. Their ancient colors remain clear and vital, making them an excellent representation of Mayan art. Bonampak also has well preserved stele that detail important historical moments. Then you travel by boat down the mighty Usamacinta River to the mysterious ancient Maya site of Yaxchilan. This incredible boatride through the rainforest with its huge trees and abundant wildlife makes you feel like you´re in an Indiana Jones movie! The tremendous archeological site of Yaxchilan, situated on the riverbanks, rises in levels to temples with breathtaking views of the rainforest stretching far into Guatemala.

You'll hear stories of ancient Mayan Queens who exerted great power and about the modern Lacandon Indians (of whom there are only 450 people remaining) who still use Yaxchilan as a place of worship. See howler monkeys and many exotic birds as you roam this well organized ancient Maya city. Then you take the boat ride back up the river and return to Palenque. Overnight at Maya Tulipanes Hotel in Palenque.

Day 7: This morning you have some free time before traveling to Villahermosa to visit the La Venta Olmec Museum. There are 28 Olmec carvings at this beautiful outdoor museum with interesting zoo and lake. Each piece was set carefully for optimum viewing with benches placed for those wishing to meditate or ponder. The huge and amazingly well crafted Olmec heads, intricate altars, and intriguing stele and statues there makes one pause to reflect on the mystery of who these ancestors of the Maya people were. You'll overnight at the Hilton Hotel in Villahermosa.

Day 8: Hotel shuttle to the Villahermosa airport for departure.