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The Whole Enchilada!
22
days: US$4490
Currency Converter
 Just what the name
says, The Whole Enchilada!
is a 22-day extravaganza that covers the region from Cancun to
Mexico City, exploring civilizations from the Mayans to the Aztecs and
ecosystems from tropical jungle to cloud forest to volcanic
mountain ranges. The countries of Belize and
Guatemala as well as of course Mexico are part of this
tour, as well as eleven of the most fascinating archaeological sites on
the continent (see below). And as on all Southern Crossings
tours, you're taken care of from beginning to end: airport
transfers are included!
Archaeological
sites: Chichen Itza, Tulum, Tikal, Bonampak, Palenque, Monte
Albán, Mitla, Aztec Templo Mayor, Teotihuacan, Uxmal, Kabah
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Day |
Location |
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1 |
Arrival
Day Cancun |
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2-3 |
Tulum
beaches snorkeling, ruin |
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4 |
Travel
to Caye Caulker, Belize |
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5-6 |
Caye
Caulker |
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7-8 |
Tikal,
Guatemala |
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9 |
Travel
to Palenque, visit Bonampak |
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10 |
Palenque |
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11-12 |
San
Cristobal de Las Casas, Mexico |
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13 |
Flight
to Oaxaca - city tour |
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14 |
Oaxaca
- Mitla ruins and market |
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15 |
Oaxaca - Monte
Albán |
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16 |
Travel
to Mexico City - city tour |
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17 |
Mexico
City - Museum of Anthropology, Kahlo and Trotsky
houses/museums |
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18 |
Ruins
of Teotihuacan |
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19 |
Flight
to Mérida, city tour |
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20 |
Caving and
cenote-swimming or a visit to two Puuc Route ruins. |
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21 |
Chichen Itza,
Valladolid |
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22 |
Departure Day, Cancun |
Depart any day
you wish!
If traveling alone, please add a
single supplement of $1850 for your very own tour! |
THE WHOLE
ENCHILADA!
TRIP
ITINERARY
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Day |
Activity/Location |
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1 |
Arrival Day,
Cancun. Our adventure begins at the tip of the Yucatan
Peninsula in the beach resort of Cancun. We'll transfer
from the airport to our hotel on Cancun's Maya Riviera where we can
hit the beach or relax in one of the hotel's great pools.
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2-3 |
This morning we head down the
coast to Tulum. Tulum is a
special place, with stunning beaches, a coral reef and its
famous seaside ruins. A snorkeling excursion on the reef or in
an ancient sinkhole and a guided visit to the ruins are included activities today
and tomorrow. There is also plenty of time to enjoy Tulum's
great beaches. Overnight days 3-4 at Tulum beach cabanas.
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4 |
And now for
something completely different... Welcome to Belize mon!
Belize is a laid-back yet orderly slice of
English-speaking Caribbean plopped down on the coast of Central America.
We'll travel down the Yucatan Peninsula into Belize and then take the water taxi from Belize City out to Caye
Caulker, our home for the next two days.
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5-6 |
Caye Caulker is a heavenly Caribbean island within sight of
the world's second longest barrier reef. Many are content to
relax and enjoy the island’s delicious seafood and plentiful rum
punch, but really it's the snorkeling and diving we're here for,
with an all-day included excursion by sailboat to Shark and Stingray
Alley, the Coral Gardens and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.
We've also included an afternoon paddling around the island on sea
kayaks, ending up with a spectacular Caribbean sunset!
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7-8 |
A short plane
ride lands us near
Tikal, just over the border in neighboring Guatemala.
Tikal is truly the granddaddy of all excavated Mayan sites, with
five enormous pyramids towering over the jungle canopy and countless
other palaces and temples jutting out of the lush green rainforest.
Lose yourself amid this ancient splendor to the sounds of red
howler and spider monkeys, toucans and macaws.
The archaeological site is situated within the protected Tikal
National Park, so exploring the miles and miles of jungle trails is
an adventure of natural as well as historical discovery. Also, don’t
miss the experience of sunset from atop one of the pyramids, as the
sun disappears over the jungle expanse and the creatures of the
forest come to life in a symphony of sounds. We'll have two
days to explore the ruins, staying in El Remate, an attractive town on
the shores of Lake Peten Itza.
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9 |
Today is an
exciting day of travel as we make our way across the Peten
rainforest of northern Guatemala, and then hop into a
dugout canoe for a trip down the Usumacinta River to the Mexican
border post. After border formalities, we'll visit the beautiful and
well-preserved Mayan murals at Bonampak before continuing on
to Palenque.
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10 |
Palenque,
though not the largest of Mayan sites, is many people’s favorite by
far. Its architecture, particularly the ornate and well-preserved
"bell tower", is highly advanced and its inscriptions, murals
and paintings are
some of the best in the Maya world. Trace the rise and fall of
Palenque's dynasty as you explore this ancient city, then trek past
a series of beautiful riverine pools in the hills below the site.
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11-12 |
Today we make our way into a whole new
ecosystem as we twist and turn into the Chiapas highlands and arrive
at the colonial city of San Cristobal. On the way we'll visit
the spectacular waterfall sites of Agua Azul and Misol-Ha.
In the San
Cristobal region, many ancient Maya ways
are still vividly alive in the dress and customs of the region’s
inhabitants, and we’ll spend days 12 and 13 getting to know the
San Cristobal area and its people. We'll shop for textiles,
jewelry, and weavings in the many indigenous markets, visit the
well-known Casa de Bolom, former home of activists and researchers
Gertrude and Frans Blom, and take walks and excursions to small
villages in the nearby countryside. Compared by many to Cuzco in
Peru and Antigua in Guatemala, San Cristobal is an extraordinarily
special place that you won’t tire of spending time in.
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13 |
We catch a
flight this morning from nearby Tuxtla Gutierrez to Oaxaca,
set in the rugged, mountainous south of Mexico. Oaxaca is
many people's favorite city in all of Mexico because of its vibrant
blend of indigenous and modern cultures, its wealth of daytime and
nighttime activities, and the spectacular nearby ruins of Monte
Albán.
It also happens to be the home of mescal, tequila's sister beverage
and the one that does actually come with a worm at the bottom.
We'll spend three great days here in Oaxaca, starting with this
afternoon's city tour.
Our city tour of
Oaxaca begins at the zócalo,
or the main plaza, with its ornate, art-filled churches and
finely-carved facades. We'll continue on to Santo Domingo
Church and the adjoining Museum of Oaxacan Cultures, which has a
spectacular exhibit of Mixtec treasure from Monte Alban as well as
an adjacent ethnobotanical garden. We'll finish off with
Oaxaca's world-class contemporary art museum and then wind down our
day at the Casa del Mescal to sample one of Mexico's many great
contributions to the world!
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14 |
Today is
Saturday, which, lucky for us, is market day in Mitla, a Zapotec
human sacrifice site well-known for its intricate stone mosaics.
Markets in the Oaxacan Valley go back thousands of years, and a
market day is a must-see, as buyers and sellers come from all over
the region in a grand cacophony of sounds, smells, colors and
regional costumes. After the market, we'll visit the Mitla ruins,
where hundreds if not thousands of sacrifice victims has their
hearts ripped out amidst some of the most stunning mosaics in all of
pre-Columbian art.
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15 |
This
morning we visit one of Mexico's major archaeological jewels,
Monte Albán,
set on a hilltop high above the city. Monte Albán was
the capital of the ancient Zapotec culture and includes many
pyramids, tombs and ball courts as well as the absolute best 360°
view of any ruin in Mexico.
Our afternoon is
free to roam the cobblestone streets of Oaxaca's center, visit an
extra museum or two, or perhaps shop in Oaxaca's central market for
"mole" sauce, chocolate, mescal or one of the many other items for
which the Oaxaca region is famous.
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16 |
Hold on to
you hats! We're off on an early morning bus journey up Mexico's
"Volcano Alley" to one of the world's
truly great cities. Called simply "Mexico" by Mexicans,
Mexico City can be a daunting and huge destination, but just
stick with us for three days of safe but exciting exploration of
this massive megalopolis.
After
settling into our hotel, we'll head first to the zócalo, one
of the largest public spaces in the entire world. After
spending some time visiting the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace
and the main temple of the Aztecs, we'll walk a few blocks to
Alameda Park, home to the Palace of Fine Arts and the Mural
Museum of Diego Rivera.
To round out
our first day, we'll have dinner in the Zona Rosa, a glitzy
neighborhood of shops, restaurants and discos.
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17 |
We'll
spend this morning visiting Parque Chapultepec and its
massive National Museum of Anthropology, where we can see art
and artifacts from the pre-Columbian sites we've visited as well as
those we won't have time for on this trip. The highlight for
many is the giant golden sun disc of the Aztec Empire.
In the
afternoon we'll stop in at Frida Kahlo's "Blue House" as well
as the Trotsky Museum, both in the lively bohemian
neighborhood of Coyoacán. Dinner overlooking one of
Coyoacan's lively plazas.
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18 |
This
morning we visit one of the great archaeological centers on the
planet, the massive Temples of the Sun and Moon at Teotihuacan.
Mistakenly believed by many to be Aztec, the Teotihuacan were their
own pre-Aztec civilization, leaving behind two of the biggest
pyramids on the planet.
Afternoon
free for independent exploration, shopping or a sidewalk cafe
coffee.
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19 |
We catch a
flight this morning from Mexico City to
Mérida, back on the Yucatan Peninsula. Merida is a pleasant colonial city with great
restaurants, cafes, museums, churches and shopping! We'll have
an included city tour, then you're free to go off and bargain for
that, sombrero, hammock or Panama hat!
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20 |
Choose your own adventure today! Go caving and
cenote-swimming, or visit two big Mayan ruins on the "Puuc Route".
Option A: Start the day by exploring the cave system
of Tecoh and and end the day swimming in the refreshing and
beautiful cenote of Dzibilchaltun.
Option B: Guided visits to
Uxmal and Kabah. Uxmal has some
of the most ornate and complex architecture in all of the Mayan
World, exemplifying what is known as the "Puuc style".
After our guided tour, we'll also visit Kabah, in the very pleasant
Puuc Hills.
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21 |
We saved the best for last!
This morning we head out to Chichen Itza, one of the "new seven
wonders of the world". Chichen Itza is
the most well-known of the many Mayan sites and also one of the
largest. Rising to prominence at the end of the Mayan Classic era
and then reborn under Toltec influence just before the Spanish
arrived, Chichen Itza boasts several large temples and pyramids, an
astronomical observatory, a sacrificial well, many excellently
carved stelae, and the largest ball court of any Mayan ruin. We'll take
a guided tour and then spend some time exploring this fascinating
site on our own, and in the early evening we'll head back to Cancun.
In the early afternoon we'll head to the pleasant colonial town of
Valladolid for a stroll and a dip in the local sinkhole, located
right in the middle of downtown!
Evening return to Cancun.
Night out on the Mayan Riviera?
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22 |
Departure Day.
A transfer to Cancun's international airport is included in the
tour. Just let us know when your flight leaves and we'll get
you there safely!
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TRIP
DETAILS
22
days: US$4490
Currency Converter
Cancun to Cancun
Countries visited: Mexico, Belize and Guatemala
Joining the tour
On all Southern Crossings tours, you are met at the airport by one
of our representatives (holding a Southern Crossings placard), who will
accompany you to our joining hotel. No bargaining or being ripped
off by airport taxis!
What's included in the trip
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Airport pickup/drop off and transfer to/from
hotel
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Southern
Crossings bilingual guides
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All internal
transport
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Internal
flights, Belize City-Tikal, Tuxtla Gutierrez-Oaxaca,
Mexico City-Merida
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Fourteen nights tourist-class hotel accommodation
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Seven nights comfortable
beach/jungle cabana
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Entrance fee and
guided tour
of
the ruins of Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Tulum, Tikal, Bonampak, Palenque,
Mitla, Monte Albán, Aztec Templo Mayor, Teotihuacan ruins
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Tulum
half-day snorkeling excursion
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Caye Caulker
full-day snorkeling
excursion, including equipment (mask, snorkel, flippers) and lunch
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Caye Caulker half
day kayaking excursion
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San Cristobal
half-day city tour and full-day Mayan villages tour
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Entrances to Agua
Azul and Misol-Ha waterfalls
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Oaxaca half-day
city tour and full-day Mitla market/ruins tour
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Mexico City city
tours including
Templo
Mayor,
Cathedral, Presidential palace
(murals of Diego Rivera) Palace of Fine Arts, Mural Museum of Diego
Rivera, houses/museums of Kahlo and Trotsky
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Half day tour of
the National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City
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Merida city tour
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All internal
transport
What's not included
International flights,
international airport departure taxes, pre-
& post- tour accommodation, visas, vaccinations, personal insurance,
meals, drinks, laundry, souvenirs, optional
excursions, tips and other items of a personal nature. Medical travel insurance is
not included through Southern Crossings though we do require that you
have a policy. Check
www.travelguard.com to purchase a policy for your trip.
Diving?
Please add $550 for three two-tank dives (in Cancun, Tulum and
Caye Caulker)).
PRE-TRIP PLANNER
Required documents
All travelers to Mexico, Guatemala and Belize are required to have a
passport valid for at least six months from date of entry. Visas are not
required for E.U., U.S., Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport
holders. Other nationalities, visit www.mexicanconsulate.org.uk/visas/AVISA_WEB.htm
for Mexico and consult the nearest embassy or consulate for Belize and
Guatemala. An onward ticket and proof of funds may also be required
at entry and should be available to show to immigration. Traveler’s
checks, currency, or a bank statement, from the bank or printed off the
internet, is sufficient for proof of funds.
Before you can confirm your booking through Southern Crossings, we need
proof that you have Travel Insurance. To get a policy, we recommend
www.travelguard.com
Health and Required immunizations
No immunizations are required of travelers except a yellow fever
vaccination if coming directly from a yellow-fever infected area such as
sub-Sahara Africa or South America. Travelers may wish to
receive hepatitis vaccinations and should be current on all other standard
vaccinations. Some areas are technically a malaria zone, and
travelers may wish to take a malaria prophylaxis. Please consult your
physician or local health department.
Travelers should expect some mild, temporary discomfort such as
diarrhea from the change of diet. For more serious intestinal
illnesses, medicines such as ciprofloxacin and metronidazole are available
over the counter from pharmacies. We will not reach any elevations
above 2400m on this trip.
Things to bring
Our trip will be an
active tour which includes rainforest
walking, exploring ruins, snorkeling (or diving if certified), boat rides and day hiking. One should come well prepared for
outdoor activity at temperatures ranging from 10 to 30 degrees Celsius,
and for extremes of sun and the possibility of rain. A suggested list of
things to bring would include:
•Passport and, if necessary, visa
•Traveler’s checks and/or cash card
•Airline ticket
•Photocopies of airline ticket, documents
•Wearable pouch for documents and money
•Large, sturdy backpack (much preferable to a suitcase)
•trekking boots, comfortable and worn-in
•Sandals or flip-flops for beaches, showers
•Rain poncho or jacket
•Hat for sun
•Warm clothing for moderately cold weather
•T-shirts, shorts, for hot weather
•Socks, undergarments
•Beach towel
•Flashlight (head lamps are very handy)
•Sunscreen lotion
•Insect repellent (15% DEET recommended)
•Lip balm
•Earplugs
•Camera and film
•Alarm clock or watch
•Sanitizing hand wipes or lotion
•Camera and film
•Camera batteries
•Playing cards, games, reading material
•Prescription medications
•Toiletries
Note that common clothing, batteries, film, medications, and such
toiletries as toothpaste, toothbrush, toilet paper, deodorant and feminine
hygiene items are available in the Maya World. Best to bring from home
such items as prescription meds, eyewear and care, shoes, unusual film and
camera batteries.
Climate
Rain is
possible at any time of year, especially in the rainforest and in the
mountains, and one should always be prepared. The climate in sites we will
visit is as follows:
Yucatan Peninsula: Mostly dry and arid, extremely strong sun,
afternoon storms possible.
Palenque: rainforest conditions. Humid, very hot days. Warm
nights. Some rain likely.
Belize: hot and humid with chance of rain.
Tikal (Guatemala): rainforest conditions. Humid, very hot days.
Warm nights. Some rain likely.
San Cristobal: Warm when sunny, can be chilly at night or with
clouds. Good chance of some rain.
Oaxaca: hot, usually sunny days with the chance of strong afternoon
thunderstorms. Pleasant evenings.
Mexico City: temperate, pleasant climate, except for all the smog!
Cool evenings.
Money guide
The unit of currency in
Mexico is the peso.
Currency Converter
The currency of Guatemala
is the quetzal.
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The
currency of Belize is the Belizean dollar.
Currency Converter
Automatic cash points are available in all cities we will visit in
Guatemala, Belize and Mexico (Cancun, Merida, Tulum, Belize City, Tikal,
Palenque, San Cristobal, Oaxaca, Mexico City). Visa, MasterCard, Plus, and Cirrus are the most
common usable types of cards. Traveler's checks or a Visa or MasterCard
for cash advances are your options on Caye Caulker. Best to grab
cash in Belize City beforehand - we'll make a stop. Banks and exchange
houses are available in all cities. For currency, U.S. dollars are
recommended and most easily exchanged.
Expect to spend about US$8-10 on a meal, US$2 on a beer or soft drink in
Mexico. Prices are slightly lower in Guatemala and almost double in
Belize.
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info@southerncrossings.com
Consultants and
participants in the
Kids
TV Series
Are We There Yet?
Read More...
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"Southern
Crossings arranged for us to see so many wonderful things, to enjoy
so many activities and to meet so many interesting and wonderful
people. There is no way that we could have organized such a
complex and interesting itinerary ourselves and no way that we would
have known which of the many sites to visits. On top of this, the
local guides are all impressively knowledgeable and present this
information so clearly - it makes the locations come alive."
-
Bishop Family, UK, Mayan World Custom Tour, August 2008
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"It was a
great pleasure working with Doug Newton and Southern Crossings on
our National Geographic family travel TV series ‘Are We There
Yet?’. Doug showed a great flair for coming up with fun things for
kids to do at Machu Picchu, and put a lot of thought and time into
working with our specific needs. He was reliable, organized and
thorough, plus he was so friendly and calm that he was a pleasure to
work with! Thanks again, Doug!"
- Stacey
Jenkins, Associate Producer, Sinking Ship Entertainment
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"Doug was
absolutely terrific. He made us feel comfortable, and the trip went
off without a hitch....except for one time. A bus broke down when we
were en route to Tikal, Guatemala. The bus stopped, Doug went up to
talk to the driver, turned around and said, “Okay folks, no trip in
Guatemala would be complete without a bus breakdown!” And after a
bit he'd found us another bus. He not only had his act together and
taught us a lot about the Maya, but he was a lot of fun to be
around. I've never heard a group of people laugh more that the ten
of us did on this trip."
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Richard Nisbet, USA, Mayan World Custom Tour, March 2007
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I found
Southern Crossings on the internet & chose them for my Mayan
Adventure over about 10 other groups. I did not know anyone but took
the chance as the Itinerary & price fit my needs. I HIGHLY recommend
Doug & Southern Crossings! The trip was perfect and Doug was so very
dependable & trustworthy. He is a true gem. Some of the other people
in our group had been on a Peru trip last year and swore they would
follow him anywhere...So will I...
- Anne
Wenning, USA, Mayan World Custom Tour, March 2007 |
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info@southerncrossings.com
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