9-Day Southern Mexico Tour from Mexico City to Chichen Itza

• Arrive in Mexico City and transfer to the hotel in Teotihuacan.

• Early departure (6:00 am).
• Excursion to Teotihuacan, the capital of a mysterious civilization whose influence spread across the territory of modern Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and even Nicaragua.
• Start your exploration of the archaeological site with a balloon flight over the pyramids.
• Continue with a walking tour of the ancient city.
• Visit the most important Catholic sanctuary in Latin America - the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
• The Mexico City tour includes visits to the Metropolitan Cathedral, Zocalo square, the Presidential Palace with the most famous murals by Mexican artist Diego Rivera, the observation deck at the Latino-Americana Tower, Reforma Avenue, the National Anthropology Museum, and more.

Return to the hotel.

• Transfer to Puebla.

• Take a walk through the historic center of the city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, visiting the Cathedral of Puebla, the second-largest Catholic structure in the country, as well as the Cathedral of Santo Domingo, whose recesses preserve one of the most beautiful human-made masterpieces in the Western Hemisphere - the Rosario Chapel.

• Next, visit the oldest active factory producing traditional Talavera pottery.

• Taste the most delicious dishes of Poblano cuisine, including different types of mole poblano, chile relleno, and chile en nogada, in one of the cosy cafes here.

• Explore the smallest volcano in the world, located in the suburbs of Puebla.

• Transfer to Oaxaca.

• In the morning, visit the Monte Alban archaeological site - the ceremonial centre of the Zapotec and Mixtec civilizations - rising on the hill above the city of Oaxaca.

• Next, go on a city tour of Oaxaca, which is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

• Visit the central market and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of real Mexican life.

• Later, stop by the gigantic 2000-year-old Tule tree.

• Excursion to a small mezcal distillery - producer of the second most popular liquor in Mexico.

• Drive through the scenic Sierra Madre mountains to the city of Tehuantepec or Salina Cruz.

Return to the hotel.

• Visit one of Mexico's most beautiful natural attractions - Sumidero Canyon, with slopes up to 1000 m.

• Take a breathtaking boat trip through the canyon along the Grijalva River.

• Transfer to San Juan Chamula, which is considered the main centre of the Maya Tzotzil tribe.

• Visit the main sanctuary of the Tzotzil people - the church of St. John the Baptist. The local religion is a combination of the Catholic faith and ancient paganism.

• If desired, participate in one of the Tzotzil rituals.

• In the evening, arrive at the cultural capital of Chiapas state - San Cristobal de las Casas, where numerous indigenous tribes live alongside Europeans.

Return to the hotel.

• Take a scenic mountain drive to the archaeological site of Tonina. Seldom visited by tourists, Tonina is an awe-inspiring Mayan city with a colossal 70-meter-high pyramid that you can climb.

• Transfer to the beautiful 35-meter-high Misol-Ha waterfall.

• Take a relaxing swim, and feel free to venture into the cavern behind it.

• Transfer to the town of Palenque.

• Visit one of the most amazing Mayan cities - Palenque.

• Besides the archaeological site, admire the best present reconstruction of the tomb of the famous Palenque ruler - Pakal the Great.

• Take a short jungle walk and familiarize yourself with the wild species native to the region.

• Transfer to the beautiful colonial city of Campeche, which played a key role in the development of the Spanish colony.

• Transfer to Celestun Natural Biosphere Reserve - home to one of the largest colonies of flamingos in the Western Hemisphere.

• Enjoy a boat trip on the natural lagoon and through the mangroves.

• Visit the ancient Mayan city of Uxmal, which represents a fine example of decorative Mayan art.

• Be sure to visit the souvenir stalls.

• Transfer to Chichen Itza. It is better to stay overnight next to the archaeological site so that you can be the first to enter in the morning before crowds of tourists arrive from Cancun.

• Visit the archaeological site of Chichen Itza, whose ruins are considered sacred among two Meso-American civilizations. This is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and a pilgrimage destination for spiritualists from all over the world.

• Further, get an opportunity to explore one of the biggest underground rivers of Yucatan, naturally decorated with limestone formations - stalactites, stalagmites, columns, and more. This underground river is located not far from Playa del Carmen.

• Transfer to your hotel in Cancun or Riviera Maya.

End of the tour.