Days 1 – Start of your Mexico bus tour
Day trip: approximately 50 minutes (transfer)
You'll land spectacularly in Mexico City: floating between high volcanic peaks above one of the world's largest cities, at an altitude of approximately 2,200 meters, before plunging into the valley below. Upon arrival, you'll be met in the arrivals hall. Afterwards, you'll be transferred to your hotel in the historic center. You're now in the heart of it all. We chose this hotel because of its convenient location: close to the city's palaces, parks, and museums. You'll begin your Mexico bus tour from Mexico City to Yucatan in complete relaxation.
The Zocalo, "Alexander Square" of Mexico City, is easily accessible on foot in just a few minutes. It's the largest square in Latin America. It's home to the cathedral, the National Palace, and several large colonial buildings – a truly photogenic sight. A few blocks away is Alameda Park, a historic site in the city, as it was once an Aztec marketplace and, during the colonial period, became the site of the Spanish Inquisition. Next to the park is the Palacio de Bellas Artes, the Palace of Fine Arts.
Day 2 -
Exploring the metropolis of Mexico City on your own
A visit to the Anthropological Museum of Mexico City is the ideal start to your Mexico bus tour. This museum is one of the ten best museums of its kind in the world. It features a comprehensive exhibition on the country's history, allowing you to better grasp the spirit of the ancient ruins during your trip.
We also recommend a visit to the Pyramids of Teotihuacan. These are an hour's drive from Mexico City. You should plan half a day for a visit. It is the largest Aztec city, dominated by two enormous pyramids. The Pyramid of the Sun is the tallest (only the Great Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt is larger), but the Pyramid of the Moon is more beautiful. We can gladly book a day trip to Teotihuacan with an English-speaking guide and other travelers.
Day 3 -
Continue to Puebla and enjoy a culinary walk
Day trip: approximately 2.5 hours (transfer and bus)
To ensure you arrive at the correct bus station, we will reserve transportation from your hotel to the bus terminal.
You will depart at approximately 9:00 a.m. However, it will take a while before you leave the city, as Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world. You will reach Puebla in about three hours through the arid plateau. For the afternoon, we have organized a culinary city tour for you, during which you will get to know both the city and the culinary delights of the region. In a small group, you will visit various small food stalls, markets, and restaurants, and have the opportunity to sample authentic cuisine time and time again. You will spend the night in a 17th-century colonial hotel near the main square.
Day 4 -
Continue to Oaxaca
Day trip: approximately 5 hours (bus)
We'll reserve the first-class bus to Oaxaca for you today (pronounced "Owachaka"). The pedestrian zone and the Zocalo, the central square, are bustling during the day, but especially in the evening.
Oaxaca has a much more indigenous feel than Puebla. The Indians are particularly striking for their colorful clothing. Churches and markets blend seamlessly here: stalls brimming with handicrafts stand alongside kitschy baroque buildings. The most beautiful church is Santa Domingo, with its simple stone exterior and gold-decorated interior. The surrounding area also offers several natural highlights, such as the petrified waterfalls, Hierve el Agua. You'll stay in a centrally located colonial-style hotel with a courtyard.
Tip: After an extensive shopping tour, you can relax in a temazcal bath, a cleansing local herbal sauna, and gather new strength for your bus tour from Mexico City to Yucatan.
Day 5 -
Visit a Mezcal farm
On your Mexico bus tour, you'll surely taste a few mezcals, a typical Mexican spirit often with over 40% alcohol, which also includes tequila. On your tour today to a mezcal farm near Oaxaca, you'll not only taste it but also learn all about its production – from cultivating the agave plant to proper storage. With your guide and the farmer, you'll first visit the plantation before learning about the processing process on the farm.
Before returning to Oaxaca, you'll visit a local market where you can enjoy a typical local snack. The rest of the day is at your leisure to enjoy Oaxaca's beautiful old town.
Day 6 -
Time for Oaxaca & evening to San Cristobal
Day trip: approximately 12 hours (night bus)
Take it easy today and stroll through the city. Perhaps you'll pick up a souvenir or two, which are much cheaper here than on the Yucatan Peninsula? In the afternoon, slowly make your way to the hotel and collect your luggage. In the evening, your reserved night bus departs, taking you to San Cristobal de las Casas in approximately twelve hours. A somewhat more strenuous journey during your Mexico bus tour.
Note: If you wish, we can also book the night bus for the day before. Since you'll probably want to freshen up after the bike tour, you can either request a late checkout at the hotel or use the tour operator's facilities for a small surcharge.
Day 7 -
Exploring San Cristobal de las Casas
At around 7:00 a.m., you'll arrive in San Cristobal, the center of Mexican Indian culture in the mountains of Chiapas. Upon arrival, you'll take a taxi to your posada. You'll stay in an atmospheric colonial-style hotel, which we chose for its location in the historic center with its old churches and squares. If one of the rooms is already available, you can check in right away.
The center of San Cristobal is car-free. Take your camera and stroll through the colorful streets leading uphill. The higher you climb, the more beautiful the view of the small town nestled in the high mountains becomes. During the day, you'll walk around here in a T-shirt and shorts, just like in the rest of Mexico. But as soon as the sun sets, it gets noticeably cooler, and you'll realize you're in the mountains. In the evening, wear a fleece sweater or a warm jacket, or drink a strong margarita.
Day 8 -
Day trip to the villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan
While you're in San Cristobal de las Casas, you'll also want to take a trip to the surrounding indigenous villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantan. These are home to the Tzotzil Indians. Since the arrival of the Spaniards, their ancient traditions have been blended with Catholic customs. Since many rules apply in these villages that you won't be familiar with (e.g., you must register as a visitor), you'll be accompanied on this trip by a local, English-speaking guide.
You'll be back in San Cristobal around 2:30 p.m., and you'll still have plenty of time to stroll through the local market. The special atmosphere that prevails in San Cristobal arises from the mix of its typical colonial past and its indigenous present. The various ethnic groups come to town daily from the surrounding villages to sell their products at the markets. A huge range of handicrafts awaits travelers.
Day 9 -
Continue to tropical Palenque
Today on your Mexico bus tour, you'll travel from San Cristobal in the mountains of Chiapas to the jungle of Palenque. We'll reserve a first-class bus for you.
Palenque is located in the jungle, and it's accordingly hot and humid here (around 35 degrees Celsius). Therefore, we'll book accommodation for you on the outskirts of town, surrounded by tropical gardens and with a pool. The ruins of Palenque are ten minutes away.
Day 10 -
Day trip to Palenque
Early this morning, you'll be picked up from your hotel by minibus and taken to what we believe to be the most impressive Mayan ruins in Mexico. Bring your camera and plenty of water. It's already very hot in the morning, so the climb to the temples and pyramids is strenuous. Palenque is nestled in the jungle and is one of the few cities whose history explorers have been able to reconstruct. You'll have plenty of time to explore the ruins at your leisure. The entrance fee is currently around €9 per person. You'll then be taken to the Roberto Barrios Waterfalls, which are about 45 minutes from Palenque. After the heat of the ruins, the refreshing waterfalls offer the perfect change of pace. So don't forget your swimsuit, water sandals, and plenty of snacks and drinks!
Day 11 -
Continue to the "pirate city" of Campeche
Day trip: approximately 6 hours (bus)
In the morning, you'll travel to Campeche. You'll arrive in the early afternoon and take a short taxi to your hotel (approx. US$6). It's located in the historic center of the former pirate city, so you can reach both the old town and the sea on foot.
From the central square, a small tram takes you to the city's sights, especially the fortress walls and bastions that once protected the city against pirates. In recent years, numerous colonial buildings have been restored and painted in pastel colors. In the evenings, they are atmospherically illuminated.
Day 12 -
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Continue from Campeche to Merida
Day trip: approximately 2.5 hours (bus)
From Campeche, it's a short ride by first-class bus to Merida. You'll arrive in the regional capital around noon and take a taxi to your hotel (approximately US$3.50, like any other ride in the city).
After your Mexico bus tour, you'll spend today near the central square. Your colonial hotel has a pool and beautifully decorated hallways to stroll through.
Merida is large and usually quite warm. Therefore, we'll book you an overnight stay in a colonial hotel with a pool near the central square. This is a wonderful place to watch the hustle and bustle from a shady bench.
Day 13 -
Snorkeling in the cenotes
This morning, you will be picked up from your accommodation. A special experience awaits you today: a snorkeling trip in underground freshwater caves, also known as cenotes. The trail will take you past a village into the jungle, where the first cenote awaits. You will climb a wooden staircase to the water's edge, approximately 15 meters deep. Here, you can take a dip in the crystal-clear water and enjoy the mystical atmosphere. Accompanied by two divers, the tour will take you to the next cenote. Here, it's time to snorkel. Because the water is so clear, the cenotes offer optimal snorkeling and diving conditions. If you prefer diving, please let us know. We can also arrange a diving trip for you for an additional charge. After the active part of the tour, you will gather for lunch, freshly prepared over a fire. Look forward to quesadillas and tacos. Once refreshed, you will be taken back to your accommodation and can spend the rest of the day exploring Merida as you please.
Day 14 - –
Continue from Merida to Chichen Itza
Day trip: approximately 2.5 hours (bus)
Today, your journey takes you by bus from Mexico City to the Yucatan Peninsula, where you'll arrive in Chichen Itza. We'll book a first-class bus, which will take you to Chichen Itza in about two hours. The bus will stop at the entrance to the Mayan site, which is open until around 5:00 PM. However, it's still very hot and crowded at this time.
We recommend that you first take a taxi (approximately $2-3) to your hotel, which is just a few minutes from the Mayan site. Here, you'll check in in peace and have time to freshen up. The surroundings of your accommodation are very green, and in the quiet, you'll only hear a few birds chirping. The next morning, you'll want to get up early to avoid the hustle and bustle of the Mayan site and the heat.
Day 15 -
Chichen Itza & Playa del Carmen
Travel to Playa del Carmen – day trip approximately 2.5 hours (bus)
Chichen Itza opens today at 8:00 a.m. If you arrive early, you can have the Mayan pyramids almost to yourself. Since it gets very humid from 10:00 a.m. onwards, you should bring light clothing and plenty of water.
Chichen Itza was far ahead of its time. The central castillo (castle) has a perfectly symmetrical pyramid shape. Due to the extremely steep steps, climbing it is unfortunately no longer permitted. Nevertheless, the pyramid remains one of the most impressive and famous buildings. The entrance fee is currently approximately €25 per person.
At approximately 3:00 p.m., you will board the first-class bus and travel to Playa del Carmen on the Caribbean coast.
Day 16 & 17 -
Beach, sun and relaxation in Playa del Carmen
In Playa del Carmen, you can enjoy sun, sand, and sea at the end of your trip. Your small hotel is very centrally located. The beach and the lively shopping street Quinta Avenida – Fifth Avenue – with its many restaurants and cafés are a maximum of 5 minutes' walk away. You can also enjoy the evenings here. We can also offer you a little more hotel comfort for the last few days of your trip.
You can spend the day on the beach with a good book. Alternatively, you can go snorkeling, diving, or take a trip to the ruins of Tulum, which are spectacularly situated on a cliff above the sea. We leave it up to you to choose how you would like to end your customized trip.
Day 18 6amp; 19 -
Departure from Playa del Carmen
Day trip: approximately 1 – 1.5 hours (transfer)
With the Mariachi songs still ringing in your head, you'll bid farewell to Mexico today. Depending on your departure time, we'll reserve a convenient one-hour transfer to Cancun Airport.
After your exciting Mexico bus tour, you'll return home with many new experiences in your luggage.
