Fly & Drive Yucatan and Chiapas

Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
San Cristobal de las Casas
San Cristobal de las Casas
Palenque
Palenque

General information

DurationDestinationDeparture
11 days and 9 nights
Mexico (Cancun, Merida, Campeche, Villahermosa, San Cristobal De Las Casas, Palenque, Chicanna, Bacalar, Playa del Carmen/Riviera Maya)
Mexico (Playa del Carmen/Riviera Maya)

Description

A Fly&Drive tour to visit Yucatan and Chiapas independently by car We give you a suggestion for the itinerary than you will decide day by day if follow our program or choose different options

Program

Day 1:
Cancun
Arrival at Cancún airport and transfer to hotel La Quinta Inn or similar.

Day 2:
Cancún - Chichen Itza - Cenote - Merida
In the morning the car will be delivered to your hotel (8h30). Departure to Merida. We recommend stops along the road as, first of all, Chichen Itza, the Mayan Capital of Yucatán. Here you can admire ruins famous all over the World like the Pyrámid of Kukulkan. Then we suggest you to stop for a refreshing bath in a cenote. Arrival at Merida in the afternoon and visit of the “white city” center, so called because of its colonial building: the “zocalo” (main square) with the Cathedral, the Government Palace, the Townhall and the Montejo House. Accomodation to the hotel La Mision de Fray Diego or similar.

Day 3:
Merida - Uxmal - Campeche
Visit to the archaeological site of Uxmal, one of the most important testimonies of the Mayan culture in the center of the famous Puuc Route. In the afternoon arrival in Campeche, capital of the State, and brief visit to the Old City closed and fortified with towers and walls to defend the Colony of pirates. Inside the city you will see the city wall that still preserved a typical colonial flavor with beautiful patrician houses and austere churches. Accommodation at the hotel Plaza or similar.

Day 4:
Campeche - Villahermosa
Departure to Villahermosa, we strongly suggest you to visit the beautiful archeological zone of Edzna, located about 1 hour from Campeche. Arrival in Villahermosa and accommodation at the hotel Viva or similar. You will have some free time and we suggest a visit to La Venta Museum with its colossal Olmec heads.

Day 5:
Villahermosa - Agua Azul - San Cristóbal de las Casas
Transfer from Villahermosa to Palenque (about 2 hours), and here it starts going up to the mountains of Chiapas. A stop is suggested at Agua Azul to admire the waterfalls. Arrival in San Cristobal and accomodation at the hotel Mansión del Valle or similar.

Day 6:
San Cristóbal de las Casas
Today we suggest a visit to the indigenous communities of San Juan Chamula & Zinacantan, located a few kilometers from San Cristóbal. The rest of the day can be spent visiting San Cristobal, with the local market, where it is possible to admire the art crafts abilities of the local indigenous, and the famous local churches, among which the most important is Santo Domingo. For those who love nature we suggest the visit of the impressive Cañon del Sumidero instead of the indigenous communities.

Day 7:
San Cristobal - Palenque
Today you will descend from the Chiapas mountains, driving through the greenest valleys. A stop is suggested to admire the Misol-Ha waterfalls. Arrival in Palenque and overnight at the hotel Mision or similar.
The afternoon can be dedicated to the visit of the archeological site of Palenque, still partly hidden in the tropical jungle, fascinating and rich of unique Pyramids.

8th Palenque - Chicanna
The visit of the archeological site of Palenque is also possible this morning, before you leave Chiapas and drive south to enter the stats of Campeche, reaching Chicanna, site of one of the many archeological sites of this area (others are Calakmul, Xpuijl). Overnight at the hotel Ecovillage or similar.

Day 9:
Chicanna - Bacalar
In the morning possible visit of the archeological zone of Chicanna and continuation to the famous lagoon of Bacalar. Here you can spend the afternoon relaxing or exploring the lagoon by boat. Accomodation to the hotel el Rancho Encantado or similar.

Day 10:
Bacalar - Riviera Maya/Cancun
From Bacalar you will drive to the north to the last archeological zone of the tour: Tulum, which is facing the Caribbean Sea. In the evening free time to enjoy the beaches of the Mexican Caribbean and arrival in Cancún or Riviera Maya and accommodation at the chosen hotel. This overnight is NOT included .

Day 11:
Drop off car
In the morning the car will be dropped off at the nearest rental office. End of services.

Price includes

- 9 overnights during the tour at the above mentioned hotels or similar (4 stars)
- Daily breakfast
- Arrival transfer Cancun airport - Cancun hotel
- Medium car rental with basic insurance included (unlimited km, CDW, TP, ALI with 10% deductible)
- Pick Up and Drop Off in the Reserved Hotels.

Price does not include

- All Lunches and Dinners.
- Tickets to Museums and Archaeological Sites.
- Drinks and personal expenses in hotels and restaurants.
- Tips to Guides and Drivers.

Itinerary

Day Overnight Itinerary highlights
1 Hotel La Quinta Inn or similarCancun   Cancun International Airport (CUN), Cancun - Arrival Terminal
2 Hotel La Mision de Fray Diego or similarMerida
3 Hotel Plaza or similarCampeche
4 Hotel Viva or similarVillahermosa
5 Hotel Mansión del Valle or similarSan Cristobal De Las Casas
6 Hotel Mansión del Valle or similarSan Cristobal De Las Casas
7 Hotel Mision or similarPalenque
8 Hotel Ecovillage or similarChicanna
9 Hotel el Rancho Encantado or similarBacalar
10 Not included
11   Riviera Maya
  Cancun

Accommodations provided in each place

Place
CancunHotel La Quinta Inn or similar
MeridaHotel La Mision de Fray Diego or similar
CampecheHotel Plaza or similar
VillahermosaHotel Viva or similar
San Cristobal De Las CasasHotel Mansión del Valle or similar
PalenqueHotel Mision or similar
ChicannaHotel Ecovillage or similar
BacalarHotel el Rancho Encantado or similar