100% customisable travel idea
A tête-à-tête in Yucatán Colonial cities and Caribbean warmth
Mexico - Yucatán - Tulum - Coba - Mérida - Valladolid - Holbox
Romance in Maya land
Your trip
From and to Cancún: direct flight. Next, you continue your journey across the Yucatán Peninsula at the wheel of your rental car, radiating out from cenotes to Maya ruins and allowing yourself as many stops and detours as you wish. To make sure you don’t miss any highlights, we’ve already added a few key moments to your itinerary: a half-day adventure in the Punta Laguna Reserve, a visit to the archaeological site of Chichén Itzá, as well as a boat trip through the mangroves of Holbox. As for the rest, feel free to explore as you wish, at your own pace and according to your preferences. Everywhere, your accommodation has been carefully selected: here for an unparalled location, there for a romantic atmosphere or a strong colonial character. Everywhere as well, you’ll find swimming pools - even when the sea is just a few steps away - giving you the luxury of choice, along with restaurants serving traditional Mexican cuisine bursting with colour. If you need assistance or simply some advice, you have the contact details of our on-site Concierge, who is available at any time. In collaboration with your travel specialist, they can also adjust your journey according to your preferences as it unfolds.
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Upon arrival, collect your rental car and drive straight to Tulum. Two-night stay on the edge of the jungle, by a beach that was once a fishermen’s hideout. The charming small accommodation still overlooks the boats, but these are now used to take visitors out to sea. From the beach, you can spot the Maya ruins, which you can easily reach by car or by bike. To welcome guests there are three low buildings and small bungalows with palm-thatched roofs. Guests can relax in swaying hammocks on the terraces. The bohemian style of your room features beautiful pieces of wood, drapes, and colourful hand-crafted items. On the way to the beach, you can cool off in a small pool without leaving the hotel. The restaurant serves traditional, unpretentious Mexican cuisine. And, because it's located away from Tulum’s hotel zone, you enjoy a surprisingly peaceful and romantic setting.
With its turquoise waters, fine sandy beaches and mild climate, Tulum, located just an hour and 30 minutes south of Cancún, has naturally expanded. The village has become a city. Yet the Mayan ruins still stand proudly above the waves, and the resilient iguanas remain very much at home there. And Tulum still hides a few unexpected treasures off the beaten track.
Drive to Coba.
Already planned along the way - Purification ceremony and swim in a cenote. Unlike other Mayan cities in the region, at Coba, the ruins are scattered across a fairly large area. Upon arrival, you witness a purification ceremony led by the shaman of a local community. Next comes the tasting of xtabentún,a traditional Mayan drink made from fermented honey and rum or anise alcohol. A swim is planned at the sacred Esmeralda cenote before a visit to the archaeological site of Coba.
You then head to your hotel and settle in for the night. The hotel consists of various bungalows and suites with thatched roofs, scattered throughout the jungle. The whole style is contemporary and understated. Make the most of the warm climate and relaxing atmosphere on the terrace or in the hot tub. In the restaurant, opening pleasantly onto the outdoors, the Mexican chef serves traditional dishes.
Optional - Coba on foot and by bike.
Drive to Mérida and two-night stay in the historic centre. Your small hotel - with just nine rooms - enjoys a prime location that lets you make the most of the city in a relaxing setting. Every detail has been carefully considered, from the modern decoration to the small, lush garden where the pool takes pride of place. The culinary offering is the work of two chefs from Veracruz who draw their inspiration from Mexican traditions to showcase Yucatecan fruit and vegetables.
In this city founded by the conquistadors on the ruins of an ancient Mayan settlement, old stone churches rise above lively squares - starting with Saint Ildefonso Cathedral, the oldest in the peninsula. The charming streets with their colourful façades reveal a surprising architectural eclecticism: colonial buildings stand alongside small palaces from the early 20th century, inspired by Parisian grandeur - a testament to a time when the city thrived thanks to the farming of henequen (a plant from the agave family), the “green gold” of Yucatán.
Optional - Discover Mérida like a local, in the company of Leo.
Drive to Valladolid. Two-night stay in a small guest-house in the historic centre. It consists of a beautiful residence with a lovely tree-filled garden and a small pool for relaxing. There are 16 spacious rooms. Yours is imbued with a romantic colonial atmosphere - white walls, wooden furniture and mosaics. Hardly anything seems to have changed since the time of the conquistadors. A special mention goes to the attentive welcome and for the restaurant, which prepares delicious Mexican specialities with local market produce.
Named after its Spanish namesake, then the capital of the Kingdom of Spain, Valladolid is a colonial city with charming, colourful streets full of small shops, antique dealers and authentic cafés. It is also a perfect departure point for exploring ancient Mayan cities - including some of the most remarkable ones: Ek' Balam and Chichén Itzá - as well as the Yucatán jungle and the cenotes dotted throughout it.
Scheduled - Chichén Itzá, archaeological visit. Although Chichén Itzá is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, and the Kukulkan Pyramid, El Castillo, stands as one of Yucatán’s most iconic landmarks, the ancient Maya city still holds many secrets waiting to be discovered. This makes having a guide all the more worthwhile! From its origins and nearby cenotes to its peak and enigmatic decline, every facet of the city comes alive on a tour that is as lively as it is fascinating.
Drive to the north coast and the small village of Chiquilá, from where you may reach the idyllic island of Holbox by ferry. Installation for three nights just steps from the beach. About forty bungalows stand on the shore. Yours has a view of the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The interior is colourful and cosy, made of wood and drapes. Outdoors guests can relax in hammocks hand-crafted by local fishermen, lounge on deckchairs set in the sand, take a dip in swimming pools - including one reserved exclusively for adults - or unwind in a hot tub as an alternative to the sea. The restaurant is also set on the beach, looking out to the horizon. The catch of the day is cooked here in keeping with the island’s traditions.
Holbox is an idyllic island off the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Caribbean Sea. Here, cars are not welcome, and only the gentle hum of golf carts mingles with the constant murmur of the waves. Sandy streets, colourful houses, and palm trees on every corner create a timeless atmosphere. Boat trips to the Yalahau lagoon or Isla Pájaros,leisurely moments of relaxation, and kitesurfing sessions quietly shape the final days of your trip.
Scheduled - Kayaking through the mangrove. With each stroke of the paddle, you glide deeper into the winding waterways of lush vegetation, uncovering hidden corners that are otherwise inaccessible. All around you, birdlife flourishes - ospreys, frigatebirds, spoonbills, herons, terns and even flamingos. Beneath the shimmering surface, brightly coloured fish dart among the submerged roots, while a few crocodiles lurk discreetly nearby.
Optional - Holbox like a local.
Drive to Cancún, return the rental car at the airport, then take a direct flight home. Night on board, arrival the next day.
À la carte
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
Coba on foot and by bicycle
In Coba, the Maya ruins are scattered across a vast expanse of tropical jungle. Although the visit begins on foot, you then hop on bikes to explore the more distant sites: Nohoch Mul, the second highest pyramid on the peninsula, and the Macanxoc group with its eight sculpted stelae - eroded by time and the elements, yet still well preserved.Mérida through the eyes of a local
After travelling through Latin America for several years, Leo finally succumbed to the charm of Mérida - and its delicious Yucatecan cuisine - where he has settled for good. In his company, you wander from stall to stall discovering local specialities, explore the market streets in search of typical regional produce, marvel at the colonial architecture and the beautiful squares of Mérida, and of course, sample your finds! During the tour, Leo will be happy to answer your questions about life in Mexico, in Yucatán, and about the places visited. A wealth of information for the rest of the stay.Holbox like a local
Sandra, your guide for the day, loves to share her passion for Mexico and Holbox Island, where she decided to settle after years of travelling the world. The famous coup de foudre. Now, she shares her daily life with the people of Holbox, immersed in their traditions and customs, which no longer hold any secrets for her. In her company, the walk becomes a genuine immersion in the island’s local life, punctuated by encounters with fishermen, musicians, cooks, and painters, among others.With a few extra days in hand,
Mexico City - A tumultuous, sprawling capital, it combines Aztec vestiges with futuristic buildings, traditional tianguis (markets) with designer stalls, fully local restaurants and trendy terraces. The collisions of eras and spaces are dizzying and delightful.The Convent Route - Part of Mexico’s history was written in the 16th and 17th centuries with New Spain, and then through the successive arrival of the Franciscans, Dominicans and Jesuits who came to evangelise this indigenous land. They then built convents, monasteries, colleges and missions, which today make up the country’s great colonial and baroque heritage. Among others, you will find Acanceh, Tecoh, Chumayel and Arachide.
Bacalar Lagoon - If only for the variations in the colour of the lagoon, it is worth a visit. Next, you can either sail on the lake or set out to discover the Cenote Azul, whose clear waters allow you to see down to a depth of thirty metres. We visit Fortaleza San Felipe fort, which houses a museum about the Caste War. Not far away, a string of Maya sites: Kohunlich, Dzibanché, Kinichná, to name but a few
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