100% customisable travel idea
México Lindo From the capital to Holbox: insider guidance
Mexico - Mexico City - Yucatán
100% customisable travel idea
Mexico - Mexico City - Yucatán
100% customisable for you
Upon arrival, private transfer to La Roma, specifically to Roma Norte, the hipster part of the neighbourhood. Three-night stay in an elegant building from 1913. In contrast to the dark exterior walls, each room is painted in a different colour from the spectrum: yellow, blue, pink or green. Decorative elements sourced from flea markets are scattered throughout the rooms. The whole is a successful blend of warmth and design. Outside, a charming patio with a fountain opens onto a dry garden filled with cacti and orange-laden trees.
Mexico City, the country’s bustling capital,- is home to 9 million people and stretches across 1,500 sq km (580 sq miles). Here, the cosmopolitan energy of the 21st century mingles here with the remnants of a golden Aztec age, too often replaced by colonial buildings. A city with many layers, a place worth taking the time to explore.
Things to see and do - Mingle with locals on the Zócalo, the city’s vibrant main square; admire the remains of the ancient Aztec capital at Templo Mayor; stroll through the Coyoacán neighbourhood; experience an emotional visit to Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul; try a taco al pastor (a surprising mix of marinated meat and pineapple); marvel at Diego Rivera’s murals in the Palacio Nacional; wander the aisles of a mercado; join locals in the queue at a churrería; watch the sunset from the Torre Latinoamericana; go to a lucha libre (local wrestling) match.
Optional - The great classics of Mexico City, in private.
Already planned - The architectural facets of Mexico City. As you exploreCiudad de Méxicoyou move from one neighbourhood to another, discovering both pre-Columbian and contemporary art, as well as the epic spirit of Mexican painting. Reflecting this diversity, classical, colonial and bold architecture blend on the façades in joyful eclecticism. Treasures await those who know where to look. Today, you're in luck. A private guide helps you unlock the secrets of the city.
Also scheduled: Your dinner booking at a gourmet restaurant in the capital. br/>Optional - Visit of and hot air balloon flight over the Teotihuacan site.
Private transfer to the airport and domestic flight to Mérida, the capital of Yucatán state. Pick up your rental car and drive to Seyé, about 30 km (19 miles) away. Here, away from the hustle and bustle, set down your suitcases for two nights at an accommodation surrounded by greenery. The lines between indoors and outdoors are blurred, as the building showcases natural materials (stone, wood) and light tones. Harmony permeates the common areas and the cosy, fully equipped rooms. Attentive service from passionate owners completes the picture. Only the pool provides a refreshing break in the heart of the garden. Nearby, trails invite you to explore the surrounding vegetation.
Things to see and do - The Convent Route, independently. After the “discovery” of America by Christopher Columbus in 1492, the need to convert Indigenous peoples to the Christian faith was used as a pretext for royalty and the papacy to conquer the lands of the New World. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, there was a large-scale effort to Christianise the local populations. Reflecting this mass conversion, churches, convents and missions flourished across the landscape. The Ruta de los Conventos invites you to walk in the footsteps of missionaries and converts, exploring monasteries, hermitages and churches to discover frescoes and altarpieces whose splendour has not faded with time.
Drive to Mérida. Two-night stay in a Belle Époque residence right in the heart of the city centre. The word “intimate” seems to have been invented for this accommodation, which has one single suite. The atmosphere is warm and cosy, with period furniture, mirrors and golden accents. Heavy velvet curtains frame the windows. A pair of clawfoot bathtubs takes pride of place at the centre. Another pool awaits outdoors, on the adjoining terrace.
Our suggestion - Make a detour to the Mayapán archaeological site, about 30 km (19 miles) from Seyé, before heading to Mérida. Considered the last great capital of the Maya, the city was built during the Postclassic period (1200-1250). At its peak, the city housed 4,000 structures and 10,000 residents. The circular buildings - especially the Observatory - and the colonnaded walkways are particularly striking. Scattered throughout the site, many temples display the face of Chaac, the rain god - a nod to the sacred water held further away in a cenote covered by vegetation. The true jewel of the site, however, remains the impressive stepped pyramid built in honour of the serpent god Kukulkan.
Scheduled - The archaeological site of Uxmal. Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, it is one of the best restored thanks to the excellent quality of its buildings. Rising from the jungle, its majestic architecture is typical of the Puuc style, with plain lower façades contrasting with richly decorated upper levels. The main buildings on the site include the House of the Magician, the House of the Birds, the House of the Turtles, the ball court, the Great Pyramid and, finally, the magnificent Governor’s Palace.
Do not miss - The X'Batun cenote. Hidden in the lush vegetation between Mérida and Uxmal, this cenote opens to the sky and invites you to take a refreshing swim. The roots of the trees have spread over the walls, reaching down to touch the sacred water. Your entrance ticket also includes access to the Dzombakal cenote, hidden in a nearby cave.
Drive to the hamlet of Espita. Many worthwhile stops can enrich this journey eastward. About 20 km (12 miles) away, the town of Tixkokob is renowned for its hammock weaving. A central element of Maya life, hammocks are still crafted here using ancestral techniques and come in a dazzling array of colours. A little further on, lies the Aké archaeological site,often overlooked by visitors. It is full of fascinating remains including defensive walls, an ancient road system and a beautiful central plaza lined with columns. Finally, Izamal, the “yellow city”, is the ideal final stop. At the foot of the Convent of Saint Anthony of Padua - with its 75 arches and an atrium of over 7,800 square metres - brightly-adorned horse-drawn carriages await visitors. A handful of Mayan pyramids appear in the distance.
Upon arrival in Espita, settle in for two nights at accommodation in the city centre.
You wake up in a former colonial building that was once the home of a wealthy local family, and then became a popular cantina, before it was unfairly abandoned. Thirty years later, a French architect and her husband, both passionate about the country and preserving its heritage, undertook a meticulous restoration. Transformed, the once raw concrete spaces now house immaculate rooms arranged around an exotic garden. Cacti, agaves and aromatic plants perfume the air as you relax in the infinity pool.
Scheduled - A visit to the Ek Balam archaeological site. Rediscovered in the 1990s, the city of the “Black Jaguar” boasts remarkable remains. The Templo de los Frisos, in particular, is one of the largest Maya structures in the Yucatán (146 metres long, 55 metres wide and 29 metres high). And what of its entrance, framed by a gigantic mask baring sharp teeth? All around, beautifully preserved stucco panels depict rows of winged figures. Behind the façade, a renowned ruler lay at rest among seashells, jade and mother-of-pearl pendants.
Drive to the north coast to reach the port of Chiquila, where boats leave for Holbox. After a short crossing, the island emerges like a mirage, revealing its shades of white and blue. After docking, settle in for three nights at a seafront guest house. Each of the five rooms has its own outdoor space. Here you can begin a dialogue with the ocean, the only horizon Inside, hand-crafted pieces and natural materials set the tone. In just a few steps, you reach the fine sand you’ve been admiring for so long from the privacy of the property.
A gem within the Yum Balam ecological reserve, Holbox has all the features of an unspoilt paradise: crystal-clear water, a magical lagoon and palm trees lining a white sandy beach. Behind this idyllic shore lies a hint of civilisation: quaint little houses and colourful huts with palm-thatched roofs. The road network is little more than a sketch - only a few mopeds and golf carts venture onto the sandy paths.
Things to see and do - Take a nap in a hammock on the beach; stroll through the village with its colourful walls in search of street art; stop at the shops and cafés dotted along the narrow streets; drift through the mangroves in a kayak; swim with whale sharks; move from the beach to the pool and back again; watch the sunset with a drink in hand; or simply do nothing at all.
Optional - Boat trips to Pájaros and Pasión islands.
Drive to Cancun, return the rental car and take your direct international flight. Night on board, arrival the next day.
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.
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