Itinerary

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DAY 1

This morning our group will assemble at HKG Duty Free Store located at 1002 International Blvd, Hidalgo, TX 78557, (Almost at the toll booth of Hidalgo ́s International Bridge), to cross into Reynosa and get aboard our transportation vehicle. Very soon we ́ll be on the road to go to Monterrey, and we will visit the Mexican History Museum. Then we will go for lunch and for a scenic drive to see a bit more of this amazing city. Our hotel is located near the airport and will provide us with a very convenient stop for the night.
Overnight in Monterrey

DAY 2

An early wake up call to be transferred to the airport for our flight to Merida. Upon Arrival we ́ll be taken to the city of Valladolid, formerly known as Zaci. We will enjoy lunch at a restaurant located next to a cenote, and you will be told all about it, since Yucatán is the land of cenotes. Then, our driver will take us to the nearby village of Uayma, for us to admire the temple of Santo Domingo and its Ex-convent. After checking in, we will go for a walking tour that will include Francisco Canton Park, the City Hall (remodeled in 1806), San Servacio Cathedral (built in 1545). In the evening, walking along Calzada de los Frailes (Avenue of Monks), will provide you with great pictures of local architecture.
Lunch included.
Overnight in Valladolid

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DAY 3

North of Valladolid, in the municipality of Rio Lagartos, in the 1940 ́s, The Roche family started Las Coloradas: a salt industry that has become the leading name in Mexico: from 5,000 to 750,000 tons a year. Today you will learn about it and the way the whole salt industry has impacted, for good, this area. Also, as part of the natural resources around, we are to see flamingoes in their natural habitat and will be told about their diet and habits. Remember to bring your water shoes or plastic sandals, along with a towel and a change of clothes, just in case you feel like swimming in the ocean or wiggling your toes!
Breakfast and picnic lunch included
Overnight in Valladolid

DAY 4

No tour to Yucatán would be a good one without visiting the archaeological site of Chichén Itzá, designated by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. Also, in 2000, it was voted to become one of The New Seven wonders of the world! This sacred site was one of the greatest Mayan centers of the Yucatán peninsula. Throughout its nearly 1,000-year history, different peoples have left their mark on the city. The Maya and Toltec vision of the world and the universe is revealed in their stone monuments and artistic works. Bring your comfortable shoes, a good hat, sunscreen and insect repellent! After lunch, our destination is the old City Thó, currently known as Mérida, the capital city of Yucatán state. After checking in, a short walking tour will be offered to discover more of downtown area! Do you like pan dulce? Then, if you spot any bakery, such as Tere Cazola, La Mayuquita, Panificadora Montejo, Escargot, El Retorno, don ́t hesitate and buy some!
Breakfast included.
Overnight in Merida

DAY 5

A great adventure we have packed for you today! Another UNESCO site will be on our list: Uxmal! The ruins of the ceremonial structures at Uxmal represent the pinnacle of late Maya art and architecture in their design, layout and ornamentation. Unlike most other prehispanic towns, Uxmal is not laid out geometrically. Its space is organized in relation to astronomical phenomena, such as the rising and setting of Venus, and adapted to the topography of the site, made up of a series of hills. After touring this place, we will go for lunch at a local restaurant where you can try delicious cochinita or pollo pibil (pit-barbecued pork or chicken), lime soup and more options are available. Later we will take you to Hacienda Mucuyché to treat you to a tour of a historic building and delight you with swimming in great cenotes, or swimming pool, if you prefer it! Tonight, right across from the cathedral, there will be a demonstration of the Ball Game, where players are all dressed in old Mayan-fashioned way, trying to score a point by hitting an 8-pound vulcanized rubber ball: don ́t forget to bring your camera.
Breakfast included
Overnight in Merida

DAY 6

After breakfast we are off to the town of Izamal, visited by Pope John Paul II in 1993, who crowned and blessed a statue of the Virgin Mary in the main chapel, also making it a popular destination for pilgrims. The history of this town developed from an archaeological site into a colonial town: the whole town is painted yellow, very bright yellow, and white. The Convent of San Antonio de Padua boasts the second enclosed atrium in the world (after the Vatican!) and from it, you get to see
the remnants of the archaeological pyramids around. In Izamal, carriages do not go out of style, it is a pleasant way to get to know it passing through its main attractions, starting from the main square, crossing through the Capilla de los Remedios, the old train station and the main streets, to finally return to the starting point. Your choices for lunch will be pointed out by your tour guide, as well. A stop in the little town of Kimbilá will afford you a lovely opportunity to buy guayaberas, blouses, dresses, shirts, and more, at very affordable prices.
Breakfast included
Overnight in Merida

DAY 7

Our driver will take us to enjoy a lovely avenue: often considered the Champs Elysees of Mexico, tree-lined Paseo de Montejo is one of the few examples of French Colonial architecture in predominantly Spanish Colonial Mérida. Developed in the late 19th century with money from the region’s henequen boom, Paseo de Montejo is nowadays lined by mansions, hotels, and restaurants which retain their elaborate, original facades. The famous Monumento a la Patria makes a great setting for picture taking. Later, let ́s visit Quinta Montes Molina, which is a representative construction of President Porfirio Díaz rein and the great henequen boom in Yucatán.
It has always been a living house, it has furniture from the different periods through which it has passed, and in it we find many details that help us to better understand the customs of the wealthy families of Merida in the beginning of the 20th century. After lunch, you may want to visit the incredible El Gran Museo del Mundo Maya, a great museum dedicated to the Mayan archaeology and people, with temporary exhibit rooms as well.
Breakfast included.
Overnight in Merida

DAY 8

Very early morning wake-up call to catch our flight back to Monterrey, where transportation will be provided to Reynosa, and after walking across the international bridge, we ́ll soon be back in Rio Grande Valley. Then, you may want to share with your friends and family the wonderful loads of memories you just got from this unforgettable tour!
Overnight...at HOME!

NOT INCLUDED: admissions to attractions or museums (other than the ones clearly described as included in the above paragraph), tips to waiters at any meal. Tips for maids at hotels. Gratuities to tour guide are not included. We strongly recommend setting aside a minimum of $6-8 dollars per person, per day, for your tour guide. Your guide is a professional in his field and he will always be on call to take care of you in every aspect you indicate him. Gratuities to bus driver are not included either.

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NOTE: The cost of the Mexican Immigration Permit to travel into Mexico (charged by Mexican authorities and obtainable at the air or land port of entry), beyond the 20 mile allowed distance, is about $38 USD, and it is not included in the tour price!