Make your way to Gatwick for your British Airways flight to Cancun in Club World.
Private transfer on arrival to the village of Tixcocob and your Hacienda (around 4hrs).
Hacienda San Jose in the Yucatan embraces world-class luxury while maintaining original features that reflect the Yucatan’s history. This 18th Century hacienda has been beautifully restored to offer a unique hotel experience for all its guests. Colourful walls greet you as you traverse the hotel that is surrounded by lush tropical gardens and exotic flower archways. While the hacienda has been restored, it still maintains many original features that reflect the Yucatan’s history.
The rooms are large with tall, exposed wood-beam ceilings, original tile floors and 10-foot wooden double doors. They offer comfort and luxury while taking you back in time. The bathrooms are also ample with basins and showers and an external bathtub, perfectly surrounded by nature for a private bathing experience. There are also Maya villas on the grounds that have thatched palapa-style roofs and offer a more authentic Maya experience for guests. The swimming pool and jacuzzi are surrounded by Maya-style palapa and the spa offers a number of Maya inspired treatments including the aloe, avocado and chaya massage which helps to hydrate the skin after exposure to the sun.
Late check-in:
We will inform the property of your late arrival and ask them to be aware that you may require dinner on arrival
Today I have left the itinerary fairly relaxed due to travelling the day before
Shared cooking class
One of the most representative dishes of the state of Yucatan is Cochinita Pibil, which is a dish made from pork marinated with achiote and sour orange; covered with banana and oak leaves, and cooked in an underground oven, called ‘Pib’ in the Mayan language. The chef will teach you about the ancient techniques and ingredients used in this traditional plate.
Private afternoon Mixology class
The perfect post-lunch activity. Learn to prepare three flagship cocktails. The ‘Mayan Firefly’, ‘Triple S’ and ‘The Last Cocktail’.
Private half day tour of Merida
Today you will explore the historical centre of Merida, built more than 450 years ago on the site of T’ho, an ancient Mayan city. You will visit the magnificent Cathedral of San Ildefonso, built with the stones of ancient Maya temples. Construction of this cathedral began in 1561, and it is the oldest of its kind in Latin America. Inside you can find murals depicting the meeting between Francisco de Montejo, the founder of Merida, and the Mayan King Tutl Xiu.
You will then visit Casa Montejo, the grandiose home of Francisco de Montejo, and the Governor's Palace, housing 27 huge murals by Don Fernando Castro Pacheco illustrating the somewhat violent history of Yucatan. From the beautiful tree-shaded Plaza Principal (central square) you can take pictures of the Cathedral, the Palacio Municipal (town hall), Casa Montejo, and the Governor's Palace. Finally, you will be driven along the historical boulevard Paseo Montejo, fashioned after the Champs Elysees, with its stately homes, shops and quaint restaurants.
Private transfer to Campeche (2hrs).
Located close to Campeche Cathedral, this delightful colonial-style hotel boasts 15 traditional rooms. Fully restored in original buildings with modern technology, the rooms feature 18ft ceilings with exposed beams, comfortable beds, and cool tiled floors. Exquisite décor and high end touches adds to the luxurious feel of the rooms. Facilities here include a refined restaurant with terrace, a rooftop bar with city views and a Spa area.
Private half day City Tour
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Campeche was the principal sea port on the Yucatán Peninsula from the 16th-18th Centuries and became a major target for pirates. To protect the port from attacks, the Spanish Crown ordered the fortification of the city and remnants of the original fortress still stand, including gates and ramparts which give the city a decidedly romantic, swashbuckling air. The ramparts house museums and the Land Gate is the site of a dramatic light and sound show that relives the pirate era. The facades of all the houses in the historic centre of town have been repaired and painted, all electrical and telephone cables have been buried underground, and the streets have been paved to look cobbled. Yet despite its beauty and colonial charm, it is free of the tourist crowds that flock to other cities in Mexico.
Private half day excursion to Edzna Archaeological site
For a glimpse of one of the Yucatan’s most important archaeological sites, head to Edzna. The city flourished during the Classic period and was a contemporary of Palenque. A great acropolis, its wealth of buildings and styles give a good idea of the enormous political, economic and religious power of the city. Standing on the top of the Five-Story Building, its most important construction, you will enjoy a view of the most important and monumental structures. Located at the bottom of a valley, Edzna used to flood in the rainy season. As a solution to the problem, they built a complex network of canals used to transport goods and people and to defend them from outside attack. The central plaza contains some exquisite buildings. Limestone temples, stucco masks, a ball court, an amphitheatre, and a complex system of water canals place this site in an elite group of Mexico’s most advanced Pre-Columbian cities. The Pyramid of the Five Levels (31 meters tall) can be seen as you approach the site. The low number of visitors allow for leisurely, contemplative exploration.
Private transfer to the village of Temozon Sur and your Hacienda (around 3 hrs).
Offering beautiful rooms with terraces, a spa and outdoor swimming pool, Hacienda Temozon is a Luxury Collection Hotel which overlooks the countryside outside Sinhunchén. Set in tropical gardens, it is housed in a 16th Century Mexican country house. Each of its spacious rooms feature high, beamed ceilings, wood furnishings and tiled floors. All rooms have a seating area with a flat-screen TV and a hammock on the terrace. There is also free Wi-Fi. You can enjoy local meat and seafood dishes in the Temozon Restaurant. Las Gárgolas Bar serves drinks and snacks all day and you will be greeted with a non-alcoholic beverage at check in. The Hol Be Spa offers a selection of traditional Mayan treatments and overlooks the pool and garden area. There are also tennis courts on site. Staff can arrange bicycle rental and guided tours of the area surrounding the Hacienda.
Private full day tour of Uxmal including lunch
A World Heritage site, Uxmal is one of the best restored and maintained ruins in Yucatan, and certainly one of the most magnificent. Its architecture, some of the most majestic of the Yucatan ruins, is characterized by low horizontal palaces set around courtyards, decorated with rich sculptural elements and details. Rising up from the encroaching jungle, the Pyramid of the Magician is the centrepiece of the ruins and its presence dominates the whole site.
Private full day tour to Hacienda Sotuta de Peon including lunch
Head to Yucatan’s only working henequen (sisal) hacienda Sotuta de Peon, located 35km south of Merida, where you will be transported to the late 1800’s. During the tour of the hacienda, learn about the origins of henequen and details of Yucatan’s enormous henequen boom. See the whole transformation process of the henequen, from plant to fibre and from fibre to finished product, all done on centuries old machinery. Then get onto wooden carts pulled by mules, originally used by henequen workers, and take a ride into the henequen fields. At the end of the tour you can go for a refreshing swim in a cenote (water hole). This tour includes lunch and free time to explore the hacienda or go for a swim.
TEMOZON SUR - CHICHEN ITZA - XPU-HA
Private transfer via Chichen Itza for a guided tour and lunch
Private transfer to Chichen Itza (around 2.5hrs) and enjoy a guided tour of the site. Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is one of the 'New 7 World Wonders', a unique place just waiting to be discovered! The famous Mayan pyramids and temples of Chichen Itza cover an area of over four square miles and are over 1500 years old. The name Chichen Itza is a Mayan word: CHI (mouth) CHEN (well) and ITZA (of the witch water). Some say this is because people were often thrown into the nearby cenote (sinkhole) as sacrifices, and those who survived were believed to be seers. The site is divided into three sections. The north grouping of structures is distinctly Toltec in style, whilst the central group appears to be from the early period and the southern group is known as ‘The Old Chichen’.
After your visit to Chichen Itza, continue to the coast and to your hotel (around 2.5hrs
Stay 3 nights in a jungle suite with private plunge pool on Room Only Basis.
Viceroy Riviera Maya is a luxury resort nestled in the rainforest of Riviera Maya near Playa Del Carmen. Here, in the lush and untamed wild, you’ll stay in seclusion in one of 41 private villas where you’ll enjoy your own private plunge pool. Discover complete relaxation and rejuvenation during your nature-filled experience, and find serenity at the full-service spa. Experience all-new features of the resort, including a full redesign of our restaurant, Coral Restaurant + Bar, and a brand new pool deck with poolside cabanas. Framing it all: white sand beach and ancient cities and ruins that are ripe for exploring.
Esencia is a 50-acre private estate in the Riviera Maya on the pristine sands of Xpu-Ha with an indulgent atmosphere fitting of royalty. Hotel Esencia is chic, intimate and luxurious. With just 40 villas set upon 50 acres of land leading to a beautiful stretch of private beach, you might just feel like you have the place all to yourself. Originally built as a winter retreat for an Italian Duchess, Esencia it is now a sought after destination for those looking to escape from it all.
A plunge pool, rain-like shower room, and spacious outdoor dining terrace with sofa distinguish every Jungle Suite with Plunge Pool as uniquely equipped for calm and restoration. Some suites include an indoor plunge pool and some feature an outdoor plunge pool within a terrace solarium. All suites in this category feature spacious bathrooms including large bathtubs, walk-in closets, high definition televisions, and an in-room sound system with hookup for iPhones and other digital accessories.
Days at leisure to enjoy the beach.
Transfer to Cancun Airport for your British Airways flight back to Gatwick in Club World
Arrive London Gatwick.
