Incan Peru and Mayan Mexico 15 Days

Day 1: Arrival in Lima, Peru

After your arrival in Lima we will meet you and transfer to your chosen hotel.  For Classic 3*/4* clients this will be the Boutique Hotel Second Home or similar and for Luxury Travellers the 5* Miraflores Park Hotel or the Casa Andina Private Collection maybe. Enjoy the rest of the day as free time in this bustelling capital city.

Day 2: Fly to Cusco, City Tour.

After leaving the hotel after breakfast we will transport you back to Lima airport for your one hour flight to Cuzco. Upon arrival in Cuzco we will meet you and transfer you to you chosen hotel.  For Classic travellers this will be the Boutique Hotel Casa San Blas or similar and for Luxury Travellers the fabulous Monasterio Hotel or the lovely Casa Andina Private Collection, subject to space of course.

In the afternoon you will enjoy a private guided Cusco city tour visiting the Inca Fortress of Sacsayhuamán, the Cuzco Cathedral and the most important temple of the Inca Empire, the Coricancha - Inca Temple of the Sun plus some other superb places of interest.

Day 3: Full Day Sacred Valley Tour

Collection from your hotel for a full day tour of the Sacred Valley, visiting the Inca ruins of Pisac and Ollayantambo also the Market at Pisac, a great place to buy souvenirs. You will have an English speaking guide all day and a great buffet lunch included in the sunny valley.

Day 4: Machu Picchu

Today you will have an early start to catch your chosen train to Machu Picchu which will be either the Vistadome or luxury Hiram Bingham service.

Comparison of the Trains to Machu Picchu

After reception in aguas Calientes and your bus transfer to the Machu Picchu site you will enjoy a private tour with a qualified English speaking guide. Enjoy the rest of the day as free time to enjoy the incredible site.  In the late afternoon you will return to your chosen hotel in Aquas Calientes, the town that nestles in the valley below Machu Picchu. 

For Classic travellers we recommend the Inti Inn, Machu Picchu Inn, or similar.  For Luxury travellers we recommend the Pueblo Hotel or the Sumaq Hotel, both excellent high end hotels down in the village. If you wanted to stay right at the gate of Machu Picchu you could choose the Sanctuary Hotel, the location cannot be beaten.

Day 5: Revisit Machu Picchu and back to Cusco

A day to revisit Machu Picchu and enjoy this fabulous site at leisure.  You may choose to climb Huayna Picchu, the peak that overlooks Machu Picchu and affords fantastic views and photo opportunities.  In the late afternoon you will board the train for your trip back to Cuzco.  You will leave the train at the last station before Cuzco, Poroy, for a more swift and convenient transfer by road back to your hotel.

Day 6: Fly to Lima, City Tour Colonial Lima

Today you will fly to Lima during the morning and be transfered to your comfrortable hotel in the Miraflores area of the city once again. After lunch you will be picked up for a private tour of Colonial Lima and all the splendors that the Spanish left behind.

Day 7: Fly from Peru to Cancun, Mexico

Today you will fly from Peru to Cancun, Mexico, home to some of the best beaches in the world and spectacular remnants of the ancient Mayan Ruins, such as one of the new seven wonders of the world – Chichen Itza!

We will pick you up from the airport and take you to your hotel. We recommend the 4* Cabañas Los Lirios (subject to space of course). Located in the heart of the Mayan Riviera, Los Lirios is a beach front hotel in Tulum only a short drive from the ruins of Tulum and the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve, offering unusual comfort and lovely spacious rooms to its guests. Los Lirios Tulum Cabins is the right place if you want to be totally relaxed, far from stress.

Day 8: At the Beach

A day to relax at the beach or maybe do another activity such as diving or snorkelling, just let us know so we can arrange this for you.

Day 9: Tulum Ruins

After breakfast and spending the morning relaxing at your hotel, in the afternoon you will pay a visit to the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum, perched above the Caribbean Sea.

If you have some extra time, you might try snorkeling in the world-class reefs of the Mexican Caribbean or diving in the nearby unique cenotes or underground freshwater caverns.

Day 10: Chichen itza

Today you will have a full-day to explore Chichen Itza, the most visited Maya ruins on the peninsula. Eighteen structures have been restored over the years. Pyramid Kukulcan is the tallest of them and allows a view from the top of all Chichen Itza. During the Spring and Fall equinoxes, (March 21 & Sept 21) the setting sun creates shadows down the steps of the pyramid that resemble a snake descending. This is a popular event to see and usually draws big crowds.

You will end the day by travelling to the beautiful, colonial city of Merida – the Yucatan´s capital and largest city. We will transfer you to your hotel, where we recommend the 4* Casa del Balam, in the heart of historic Merida. We recommend the lovely Casa de Balam hotel for your stay.

Day 11: Merida

After breakfast and a relaxing morning, we will take you on a city tour of this special Mayan and Spanish colonial city. Merida was built on the site of the Maya city of T'ho (also known as Ichcaanzihó or "city of the five hills", referring to five pyramids) which had been a center of Mayan culture and activity for centuries. Because of this, many historians consider Merida (with an argument with Cusco, Peru) the oldest continually-occupied city in the Americas.

Many carved Maya stones from ancient T'ho were used to build the Spanish Colonial buildings that are plentiful in downtown Merida, and are visible, for instance, in the walls of the main Cathedral. Much of Mérida's architecture from the Colonial period through the 18th century and 19th century is still standing in the centro historico.

Day 12: Uxmal Ruins full day tour.

Today you will embark on a full-day exploration of the ancient Mayan ruins of Uxmal, considered the best built and the best preserved. Even before the restoration work Uxmal was in better condition than many other Maya sites thanks to being unusually well built. Much was built with well cut stones set into a core of concrete not relying on plaster to hold the building together. Thanks to its good state of preservation, it is one of the few Maya cities where the casual visitor can get a good idea of how the entire ceremonial center looked in ancient times.

At the end of the day, we return you to your hotel in Merida.

Day 13: Transfer to Cancun, Playa del Carmen

The ruins were fantastic, but now it´s time to just rest and relax at the beach! Today we will transfer you from Merida to your hotel in Playa del Carmen on the beach. We recommend the 4* La Tortuga, rated on Trip Advisor as the best in Playa!

La Tortuga Hotel & Spa is a small hotel, so each of our 51 rooms has personality and charm. Every room has AC, TV, telephone, in-room safe, ceiling fan, coffee machine, and hairdryer. We even provide you with daily beach towels for our beach club.

Day 14: Free day at La Tortuga Hotel (or similar)

Today you will have a free day to just rest and relax at the hotel and at the beach.

Playa del Carmen, where the turquoise Caribbean Sea laps at white beaches, palm trees sway in the mild breezes and the sultry tropical sun shines down on you from the sky. The soft, porous coral sand doesn't absorb the sun’s rays so it always stay cool.

Day 15: Transfer to Cancun airport, Fly home

After breakfast at your hotel, we will take you to Cancun airport for your international flights home … an unforgettable trip!