Ecuador is one of South America`s must-see destinations, as it straddles the equator and is home to spellbinding landscapes (from dense Amazon rainforest to boulder-strewn Andean highlands and the beautiful Galápagos Islands).
The country`s capital, Quito, is situated at an altitude of 2,850 metres in the Andean foothills. Quito`s 16th- and 17th-century cathedrals, Moorish-style buildings, and well-preserved colonial centre attest to its historical legacy.
After exploring Quito and visiting the Equator Monument to the north, you`ll travel to Mindo (nested in the Ecuadorian rainforest) and then to Otavalo, a town surrounded by volcanoes that is home to an indigenous population. Taste the local chocolate of Mindo, feed bird-sized insects at the nursery, and then visit the handicraft market in Otavalo.
Continue the voyage by visiting Cotacachi, Peguche, Papallacta`s hot springs, and the snow-capped active stratovolcano of Cotopaxi before returning to Quito.
Next, you`ll be whisked away to the paradisiacal Galápagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean located approximately 1,000 kilometres from Ecuador`s shore. The islands are considered one of the best locations in the world to observe wildlife due to their unparalleled beauty.
The island of Santa Cruz is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, giant Tortoises, Sea Turtles, and Marine Iguanas. After visiting Isla Baltra, a small, barren, and arid island filled with prickly pear cacti, you will travel to the island of Santa Cruz, which is home to the Charles Darwin Research Station, giant Tortoises, Sea Turtles, and Marine Iguanas. Its natural harbour, Academy Bay, provides ample bathing and snorkelling opportunities in crystal-clear waters.
After exploring the Santa Cruz highlands for enormous tortoises and snorkelling in azure waters, fall in love with the island of San Cristóbal (geologically one of the oldest of the Galápagos archipelago) and Isla Lobos, where Sea Lions, Blue-Footed Boobies and Frigatebirds roam, before returning to mainland Ecuador for the night.
At Cancun International Airport, our representative will be waiting to transport you to your hotel in Cancun.
After an early breakfast, we travel to the colonial city of Valladolid, a city renowned for its colonial architecture and the natural beauty of its Hubik Cenote, whose fresh, crystal-clear water is ideal for a swim. Then, we will travel to Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and one of the most significant Maya archaeological sites. This legendary Mayan city was reclaimed from the jungle with great effort.
Learn about the Maya and their civilization to take a step back into the past. Admire the size and complexity of this ancient city, as well as the geometric perfection of the 25-meter-tall Temple of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo (`the Castle`). It was constructed to reflect the optical phantasm of a serpent slithering up or down the pyramid during the vernal and autumnal equinoxes and to serve as a representation of the mystical Maya calendar.
Then, observe the Great Ball Court, the largest of 13 discovered at the site, and visit the eerie Skull Platform, where human sacrifice victims and prisoners of war had their heads impaled. After our visit, we proceed to the state capital of Yucatan, the "White City of Merida."
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and the hotel`s amenities with the majority of the day at your leisure, or if you`re feeling adventurous, join the £65.00pp optional excursion to the biosphere Celestun. Departing at 9:00 am for Celestun (approximately 2 hours), you will have the entire day to relax on its gorgeous, unspoiled beaches with crystal-clear water. Relax and observe the beautiful pink flamingos that inhabit this area (except in September and October due to the rains).
Then, we will embark on a 45-minute boat journey through the mangrove forests to observe the region`s extraordinary exotic flora and fauna. Before returning to Merida, enjoy brunch overlooking the ocean and additional beach time.
Join the guided city tour of Merida`s historic downtown in the late afternoon. Explore the Paseo de Montejo, where you will discover a collection of 19th-century villas and palaces. Enjoy the magnificent Plaza Grande, home to the cathedral and the 16th-century Casa de Los Montejo, whose gorgeous facade has become a symbol of the city.
After a scrumptious breakfast, we travel to Uxmal, where you can enjoy a guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which rises above the forest canopy. Following the arrival of the Spanish, the rainforest engulfed Uxmal. The most recognisable structure is the 35-meter-tall Pyramid of the Magician, which towers over the exceptionally well-preserved Nunnery Quadrangle with its intricately carved interior and exterior walls. Across the central plaza, just beyond the ballgame court, is the elaborately decorated roof of the Governor`s Palace.
At the southern extremity of the main complex is the Great Pyramid, of which only one side has been excavated; the remaining three sides are still covered by dense vegetation. The plant and its significance to the ancient Maya will then be explained in detail at the Cacao Museum. Then, we will proceed to your hotel in Campeche for the night.
After breakfast at the hotel, drive through the core of Campeche`s picturesque old town, with its pastel-colored colonial houses, colonnaded arcades, and bell-topped churches, on a panoramic tour of this historic coastal city. The tour will continue on foot, taking in city landmarks such as the ancient city walls and St. Francis` Cathedral. It was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of its preservation and architectural excellence.
Continue to Palenque, a stronghold of the Ch`ol Maya in the Mexican state of Chiapas. We are now in the `deep south` of Mexico, where descendants of the Maya can be seen wearing brightly coloured clothing and their languages are frequently heard on the streets and in the marketplaces. Check into your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the evening.
The Maya empire spanned what are now the five southern Mexican states, the entirety of Belize and Guatemala, and the eastern portions of El Salvador and Honduras for millennia before inexplicably collapsing in the eighth and ninth centuries. During this time, Palenque (or B`aakal, as the ancient Maya called it) entered a period of decline and was abandoned to the forest. In its heyday, Palenque was a sprawling city-state that covered nearly 60 km2, but archaeologists estimate that only 5-10% of this UNESCO World Heritage Site has been excavated. Over 200 structures have been discovered to date, with the Temple of the Inscriptions, the Palace, the Temple of the Count, and the Temple of the Cross being the most notable.
Enjoy a guided tour of this ancient site and learn more about this ancient civilization. After that, we visited an incredible waterfall where you can appreciate the natural grandeur of Mexico.
After breakfast, depart Palenque for the east and arrive at the archaeological site of Becan, an intriguing Maya ceremonial centre and city. Even the site`s original moniker is unknown, despite the efforts of archaeologists to uncover its secrets. We resume our journey, staying the night in Chetumal, the capital of the state of Quintana Roo.
After a scrumptious breakfast, we`ll visit the small town and lagoon of Bacalar, also known as the "Lagoon of Seven Colours" due to the distinct shades of blue that emerge in the water. Before proceeding north to the archaeological site of Tulum, one of the last Mayan cities to be constructed and inhabited, we make a brief photo stop here. Ancient ruins are juxtaposed with aqua-colored waters and white-sand beaches, making Tulum one of the most visually arresting locations in Mexico.
On arrival in Cancun, you will be transferred to the all-inclusive Cancun Bay Resort for three nights.
At leisure in Cancun, take advantage of the hotel`s amenities and sip a cocktail by the pool.
Relax on the white sand beaches and swim in the Caribbean`s crystal clear waters at your leisure.
Before it is time to leave gorgeous Mexico, at leisure. You will be taken to the airport for your return flight. You have the option to extend your stay in Cancun, please connect with us if you wish to do so.
