The Yucatán Loop

Heading south for the first great thrill: Tulum, the only Maya city perched above a white-sand beach and turquoise sea. Fish a la plancha for lunch under a palapa, then on to Bacalar, the “lagoon of seven colors”: you swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Cenote Azul, one of the trip's most beautiful stops. End of the day in Chetumal, an old Maya port on the Belize border.

A beautiful day crossing to Chiapas. On the way, a visit to Becán, a Maya city buried deep in the forest, still little visited, where monkeys and birds keep the pyramids company. Lunch at an old rancho around grilled meat, then on to Palenque, at the gates of the tropical jungle.

A morning at the Agua Azul waterfalls: turquoise water tumbles down tiers of natural pools where swimming is pure bliss — grilled fish lunch at the foot of the falls. In the afternoon, your guide opens up Palenque, one of the best-preserved Maya cities in Mexico: the Temple of the Inscriptions, the tomb of King Pakal, and buildings the forest still holds tight. In the evening, you try to break the piñata — Mexican tradition obliges.

The road gradually leaves the forest for the great plains of the gulf. A stop in Champotón to watch the pelicans, seaside lunch, then arrival in Campeche, Mexico's only fortified city and a UNESCO-listed jewel. A stroll through the historic center: cobbled lanes, colorful facades, ramparts, and the famous Malecón facing the sea. Night there.

On the way, stops at the Maya cemetery of Pomuch and the village of Becal, capital of the panama hat, where you visit a family workshop. Then Celestún, a small fishing port on the gulf: a boat ride through the biosphere reserve, meeting thousands of pink flamingos and the mangrove. Ceviche lunch facing the sea, before reaching Merida, the capital of the Yucatán nicknamed “the white city” — covered market, hammocks, and an evening to the rhythm of marimbas.

On to Izamal, the “yellow city” painted entirely saffron, a former Maya religious center turned colonial gem. Buffet lunch with a jarana show, the Yucatán's folk dance, then a refreshing swim in a preserved cenote, those sacred freshwater wells the Maya saw as gates to the underworld. Night steps from Chichen Itza — tomorrow, you'll be among the first to enter.

The grand finale: a guided visit of Chichen Itza, one of the seven new wonders of the world — the Kukulcán pyramid, the great ball court, the Temple of the Jaguars, and the sacred cenote. Free lunch, then transfer to Cancún airport (flight from 5pm). Eight days, a full loop of the Yucatán, and a head full of images. ¡Hasta pronto!

Late flight, or staying a few more days? Extend with a beach stay on the Riviera Maya (see “Extend the adventure”).