Yucatán Mexico: 11-Day Ruins & Cities Tour by Electric Train – Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

EXPERIENCE

This experience will start at the Tren Maya Station in the Yucatán near Cancún International Airport. From there the train will take you on just a 1-hour journey to Valladolid, a small and peaceful colonial city. Nights one and two will be spent at a hotel or Airbnb in the city. On day two we will explore the area by bicycle, riding on a popular and safe bike path that loops by three of Yucatan’s famous cenote subterranean swimming holes.

On day three we will board the Tren Maya to Campeche, a lovely and slow little city on the western Yucatán Carribean coast, in the state of Campeche. Campeche state is the safest state in Mexico and the people are extremely friendly. There are some amazing restaurants in the city along with a lot of cool pirate history. The whole old town area is inside of an old wall that kept the pirates out, and it’s a lot of fun just to walk the streets or the oceanside malecon.

Day four we will go on a van tour out to Edzna Archeaological Zone which is a less-visited but very impressive pyramid complex. The afternoon is open for either taking a trolley tour of the city and/or exploring the Botanical Gardens which have a beautiful collection of palms.

The morning of day five we will board the train again and continue south to the edge of the jungle. The next stop is Palenque in the state of Chiapas, at the end of the train line. Just near Palenque is where the jungle gets thicker and more hilly. The land there is really magical. Palenque has some good taco shops and places to shop, along with several really good ice cream places to take the edge off of the hot afternoons.

Day six we visit the ruins of Palenque, our absolute favorite archaeological site in Mexico. The site is a massive Mayan city complex that is still mostly unearthed. The old-growth jungle around the site is full of monkeys, tropical birds, and other beautiful creatures.

Day seven is another day of tours, this time to the out-of-this-world turquoise waterfalls of Roberto Barrios or Agua Azul. These are some of the prettiest swimming holes we’ve ever found.

The morning of day eight we will start back north on the Tren Maya. Our next stop is Mérida, a larger, very safe, colonial city that is the center of modern Yucatán culture. In the afternoon we will explore the city with a colonial walking tour.

Day nine will be our second day in Mérida, exploring the amazing city and taking a day trip to the ruins of Uxmal, another large site of Mayan pyramids. In the afternoon we can enjoy the beautiful city, eating local food, walking city streets, shopping, or taking a yoga class!

Day 10 we will take a short train ride to the world wonder of Chichen-Itza, a giant Mayan archaeological site. We will spend the day there on a tour with a local guide, then spend the night at a hotel or Airbnb nearby the ruins.

On the 11th morning we will board the Tren Maya for the last time, taking the two-hour ride back to Cancún Airport where the trip will conclude.

HIGHLIGHTS

Guided tour of Chichen-Itza, one of the Wonders of the World near Valladolid
Guided tour of Palenque archaeological site in Chiapas
Bike tour to two cenote swimming holes near Valladolid
Agua Azul turquoise waterfalls near Palenque
Colonial city walking tours

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