YUCATAN EXPLORER 

ITINERARY
DAY 1:  CANCUN - CHICHEN ITZA 
Reception at CANCUN International Airport and transfer to the Mayaland Hotel at Chichen Itza, located in the very heart of the archaeological site. Dinner and overnight at the Mayaland Hotel.

DAY 2:  CHICHEN ITZA
 Breakfast at the Mayaland Hotel. There will be a guided tour of the site which begins in the Great Plaza, the heart of Chichen Itza, taking in the Ball Court, Temple of the Jaguars, Pyramid of Kukulcan, Tzompantli, Temple of the Warriors and the Temple of the 1,000 columns. Then it's on to the Sacred Cenote, Observatory and the set of buildings constructed during the Maya Classic period which includes the Nunnery, La Iglesia and Akab Dzib. Lunch will be served at Mayaland, you may choose any one of our four restaurants or the poolside grill. Enjoy the afternoon relaxing by the pool, horseback riding or playing volleyball. You can also stroll through our beautiful gardens and watch the birds. The Yucatan boasts more species that the United States and Canada combined. In the evening we'll visit the Sound and Light Show staged nightly in the archaeological site. The play of light on the ancient buildings and tales of warlike rulers, priests and Mayan gods weave their spell and you'll leave Chichen Itza enchanted. Dinner and overnight in Mayaland.

DAY 3: CHICHEN ITZA - RIO LAGARTOS 
After breakfast, depart to the northern coast of the Yucatan Penninsula until you reach RIO LAGARTOS. A wonderful boat ride through the mangroves will take you to visit the feeding grounds of the beautiful pink flamingos. A box lunch will be provided. Return to the hotel for an afternoon at leisure.

DAY 4:  CHICHEN ITZA - POPOLA - YAXUNA - YAXCABA - SOTUTA - CHICHEN ITZA or FREE DAY or FREE BYCICLE or OPTIONAL HORSEBACKRIDING
 After breakfast, there will be a tour of the villages of the living Maya. The tour departs from the Hotel Mayaland and heads for the town of CHENDZONOT via the village of Piste on an 18 kilometer Mayan sacbe (white gravel path) dating over 1000 years. At the town of CHENDZONOT, you will see the original Mayan huts surrounded by their natural habitat, flora and fauna. We will stop and visit a couple of families; experience the way they live, what they grow in their gardens and small farms. Then on to the town of POPOLA. Crystal clear fresh waterwells called "cenotes" dot the land escape. This underground river system are the foundation of Maya life in northern Yucatan. With them enter the only archaeological site visited on this tour, YAXUNA. You will experience archaeologist at work as they uncover and consolidate temples and approximately 60 buildings which date from the Late Pre-Classic period (300 B.C. to 300 A.D.). The present day village of YAXUNA has a water well called "Lol-Ha" where the "Dzachaac" ceremony (praying for rain water) takes place next to a small church and a community museum. On to KANCABOLZONOT and YAXCABA, a colonial jewel, complete with 17th century church built in honor of St. Peter. The building preserves traces of a monastery and a nearby chapel dedicated to St. Francis of Asisi and the Holy Cross, which contains seven baroque style altar pieces laminated in gold. Of importance is the 18th century "Huay Cot" house of Moorish architecture. TABI is the next stop. The dome of this church is painted with noteworthy baroque murals. A few miles down the road is SOTUTA where we will see the palace of the last Mayan high priest "Nachi Cocom". We will walk to a temple dedicated to St. Peter the Apostle and a Hermitage. On our return at YAXCABA, we will visit a facility where Mayan doctors demonstrate their customs and the uses of curative powers of their medicinal plants. On to "XTOJIL", there is a cenote with caves where you can see paintings and descriptions over a thousand years old. The tour lasts approximately 6 to 7 hours. A box lunch with fruits, juices, bottled water and soft drinks will be complimentary. Our guests will arrive at the Hotel Mayaland in time for a late, full fare lunch, also included. Free afternoon to enjoy the pools, gardens, jogging and bicycle trails and some bird watching at the Mayaland Hotel.

DAY 5:  CHICHEN ITZA - IZAMAL - MERIDA - UXMAL 
After breakfast, depart from the Mayaland Hotel for MERIDA calling at IZAMAL on the way, where we'll visit the convent, the park, market and the Kinich Kakmo pyramid. Upon arrival in MERIDA, we'll take a walking tour of the city center visiting the Zocalo or main square, site of the stately Cathedral, Casa de Montejo, the 16th century home of the Montejo family, City Hall and Government House. Then it's on to the city market for a spot of craft shopping. Lunch is served at La Parrilla where you'll sample authentic Mexican cuisine and listen to the serenades of strolling mariachi players. We continue our walking tour to the church of the Tercera Orden, the Peon Contreras theater and the 17th century University of the Yucatan building. We'll then board a traditional horse-drawn carriage or calesa for a ride to Paseo Montejo and a visit to the Regional Museum in the Canton Palace. A motorcoach tour around the Monument to the Nation and past the chateau-style homes on Paseo Montejo and Avenida Colon concludes our city tour. Then it's on to UXMAL, we'll arrive at The Lodge at Uxmal or Hacienda Uxmal in time for dinner.

DAY 6: UXMAL Breakfast at The Lodge at Uxmal or Hacienda Uxmal. 
Walk to the park for a guided tour or explore at your own pace. Highlights include the oval-shaped Magician's Pyramid; the Nun's Quadrangle with its magnificent friezes depicting the Mayan rain god; owls and serpents; the Palace of the Governor and the Great Pyramid. Free afternoon for relaxing at the hotel where you can swim, sunbathe or play tennis. An alternative is to take a jeep safari adventure tour through the forest to the remote Mayan village of San Simon. This exciting trip gives you the chance to meet the modern-day Maya, see how they live and learn about their timeless customs. A knowledgeable guide will be your companion on this unforgettable excursion which is one of the highlights of this tour. In the evening you are invited to the Uxmal Sound and Light Show. Staged nightly in the Nun's Quadrangle, Uxmal's central plaza, the music, dialogue and illumination take place in a magnificent setting and the event is an unforgettable introduction to the history and legends of the ancient city. Dinner and overnight at The Lodge at Uxmal or Hacienda Uxmal.

DAY 7:  UXMAL - KABAH - SAYIL - LABNA - TICUL - LOLTUN - OXCUTZCAB - UXMAL 
Depart from The Lodge at Uxmal or Hacienda Uxmal after breakfast. First stop is KABAH where you'll see the Codz pop, a palace famous for its facade of 250 Chac masks and statues of ancient rulers of the site, the Palace and the Arch of Kabah which marks the entrance to the sacbe (path) linking Kabah with Uxmal. We'll then drive to SAYIL, a site unique in the Maya World for its gracious three-tiered palace: a labyrinth of 70 room adorned with columns and Chac masks. LABNA is the final site on the Puuc Route and one of the loveliest. It's dominated by the famous Labna Arch; other buildings of note are the Palace and El Mirador. It's short drive to the town of TICUL and a visit to a local pottery. Watch the potters turn out anything from water jugs to reproductions of ancient Mayan figurines and vases. Lunch at a regional restaurant. After lunch, we'll make our way to LOLTUN Caves where a guide will take you through the huge caverns. Next stop is the market town of OXKUTZCAB, the heart of southern Mexico's most important tropical fruit, citrus and vegetable growing area. We will visit the fine church and convent which dominates the main square. Then it's on to TEKAX, a community steeped in history and tradition. Its 17th century church, ruined convent and fortress-like chapel are silent testimony to a turbulent past: Mayan revolts against Spanish rule and a siege during the Castle War. Dinner and overnight at The Lodge at Uxmal or Hacienda Uxmal.

DAY 8: UXMAL - TULUM - CANCUN or MAYAN RIVIERA 
Departure from The Lodge at Uxmal or Hacienda Uxmal after breakfast. Box lunch served onboard your luxury motor coach en route to the impressive city of TULUM, in the neighboring state of Quintana Roo. In the afternoon, we'll transfer you to your chosen hotel in Playa del Carmen, the Mayan Riviera, or Cancun for the remainder of your vacation.