After an early breakfast we head towards the Colonial city of Valladolid, a city rich in colonial architecture and the natural beauty of its Hubikú Cenote, with its fresh, crystal clear water, perfect for a refreshing swim. We will then visit one of the most important archaeological sites of the Maya, Chichen Itza, known as one of the New Seven World Wonders. This legendary Mayan city has been laboriously reclaimed from the jungle.

Take a step back into history as you learn about the Maya and their civilisation. Admire the scale and detail of this ancient city, the geometric perfection of the 25-metre-tall Temple of Kukulkan, popularly known as El Castillo (‘the Castle’). It was built both as a representation of the mystical Maya calendar and to reflect the optical illusion of a serpent snaking its way up or down the pyramid during the spring and autumn equinoxes.

Then, admire the Great Ball Court, the largest of 13 discovered at the site, see the haunting Skull Platform, where the heads of human sacrifice victims and prisoners of war were impaled. After our visit, we continue to the `White City of Merida`, the capital of the state of Yucatan.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast and the facilities of the hotel with most of the day at leisure or if you feel like exploring join the optional tour to the biosphere Celestun, £65.00pp Depart at 9:00 am for Celestun (approximately 2 hours) you will time to relax on its beautiful pristine beaches with crystal-clear waters throughout the day. Sit back and admire the stunning pink flamingos that inhabit this region (Flamingos can be seen throughout the year, except in September and October due to the rains).

We will then take a boat ride through the mangrove forests to observe the area’s extraordinary exotic nature (45m). Have lunch overlooking the sea and some more beach time before heading back to Merida.

In the late afternoon join the guided city tour of Merida's historic downtown. Explore the Paseo de Montejo, where you will find a series of beautiful villas and palaces built in the 19th century. Enjoy the splendid Plaza Grande, home of the cathedral and the Casa de Los Montejo, built in the 16th century and whose beautiful façade has become a symbol of the city.

After a delicious breakfast we head towards Uxmal where you can enjoy a guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which, comes into view rising above the canopy of the jungle. Uxmal was enveloped by the rainforest after the arrival of the Spanish. The most famous structure is the 35-metre-tall Pyramid of the Magician, towering over the remarkably well-preserved Nunnery Quadrangle with its ornately carved interior and exterior walls. Across the central plaza, just beyond the ballgame court, is the Governor’s Palace with its elaborately decorated roof.

At the southern end of the main complex is the Great Pyramid, of which only one side has been excavated with the other three still unclaimed from the jungle. We then visit a Cacao Museum where the plant and its importance for the ancient Mayans will be explained in detail. We will then continue to Campeche to your hotel for an overnight stay.

After breakfast at the hotel, set out to see Campeche on a panoramic tour of this historic coastal city, driving through the heart of the picturesque old town, with its pastel-coloured colonial houses, colonnaded arcades, and bell-gabled churches. We will then continue by foot, taking in the city sights such as the ramparts of the old city walls and St Francis’ Cathedral. The state of preservation and quality of its architecture earned it the status of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Continue the journey to Palenque, a bastion of the Ch'ol Maya people, in the state of Chiapas. We are now in Mexico’s ‘deep south’, where the colourfully dressed descendants of the Maya can be seen everywhere, and their languages frequently heard on the streets and in the marketplaces. Check into your hotel and enjoy your evening.

For thousands of years, the Maya’s writ stretched across what are now the five southern Mexican states as well as all of Belize and Guatemala, and the eastern parts of both El Salvador and Honduras – until their civilisation mysteriously collapsed in the eighth and ninth centuries. It was during this period that the now ruined city of Palenque (or B'aakal as the ancient Maya called it) entered its decline and was left to the jungle. In its heyday, Palenque was a sprawling city-state that spanned nearly 60 sq km, but archaeologists estimate that they have excavated only 5-10% of this UNESCO World Heritage Site. So far, more than 200 structures have been unearthed, with the Temple of the Inscriptions, the Palace, the Temple of the Count and the Temple of the Cross the most prominent.

Enjoy exploring this ancient site and learn more about this ancient civilisation on a guided tour. After, we set out on a visit to an incredible waterfall where you can appreciate Mexico’s natural beauty.

After a delectable breakfast, we will depart and visit the small town and lagoon of Bacalar, commonly known as the ‘Lagoon of Seven Colours’ due to the distinct shades of blue appeared in the water. We make a quick photo-stop here, before continuing north to the archaeological site of Tulum, one of the last cities built and inhibited by the Mayans. Tulum is perhaps one of the most visually impactful sites in Mexico, as it juxtaposes ancient ruins next to aqua coloured waters and white sand beaches.

On arrival in Cancun you will be transferred to the Cancun Bay Resort for 3 nights on an all inclusive basis.