Suggested Mexico itineraries - Independent Mexico travel

Mexico itineraries

Our Mexico itineraries are essentially a number of shorter modules strung together to form one long Mexico trip. We've combined the modules we feel best complement each other (for example an easy start, then a jungle/ruins adventure and finally a bit of sun and sea).

You'll be staying in characteristic, comfortable accommodation which reflects the local environment. Because all our Mexico itineraries are individual, there are no fixed departure dates, or groups to join. Once you've found one of the Mexico itineraries that suits you, you can complete the quote request form and we'll send you a Travel Plan.

If you'd prefer to build your own trip, we also offer either travelling around Yucatan by hire car, or touring the Mayan route by scheduled bus.
Prices shown are valid until 31st June 2010 and are quoted per person, based on 2 people sharing. During high season such as Easter, July & August and around Christmas time surcharges can apply. At the bottom of the page you will find the general information about our Mexico itineraries.



Mexico itineraries: Self-drive options

(See Mexico itineraries 6 & 7 for Mexico trips by bus)
Mexico two week itinerary - Chichèn Itza

Mexico itinerary 1:

 Arriba Yucatan - Comprehensive two-week Mexico itinerary

Route: Playa del Carmen - Chichèn Itza - Izamal - Campeche - Villahermosa - San Cristobal - Palenque - Calakmul - Tulum
Duration 15 days / 14 nights
Price per person £869 - based on 2 people
Car rental 13 days cat. C car


This is a fun and comprehensive Mexico itinerary if you're planning to spend two weeks travelling around Yucatan. You'll cover a lot of miles but we've kept the itinerary relaxed and varied. You will of course visit the Mayan ruins Chichèn Itza and Palenque as well as colourful San Cristobal and the surrounding areas. The more off-road spots on this trip include the yellow town Izamal and the little-known ruins of Calakmul. The flight is pretty tiring so we've ensured you have a relaxed start and finish to the trip: two nights Playa del Carmen at the beginning and peaceful Tulum at the end.
 
Mexico two week itinerary - Izamal
Mexico two week itinerary - Relax in a hammock
Yucatan itinerary - Refreshing waterfalls

Mexico itinerary 2:

 Cenotes and cabañas - Relaxed two-week Yucatan itinerary

Route: Playa del Carmen - Rio Lagartos - Chichèn Itza - Izamal - Campeche - Palenque - Calakmul - Tulum
Duration 14 days / 13 nights
Price per person £827 - based on 2 people
Car rental 12 days cat. C car


Just like 'Arriba Yucatan', this is a comprehensive two-week self-drive trip around the Yucatan peninsula. You'll cover less miles on this Mexico itinerary, so there's more time to head out and explore on your own. Instead of visiting the Indian city San Cristobal in the south, you'll drive from Playa del Carmen to Rio Lagartos, famous for its mud pools and flamingos. This itinerary also has a good mix of famous and lesser-known Mayan ruins and cities, the difference with Arriba Yucatan being that you have more time to explore them. At the end of the trip you can recharge your batteries on the beaches on the Riviera Mayan. This is one of our most popular Mexico itineraries.
 
Yucatan itinerary - San Cristobal
Yucatan itinerary - Tulum
Mexico three week itinerary - Sunny Caribbean shores

Mexico itinerary 3:

 Mexico Manana - Three-week self-drive Mexico itinerary

Route: Playa del Carmen - Rio Lagartos - Chichèn Itza - Izamal - Campeche - San Cristobal - Palenque - Calakmul - Tulum.
Duration 20 days / 19 nights
Price per person £1129 - based on 2 people
Car rental 17 days cat. C car

This three-week self-drive Mexico itinerary won't include Mexico City, instead you'll enjoy a very leisurely trip round Yucatan with a large part of the itinerary in the mountains and jungle.

After a couple of days chilling on the beach you'll travel via a flamingo nature reserve to the ancient Mayan city Chichèn Itza, Izamal and the Gulf of Mexico. You will then head up into the mountains to San Cristobal and followed by the jungle to see the overgrown, remote Mayan cities Yaxchilan and Bonampak. The trip ends in the Tulum, where you can spend another few days relaxing on the Caribbean shore.
Mexico three week itinerary - Yaxchilan
Mexico three week itinerary - Smiling happy people
Yucatan adventure tour - Horse and carriage

Mexico itinerary 4:

 A taste of Yucatan - One week self-drive Yucatan itinerary

Route: Cancun - Rio Lagartos - Chichèn Itza - Tulum.
Duration 7 days / 6 nights
Price per person £454 - based on 2 people
Car rental 6 days Cat. A car

Looking for a short escape? Then this Yucatan-in-nutshell trip may be just the ticket.
With this trip you'll experience the best Mexico has to offer; a wonderful climate and friendly Mexican atmosphere, a sprinkling of Mayan culture, a mud bath on the Gulf of Mexico, strolling along colonial plazas and then relaxing in a hammock on the Riviera Mayan; either in bustling Playa del Carmen or along the quiet palm beaches of Tulum. The best of Yucatan...in a nutshell. This is the shortest of our Mexico itineraries and great if you have limited time.
Yucatan adventure tour - Merida
Yucatan adventure tour - Yucatan sunset

Suggested Mexico itineraries by bus (the Mayan route)

Mexico City Cancun trip - Mariachi

Mexico itinerary 6:

 Mayans and Mariachis - Mexico City to Cancun

Route: Mexico City - Puebla - Oaxaca - San Cristobal - Palenque - Campeche - Merida - Chichèn Itza - Playa del Carmen.
Duration 18 days / 17 nights
Price per person £765 - based on 2 people
Transport Scheduled & shuttle bus services

If you want to travel from Mexico City to the Caribbean coast, this itinerary is best for you. The distances are considerable, but your transport between all the stops on the way is by comfortable scheduled bus service so you don't need to worry about driving. The trip begins in Mexico City where you will find plenty of historic monuments and the typical Mexican atmosphere. Travelling across 'Marlboro Country' you will head into the mountains of Chiapas, the centre of Mexican Indian culture. After a jungle adventure at Palenque you will visit the colonial cities and then on to the ancient Mayan city Chichèn Itza. At the end of the trip you'll be able to relax and enjoy a well-earned margarita on the beach at Playa del Carmen.
Mexico City Cancun trip - Mitla
Mexico City Cancun trip - Friendly faces
Mexico Guatemala and Belize itinerary - Colourful carpets

Mexico itinerary 7:

 The Mayan Route - Mexico, Guatemala & Belize

Route: Playa del Carmen - Chichèn Itza - Merida - Campeche - Palenque - San Cristobal - Panajachel (Guatemala) - Antigua - Flores/Tikal - Caye Caulker (Belize) - Playa del Carmen
Duration 22 days /21 nights
Price per person £956 - based on 2 people
Transport Scheduled and shuttle bus services


This is our most comprehensive Mayan route itinerary. In three weeks you will visit some of the most beautiful Mayan ruins in Latin America. The itinerary is varied enough to ensure you don't get ' temple fatigue'  and includes both jungle adventure and chilling on the beach. The three countries you will visit are all very different, which is what makes this itinerary so interesting. In Guatemala the landscape is more rugged and the infrastructure is less developed than in Mexico. The local people in their vibrant traditional dress form a wonderful colourful spectacle. Belize has a great mix of Latino and Caribbean influences and the islands on the coast are a true paradise for snorkellers and divers.
Mexico Guatemala and Belize itinerary - Tikal
Mexico Guatemala and Belize itinerary - Coconuts !

Mexico itineraries general information


What's included in the Mexico itineraries?
- Your accommodation includes breakfast where mentioned. Sometimes other meals are also included, this will be mentioned in the description.
- Transport by rental car or bus as described. Transfers (for example your hotel to the bus station) are included if they are not easy to arrange locally. In other cases we will give you the necessary information on how to arrange transfers yourself and how much this costs.
- All mentioned excursions and organised visits, sometimes with guide. See descriptions for more details.
- Where necessary, assistance from our local English-speaking agent who you can contact 24 hours a day.

What is not included in the Mexico itineraries?
- International flights to Mexico. You can book these separately: see our flights to Mexico page.
- Flight surcharges including airport taxes, security and fuel surcharges and ticketing costs, local departure taxes
- Most admission fees for national parks (generally US$6 - 10 per person)
- Optional excursions 

A tailor-made Mexico itinerary?
It's possible to customize your itinerary. Perhaps you'd like to treat yourself to different hotel, or add a few extra days on the beach?
It’s very easy to change these itineraries to suit your personal requirements, just let us know what you want when you complete the quote request form (see below), or contact us if you need further information.
 

Click here for the quote request form

Click here for the self drive modules overview

Click here for our Mayan Route tours by bus