Temples, Traditions and Highland Landscapes
Explore the hushed-up Mexican highlands to discover stunning landscapes, old traditions and Mayan jungle temples, before relaxing in a UNESCO coastal town
Personalised journeys from start to finish
Every trip helps support Conservation
Every detail taken care of
What's included
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Return international flight from the UK
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All accommodation with breakfast (some hotels may include further meals)
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All private ground transfers
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All internal flights
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All tours specified in the itinerary description
At a glance
Discover the beautiful, adventurous and off the beaten track highlands of Mexico with its special landscapes entrenched in a forgotten time where ancient traditions flourish and hidden temples sprout out of the jungle.
After a couple of nights in lively Mexico City, head to the Chiapas province for a stay in charming San Cristobal de las Casas. Here you can soak up the melting pot of cultures that hold onto indigenous lifestyles, before witnessing the natural splendour of Sumidero Canyon and Agua Azul waterfalls. Moving onto Palenque, get your history fix as you explore the world-famous Mayan ruins in an enchanting jungle setting. Then, enjoy a few days of coastal relaxation in Campeche with its waterside views and colonial and moorish architecture.
Example trip itinerary
Mexico City
Transfer
Private transfer from Mexico City airport to Mexico City hotel
Accommodation in Mexico City
Mexico City
Overview
In true W style, its Mexico City hotel carries on its super-contemporary, colourful and very trendy high-design that it’s so well known for.
For those that enjoy not only this glamorous urban style and feel, but some excellent concierge services, state-of-the-art amenities in each bedroom, great views over the city, fun bars and fantastic food (its Saturday barbecues and Sunday lunches are some of the best in town), then this is a very fitting option.
Located just off the Reforma boulevard in the trendy Polanco district, you are also well placed for exploring the chic shops, boutiques and galleries of this popular, upmarket neighbourhood.
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Mexico City
Overview
Benefitting from a perfect location in the city’s refined Polanco district, this stylishly discreet boutique hotel is one of the city’s best for contemporary design, personalised hospitality and attention to service.
An elegant yet sober décor of grey tones mixed in with various oriental influences and design-led pieces, such as its main seven-floor-scaling spiral staircase, Las Alcobas delivers its in-house spa, complimentary mini-bar, room service, state of the art in-room amenities and restaurant (headed by the award-winning chef, Martha Ortiz) with exactly the modern panache and efficiency as it makes out.
Furthermore whether you are in the city for just a night or couple days, just outside the foyer is some of the best shopping boutiques, artisan stores, restaurants and the designer shops of the Masaryk Avenue.
→ Find out moreMexico City
Overview
One of the city’s newest and most stylish hotels, the St. Regis is so much more than your typical business hotel.
A combination of slick, contemporary design, and well-thought-out amenities, all the while making nods to Mexican culture and history in the form of local sculptures or pre-Colombian art. The hotel’s skyscraper structure gives it phenomenal views over this blinking, restless city from its rooms, gym, bar terrace and fantastic swimming pool.
There is a healthy range of room categories from the deluxe to the Astor and St Regis Suites, all decorated in chic shades of purple, silver and green, and the service is impeccable. The Diana Restaurant specialises in delicious contemporary Mexican cuisine and the King Cole bar has a sleek, youthful vibe with a wonderful mural by Pablo-Weisz-Carrington.
What’s more the hotel is in the city’s Zona Rosa on the grand Paseo de la Reforma avenue, a few minutes from the genteel Polanco and Condesa districts, with lots of superb restaurants, shops and the Anthropology Museum close by.
→ Find out moreMexico City
Overview
Housed in a typically classical building on the city’s grand Paseo de la Reforma avenue, complete with a well-ordered courtyard, fountains and outdoor pool, the Four Seasons is the predictably opulent sanctuary in the midst of this busy capital city.
With lots of space, on-site amenities, well-equipped bedrooms, the overall feeling is one of sophisticated calm contained within these elegant walls.
The service is excellent and the city’s most famous avenue is right on the doorstep too, making you very centrally placed for exploring the city. Guests are free to use the hotel’s complimentary bicycles too.
→ Find out more
Two days in Mexico City
Enjoy time in this bustling and cosmopolitan capital which has a fabulous selection of museums and art galleries for you to visit. Mexico City is also famous for its food - sample tostadas, authentic Mexico City tacos and filled tortas at local food markets and dine in one of the city's many renowned restaurants. Your travel designer can recommend and arrange a selection of privately guided tours to make the most of this lively and energetic city.
Private Full Day Tour of Mexico City's Historic City Centre
Your guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning for a 6-8 hour privately guided visit of Mexico City's historic city centre, returning to your hotel in the late afternoon. You will visit renowned landmarks such as the Zócalo Plaza and its surrounding important buildings such as the the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Palace of Fine Arts, and you will be treated to a view from above into the Temple Mayor Aztec archeological site and museum.
Transfer
Private transfer from Mexico City hotel to Mexico City airport
Flight
Flight from Mexico City to Tuxtla Gutierrez Airport
San Cristobal de las Casas
Transfer
Private transfer from Tuxtla Airport to your hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas
Accommodation in San Cristobal de las Casas
San Cristobal de las Casas
Overview
Just outside the town of San Cristobal and surrounded by the peaceful Chiapas mountains, this rustic inn enjoys fantastic views, the quiet of the countryside and heaps of local character.
There is a real sense of history at this centuries-old property, especially with the collection of sacral art which decorates both the rooms and common areas. The twelve guest suites, all with working fireplaces that give a real sense of cosiness, are also fitted with modern amenities such as TVs and internet connection.
The hotel has two excellent restaurants (quite rare for a hotel of this size); Agapandos, serving a fusion menu of Mediterranean dishes and local favourites, and La Terraza, offering barbecued meats and organic salads – grown on the property – in an outdoor setting.
→ Find out moreSan Cristobal de las Casas
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Overview
This funky little boutique hotel is a little removed from the character of the city but has some very modern facilities, a good team of staff and a great restaurant headed by the celebrated Chef Ricardo Munoz Zurita.
The décor is design-led, minimal and vibrant, incorporating lots of light and natural materials. Its rooms are bright, spacious and contemporary with its sheep’s wool carpets made locally and many contrasting patterns being played out. Surrounded by gardens filled with nut trees and fountains, there’s a manicured tranquility to the hotel and at night, when the rooms and surround are all lit up, a stylish warmth also.
One a month there are live jazz music sessions in the bar and in-room spa treatments are offered.
→ Find out moreSan Cristobal de las Casas
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Overview
Based in the heart of the colourful historic centre is the elegant Casa del Alma, a hotel that reflects the quintessential colonial mood of Chiapas. Combining history with modern luxuries, an array of comfortable suites surround a bright interior courtyard here.
State-of-the-art furnishings and a simple, contemporary decor dress the suites, with some featuring artwork and balconies that look out to the old town’s rooftops.
Dining is also taken care of at El Secreto where fusion dishes are created to echo the diverse flavours of Chiapas. Meanwhile, the spa and its sauna and Jacuzzi ensure you’ll be well pampered after a day of touring and exploring.
→ Find out more
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Three days in San Cristobal de las Casas
Spend your days in this colonial highland town discovering the melting pot of ethnic cultures. Wander along cobbled streets, past multi-coloured houses to churches and museums, visit caves and waterfalls and get involved with weaving workshops. We can arrange private-led tours of this charming, pastoral area to make sure you make the most of your time here.
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Private half day tour of San Cristobal and San Juan Chamula and San Lorenzo Zinacantan
Your private guide will collect you from your hotel for a half day excursion to the indigenous towns of San Juan Chamula, San Lorenzo Zinacantan and a tour of the highlands colonial city of San Cristobal.
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Full day excursion to Sumidero Canyon
Today after breakfast you will meet your guide at the hotel lobby and transfer to Chiapa de Corzo and the Sumidero Canyon. Take a motor boat trip through the majestic rock walls of the Sumidero Canyon which tower thousands of feet above the river. There's plenty of chance to view wildlife, including crocodiles, cormorants, spider monkeys, and herons.
Transfer
Private transfer to Palenque with stop at Agua Azul
Palenque
Accommodation in Palenque
Palenque
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Overview
This delightful boutique hotel lies only 3 kilometres from the ruins of Palenque, and the owner and staff really make sure you get a very personalized service during your stay.
A comprehensive menu of local excursions to the Mayan sites in the region encourages you to explore, whilst its fantastic spa will help you relax.
→ Find out morePalenque
Overview
Surrounded by 50 acres of ecological reserve made up of gardens, rivers and lush jungle in Palenque, this resort village immerses you in its paradise setting.
Each of the 79 casita rooms are furnished with authentic Mexican wooden furniture and are air conditioned with a private bathroom and terrace that overlooks the grounds and gardens.
The idyllic lagoon-style outdoor pools are an inviting retreat in the afternoons and in close proximity to the rooms, or relax with a massage from the spa. The resort’s two restaurants have terraces that connect to the pools and views over the jungles where you can spot the playful howler monkeys.
Just a five-minute drive from the Palenque archaeological zone and not far from Cascadas Agua Natural Park, this resort village is a great base to explore the Mayan ruins and natural beauty of this area.
→ Find out more
Two days exploring Palenque
Spend your days in Palenque exploring this ancient region of historical Mayan sites and jungle scenery. We can arrange for one of our guides to take you around the UNESCO World Heritage site to truly bring it alive.
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Private full day tour of Palenque site
Today your guide will meet you at your hotel for a private excursion to Palenque. This ancient city was part of the Maya civilization and dates back to 100 BC to its fall around 800 BC. It is located on the western edge of the Maya empire near the present-day city of Chiapas, Mexico. The ruins left behind are very well preserved and maintained by local people as well as anthropologists. There will also be the chance to visit the waterfall of Misol Ha which is a spectacular ±35 meter (115 ft.) waterfall that is considered a must see for visitors to the Palenque Chiapas region. Under the overhang a trail leads to the far side and a small cave that goes back about 300 meters to a waterfall inside the cave. Even swimming in the surface pool is permitted during times of low flow, however when the rains come flow increases dramatically.
Campeche
Transfer
Private transfer to your hotel in Campeche
Accommodation in Campeche
Campeche
Overview
Tucked into the historic centre of Campeche and behind heavy mahogany doors, Hacienda Puerta is an absolute delight of a 17th-century urban Mexican mansion-turned-hotel.
A characteristic blend of faded yellows, oranges, terracotta and rusty reds meet you, and its typical Colonial-style rooms echo a sober, refined elegance fitted out with the usual modern amenities for high comfort.
One of the most stunning features is its wonderful labyrinth-style swimming pool that snakes around and under the property through arches, courtyards and alcoves, out into its tropical gardens. Another is its rooftop terrace giving you gorgeous views out over the twinkling rooftops of the city and on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, you’ll see the spectacle of ‘La Puerta de Tierra’ (where the city’s old ramparts are lit up with light and sound to recreate the time when the Campechans used to defend their city against pirates) too.
The staff are very friendly and can set up dinner, lunch or breakfast anywhere you want in the grounds, and the restaurants specializes in some very fresh and delectable seafood.
→ Find out moreCampeche
Overview
Surrounded by tropical jungle on every side for miles, this sprawling, isolated hacienda was once one of the most important on the peninsula in the colonial period, now converted into one of the most sought after places to stay in the Yucatan.
Carefully and respectfully restored to preserve its original architectural features at the same time providing guests with all the mod-cons, the property possesses a beguiling and majestically faded grandeur, no better captured by its ruin-like swimming pool. Once a flourishing cattle ranch with over 200-hectares of land, the hotel’s grounds are divine and quite magical in its exotic unruliness as you happen upon fountains and ponds intertwined with colossal trees and some local wildlife too.
There are two suites in the old hospital building complete with black and white tiled floors, dressed in the regal tones of red and yellow,dark wood furniture and huge marble bathrooms. The remainder of the rooms are ten standalone, and equally luxurious villas complete with their own garden and terrace.
The service is attentive and the restaurant specializes in Mayan cuisine which is fantastic and very fresh.
→ Find out more
Two days in Campeche
Stroll around this UNESCO port city to discover the wonderfully restored colonial quarter with its moorish-style mansions and intricate churches. Small and relaxed, Campeche is steeped in history with Mayan ruins based nearby. We can arrange guided tours around the city and surrounding areas to make sure you make the most of the your time here.
Private half day city walking tour of Campeche
Today your expert guide will take you on a walking city tour of Campeche. This UNESCO World Heritage site features restored cobblestone streets, pastel-colored mansions and impressive fortified walls that protected this former Spanish port from marauding pirates. Enjoy a perfect afternoon stroll along the malecon, the waterfront promenade, or a visit to the scenic Plaza Principal.
Transfer
Private transfer to Campeche airport
Flight
Flight from Campeche to Mexico City
Transfer
Private transfer from Mexico City airport to Mexico City hotel
Overnight in Stylish Mexico City Hotel
Relax in a luxurious hotel.
Transfer
Private transfer from Mexico City hotel to Mexico City airport
We design private journeys for people who wish to go beyond the typical and experiencing something truly special. Our amazing team of travel designers, concierges and local guides work together to create unique journeys that get deep under the skin of where you’re visiting.
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Temples, Traditions and Highland Landscapes
How we work
Discover the beautiful, adventurous and off the beaten track highlands of Mexico with its special landscapes entrenched in a forgotten time where ancient traditions flourish and hidden temples sprout out of the jungle.
After a couple of nights in lively Mexico City, head to the Chiapas province for a stay in charming San Cristobal de las Casas. Here you can soak up the melting pot of cultures that hold onto indigenous lifestyles, before witnessing the natural splendour of Sumidero Canyon and Agua Azul waterfalls. Moving onto Palenque, get your history fix as you explore the world-famous Mayan ruins in an enchanting jungle setting. Then, enjoy a few days of coastal relaxation in Campeche with its waterside views and colonial and moorish architecture.
| Whats included?
|
Days 1-3 |
Mexico City |
|
Flights & transfers
Private transfer from Mexico City airport to Mexico City hotel |
|
|
Accommodation in Mexico City
•
W Hotel - $$$$$
In true W style, its Mexico City hotel carries on its super-contemporary, colourful and very...
•
Las Alcobas - $$$$$
Benefitting from a perfect location in the city’s refined Polanco district, this stylishly...
•
St. Regis Mexico City - $$$$$
One of the city’s newest and most stylish hotels, the St. Regis is so much more than your...
•
Four Seasons Mexico City - $$$$$
Housed in a typically classical building on the city’s grand Paseo de la Reforma avenue,...
|
|
| Two days in Mexico City Enjoy time in this bustling and cosmopolitan capital which has a fabulous selection of museums and art galleries for you to visit. Mexico City is also famous for its food - sample tostadas, authentic Mexico City tacos and filled tortas at local food markets and dine in one of the city's many renowned restaurants. Your travel designer can recommend and arrange a selection of privately guided tours to make the most of this lively and energetic city. |
|
| Private Full Day Tour of Mexico City's Historic City Centre Your guide will meet you at your hotel in the morning for a 6-8 hour privately guided visit of Mexico City's historic city centre, returning to your hotel in the late afternoon. You will visit renowned landmarks such as the Zócalo Plaza and its surrounding important buildings such as the the National Palace, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Palace of Fine Arts, and you will be treated to a view from above into the Temple Mayor Aztec archeological site and museum. |
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|
Flights & transfers
Private transfer from Mexico City hotel to Mexico City airport |
|
| Flight from Mexico City to Tuxtla Gutierrez Airport | |
Days 3-6 |
San Cristobal de las Casas |
|
Flights & transfers
Private transfer from Tuxtla Airport to your hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas |
|
|
Accommodation in San Cristobal de las Casas
•
Parador San Juan de Dios - $$$$$
Just outside the town of San Cristobal and surrounded by the peaceful Chiapas mountains, this...
•
Hotel BO - $$$$$
This funky little boutique hotel is a little removed from the character of the city but has...
•
Casa del Alma - $$$$$
Based in the heart of the colourful historic centre is the elegant Casa del Alma, a hotel that...
|
|
| Three days in San Cristobal de las Casas Spend your days in this colonial highland town discovering the melting pot of ethnic cultures. Wander along cobbled streets, past multi-coloured houses to churches and museums, visit caves and waterfalls and get involved with weaving workshops. We can arrange private-led tours of this charming, pastoral area to make sure you make the most of your time here. |
|
| Private half day tour of San Cristobal and San Juan Chamula and San Lorenzo Zinacantan Your private guide will collect you from your hotel for a half day excursion to the indigenous towns of San Juan Chamula, San Lorenzo Zinacantan and a tour of the highlands colonial city of San Cristobal. |
|
| Full day excursion to Sumidero Canyon Today after breakfast you will meet your guide at the hotel lobby and transfer to Chiapa de Corzo and the Sumidero Canyon. Take a motor boat trip through the majestic rock walls of the Sumidero Canyon which tower thousands of feet above the river. There's plenty of chance to view wildlife, including crocodiles, cormorants, spider monkeys, and herons. |
|
|
Flights & transfers
Private transfer to Palenque with stop at Agua Azul |
|
Days 6-8 |
Palenque |
|
Accommodation in Palenque
•
Boutique Hotel Quinta Chanabnal - $$$$$
This delightful boutique hotel lies only 3 kilometres from the ruins of Palenque, and the...
•
Chan Kah - $$$$$
Surrounded by 50 acres of ecological reserve made up of gardens, rivers and lush jungle in...
|
|
| Two days exploring Palenque Spend your days in Palenque exploring this ancient region of historical Mayan sites and jungle scenery. We can arrange for one of our guides to take you around the UNESCO World Heritage site to truly bring it alive. |
|
| Private full day tour of Palenque site Today your guide will meet you at your hotel for a private excursion to Palenque. This ancient city was part of the Maya civilization and dates back to 100 BC to its fall around 800 BC. It is located on the western edge of the Maya empire near the present-day city of Chiapas, Mexico. The ruins left behind are very well preserved and maintained by local people as well as anthropologists. There will also be the chance to visit the waterfall of Misol Ha which is a spectacular ±35 meter (115 ft.) waterfall that is considered a must see for visitors to the Palenque Chiapas region. Under the overhang a trail leads to the far side and a small cave that goes back about 300 meters to a waterfall inside the cave. Even swimming in the surface pool is permitted during times of low flow, however when the rains come flow increases dramatically. |
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Days 8-10 |
Campeche |
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Flights & transfers
Private transfer to your hotel in Campeche |
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Accommodation in Campeche
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Hacienda Puerta Campeche - $$$$$
Tucked into the historic centre of Campeche and behind heavy mahogany doors, Hacienda Puerta...
•
Hacienda Uayamon - $$$$$
Surrounded by tropical jungle on every side for miles, this sprawling, isolated hacienda was...
|
|
| Two days in Campeche Stroll around this UNESCO port city to discover the wonderfully restored colonial quarter with its moorish-style mansions and intricate churches. Small and relaxed, Campeche is steeped in history with Mayan ruins based nearby. We can arrange guided tours around the city and surrounding areas to make sure you make the most of the your time here. |
|
| Private half day city walking tour of Campeche Today your expert guide will take you on a walking city tour of Campeche. This UNESCO World Heritage site features restored cobblestone streets, pastel-colored mansions and impressive fortified walls that protected this former Spanish port from marauding pirates. Enjoy a perfect afternoon stroll along the malecon, the waterfront promenade, or a visit to the scenic Plaza Principal. |
|
|
Flights & transfers
Private transfer to Campeche airport |
|
| Flight from Campeche to Mexico City | |
| Private transfer from Mexico City airport to Mexico City hotel | |
| Overnight in Stylish Mexico City Hotel Relax in a luxurious hotel. |
|
| Private transfer from Mexico City hotel to Mexico City airport |
