Itinerary Explore Authentic Mexico - From Teotihuacan to Chichén Itzá & Beyond

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Trip Designed by

Karen Quintero

A proud Mexican hailing from the small city of Tlaxcala. Over the past four years, she has been dedicated to exploring the diverse landscapes of Mexico and has developed a profound appreciation for the authentic Mexico she has come to adore. It's a Mexico brimming with culture, natural wonders, and warm-hearted people. What sets her apart is her commitment to traveling with a positive impact and forging meaningful connections. Karen is eager to share her wealth of experiences and knowledge to assist you in crafting an authentic journey through Mexico that reflects her passion and values.

Meet our travel guides

Tour the great archaeological zone of Teotihuacan from Mexico City
Visit a Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary from Mexico City
Archeology and crafts in Monte Albán, Mitla, Hierve el Agua and artisan communities in Oaxaca
Visit Chichén Itzá and a local Cenote
Explore the wild nature of Celestún from Mérida
Visit to the Puuc route in Yucatan
Visit Calakmul in the heart of the Biosphere Reserve in Campeche
Immerse yourself in the ancient Mayan cities of Yaxchilán, Bonampak and Palenque in Chiapas.

Day 1 | Welcome to Mexico City!

Arrival at the airport and hotel, free time.

Day 2 | Tour the great archaeological site of Teotihuacan: The City of the Gods.

Walk in archaeological sites, visit local artisans and pulque tasting. Teotihuacan is an immense place, full of corners to explore. Upon arriving at the archaeological zone, you will walk on the well-known Causeway of the Dead, which is the main avenue on which the tour takes place to appreciate the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon.

Day 3 |Visit a Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary from Mexico City

Today, your local English-speaking guide will take you on a tour of a Monarch Butterfly Sanctuary: species known for their migration cycles and distinctive, notable appearance; therefore, you will be able to obtain background information about them.

Day 4 | Visit a Traditional Floating Farm in Xochimilco.

Immerse yourself in the rich tradition of Xochimilco. In this exciting 4.5-hour tour, we invite you to explore the beautiful canals aboard a traditional trajinera with an expert guide. Enjoy a picturesque ride while learning about the history and culture of Xochimilco. The tour begins at a demonstrative chinampa, where you will participate in the process of cultivating various vegetables. Discover the ancestral techniques of pre-Hispanic agriculture and see how fresh ingredients are harvested for later use. Then, you will board the trajinera once again to head to another chinampa, where you will have the opportunity to participate in an exciting cooking class.

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Day 5 | Arrival to Oaxaca City.

Enjoy this free time to continue being amazed by the colors and flavors that Oaxaca offers you. We suggest you visit one of the city's museums, such as the Textile Museum of Oaxaca or the Museum of Cultures, both with interesting exhibitions that will allow you to delve deeper into Mexican culture.

Day 6 | Archeology and crafts in Monte Albán, Arrazola, Cuilapam and Coyotepec.

Archeology and crafts in Monte Albán, Arrazola, Cuilapam and Coyotepec. Today, your guide in Spanish will pick you up to join a group of travelers and explore some historically important places in Oaxaca for approximately 9 hours. Your first stop will be at the Monte Albán Archaeological Zone south of the city of Oaxaca, surrounded by a landscape of mountains and valleys, you will tour the North Platform and the Great Plaza paying special attention to the Gallery of the Dancers and the ball game. among other imposing buildings.

Day 7 | Discover Mitla and Hierve el Agua.

Today you will join other travelers along with your local guide in Spanish on a tour designed with a mix between archeology, crafts and nature, you will begin the tour 10 km from Oaxaca City after a 20 minute transfer. Your first stop will be in Santa María del Tule to see the ancient Tule Tree, a Moctezuma cypress tree that is approximately two thousand years old and its trunk is known to be the strongest in the world.

Day 8 | Oaxacan Markets: A Culinary Journey through Colors and Flavors.

Meet your local guide and head to the popular food market, the “Mercado de Abastos” where you will try the popular Doña Vale memelas. Continue to the "Mercado de la Merced" where you will be wrapped in the flavors of the empanadas prepared on a charcoal stove that are accompanied with different sauces. Then, you will be delighted with a grasshopper omelet accompanied by pennyroyal tea. Your next stop is the Trinidad de las Huertas neighborhood where you will enjoy the piedrazos that are breads soaked in vinegar. You will continue your tour of the Reforma neighborhood where you will try the stewed tacos. You will have the option to choose between two dishes, the tetelas or the tacos from Comal del Carmen. Last but not least, you will enjoy the best tortas in Oaxaca and empanadas de amarillo.

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Day 9 | Welcome to the Yucatan Peninsula!

Take direct domestic flight from Oaxaca City International Airport to Cancun International Airport and transfer to accommodation in Cancun Downtown.

Day 10 | Walking Tour in Valladolid.

Transfer from Cancun to the colonial city of Valladolid in Yucatan. Upon arrival you will enjoy a walking tour of approximately 1 hour 30 minutes through the heart of the historic center of Valladolid led by your local guide. This picturesque town was founded in 1543, it was the scene of extensive clashes between the Mayans and conquistadors during events such as the Caste War of 1847 and the first spark of the Mexican Revolution in 1910.

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Day 11 | Visit to Chichén Itzá and Yokdzonot.

Pick up at the hotel in Valladolid; Visit the Archaeological Zone of Chichén Itzá with a private local guide. Transportation and visit to Yokdzonot cenote to have a local meal and swim in a cenote. Transfer to hotel in Mérida. You will have a free afternoon to enjoy the city. Armed with our best recommendations you can enjoy the gastronomy of the capital of Yucatán, having one of the most varied and delicious cuisines in Mexico. Rest at night.

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Day 12 | Explore the wild nature of Celestún from Mérida.

Your adventure begins accompanied by a group of travelers in an eco-tourist paradise, which is part of the world heritage of the special biosphere reserve, officially declared a wildlife refuge since 1979. Where a boat tour of the mouth awaits you. of the Esperanza River in the Gulf of Mexico, appreciating an unparalleled natural ecosystem. In it you will find ducks that emigrate from Canada, fish, pelicans, the pink or Caribbean flamingo, among other 234 mammal species. Later you will visit the waterhole where you can swim, going through natural tunnels formed by branches. To end your trip you will taste a delicious meal with a beautiful view of the beach.

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Day 13 | Visit to the Puuc route.

Today you have an appointment at 8 am in the lobby of your hotel with your local English-speaking guide for an activity of approximately 9 hours. You will visit the Puuc routes, which were used by the Mayans to connect the cities of the Yucatan Peninsula. First, you will visit the city of Kabah, where your guide will explain the secrets of the city and the function of the buildings. Then, you will head to Uxmal, a city where the Mayans achieved an exceptional level of architecture. Let yourself be guided by your guide and after eating, take your transportation to head towards Campeche.

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Day 14 | Visit Calakmul in the heart of the Biosphere Reserve.

Today, your transportation will take you with your local guide in Spanish on a full-day tour to visit one of Mexico's archaeological sites: The ancient Mayan city of Calakmul.

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Day 15 | Welcome to Chiapas!

In the heart of the Chiapaneca jungle you find the city of Palenque; where you can spend a relaxing day surrounded by tropical flora and fauna, immerse yourself in the pool, enjoy a massage, take a bath in the temazcal and savor delicious traditional Chiapas food.

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Day 16 | Immerse yourself in the ancient Mayan cities of Yaxchilán and Bonampak.

You will travel along the river for approximately thirty minutes until you reach the Mayan city of Yaxchilán, which means place of green stones. Once in the place you will visit for two hours the history of the most emblematic buildings of the place such as the ball court and the labyrinth, steles and lintels that narrate the lifestyle and government of that pre-Hispanic city, at the end, you will take the boat return. Back at the main boarding place you will take a short break and, if you wish, eat something before leaving for Bonampak.

Day 17 | Archaeological site of Palenque and Roberto Barrios Waterfalls.

You will visit the Archaeological Zone of Palenque, just fifteen minutes by car from the town of the same name. This ancient city is today one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mayan world. Visit the Roberto Barrios waterfalls or also known as the Bascán Valley waterfalls, it is a natural paradise that is located right at the entrance to the Chiapaneca jungle.

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Day 18 | Back to Mexico City.

Domestic Flight from Villahermosa to Mexico City

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Sabrina N

Perfect

For those who don't like to manage logistics like hotels, rental cars, activities. And above all, to have someone who speaks fluent French that we can reach at any time for the unexpected... You are in the right place! Thank you to Chloe for the preparation of our trip, to Melina our Ariadne's thread and Teresa for her welcome and help at the arrival and departure. A big thank you to Enrique and Blanca from Nuevo-Durango for their welcome, their smiles, their family, a lot of emotions at the time to leave you. Thanks to Mémo for your teaching of Mexican customs (Sian Ka'an) The Yucatan is a magnificent region. And the population is very pleasant. Only downside Holbox... Too much dust, too much smell of fuel oil, too much tourist. I will keep in memory these wonderful moments!

pascalrichard0304

Circuit in Yucatan

Discovering wonderful and surprising sites, Mayan communities with an unforgettable welcome, breathtaking landscapes, a very pleasant climate in the middle of March...and smiling people! A big thank you to Rutopia and his team for the elaboration of this ideal circuit, alternating nature, city life, simplicity and comfort. Thanks to Mélina for the follow-up during our trip. We don't speak Spanish well enough, and we appreciated having a French-speaking contact person who could be reached if necessary. We still have a lot to discover and hope to come back very soon, and with Rutopia without hesitation!

Claudia A

Super organization, great accommodations and nice team

The trip was perfectly organized, we were always exclusive or in very small groups and had freedom to do our own activities. All accommodations were fantastic and sustainable, the food almost always local and very good, we could always fill our Rutopia water bottles and travel as plastic free as possible. We were met at the airport and had assistance getting a rental car. After that, we traveled independently but had our fixed dates and reservations with Rutopia. It was the perfect mix!

Mikel D

The best moment lived in Mexico

We were traveling as a group of friends with nothing organized. We like to improvise and be able to find alternative plans to the conventional tourist routes. We arrived in Puerto Escondido - Mexico's paradise - and started looking for options. A Mexican friend recommended us to contact Rutopia and we did. We explained our way of traveling - which they quickly understood - and in a few hours they came to us with a perfect selection of activities. We chose one of them and the next day we found ourselves galloping through beautiful hills, crossing a small lagoon in canoes, bathing on an unspoiled beach at sunset and sipping freshly picked coconuts with some mezcal. We had dinner in the only hut on the beach, eating fish that had been caught that day from the lagoon. Then we went to see the luminescence of the placton with paddle canoes until we were surprised by one of the biggest and reddest moons I have ever seen in my life. We ended up sleeping in bamboo huts a few meters from the waves. There were no more than 5 huts on the miles of beach that we could see. And at ALL times with an exquisite treatment - sympathy, kindness and attention. This is just one of the plans we booked with Rutopia, which definitely changed the course of our trip. Without a doubt, I would repeat this experience in any place I would like to visit in Mexico. Viva Mexico!

Alexhcros1500

Super local agency

We have worked with Rutopia for several tours in Mexico in the Yucatán and Chiapas and we have never been disappointed. Authentic experiences, with locals, in magical places and off the beaten tourist track. Our contact Marisol was always super available and responsive, understanding and anticipating our desires. And she speaks very good French. I highly recommend Rutopia!

Bikø J

Chiapas, Neri and her family

I traveled to Chiapas for an ecotourism experience with Rutopia and I liked it very much, the team responds very quickly to all questions and accompany the traveler throughout the experience, I missed my flight and they were very flexible to accommodate the entire itinerary, My destination was the lakes of Tziscao, where I was received by Neri with his family in very nice cabins next to a lake with incredible views and a magnificent tranquility, with them you make experiences of beekeeping and coffee and tours to nearby lakes, Montebello is a must! 100% recommended.

DaniEla

Just wonderful!

We had an amazing trip excellent organized by Jorge and supervised by Melina from Rutopia. We spent 10 days in Mexico, starting in Ciudad de Mexico where we visited the amazing Teotihuacan and then we flew to Yucatan for the amazing sites of Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Ek Balam, Tulum, Merida, Valladolid and the great Island Holbox. The trip was perfectly organized, the hotels were very good, and the guides were carefully chosen. We highly recommend Rutopia and especially Jorge! Leer menos

David

Journey to Mexico City, Cholula and Cuetzalan

We had a wonderful time. We started out in Mexico City with a 2 day tour filled with museums, food, and beautiful sights. We then went on to Cholula to experience the culture in a smaller town, see a local market, and eat traditional food. We finished the tour in a small town called Cuetzalan, where most people speak an indigenous language. All of our guides were great. Thank you for a memorable vacation!

Elena R.

A literally perfect trip to the Yucatan peninsula

Tom and I knew we wanted to go to Mexico. We knew we wanted a little bit of culture, some wildlife, and maybe a splash in the ocean. That's it. With the vague and minimal information we gave them, Rutopia was able to put together a perfect trip for us. We had a flawless itinerary. It's so clear that Rutopia really cares about the communities (animals and humans) in Mexico. Everything we did and everywhere we stayed felt like they were helping us experience Mexico as authentically and respectfully as possible. It's almost impossible to pick a highlight, but top of the list has to be the day we shared with Enrique, a Mayan host who was unbelievably generous with us. He shared the community gardens, including history and background about the families that live in Nuevo Durango and other nearby communities. He showed us the neighborhood cenotes, Punta Laguna, Uma Nojoch Keej (a wildlife reserve), and more. We picked and prepared the plants as Enrique and his wife Blanca showed us the best way to cook them (and rescued us when we were pricked by the nopales!). We saw howler monkeys and spider monkeys in the wild which was very cool. That had to be the very best day, but every day was amazing. Sian Ka'an reserve was lovely, the Mayan ruins were spectacular, the snorkeling in Puerto Morelos was fabulous, the bicycle cenote tour was jaw'droppingly gorgeous. I'm waxing superlative but it really all was like a dream. Beyond the activities, the scheduling and pace was perfect for us. We felt like we really made the most of our six days, but with enough downtime to explore and enjoy at our leisure. From picking up our car at the airport to finding our accommodation, the logistics were very smooth at every interaction. Special shoutout to Melina who pretty much instantly helped us when we had any questions about the trip. We've never used a travel planning service like this before. But after this trip, we'll never go back to the old way!

Varadarajan

Fantastic Will do it again

My wife and I had a fantastic holiday in Mexico thanks to Marisol, Ana, Teresa and their colleagues & partners. The entire itinerary and arrangements were put together in less than 4 days. What we really liked about Marisol & her team was that they were only a message or a phone call away for any query/suggestion, etc. The trip was bespoke to the extent that Rutopia had kept in mind about our interests, food habits & executed bookings, tours. They were also very flexible in catering to last minute changes/requests. The team took upon them to ensure that our entire trip was comfortable & safe by taking care of even small stuff that one normally finds out post getting to a place. We would definitely like to use their services again!!

Sue G

Mayan Site Tour in Yucatan Penninsula Mexico

Rutopia did an outstanding job with the arrangement and execution of a 9 day tour of Mayan sites in the Yucatan peninsula. We provided Rutopia with the general parameters of the trip we wanted and they suggested an itinerary. After our approval, they set up the hotels, transportation within Mexico, and site tours. The hotels were good quality, and all of the drivers and tour guides showed up on time. We were very impressed with the quality of the tour guides and learned a lot on the trip. Jorge handled setting up the itinerary, and Melina handled the execution of the trip and was readily available via WhatsApp throughout the trip for any questions or issues. Melina was particularly helpful in changing our transportation arrangements to the airport at the last minute per our request. I would recommend Rutopia and would use them again for future trips.

Cat839

Great experience with this agency, totally recommend!

Great experience with this agency. Our tour in Mexico was perfect and organised with great passion and precision. Special thanks to Mel (our direct contact during the trip) for being super responsive and to Jorge Barbosa (our tour guide in Mexico City). Totally recommend this tour operator!

Adventures in the Yucatán!

Such an amazing time in the Yucatán! Between floating in the mangroves to visiting Chichén Itzá to spending a whole day on the beach in El Cuyo, I couldn’t have planned a better trip without their help. Thank you so much for an unforgettable birthday vacation!! Simply amazing! Don’t think twice about having them help you plan your next vacation!

Kris S.

Enjoyed using Rutopia

Enjoyed using Rutopia (Marisol and Melina) to plan my trip to Mexico. Marisol helped me figure out the best options fand booked everything. Melina was my in country support. Rutopia (the company through Kim Kim) is great and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to take the burden out of vacation planning. My son and I truly enjoyed the trip knowing everything was taken care of and we just had to have fun. Thanks!

Victoria O.

Two Weeks in Mexico

Seamless transfers, excellent hotels particularly in Mexico city and Puebla, combined with various cultural and food tours. Particular highlights were the cultural/food tours in Mexico city and Puebla (also including the anthropology museum in Mexico city), and the rural tours in Oaxaca where we visited textile workshops, mescal producers and participated in a cooking class using traditional equipment. Also, although we didn't need it, the on call remote assistance was reassuring. I would definitely recommend Rutopia.

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