Pirámide Kinich Kakmó

Chichen Itza At only 40km/25 miles from Valladolid, this astonishing Mayan-Toltec archaeological site, is a must-see. We’ll arrive at opening time. So, besides having Chichén for your own (before the coast buses arrive), you’ll also avoid the heat. A multilingual certified guide (+- 1 1/2hrs) will explain you about the Itzáes, the ancient inhabitants of Chichén Itzá, their impressive 30m/98 feet high Castle of Kukulcán (and its solar calendar reflected in it), the largest Ball Court in Mesoamerica and the Temple of the Warriors. The observatory The Mayas are known for their astronomical knowledge. Not a telescope, but the windows in the Caracol point in the cardinal and subcardinal directions and are believed to enable the tracking of the movement of Venus, the Pleiades, the sun and the moon and other celestial events. Nunnery Palace We’ll finish with this palace complex that shows some beautiful examples of different architectural styles: Chenes and Puuc. After the guided visit you’ll have +- 1hr free time. Cenote After visiting the archaeological site, we’ll go to a remote cenote. A quiet place to rest or take a refreshing dip. There we will have lunch made by the local Mayan women community we support. Izamal This yellow city with its 16th century convent constructed on a Maya structure and having the second largest atrium in the world, is one of the first Magical Towns of Mexico. We will show you some Maya structures you still can climb. One of these is the third largest building in Mesoamerica (in terms of volume). Visit Artisan Before we head back to Valladolid, you´ll have the opportunity to admire the beautiful work of one of the very talented local artisans Izamal offers: Cocoyol: jewelry made from local fruit seeds and spine of henequen. Miniatures: small-scale artwork. Papier-mâché: amazing work with mâché paper. Woodcarving: quite common artwork in the Maya region

Discover the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a guided tour from Merida. Take a refreshing dip in the Ik Kil cenote, and explore the colonial town of Izamal, known as the Yellow City. Start your day with pickup from your hotel in Merida and travel to the ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza. Explore the ruins with your guide and learn about the history of the site, which was once one of the largest Mayan cities in the Yucatan Peninsula. Admire the iconic pyramid of Kukulcan, the Temple of the Warriors, and the Great Ball Court. After your guided tour, enjoy some free time to explore the site at your own pace. Next, cool off with a refreshing swim in the Ik Kil cenote, a natural sinkhole filled with crystal-clear water. After your swim, head to the colonial town of Izamal, known as the Yellow City due to the color of its buildings. Explore the town with your guide and learn about its rich history, which dates back to pre-Hispanic times. Visit the Kinich Kak Moo pyramid, which is located in the town, and enjoy some free time to explore the town's craft shops and restaurants. Finally, sit down to a traditional buffet lunch, before returning to Merida.

Izamal: "The City of Three Cultures" Get ready for an exclusive journey from Mérida to the heart of Yucatán, where Izamal, the "Yellow City," awaits you—a colonial treasure built upon ancient Mayan foundations. As we traverse the landscape, you will witness vast fields of henequen, Mexico's "green gold." If inspiration strikes, capture the perfect postcard moment by stepping into the fields with your guide! Upon arrival in Izamal, you will be enveloped by its unique atmosphere, a fusion of pre-Hispanic, colonial, and contemporary elements that define the Yellow City, also known as "The City of Three Cultures." Kinich Kakmó Pyramid: The Largest in Yucatán We will begin our guided tour by visiting the Itzamatul pyramid to learn about the origin of the city's name. We then continue to the Kinich Kakmó pyramid, the largest in surface area in the Yucatán Peninsula and the third-largest in Mexico. If you feel adventurous, climb to the top for the best view of the city. We will stroll through its charming cobbled streets, where every corner invites you to take memorable photographs. Next, we will pause to refresh ourselves and let Izamal's magic inspire our dreams. Our tour will take us to the Cultural Center Museum, a 16th-century gem that preserves the region's artisan treasures. Here, you can admire unique pieces made of clay, wood, metal, plant fibers, and textiles, among other marvels. The Secrets of the Convent with the Second Largest Atrium in the World The next stop is the imposing Convent of San Antonio de Padua, a colonial masterpiece built atop an ancient Mayan temple. Its enclosed atrium, the second-largest in the world after the Vatican, will capture your full attention. You cannot leave Izamal without tasting its best gastronomy. Therefore, we will take you to a magnificent culinary space specializing in Yucatecan cuisine, where you can savor the authentic flavors of Yucatán in an exquisite restaurant where Mayan cuisine blends with colonial and contemporary touches. Ancestral Mayan Jewelry: Great Master Artisan To conclude our tour, we will visit the home and workshop of Don Esteban, named Great Master of Mexican Folk Art by the Banamex Cultural Fund. He welcomes us into his home to show how his hands transform cocoyol and dzibul seeds, along with henequen thorns, into true works of art and fine jewelry. His creativity, the use of ancestral Mayan techniques combined with contemporary tools and fine materials such as silver thread, result in pieces found only in this part of the world. With your heart full of memories, we will begin our return to Mérida, carrying with you the magical essence of Izamal.