g adventures mexico tour

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North America

Central america & caribbean, south america, north africa & middle east.

Few travellers make it to this icy continent, but the lucky ones who do get to explore a frozen Eden ruled by the elements and teeming with wildlife.

G Adventures Land

G adventures sailing & cruises, g adventures private travel.

Whether it’s a family retreat or a girls trip, you can surround yourself with a hand-picked crew and customize a tour that fits you all perfectly.

The Geluxe Collection

Our new line of premium active adventures is officially here. With perfectly paced itineraries, one-of-a-kind accommodations and elevated dining, this is adventure at its finest.

National Geographic Journeys

Go deeper into the cultures and habitats of the places we explore. More is included and you’ll enjoy greater hands-on exploration, interactions with local experts, and freedom to roam.

National Geographic Family Journeys

Are you an adventure-loving family in search of meaningful ways to discover the world together? These tours are specially designed for travellers seven and up and their inquisitive families.

Jane Goodall Collection

Step deeper into the animal kingdom while respecting all of its inhabitants. Our incredible collection of wildlife-focused tours is endorsed by the world-renowned ethologist.

Roamies by Hostelworld

The thrill of adventure. The awesomeness of hostels. Get ‘em both on these immersive small group trips for 18 to 35-year-old travellers.

Why choose us

As the leader in small group travel for 30 years, we know how to do it right: flexible itineraries, freedom to roam, safety, peace of mind, and locally based guides.

Change the world just by having the time of your life. When you travel with us, you become a force for good by acting responsibly and creating positive impact.

Together with our non-profit partner, Planeterra, we ensure local communities touched by our tours benefit from our visits in as many ways possible.

Trees for Days

Leave your destination even greener than you found it! For every day on tour, we’ll plant a tree in your honour and ensure that our forests get to live their best lives.

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Ancient and brand-new, all at once

Beyond the stereotypes of mariachi bands and tacos, Mexico is a cultural giant of the Americas. A massive and diverse country, its history stretches across thousands of years from the ancient Olmec, Maya, and Aztec, though the arrival of Cortés and three centuries of harsh Spanish rule. For all its familiarity, Mexico is capable of surprising at every turn; to make the mistake of reducing it to a beach resort is like confusing the USA with Las Vegas. Certainly, beaches and beach life rank high as reasons to visit. Add to the mix ancient sites and vibrant indigenous culture, the cosmopolitan neighbourhoods of the world's largest city and a cuisine successfully exported around the world, and you've got yourself una buena vacacion .

What our travellers are saying about Mexico tours

Recommended tours, mexico tour photos from our travellers, featured blog posts.

Mexican street food: a beginner's guide

One frequent (but first-time Mexico) traveller takes a crash course to prep for a Classic Mexico Adventure

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Where to travel in 2023 — part two

Dig into your second helping of destination ideas that cut travel costs and still give back to local communities

Written by: G Adventures , 17 Jan. 2023 03:46 p.m.

Hostel hop your way to the most Mexico

Our Roamie-ing Reporter, Claire Scott, shares seven highlights from her Mexico City to Cancun adventure

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Chasing waterfalls: our top 10 cascades on tour

You likely know and love Niagara but there’s a torrent of rushing water to explore around the globe

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All Latin America Tours from G Adventures

142 g adventures trips through latin america.

• In-depth Cultural
• Christmas & New Year

Volcano Trail: Waves & Local Ways

Had a fantastic time on this trip. I was so lucky to be placed on tour with a lovely group of all solo travellers. This tour was a good mixture of adventure and relaxation. Definetly some places i would never have wandered to solo. Our guide Vicky was very helpful and really up beat. Thanks GAdventures.

Mayan Sun Southbound: Boat Rides & Ruins

A great opportunity to see some of the highlights of central America - should include more of Mexico though

• Ocean Cruise

Galápagos Multisport

Loved my trip to the Galapagos with Gadventures. Saw tons of wildlife and did lots of fun activities. My 2nd trip booked with the company ????

Machu Picchu Adventure

The tour was professionally managed from start to finish. The array of logistics that needed to be managed for our group was seamlessly and smoothly coordinated. We had full confidence in the guides and will happily and confidently book with you in future.

Mayan Encounter

Great trip, lots of variety of things to see and do. Lots of time travelling but so worthwhile. Highly recommend

Costa Rica Quest

My fiancé, 15 year old son, and I were unsure what to expect for our first group tour, but we found it to be an amazing experience! Our CEO, Daniel Fernandez, was exceptional! Every evening he posted a note that included where to be and when, what to expect, what to wear and what to bring. He was friendly, thoughtful, organized, helpful, and most importantly - passionate about Costa Rica! While we kept super busy, it was relaxing because everything was taken care of - minimal thinking for us! LOVED the experience and would recommend!

Central American Journey: Rainforests & Ruins

Overall this trip was fantastic! Seeing Central America was on one of my lists and this was the perfect tour to go see it. Many countries will surprise you and this was a very good introduction to them. I’ve been on a few tours with different companies but found this one to be the best with the 18-39 age group. I was 32 and 95% of everyone else happened to be 18-24 but that didn’t make a difference and they were the best group to travel with. We went from Mexico to Costa Rica and saw a lot. We only have so much time to do everything so after a month you're ‘activitied’ out’ so we all wanted an extra day at each place to relax and absorb it, but we needed to move on to see more and that’s simply part of this trip. So you have to pick and choose your activities wisely. Regarding the optional activities: They had some excellent choices and I’m happy with them but there were a few that I have to say need to be adjusted as they were overpriced for us as tourists. Must Do Activities: Mexico: Tulum Ruins, Beach Time, Cenotes (Take The local Buses for 40 pesos its very easy) Belize: Snorkelling with Turtles, Small Sharks, Rays = Amazing Guatemala: Tikal Ruins, Hot Waterfall, Kayaking were all great Honduras: Luna Jaguar in Copan is worth it (but do it locally for a better price) El Salvador: Waterfall Jumping (but do it locally for a better price) Nicaragua: 5 in 1 Tour was great! Costa Rica: Ziplining (Superman/Tarzan Swing!) was great and Baldi Hot Springs is a perfect place to go and make sure to stay until 10pm and just vibe out (but do it locally for a better price) A Few Comments: #1. Antigua: OX Volcano Overnight Hike. This is a simple 1.5 - 2 hour hike up you can do with another company for much cheaper. We did it with them overnight and were disappointed. Find a local company to take you there and pay $30 USD or so. Go there early morning or at lunch and it increases your chances of summiting. The only option for the Pacaya Volcano should be to go early in the morning or for lunch in order to get to the top. The sunset and sunrise is too risky and common sense tells me now that the weather is better during the day so you can summit. We didn't get to summit and were all very disappointed. They also don't tell you that you may not summit and later said on top at night "Well if we told you that then no one would sign up." The sleep was terrible with wild dogs fighting all night, The matts they give you are very thin and don't provide support to sleep on. I would not recommend anyone to signup with them but to go with a local company instead because its a relatively easy walk during the day to get to the top. #2. Luna Jaguar Hot Springs. I found out after signing up that the entrance fee was $12.75 USD. Many people were on a budget and because of this price decided not go. I went cause I can afford it but it was not worth this price but it was very worth going. G adventures and the CEO should mention that you can go with the local company for $7 usd/person ride and 12.75 entrance fee. We should not be treated like a group of flamingo tourists who get sent to local companies for them to make larger profits of us. I had a talk with the CEO about this and he later gave us more options and offered lower prices on 2 more activities after I mentioned things during a casual and pleasant talk. He was very aware of it and conscious of this and made adjustments later on which was nice to see. We are paying so much to fly and come here that we should be treated fairly with local prices and not be taken advantage of. So next time people can walk 1 min right from the hotel and choose a company that'll take us there for $7 usd and you can choose weather or not we buy food at the restaurant there or not. The restaurant has a nice menu and is open very late all day. They have very cheap options and we should have that choice. The local company I found goes from 1-5pm during the day. For the Gadventure price of $55 usd you get a ride/entrance/dinner and the dinner was good BUT we should be presented with the option for A) $20 usd no dinner or $55 with 4-9pm night time option with dinner for $55. This would be fair and best to simply be transparent with us. Also we are paying for a drive all the way from Antigua to Nicaragua so I wish the driver could drive us as I asked him what he was doing and he said he was sleeping. I asked the guide about this and he said the contract with the bus company is very specific. Its too bad because he had the entire day off and the drive was only and hour there and back. Alberto was our driver and I would be happy to pay him the extra $7 USD to drive us instead of another local company. #3. The Waterfall Jumping in El Salvador. With G Adventures it’s $50 but you can take a bus for $1.50 there and back or $10 per person there with a private driver with a small group (ask the hotel) and then a bus back. Then get a local guide for $5 usd there. Our CEO became conscious of budgets and organized a cheaper option which was very nice of him. G adventures should adjust this price as its just was too much for this no entrance fee trip. Its really just a bus ride there. #4. Costa Rica Baldi. This is an awesome experience and if you get 8 people or more it will be $38 from any local travel company plus $1 each for a taxi ride and it includes a 1 hour all you can eat buffet. G adventures does it for $55 USD. Other than these activities which should be adjusted and you can organize them on your own the trip is FANTASTIC! Both guides Bianca and Cappi were really great! Also the group we had was really amazing and we all had a lot of fun together. Best group I’ve been in on these types of tours around the world. I’ll be very happy to recommend this trip to my friends if they want to experience Central America.

Galápagos Adventure: Snorkelling & Sea Lions

This was a great tour, the galápagos is amazing! G-adventure has a well organized tour. There are some early morning days but they don't matter because you are in the Galápagos! The rooms are basic but have air conditioning which is good since it is very hot there. José was a fantastic guide and had so much knowledge about the islands. Definitely choose the add-on snorkeling trips they are worth it. I think the Galápagos needs to be on everyone's list.

Basic Costa Rica: Coastlines & Cloud Forests

Great group of people on the tour. Josie was the best CEO!! Thank you!

Costa Rica Adventure

We had a fabulous time. The group was lovely. The guide Liam was superb.

• Mountain Hikes
• Hiking & Trekking

Peru: Ancient Cities & the Andes

I had a fantastic guide and group of people to spend time with. The itinerary was fast paced but covered many must see places in Peru, the G Adventures porters on the Inca Trail were amazing and provided us with really nice meals (I heard the same about the Lares Trek). Average age of the group was late 20s and a mix of solo travellers and pairs. Highly recommended!

Peru Panorama

What a full laden itinerary, which had a wonderful variety of things to see and do. No wasted time on this great discovery, fully enjoyable from start to finish

Iguassu & Beyond

A few things I wanted to share with you, with regards to the trip: 1. It would be great to have the actual meeting point time in hotel dazzler in the pre-arrival emails already mentioned. In this way, people can organize their day prior. We did not know what time to meet and therefore lost time going to the hotel, checking and then coming back at 6pm 2. The hotel dazzler was really not a great hotel. Very moldy  The rest of the accommodation was fine. 3. On the first day, It would be good of the guide to tell us when is the next opportunity to exchange money is. 4. On the day of the trip, it would be nice to talk about the timeline of the day and what exactly will be happening. Opportunities for lunch, dinner? For example: in the bus on the way to the Buenos Aires airport. 5. The bus driver should really check the stamps in the passport and on the entry/exit form. 6. On the day we went to Rio and left Ilha Grande, couldn’t we have taken the ferry at an earlier time to be in Rio earlier? It felt like we left really late. It was very stressful to get the entire Rio tour done, starting at 2.30pm and was not fully satisfying. 7. We did a walking tour through freewalkingtours in Rio and I think this can be one of the options added as activity. Tip is the payment. Hope this is constructive feedback.  Thank you for everything and we see you on our next tour!

• Local Living

Southern Divide

Was a good tour but needs a few changes to make it great. We’re a 57 and 60 year old married couple who love adventure. For us too much time was spent in cities (Cusco 4 nights way too much) and not enough time in desert. Our guide Antonio saved the trip from disaster with his positive, happy attitude. G Adventures really needs to check the tour operators they use for the Salt flats and a few other tours as they’re not up to scratch. Disappointing that G Adventures didn’t perform when we had a situation in the Salt Flats and Bolivian border.

Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro: Falls & Footy

Amazing tour and guide.

All Latin America G Adventures Tour Reviews

Sarah was an amazing guide who catered towards the group. I would recommend this tour for anyone wanting to travel through CA, the border crossings are quite difficult. The price of this tour is worth it.

Great trip with memorable moments.

This tour is intended for people who are physically fit,able to walk 6 kilometers a day, love to kayak/snorkel/swim/bike, and still have plenty of energy to enjoy the wildlife. I cannot cope up with the group, but luckily our CEO offered me options like museum visit, tour to Tntoreras. I still was able yo see all the wildlife I need to see exvept the cormorant. I did not expect to stay in a 5 star hotel. I find the accommodation suitable enough for my needs: comfortable bed, air condition, water, electricity, wifi. Special thanks to Sandra, CEO. She is one of the best tour guides I met in my years of travel. She is a great listener and teacher. She was born in Santa Cruz. She knows Galapagos like the palm of her hand.

Destinations

• Peru tours (36)
• Ecuador tours (28)
• Mexico tours (18)
• Costa Rica tours (17)
• Colombia tours (8)
• Argentina tours (6)
• Chile tours (2)
• Bolivia tours (1)
• Brazil tours (1)
• Guatemala tours (1)

Mayan Discovery

As I go deep into Mexico and Central America to explore the Mayan world, I realise that we might be making the same fatal mistake that led to their downfall.

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. A journalist for more than 20 years, he's been travelling the world since 2011.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle and has been travelling full time for a decade.

Updated: July 7, 2023

The Ancient Maya knew how important rain was for their grand civilisation and so, when drought hit them, they turned to the gods.

First they offered gifts like food, asking for rain in return. It didn’t come.

Believing the gods wanted a stronger demonstration of faith, the Maya performed blood ceremonies where they would cut sensitive parts of their body and offer the blood to the gods. Still the rain didn’t come.

With desperation, the Maya turned to the ultimate offering – human sacrifice.

Some people volunteered to be sacrificed, partly for honour and partly because they believed it would lead to a better afterlife. And babies were also sacrificed because they represented purity.

Still the rain didn’t come.

What the Ancient Maya didn’t realise was that the gods couldn’t give them rain, even if they wanted to.

The Mayan civilisation had just grown too big – and too conceited!

In its effort to expand its cities, aggrandise its buildings, and enrich its leaders, the Mayan civilisation destroyed the environment around it, cutting down forests and redirecting the natural path of water.

The Maya were the cause of the drought – or at least, a large contributing factor – and ultimately their greed may have led to their own downfall.

Sound familiar?

The Mayan civilisation

The Maya were one of the Ancient World’s great civilisations and now I’m here to see what’s left of it for myself on a two-week journey with G Adventures through Mexico, Guatemala and Belize.

In search of answers to the mysteries of the Maya, I’m going deep into jungles, on riverboats, to the coast, and through the now-dry plains of this fascinating region.

The Ancient Maya are not as intertwined with our historical narrative as, say, the Ancient Greeks. We don’t see their legacy in our everyday lives like we do with the Ancient Romans.

But there is something exciting and exotic about the Ancient Mayan world. Perhaps it has to do with the dramatic images of human sacrifice with which they’re associated. Or it could be because of the legends around their calendar predicting the end of the world.

It certainly has a lot to do with the enormous cities they have left for us in the wilds of Mexico and Central America – and the mystery about why they were all abandoned so suddenly.

Historians have a lot of theories about what led to the remarkable downfall of the Mayan civilisation. It might have been because of war, invasion, or trade issues. Or perhaps a mixture of all those things.

It probably also had a lot to do with the changing climate in the region, partly caused by the Maya themselves. Droughts would mean a lack of food, which would lead to fights over natural resources and eventually an exodus to new lands.

As I take this journey through the Ancient Mayan world with G Adventures seeing Mayan ruins in Mexico and Central America, it’s hard not to think about the parallels with today.

G Adventures puts on emphasis on sustainability, ethical tourism, and supporting local communities. But not all of society cares about this kind of thing… and I can’t help but wonder sometimes if our civilisation is going the same way as the Mayan.

Mayan Discovery: The sites

G Adventures has quite a few excellent tours through this region, giving you options for different themes, durations, and styles.

As part of my role as a G Wanderer, I’m on a tour called Mayan Discovery that begins in Cancun in Mexico, then travels through Guatemala and into Belize, before heading back up to Cancun.

The itinerary makes sense geographically and we’re able to see a lot over the two weeks. But, in general, it means we start towards the end of the history of the Mayan civilisation and journey into the past, towards where the seeds for the downfall would first be planted.

Throughout it all, we also explore other parts of the region and experience the wonderful cultural and natural offerings in Mexico and Central America. Not everything is about the Ancient Maya.

There are plenty of opportunities to relax at the natural swimming holes (called cenotes), waterfalls, and beaches.

          View this post on Instagram                   Why do I seem to be doing such silly things these days?! This is another of the cenotes in the Yucatan region of Mexico, formed when the ground collapses and reveals a natural pool. And I am the fool who is jumping off a high cliff down into the water (with a bit of encouragement from my @gadventures group)!! #gwanderers A post shared by Time Travel Turtle (@michaelturtle) on Jan 22, 2019 at 3:44pm PST

For the more adventurous, there are activities like caving, snorkelling, and kayaking.

          View this post on Instagram                   “We don’t have any Nemo fish,” the local diver tells me. “But we do have Nemo’s school bus!” The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest in the world – and one of the best protected. On a day of snorkelling with my @gadventures group, I saw SO MUCH! I’ll edit it together soon but here’s a short highlight. Full itinerary link in my bio. #gwanderers A post shared by Time Travel Turtle (@michaelturtle) on Feb 3, 2019 at 4:04am PST

Along the way, we get a chance to learn more about the colonial history in this part of the Americas and the legacy that has left in the lives of the locals.

And, of course, there is the modern world. Here, we find new trends but also influences from the past, particularly in areas like food, music, and art.

Before I tell you about some of the specific places you see on the Mayan Discovery tour with G Adventures, have a look at the map of the route that the trip takes.

Chichen Itza

The first stop is Chichen Itza, one of the most famous Mayan ruins in Mexico.

It is also one of the most recent, built in the Late Classic Period around 900 AD after many of the cities further south had been abandoned.

It’s an impressive site with a large collection of buildings of different styles. It would once have had a substantial population living here but now it’s the large groups of tourists who fill the area.

Although it’s certainly an important Mayan city (and a World Heritage Site), I think it is particularly famous because it’s so close to the resort cities of Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

I hope the tourists who come out just for a day trip and see no other Mayan sites realise that it’s actually quite different to the others architecturally.

At least it’s possible to get some nice photos of the main pyramids without people climbing all over it. But that’s just because they’re not allowed to anymore.

As we go deeper into the heart of the Mayan world, we’ll come to places where the pyramids are empty simply because there are no other people there to climb them.

A bit further west across the Yucatan Peninsula, we visit Uxmal, a contemporary of Chichen Itza that was once the most powerful in the region.

Even though the two cities would have had economic and political relationships, the architecture of the two is very different.

Here at Uxmal, we find much taller pyramids and temples. It’s easier to get a sense of how the ruling elite used the urban layout to project a sense of hierarchy.

What’s particularly interesting here at Uxmal – and one of the reasons it is also a World Heritage Site – are the ornate friezes that have been carved into the rock walls of the buildings. In them, you can see beautifully-detailed images of animals and masks, representing the gods.

By the time we are at the next Mayan ruins of Palenque, we are deep in the jungle.

The city feels large but it would actually have been smaller than the ones we’ve already visited. Perhaps it’s the cedar and mahogany trees growing so densely amongst the restored pyramids and temples that makes it feel more expansive.

The individual buildings here are stunning – with some of the finest architectural design and artwork. But, unbeknownst to the Maya, this was contributing to their climate problems.

Here at Palenque, many of the buildings were decorated in stucco. But stucco is made by melting limestone and to make one tonne of it, they needed 10 tonnes of wood to make the fire hot enough.

All the jungle I see around me today – none of it would have been here at the peak of Palenque’s power.

Yaxchilan and Bonampak

I didn’t think it was possible to get deeper into the jungle than Palenque but the next day I’m proven wrong, as we drive to a remote spot where we board a boat to go up the river to the isolated ancient city of Yaxchilan.

This is the most adventurous experience of Mayan ruins exploration for us, exploring a jungle site as howler monkeys shout and spider monkeys jump in the branches above us.

It’s also an excellent site to see more of the language of the Ancient Maya. They were a very intellectually-advanced race and had the only known written script in Mesoamerica.

The characters of their writing were complicated hieroglyphics – and you can still see a lot of them carved into parts of the buildings here at Yaxchilan.

The Mayan civilisation was not a single kingdom. Each of these cities we’re visiting would have operated as their own states. There were different power bases in different areas and, like most of human history, their relationships constantly shifted between trade, conflict, alliances, and colonisation.

There were probably imaginary borders between these different Mayan states, and they would have changed all the time over the centuries. But none would have looked like the borders we see today.

And so, on our journey to see a broad swathe of the Mayan empire, we next travel from eastern Mexico into Guatemala.

Present-day Guatemala is home to the ruins of one of the oldest and most powerful Mayan cities – Tikal.

The earliest buildings found at Tikal are from about the 4 th century BC and the city grew from there until about the 9 th century AD. It’s estimated that, at its peak, Tikal may have had 120,000 residents!

The temples and pyramids here soar up through the jungle like skyscrapers, the tops peaking out from the trees, reaching towards the sky.

The Ancient Maya were much more advanced than most of their contemporaries in the Americas and they had a very good understanding of mathematics and astronomy.

In cities like Tikal, the design and placement of these skyscrapers were not accidental. They had direct relationships to the stars and important numbers.

Aside from visiting Tikal, there’s not much time in Guatemala unfortunately. It’s my only real disappointment from the tour, that I don’t get to see more of this fascinating country.

But there are lots of different G Adventures trips in this region – many of which spend longer in Guatemala – so there are always other options here , if you would like to see more.

For me, it’s on to Belize to see a different side of the Maya. There are ruins of cities here and, with this tour, there is an option to go and see the most impressive one at Caracol.

However, I choose to go underground instead.

Crystal Cave

While the focus so far has been on the cities that the Ancient Maya built, like most indigenous cultures around the world, they had an important connection to their own geography.

In the jungles of modern-day Belize, one of the most important natural characteristics were the large underground caves that had formed in the karst limestone.

The Maya believed these were the entrances to the underworld and they could get closer to their gods here. So, they became focal points for worship and religious ceremonies.

Climbing through the Crystal Cave as a day trip from San Ignacio in Belize is an incredible experience – but also one of the most challenging things I have done in a while.

There is no need for ropes or special equipment, but I need to concentrate on what I’m doing for the whole four hours we are underground, making sure I am using the right handholds and putting my feet where they won’t slip.

Going deeper into the cave is almost a perfect representation of how the Maya feel deeper into despair when they faced the drought they could not stop.

Archaeologists have been able to determine that just inside the cave entrance, the Maya made food offerings. When that didn’t work, they went a bit further in to do blood letting ceremonies, and then even deeper to make human sacrifices, trying to appeal to their gods for rain.

As we climb through, we see pottery and even human remains from more than a thousand years ago, still here from those ancient ceremonies.

But really, it’s the natural formations of the cave that are so spectacular. The cave dazzles and offers and ever-changing presentation of limestone beauty.

What else is on the tour?

In many ways, this is what I find throughout the whole of this Mayan Discovery tour . There are plenty of Mayan ruins and other artefacts from the Mayan Civilisation to see – and they are fascinating – but it’s the overall landscape that I find myself enjoying even more. The natural and cultural landscape.

In the first couple of days, we go swimming in the natural pools that have formed in the Yucatan peninsula called cenotes, with crystal clear water and striking settings.

In the city of Merida, we see the colonial architecture from the Spanish era and see how a large Mexican city has transformed itself into a modern day centre.

We have a barbecue by a river one day and go sliding and jumping amongst the nearby waterfalls.

There’s time for a bit of relaxation at the beach or a swim to cool offer after an exciting afternoon of exploration.

And, of course, there are couple of days on the beautiful island of Caye Caulker in Belize, with a boat trip to go snorkelling on one of the world’s greatest reefs, and enough Caribbean flavour to bring some wonderful Central American diversity to the trip.

It’s a great mix of activities that let you explore and relax in equal measures.

How does the tour work?

While the main sites are all included with the tour, a lot of these activities like caving and snorkelling are optional and there are other choices available. It means you can have some flexibility to customise your trip.

Also, rather than have every activity included (and hence the cost of every activity included), you can make choices along the way about which things you would really like to do and spend your money accordingly.

It’s one of the things I like about going on G Adventures tours. You feel as though you have some independence and, if you want some time along to chill out or explore something in particular, that’s easy to do.

It’s the same with meals. Most of them are not included in the tour and so you are free to choose where you would like to eat (and how much you would like to pay).

Of course, there are many times when we choose to go out as a group and have a nice meal together. But there are also nights when I decide to get something quick and casual on my own, or just hang out with a couple of the group members.

When you’re travelling through places like Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize, this is a real bonus! I love the food here and I want to try as many things as possible.

Sometimes I may feel like fine dining and other times I way prefer street food. Because nothing is locked in, I get to taste a wide range of meals – all of them authentic and delicious.

Previously I have written about taking G Adventures tours in Jordan and in Namibia . Because of the logistics of those trips, there was less flexibility in where to eat and what to do. On the Mayan Discovery, there are a lot of opportunities to make your own choices.

With that in mind, you may be wondering who the Mayan Discovery tour would be suitable for. The short answer is – almost anyone!

There are people from 18 to 80 who take this tour and it accommodates them all. You do need to have a decent level of fitness because there’s a lot of walking but it’s not overly strenuous physically.

The level of comfort is average. You’ll stay in basic hotels but they are clean and comfortable. Sometimes we are in our own vehicle but there are also times we catch local buses for long journeys.

I like this aspect – it feels much more natural and gives you interactions with the local community – but you need to be prepared to not have first class service the whole time.

One of the approaches that G Adventures always takes is to make sure you are being looked after, but you’re not isolated from the reality of the countries you’re travelling in.

Ultimately, I think this trip is for anyone who has an interest in the world. We hear a lot about the Roman Empire, the Incas have take on a legendary status, and Egyptians have long been a source of fascination.

I feel like the Mayan civilisation is not talked about in the same way – if it is, it’s in trivial ways about human sacrifice or predictions of the end of the world.

But I have come to realise that there is such a wealth of history in these ancient people. And there’s a lot we can learn from them (particularly from their mistakes) that is still just as relevant today.

As I’ve mentioned, my tour with G Adventures is called Mayan Discovery. The name could not be more appropriate for my experience.

I travelled on this tour with the support of G Adventures in my position as a G Wanderer. All the opinions expressed are my own – I truly believe G Adventures is one of the best tour companies that you can use for a trip to Mexico and Central America.

More stories about Mexico

• A tour through the Mayan Empire
• How to visit Chichen Itza
• The best things to do in Merida
• Visiting Sian Ka'an from Tulum
• The amazing ruins of Palenque
• Finding the lost city of Calakmul
• What to see in Campeche

4 thoughts on “Mayan Discovery”

WOW! This tour is no no joke. I’m glad you got a cave in – and Belize 🙂

They seem really fantastic places. Can’t resist to take-off to Crystal Cave and Tikal. Thanks a lot for the post

Great Article. The pictures look good. I love the Mayan ruins. Never got to Tikal yet though.

The Place looks beautiful, Something I need to put into my list… thanks for sharing 🙂

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Mexico Ancient Civilizations Tour with G Adventures

By: Author Dave Lee

Posted on Last updated: November 10, 2021

Later this month, I'm leaving Colombia to discover Mexico's food, beaches, and ancient civilizations with G Adventures.

A little over one year ago, I first had the opportunity to travel with G Adventures in Patagonia .

The experience surpassed my expectations in every way, from our friendly mountain guide Christian and the nightly feasts of Patagonian lamb and king crab to the breathtaking scenery and optional activities like ice climbing.

When you factor in airfare, Patagonia is one of the more costly regions of Latin America to visit.

By contrast, Mexico remains one of the cheapest, most easily accessible destinations from North America .

The two-week itinerary below hits all the hot spots en route from Mexico City to Playa del Carmen on the Mayan Riviera.

There are so many optional activities on offer in each city; I'm not even going to try to list them all.

It was last year that two of G Adventures' Wanders in Residence, Daniel and Audrey of Uncornered Market , sold me on Oaxaca through their vivid Instagram photos of food and daily life.

Add to that the massive appeal that Playa del Carmen has as a hotspot for digital nomads, and I could no longer delay visiting Mexico.

Last weekend, while researching which UNESCO World Heritage Sites I've visited so far, I found that I may be able to see as many as six new sites on this 15-day tour alone.

• Historic Centre of Mexico City and Xochimilco
• Historic Centre of Puebla
• Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán
• Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla in the Central Valley of Oaxaca
• Pre-Hispanic City and National Park of Palenque
• Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza

As always, I'll be providing live coverage of the trip through Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram and following that up with articles and photo essays on both Go Backpacking and the G Adventures' blog .

Expect lots of food photos as I delve into one of my favorite world cuisines!

I'll be arriving in Mexico a week early to visit friends in Puerto Vallarta , and I'll be spending an extra two weeks exploring Playa del Carmen and the region on my own after the tour.

Have you been to Mexico? Share your recommendations below, and I'll do my best to try them all!

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio . He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:

• G Adventures for small group tours.
• Hostelworld for booking hostels.

Wednesday 12th of June 2013

How was the tour ? i'm planning to take it in september .Can you provide me with some insight ?

Thursday 13th of June 2013

I had a great time, and would highly recommend the tour. For me, it was a nice mix of culture and ruins, food, and beach time (at the end, I continued to hang out with people from my group for days after the tour officially ended).

Palenque was everyone's favorite ruins, not Chichen Itza. What else would you like to know?

Julio Moreno

Sunday 28th of April 2013

Hey, I hope you havent finished this trip yet. Directly south of playa del carmen is Tulum, and the entrance to Sian Ka'an (another UNESCO world Heritage site). My whole blog is based on ranking UNESCO WHS, and I would put Sian Ka'an above Mexico City, Teotihuacan, or even Chichen Itza (which I haven't written a review for yet, but will soon). I hope you have a blast in Mexico. I visit for months at a time since I have a lot of family there. BTW, the beaches of Tulum have been ranked as #5 in the world, and I have to say, they are the best Ive ever seen.

Nope, I just arrived in Puerto Vallarta, so I have a few weeks before I reach Playa. Thanks for the tips, I'll definitely hit Tulum!

BTW, my gravatar picture (the dolphins) were taken in Sian Ka'an

Emily of Roads Less Traveled

Monday 22nd of April 2013

You're hitting all the great spots. We toured much of that area last spring and loved it. Especially the ancient ruins of Monte Alban (http://roadslesstraveled.us/monte-alban/) and Palenque (http://roadslesstraveled.us/palenque/).

I don't know if you'll have time for a daytrip out of Palenque, but the absolute highlight of our entire time in Chiapas we our river trip to the Mayan ruins at Yaxchilan (we felt like we were walking through the pages of National Geographic) and Bonampak (amazing colorful wall frescoes that almost look Egyptian and so well preserved they could have been painted within my own lifetime not a millenium ago)... http://roadslesstraveled.us/yaxchilan/

Have a ball - wish I were going there too!!!

Thanks Emily, I'm excited. I'll keep Yaxchilan and Bonampak in mind.

Thursday 18th of April 2013

What a great itinerary, take as many optional activities as you can, I know I would.

Wednesday 10th of April 2013

Mexico is fabulous. Be sure to see the Anthropology Museum and the Diego Rivera Murals in Mexico City. Also, if you get a chance, go some of the colonial "silver cities" in the center part of the country. I've been living in Mexico (in Guanajuato) for the past six years and really love it. Bienvenido!

Thursday 11th of April 2013

Thanks for the tips Jenny!

• Travel Planning Guide

The Best G Adventures Tours to Mexico

Are you looking for the best tours by G Adventures in Mexico? G Adventures puts an emphasis on local experiences and diving into the cultures of a region. Their focus on sustainable travel and local investments make a very appealing tour company for many travelers. Offering tours all over the globe, the company prides itself on offering a genuine experience to travelers. Combined with our knowledge of the company, the tours available, and the destinations, we've filterd out the absolute best G Adventures tours to Mexico based on ratings, service, price, activities, and more. So, you can be sure that these are the top tours from this amazing company and that your next trip will be a real adventure!

• Yucatan Adventure: Merida, Tulum & Jungle Swims 6 Days, $649.00
• Classic Mexico Adventure 14 Days, $2299.00
• Essential Central Mexico 9 Days, $1349.00

What are G Adventures tours like in Mexico?

Here are the important factors:

• 4 trip options analyzed
• $101 average price per day (USD)
• 6 to 14 days in length
• 4.58 of 5 average rating
• 20 people or less on average

Curious about the diverse range of G Adventures tours? Prepare to be amazed by the array of options available to suit every traveler's preferences. It comes as no surprise that visitors adore these tours, given their exceptional average guest rating of 4.58 out of 5 stars. When it comes to group sizes, the average maximum capacity stands at 20 people, allowing for a comfortable and sociable experience. The shortest tour is 6 days, while the longest is 14 days. With a comprehensive analysis encompassing 4 G Adventures tours, you can rest assured that Mexico has something tailored to your interests and preferences, promising an unforgettable experience for all.

(All tour prices are in US Dollars before taxes, and come from a base price that is reported by TourRadar. Peak season prices can vary significantly, particularly in destinations where seasonal travel fluctuates dramatically.)

So, let's get to it and see...

The 4 Best G Adventures Tours in Mexico

Yucatan adventure: merida, tulum & jungle swims.

• On Sale: 25% Off See Prices
• Great Value: the daily price is lower than average for G Adventures tours.
• High Quality: guest ratings are higher than average.

Set off on an extraordinary journey that has been awarded a 5 out of 5 stars by previous guests. With a duration of 6 days, this voyage offers an intimate group setting, accommodating 24 individuals, while extending a warm welcome to travelers from 18 to 35 years old. Beginning in beautiful Merida, you'll have a terrific journey that ends in Tulum. Brought to you by G Adventures , this exceptional deal is an incredible steal at a mere $81 per day. Act now to take advantage of the special sale price!

Classic Mexico Adventure

• On Sale: 20% Off See Prices

With this option you can experience an unparalleled trip for 14 unforgettable days. It ensures an intimate group setting with 16 participants at most. Uncover the beauty of 11 destinations on this itinerary, with highlights such as San Juan Teotihuacán, Puebla, Oaxaca, and Villahermosa. Mexico City will mark the start of your journey, while Playa del Carmen will serve as its final destination. G Adventures , the organizer of this journey, extends a warm invitation to guests travelers from 12 to 90 years old. This extraordinary opportunity offers exceptional value at only $131 per day. It's currently on a special discounted offer.

• In-depth Cultural

Essential Central Mexico

This fantastic trip has a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Traverse through 7 enchanting destinations, with San Miguel De Allende, Guadalajara, Tequila, and Tlaquepaque among the must-see stops along the route. Puerto Vallarta marks the starting point, while Mexico City stands as the final stop on your incredible journey. Lasting 9 days, the maximum group size is 16 people, and it's good for travelers from 12 to 90 years old. Organized by G Adventures , this is a great deal because it's only $112 per day.

Yucatan & Cancún: Merida, Mayan Ruins, & Beachside Livin'

With a stellar 4 out of 5 rating, this extraordinary voyage is the perfect choice. This trip visits 4 destinations, including Valladolid and Tulum along the way. Beginning in beautiful Merida, you'll have a terrific journey that ends in Cancun. Spanning across 9 days, the voyage accommodates 24 individuals, and is suitable for travelers from 18 to 35 years old. Offered by G Adventures , this remarkable voyage is priced at just $79 per day. Hurry and secure your spot while this incredible sale lasts! Don't miss out on this incredible experience.

See also The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico , The Best Historical Tours in Mexico , The Best 10-Day Tours in Mexico , The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Mexico , The Best 3-Day Tours in Mexico , The Best 2-Week Tours in Mexico , Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Mexico , The Best Christmas & New Years Tours in Mexico , The Best Coach Bus Tours in Mexico , The Best Adventure Tours to Mexico , The Best Eco Tours in Mexico , The Best Sightseeing Tours in Mexico , The Best Cultural Tours in Mexico , The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Mexico , The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Mexico , The Best Tours Under $1000 in Mexico , The Best Luxury Tours to Mexico , The Best Budget Tours to Mexico , or The Best Tours for Seniors to Mexico for more tour ideas. With so many options, there's a guided tour or vacation package for every type of traveler.

Also, if you're departing from a specific destination, see The Best 3-Day Tours from Mexico City , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tuxtla Gutierrez , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Los Mochis , The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen , The Best 10-Day Tours from Mexico City , The Best 2-Week Tours from Mexico City , or The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun for more package tour options.

How much do G Adventures tours to Mexico cost?

Travelers to Mexico will have a large number of terrific options for G Adventures tours at a variety of great prices. The price of G Adventures tours here can vary by type, destinations, length, and travel style. Based on thorough data from 4 G Adventures tours, their average daily price is a very reasonable $101 per day. If you're interested in more information about tours here, see our guide to tour prices in Mexico .

And for more information on Mexico, see Mexico Travel Costs and Mexico Hotel Costs .

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• Activities, Day Trips, Things To Do, and Excursions

Mexico's Day of the Dead in Oaxaca

• Take part in the day of the dead festival
• Explore mexico's artistic heartland
• Experience the culinary delights and traditional cooking methods of this region
• Visit the ruins of monte albán or mitla

What's this trip about?

Travel themes.

• Festivals & Special Events

Destinations

• Central America

Trip includes

• Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Oaxaca Culinary Experience
• Arrival transfer
• Visits to observe cemetery vigils in the small surrounding towns
• Oaxaca and Etla Valley Day of the Dead parades
• Orientation walk and market visit in Oaxaca
• All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Popular Trips

Yucatan & Cancún: Merida, Mayan Ruins, & Beachside Livin'

Mayan Highlights

Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido: Day of the Dead

Classic Mexico Adventure

Day of the Dead in Mexico City

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.

Depart at any time.

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Dates & Availability

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with G Adventures .

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

G Adventures Reviews & Ratings

The organized activities were amazing, the cemeteries and parade were interesting.

The organized activities were amazing, the cemeteries and parade were interesting.

The cemetery visits were amazing

The cemetery visits were amazing. The trip to the waterfall should be a full day excursion.

Incredibly well organised cultral experience, The tour had organised every detail to get us around to the main festivities, and to see some amazing ruins and experience a local cooking class

Incredibly well organised cultral experience, The tour had organised every detail to get us around to the main festivities, and to see some amazing ruins and experie...

From learning to make mole to placing marigolds on forgotten graves, this journey gave a fantastic experience of Oaxaca during the Days of the Dead

From learning to make mole to placing marigolds on forgotten graves, this journey gave a fantastic experience of Oaxaca during the Days of the Dead. It's a feast for...

A very culturally fulfilling vacation experience

Other G Adventures Reviews

One of the best trips taken to europe.

We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimat...

Great itinerary filled with variety of experiences & wonderful guide

Trip exceeded my expectations - not only did we have an excellent guide who was very personable, fun, and put extra attention to everyone's needs, but the country an...

This tour was fantastic!

This tour was fantastic! I saw and experienced more o...

See all Other G Adventures reviews

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Tour operator, g adventures.

G Adventures is an adventure travel pioneer offering the planet's most awe-inspiring selection of affordable small-group tours, safaris and expeditions. Our award-winning trips embrace authentic accommodation, exotic cuisine and local transport to put travellers on a first-name basis with the planet’s people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife.

Adventure travel is more than a vacation. It’s a chance to get to know your world better by putting yourself on a first-name basis with the people, places, and things that make it worth exploring. This is your planet. Come and get it.

All G Adventures tours share a common love of adventure, but life-altering experiences come in a variety of flavors. Here are some of the Travel Styles we offer:

"Comfort": “Adventure travel” doesn’t have to mean “roughing it.” Comfort tours offer the genuine experiences you want with more extras, frills, and upgrades.

"Classic": An unbeatable mix of uncommon experiences, insider access, cultural contact, and all the must-sees and -dos, Classic is adventure perfected.

"Active":  Why just see the world when you could bike, hike, kayak, and multi-sport it? Why, indeed. Active tours keep travellers who like to move on the move.

"Yolo":  You’re only young once. Make the most of it with Yolo tours, fun-filled and fast-moving adventures designed just for travellers aged 18 to 39.

"Family":  Just because you settled down and had kids doesn’t mean your adventuring days are through. Family makes our big planet small enough for all.

"Local Living":  Want to get under the skin of some of the most gorgeous and out-there places? Local Living tours grant access that even locals don't have.

"Private Groups":  Got a group of eight or more and want to keep the fun to yourselves? Try a Private Group tour. You pick the who and where, we’ll handle the what.

No matter what kind of traveller you are, we’ve got a tour (or a dozen) that’ll fit you just right.

• 100% Guaranteed Departures
• Lifetime Deposits
• 24/7 Service
• Awards include one of National Geographic Traveler's Tours of a Lifetime and one of National Geographic Adventure's "Best Adventure Tour Outfitters." Several times named Canada's Favorite Adventure Tour Operator.

To speak with G Adventure Travel Specialist  call 1-855-667-9514  

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Important Notes

ACCOMMODATION NOTE: Please be aware that properties we stay in with only two stories may not have elevators installed and climbing the stairs with your luggage will be necessary.

Eating is a big part of traveling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. On truck trips in Africa, aboard the expedition ship Explorer or our Galapagos yachts, while trekking in remote regions etc. food is included, plentiful and made of fresh local ingredients. The above information applies to G Adventures group trips. For Independent trips please check the itinerary for details of meals included. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.

Dossier Disclaimer

The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary. VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you print a final copy of your Trip Details to review a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

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Mayan Discovery

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