It is a combination not a lot of people think of but start your trip in Cancun and then head for one of the 7 new wonders of the world; Chichen Itza. Then head for the gorgeous town of Merida where you can opt to visit cenotes, enjoy an amazing cooking class or head for the lagoons of Rio Lagartos where flamingos as well as crocodiles can be found. Then onto the old Mayan complex of Calakmul which is a truly undiscovered treasure which will leave you stunned. Then onto Bacalar, an amazing laguna where you can enjoy life before heading to Belize where you end the trip on Caye Caulker, an island which should be considered a tribute to Bob Marley before heading home.
To give you inspiration we thought it would be helpful to make an overview of places which are definitely worth visiting when you come to the Mundo Maya! See this as a small guide to get acquainted with what we have to offer and we hope this helps you make the right decisions for a future trip you might be planning.
If Bob Marley had a private island it would probably be Caye Caulker. Super laid back and full with small restaurants and bars. Slide under a palm tree and enjoy life. Or hop aboard a great sailboat to discover the great blue while snorkelling the reefs.
Most trips to Yucatan start of end at the international airport of Cancun and spending a night here is not the worst that can happen to you. Beaches with white sand and fantastic food and drinks await you!
Sandy beaches and palm trees silhouetted against a blue sky. Fresh fruit at the market. Fresh and distinctive Oaxacan cuisine at a local restaurant. This is Puerto Escondido, a sun-drenched Mexican paradise whose beaches attract visitors from everywhere.
Sung about by Madonna in La Isla Bonito this island has it all. And you can discover it’s goodness by bike of golf cart. Go snorkelling or diving or kick back and sip a cocktail while overlooking the ocean.
Make the most of your visit: The gates open at 8am and we highly recommend arriving early to enjoy the morning birdsong and the jungle mist rising over these impressive Mayan temples. After climbing the many pyramids of Palenque, cool off with a visit to the nearby waterfalls of Misol-Ha and Agua Azul.
This town is not only known for its beaches. It also makes a great rum! We think it does not need any more introduction. It is mostly visited by local tourists so if you feel like soaking up the local atmosphere…
This is the outdoor capital of Central America. Greatest highlight is the excursion to the Actun Tunichil Muknal which awakens the Indiana Jones in you but the area is full of excursions like cave tubing and jungle activities. A visit to the Mayan ruins of Caracol is also an option.
This is a less known area but be sure to visit Calakmul as it is one of the best kept secrets of Mexico. The Mayan temple complex is amazing and lies within thick jungle but the area is full of live and do not be surprised if you run into coati’s, howler monkeys and yes…jaguars!
This place is not much visited but is an excellent starting point for a raft of kayak adventure. If you are into nature and birdlife we also think Jalcomulco might grow on you.
Placencia is a perfect beach town and you can use it as such. You could also go for an excursion to Bird Island or the nearby Monkey River which is self explanatory.
Not only is Valladolid a very pretty, typical Mexican town. It is also very close to the Mayan temples of Chichen Itza and Coba of which the latter ones are less known but fun to explore with a mountain bike!
This is the main base from where to take a boat trip up to the ruins of Lamanai or for longer excursions into the wilds of Northern Belize. Orange Walk is beautifully located along the New River, which meanders lazily through the east side of town.
This “Pueblo Mágico”, Magical Town, is well known for the Grijalva River, its Renaissance structures, warm people, colours everywhere you look and its impressive natural wonders, such as the Sumidero Canyon where you can find crocodiles.
Immerse yourself in the city and visit the famous sites such as the Zócalo, Metropolitan Cathedral, Templo Mayor, National Palac Anthropology Museum and Chapultepec Castle. Outside the city be sure to visit the pre-Hispanic site of Teotihuacan whose Nahuatl name means “place where gods were born”.
Being one of the 7 new wonders of the world you should of course not miss out on Chichen Itza. Be sure to visit the complex either early morning or later afternoon to avoid the biggest crowds.
Rich in history and culture, Oaxaca is a fascinating destination where ancient civilizations, colonial architecture and alive traditions confluence. The culture and warmth of its people are the main reasons for traveling and getting wrapped by the Oaxacan universe. Discover the mountain top ruins of the Zopotecan/Mixtecan city of Monte Alban, which sits 10 km outside of Oaxaca.
About an hour’s drive from Merida you find this amazing natural habitat that is mostly known for its flamingos. But other than that it is home to raccoons, armadillo’s and crocodiles. A guide will try and show you all its richness.
Puebla is overshadowed by two volcanoes contrasting with its highly decorated colonial buildings and colourful streets, which according to legend were created by angels for humans to enjoy.
Get to know this stunning lake through the network of mangroves – home to many different bird species making the most of this peaceful haven where the only sound to be heard is your oars gently splashing in the clear fresh waters. Sit and enjoy the sunrise over the rippling water and be blown away.
Campeche was once the busiest harbour in this area and was well known by pirates. That is why the Campechanos build an impressive wall to defend themselves. Today you can still see three of the seven parts (Baluartes).
Also known as the white city. Explore the centre of this vibrant city...choose from the markets, museums and churches which fill the centre and give many options for entertainment and education. You can also visit some of the many cenotes surrounding Merida, which form part of a huge underground network of fresh water. Even enjoy a nice swim in the cold water. Or maybe do a walking food tour to explore the great flavours of the Yucatan cuisine.
Awaken the adventurer in you and come visit the waterfalls on which you can rappel or zipline between the trees. There are also caves to explore so what are you waiting for?
Tehuantepec is a friendly town with a typical Mexican atmosphere. In the city, many beautiful and strong local Zapotec women live. They are famous for their beautiful embroidered traditional dresses, ceramics and jewellery. You will not encounter many tourists in this city, which ensures an authentic atmosphere.
The city of San Cristobal lies within Chiapas and has a lot of charm and beautiful buildings. You can easily spend a day on all the beautiful squares but the real charm lies in the adjacent small villages where old traditions are very much kept alive.
A lot of trips use this place as a stopover. Villahermosa lies in Tabasco state. A must-see is the museum & park called La Venta where some impressive Olmec statues are on display.
The yellow town of Izamal is a feast for the eyes. The monastery is huge and there are also some old Mayan ruins to visit.
The Mayan city of Uxmal is situated on the Puuc Route. Explore the ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Uxmal, where the well-preserved temples give a good idea of how life was for the original inhabitants. Climb the large pyramid (Adivino) known as the Pyramid of the Magician with its unusual oval shape and great views over the surrounding jungle.
Not the most spectacular of places but the atmosphere could be a lot worse and it is the gateway to Belize itself. You would think it is the capital but it isn’t, that is Belmopan.
Relax and enjoy your island paradise to the maximum… either in a hammock under the palm trees or on a rented golf buggy exploring this tiny tropical treasure. You could take an optional boat trip out to where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Caribbean to snorkel with the biggest fish in the world, the whale sharks. Revel in this once in a lifetime experience and make sure you take your camera (June to September)!
One of the hippest towns at the Riviera Maya, Tulum is almost a must visit. It’s temples at sea are famous but also the nearby Biosphere of Sian Ka’an is worth a visit. Add to that the bohémien atmosphere and you have a fantastic spot to stay!
Would you sleep at a zoo in Belize? Probably not but this is not just any zoo. This is more of a rescue place for orphaned animals and a tour at night through the place and the surrounding jungle can be very rewarding.
Right across from Cancun this island still holds it backpacker charm although the beach clubs are very loungy nowadays. Pamper yourself while enjoying the white beaches which are hard to find at the main land.
Famous for the opportunity to swim with turtles, Akumal is still a nice small fisher town and if you look to avoid big crowds then this is certainly an option. The turtles are always there so put on your mask and go nuts.
Cockscomb NP is the place to spot a jaguar in Belize but do not get your hopes up too high. The parc is amazing because of its rich flora and fauna and the guides from Maya Centre will show you that beauty at day and at night during amazing walks in the jungle.
Cozumel is every divers dream and just across from Playa del Carmen. It has the advantage of not having a lot of seaweed on its beaches which makes it a strong contender to stay for a few nights and turtles to snorkel with finish the job!
This used to be a super quiet sleepy place with an easy accessible reef just in front of the beach. Nowadays cruise lines sometimes stop here but on other days it is still very sleepy and laid back. For the beach lovers!
A small community which is located at a nice beach and therefore a great place to relax for a few days.
Playa del Carmen has a much smaller feel to it then Cancun. Yet a lot of nice restaurants have a branch here. Beach life and shopping combined is probably an apt description of the town that still has a lot of atmosphere.
If you do not want to be stuck in the crowds at Cancun or Playa del Carmen then Puerto Morelos might just fit you. Not nearly as pretentious as Tulum but a place with a nice atmosphere and plenty of beach bars to enjoy the day.
Here you can find some handy tips about traveling in our destinations. If you have any specific questions we will of course be more than happy to assist you.
Hola Team Solana,
now we are waiting in Mexico City to enter our flight back home.
We enjoyed the last hours in Tulum very much- although there were so many tourists ;-)
We hope that we will come back soon because there are so many things we could not visit.
Mexico is a beautiful country with handsome and friendly people.
I just can repeat myself: thank you very much. - clients S.
We are just back in Amsterdam and we want to thank you for the perfectly organized trip. We've had a wonderful holiday.
Best regards,
Ekkehard and Ilona
Hola Delphine!
I just posted the review on TrustPilot: five stars! We would like to thank you for the amazing experience in Mexico. The trip was exactly what we had hoped and we really appreciate the help and energy that you put into our holiday.
If you can, please also extend this thanks to everyone at Solana Tours!
Thanks again and warmest regards from a rainy & cold Holland
Sophie & Daphne
Dear Lise-Marie,
Unfortunately we are back in the Netherlands, catching up from our flight. We would like to thank you very much for all your help and services! We had an amazing time in Mexico, with a trip that had everything. Cities, nature, history and relaxation and then also amazing accommodations! Once again, words cannot express our gratitude enough. We will be sure to visit again in the future and should we have friends who want to visit we will certainly recommend your services.
Very warm regards,
Yvette
We found Solana Tours via Instagram because of a Dutch lady who was working there. Communication with Elvira was very pleasant via email and she was able to discuss everything and she thought along well. Once we got to Mexico our expectations were exceeded, everything was so well organised! At first we found it exciting because we didn't know the agency, but all the hotels, the bus trips, the excursions, everything was very well organised, what a wonderful experience this was! Even a mistake on our part with a wrong date was resolved within half a day. Good accessibility via WhatsApp. I have no choice but to recommend this travel agency 200% and if you have any questions from the Netherlands, anyone can contact me!
Dear Laura,
Casa Don Diego is a very nice hotel with a very nice (French) owner, a beautiful swimming pool and a delicious breakfast. The rooms are beautiful. attractive, clean and spacious.
Thank you very much for everything you have done for us. It was perfectly arranged. We had a great time in Mexico and on Caye Caulker.
When we are back in the Netherlands, I will write a good review for Solana in Google. Are there more places where I can write a good review for Solana?
Warm regards,
Krijn and Marny
Hola! The tour was very interesting, we enjoyed it very much! We can't believe that our tour is almost over but we had a great time! thank you! – clients E.
Hi Laura, we are at Antigua again. Tonight we will leave home. We will thank you for all your support and help this holiday. We had a wonderful time, and we felt enormous blessed that we could make this trip! Thank you. – clients vd M.
Dear Erika, we are at the airport, the ride from just 90mins. Thank you for your help and support throughout the last 3 weeks. We very much enjoyed México, this was an amazing trip. Best, Sören + Dominik
