#20 best destination in the world
Hidden Beach, Marieta Islands
- Rumored to have been created as the result of deliberate military testing in the early 1900s
- Involves taking an hour long boat ride with a tour company to get there or it can be swum or kayaked to
Cenote Samula
- Naturally formed pits created when limestone rock caves are exposed to underground pools
- Considered a sacred place in Mayan culture
- Long roots hang down from the skylight inside the cave and nourish the trees above ground
Rio Secreto, Riviera Maya
- Newly-discovered underground river with thousands of stalactites and stalagmites
- Very few places in the world have the conditions that make this underground river possible
Cave of the Crystals
- Cave connected to Naica Mine that is 980 ft deep
- Some of the largest crystals ever found
- Largest crystal in the cave is 39 ft in length and 13 ft in width
- The cave is 136 degrees with 90-99% humidity
- Without proper protection, people can only endure 10 minutes of exposure at a time
Cuicuilco
- Ceremonial site dating back to 800-600 BC
- The region flourished from 700-150 BC
- One of the oldest buildings in the world
Playa Norte
- #10 of the top 25 beaches in the world
Tulum
- Pre-Columbian Mayan walled city and port
- #24 of the top 25 landmarks in the world
- One of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya
- Thrived culturally between 13th-15th centuries
- Old World Spanish settlers caused high fatalities in the region due to the spread of disease which caused people to abandon the city
National Museum of Anthropology
- National Museum of Mexico
- #7 of the top 25 museums in the world
- Contains archaeological and anthropological artifacts from Mexico’s pre-Columbian heritage such as the Aztec calendar stone
Chichen Itza
- Was one of the largest pre-Columbian cities built by the Maya
- City thrived from 600-1200 AD
- Important example of Central Mexican architectural style
- Considered a mythical great city in later Mesoamerican literature
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Xochimilco
- Borough on what was the shore of Lake Xochimilco in the pre-Hispanic period
- Historic center of Mexico City best known for its canals
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Teotihuacan
- One of the most architecturally significant Mesoamerican pyramids built in the pre-Columbian Americas
- In the 1st millennium AD, it was the largest city in the pre-Columbian Americas with a population of 125,000 or more (6th largest city in the world at that time)
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Monte Albán
- Large pre-Columbian archaelogical site located on a low mountainous range
- Partially excavated civic-ceremonial center
- One of the oldest cities in Mesoamerica
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Uxmal
- Ancient Maya city most representative of the region’s dominant architectural style
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
Xplor Park
- Park offering activities such as zip-lines, amphibious vehicles, underground rafts, underground rivers, and hammock splash
Malecón, Puerto Vallarta
- 12 block, mile long boardwalk lined with numerous sculptures
Lake Bacalar
- Long and narrow lake noted for its blue color and water clarity, along with its white limestone bottom
- Lake is fed by underground rivers or cenotes
Chapel of the Rosary (Puebla)
- Chapel attached to the Temple of Santo Domingo in the city of Puebla
- Built in 1690
- Important example of baroque novohispano artistic-religious achievements in Mexico
Costs
all flights $1,089
food $15/day x 23 days = $334
hotel $11/day x 22 days = $242
tickets (all attractions) $406
TOTAL for whole itinerary $2,071
