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The “Mexique précolombien” tour at a glance

Mexique précolombien (Pre-Columbian Mexico) is an 11-day, 10-night Club Med Discovery tour in the Cultural Treasures theme, crossing Mexico from Mexico City to Cancún. It begins in the capital with the National Museum of Anthropology, Frida Kahlo's house-museum in Coyoacán and the site of Teotihuacán. A domestic flight then leads to Chiapas: the Sumidero Canyon by boat, the Indigenous villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán, and the Agua Azul waterfalls. Then come the great Mayan cities of Palenque, Edzná, Uxmal and Chichén Itzá, with the fortified port of Campeche and the colonial city of Mérida. Nights are spent in 4- and 5-star hotels, all the way to the InterContinental Presidente Cancún. The package includes the Mexico City-Tuxtla Gutiérrez flight, air-conditioned transport, full board with one local drink per meal, visits, a French-speaking local guide, porters and local taxes.

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How do the first days unfold, from Mexico City to Chiapas?

You arrive in Mexico City on day one. On day two, the National Museum of Anthropology lays the groundwork for the whole trip, before a stroll through Coyoacán and a visit to Frida Kahlo's house-museum, the famous Casa Azul. Day three brings together the historic centre, the Zócalo and the cathedral, then the site of Teotihuacán, its Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, and the Mural Painting Museum. On day four, a domestic flight takes you to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, where a boat travels up the Sumidero Canyon between towering walls, before reaching San Cristóbal de las Casas. Day five is devoted to the Indigenous villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán.

And the rest, from the Agua Azul waterfalls to Cancún?

On day six, the road descends toward Palenque with a stop at the Agua Azul waterfalls, whose turquoise water tumbles down in tiers. On day seven, you visit the Mayan site of Palenque, deep in the forest, before reaching the fortified port of Campeche. Day eight takes in the temple of Edzná and the site of Uxmal before Mérida. Day nine is devoted to the Sotuta de Peón sisal hacienda and the colonial city. On day ten, you discover Chichén Itzá and its sacred cenote, then head to Cancún. On day eleven, the morning is free by the sea.

What are the highlights of this trip?

Three moments stand out. First Mexico City, where the National Museum of Anthropology and Teotihuacán tell the story of the civilizations that came before the Maya of the Yucatán. Next Chiapas: the villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán open a window onto Indigenous Mexico today, with its markets, its weaving and its unique religious traditions. Finally, the Mayan road, from Palenque to Chichén Itzá, linking one UNESCO site after another. In between, the Sotuta de Peón hacienda shows how sisal, the "green gold", made the Yucatán rich.

Which hotels do you stay in?

In Mexico City, three nights at the Marquis Reforma Hotel & Spa, 5 stars, on the grand Reforma boulevard. In San Cristóbal de las Casas, two nights at Casa Mexicana, 4 stars, in the heart of the old town. Then Villa Mercedes in Palenque, 4 stars, Plaza Campeche, 4 stars, and two nights at the Hyatt Regency Mérida, 5 stars. The last night is spent at the InterContinental Presidente Cancún, 5 stars, by the beach.

What is included, and what do you pay separately?

The package includes the Mexico City-Tuxtla Gutiérrez domestic flight and its taxes, transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, ten hotel nights, full board with one local drink per meal, visits, the guide, porters and local taxes. You will want to plan for flights to Mexico City and from Cancún, airport transfers, extra drinks, tips, personal expenses and insurance. Your advisor books these along with the tour.

Who do you travel with, and who leads the group?

The tour runs in a small group, with a French-speaking local guide who brings to life the Aztec and Mayan civilizations, the colonial era and Indigenous Mexico today. Departure is guaranteed from the first booking, and assistance is available 24 hours a day throughout the trip.

When should you go, and how do you get to Mexico City from Quebec?

Winter and spring, from December to April, bring dry weather over most of the itinerary. Mexico City and San Cristóbal sit at altitude, above 2,000 m: days are mild and evenings cool, while Palenque and the Yucatán are warm. Your advisor tells you which 2026-2027 departures are available. For flights, they book the outbound trip to Mexico City from Montreal or Quebec City, with or without a connection depending on the season, and the return from Cancún. To learn more about the country, see our Mexico travel guide.

Which Club Med resort pairs well with the tour?

The tour ends in Cancún: Club Med Cancún naturally takes over for an all-inclusive week at the beach. After eleven days of sites and museums, a few days by the turquoise sea make a fine epilogue. To discover the coast, see also our Cancún travel page.

Who is Mexique précolombien for?

It is for travellers who want to understand Mexico in depth, from the Aztec empire to today's Mayan villages. The pace is brisk, with a domestic flight and good road stages, and it will delight fit, curious travellers who love museums as much as landscapes. For a trip focused on the peninsula, the Grand tour du Yucatán takes 8 days from Cancún; in a condensed version, the Escapade dans le Yucatán takes 4 days.

Why book this tour with AquaTerra?

A tour that starts in Mexico City and ends in Cancún calls for well-built flights. We take care of them, with a Club Med stay at the end if you wish, and we stay reachable throughout the trip. Voyages Synergia, our network, received the Club Med Excellence Award 2025. Compare with our other Club Med tours in the Americas and the Caribbean and all Club Med tours.

Call 1-866-628-6241. You will reach someone who knows this tour and has time for you. We look together at what is available on your dates, we choose the right departure, and we stay on the line throughout your trip. That is the difference between booking alone in front of a screen and travelling with someone behind you.

  • Travellers in front of the Chichén Itzá pyramid

    Travellers in front of the Chichén Itzá pyramid

  • Turquoise cascades of Agua Azul, Chiapas

    Turquoise cascades of Agua Azul, Chiapas

  • Cliffs of the Sumidero Canyon, Chiapas

    Cliffs of the Sumidero Canyon, Chiapas

  • Colonial street with colourful facades in Mexico

    Colonial street with colourful facades in Mexico

Meet our Club Med Specialists who can help you plan your trips to any of the Club Med destinations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the Mexico City-Tuxtla Gutiérrez domestic flight and its taxes are part of the package. It spares you a very long drive and saves a day. Your guide handles the group check-in.
Each meal includes one local drink. Other drinks cost extra, from the menu. Try agua de jamaica or horchata, two Mexican classics.
Mexico City and San Cristóbal are above 2,000 m, which you feel a little in the first days. Drink plenty of water, walk at your own pace and all goes well. The program starts gently with museums.
A valid Canadian passport is required. Your advisor checks the requirements at the time of booking. They also give you a list of documents to keep on you.
Tips are planned separately, as is the custom in Mexico. Your advisor tells you the usual amounts for the guide and driver. Everything else in the guiding is included.
In San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán, you always ask permission before photographing someone. Inside the church of San Juan Chamula, photos are forbidden out of respect for the rituals. Your guide explains these customs on site.
Warm layers for the cool evenings in Mexico City and San Cristóbal, and light clothes for Palenque and the Yucatán. Add a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and good walking shoes. A swimsuit is handy for the last day in Cancún.
Yes, the small group offers good company and the guide looks after everyone. Your advisor checks single-room conditions at the time of booking. It is a safe way to discover Mexico on your own.
It is a sisal hacienda in the Yucatán, where you learn how sisal agave was grown and processed. The visit, on day nine, tells the story of the region's prosperity in the hacienda era. It pairs well with the visit to Mérida.
Yes, your advisor can add nights in Cancún or a stay at Club Med Cancún after the tour. They then arrange the transfer and return flight accordingly. It is the gentlest way to end the trip.
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