Mayan Highlights — Self-Launched Yucatán & Chiapas Loop
9 days · Mexico (Yucatán & Chiapas)
G Adventures charges £1,150
No-markup version: ~£445 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independent version of G Adventures' 9-day Mayan Highlights loop — Playa del Carmen → Chichén Itzá → Mérida → Palenque → Bacalar → Playa del Carmen. Instead of a CEO, a private vehicle and included group meals, you'll use Mexico's excellent ADO long-distance buses, self-bookable guides at the ruins via GetYourGuide/Klook or directly at the site gates, and hostel/guesthouse stays in each town. Same ruins, same lagoon, same beaches — roughly a third of the price. Costs are approximate and exclude international flights; the original tour's advertised price wasn't shown on the page (it had no live departures), so a typical G Adventures Classic 9-day Mexico small-group price of ~£1,150 is used for comparison.
Day-by-day
Arrive Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen
Fly into Cancún (CUN) and take an ADO bus from the airport directly to Playa del Carmen (about 1h, ~£9-10) — cheaper and just as fast as a shared shuttle. Check into a hostel or guesthouse a few blocks back from 5th Avenue (Quinta Avenida) for better prices. Spend the afternoon swimming at Playa Mamitas or walking the beach, then eat cheap tacos al pastor at a local taquería off the main strip (MXN 30-60 per taco plate). Evening: pick up an ATM withdrawal of Mexican pesos — this is your best exchange rate for the whole trip.
🚌ADO bus Cancún Airport → Playa del Carmen, ~£9
🛏Hostel dorm or private room, Playa del Carmen (£12-20)
- →Beach time at Playa Mamitas
- →5th Avenue orientation walk
- →Taco dinner at a local taquería
Chichén Itzá & on to Mérida
Chichén Itzá / Mérida
Take an early ADO bus from Playa del Carmen to Chichén Itzá (roughly 2.5-3h, ~£12-15; some services stop at the ruins entrance, otherwise get off at Pisté and take a short colectivo/taxi). Enter the site as it opens (8am) to beat the tour buses and heat — entry is around MXN 600-700 (~£27-32) for foreigners. Either join a small-group guided tour booked in advance via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£20-30) or hire a certified local guide at the gate (~£25-35 split between a few travellers) to hear the story of El Castillo, the ball court and the sacred cenote. Afterwards, continue by ADO bus to Mérida (~2.5h, ~£10-12). Evening: free orientation walk of the Plaza Grande and Paseo de Montejo.
🚌ADO buses Playa del Carmen → Chichén Itzá → Mérida, ~£25 total
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Mérida centro (£12-20)
- →Chichén Itzá entry & self-booked guided tour
- →El Castillo and Great Ball Court
- →Evening walk of Mérida's Plaza Grande
Uxmal ruins & Yucatán cenotes
Mérida / Uxmal
A full day out from Mérida. Cheapest option: catch a SUR bus or shared colectivo toward Uxmal (about 1.5h, ~£3-4 each way) and explore the beautifully curved Puuc-style pyramids of Uxmal on your own (entry ~MXN 500, ~£23) — arguably quieter and more atmospheric than Chichén Itzá. Alternatively, book a day tour combining Uxmal with a cenote swim and hacienda lunch via GetYourGuide (~£30-45). Back in Mérida, catch the free evening serenades or street food in Parque Santa Lucía. Note: independent cenote visits are easy by colectivo from Mérida (~£2-3) — Cenotes Hacienda Mucuyché or the Homún ring of cenotes are good value.
🚌SUR bus / colectivo Mérida → Uxmal return, ~£7
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Mérida centro (£12-20)
- →Uxmal archaeological site
- →Cenote swim
- →Mérida street food & plaza evening
Travel day to Palenque
Palenque
A long but scenic travel day. The most comfortable and reliable route is an ADO bus from Mérida to Palenque (roughly 8-9h overnight or a full daytime service, ~£30-38); book online in advance on the ADO app as seats sell out. Alternatively break the journey in Villahermosa. Arrive in Palenque town (not the ruins), check into a budget guesthouse or cabaña near the main street, and eat a cheap set lunch (comida corrida ~MXN 80-120). Get an early night — you want to be at the ruins at opening tomorrow.
🚌ADO bus Mérida → Palenque, ~£34
🛏Budget guesthouse/cabaña in Palenque town (£10-18)
- →Scenic bus journey through Chiapas
- →Evening stroll in Palenque town
Palenque ruins
Palenque
Take a colectivo or shared van from Palenque town to the ruins (about 15 min, ~£1-2) and be there for the 8am opening. Entry is around MXN 500-600 (~£23-27); a certified guide at the entrance (~£25-35, splittable) brings the Temple of the Inscriptions, the Temple of the Cross Group and the Grand Palace to life, with howler monkeys calling from the jungle. Don't miss the short walk to the Museo de Sitio and the jungle trail to the smaller temples. In the afternoon, optionally take a colectivo to the Roberto Barrios waterfalls (~£6-8 with entry) or do the short jungle trail hike. Return to town by evening.
🚌Colectivo Palenque town ↔ ruins, ~£3 return
🛏Budget guesthouse/cabaña in Palenque town (£10-18)
- →Palenque ruins with local guide
- →Site museum
- →Optional Roberto Barrios waterfalls
Palenque to Bacalar
Bacalar
Travel to Bacalar on the Laguna de los Siete Colores. There's usually a direct ADO or ADO GL bus (roughly 6-7h, ~£25-32); otherwise route via Chetumal. Check into a hostel or guesthouse a short walk from the lagoon. Spend the late afternoon swimming at a public lagoon access point or the Balneario Ejidal, and watch the sunset over the seven-colour water. Bacalar is small and laid-back — eat at a local lonchería rather than the waterfront restaurants for real value.
🚌ADO bus Palenque → Bacalar, ~£28
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Bacalar (£12-20)
- →Swim in the Laguna de los Siete Colores
- →Lagoon sunset
Bacalar lagoon day
Bacalar
A free day on the lagoon. Rent a kayak or paddleboard (~£8-12) and explore the clear water and stromatolites, or book a small-group sailing/boat trip on the lagoon via GetYourGuide or a local operator (~£20-30). Visit the 18th-century Fuerte de San Felipe (entry ~MXN 70) for the history and views, and swim at Cenote Azul just outside town (~£2-3 entry, reachable by local taxi or colectivo). If you're feeling adventurous, rent a bike to reach the quieter southern lagoon shores.
🚌Local taxis/colectivos within Bacalar, ~£4
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Bacalar (£12-20)
- →Kayaking or paddleboarding
- →Fuerte de San Felipe
- →Cenote Azul swim
Bacalar back to Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen
Take an ADO bus from Bacalar back to Playa del Carmen (about 4.5-5h, ~£18-24; some services route via Cancún or Chetumal). Check back into a Playa hostel and spend the afternoon on the Mayan Riviera beaches. In the evening, honour the spirit of the original tour's G for Good moment by eating at El Hongo, the volunteer-run community restaurant in the 'real' Playa del Carmen that funds a youth art programme (about MXN 100-200 for a home-style meal, ~£5-9) — book or check opening hours ahead as it's a small community spot. Otherwise, find a locally-owned cocina económica.
🚌ADO bus Bacalar → Playa del Carmen, ~£21
🛏Hostel dorm or private room, Playa del Carmen (£12-20)
- →Beach afternoon on the Mayan Riviera
- →Dinner at El Hongo community restaurant
- →5th Avenue evening stroll
Depart Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen
Depart at any time. If you're flying from Cancún, take an ADO bus from Playa del Carmen's main terminal back to Cancún Airport (~£9-10, allow 2.5h for the journey plus check-in). If you have time, squeeze in a morning swim or a final taco breakfast before leaving.
🚌ADO bus Playa del Carmen → Cancún Airport, ~£9
🛏None (departure day)
- →Morning beach swim
- →Transfer to Cancún Airport
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£445 | £1,150 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £705 per person (61%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£445
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Mayan Highlights — Self-Launched Yucatán & Chiapas Loop cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £445 per person for 9 days in Mexico (Yucatán & Chiapas). This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,150 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £445 — a saving of roughly £705 (61%) per person.
How long is the Mexico (Yucatán & Chiapas) trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Mexico (Yucatán & Chiapas).
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, beaches trip through Mexico (Yucatán & Chiapas), self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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