Day 1: Arrive in Mexico City & Frida Kahlo-Inspired Dinner Arrive at Mexico City International Airport and meet your private driver for the journey to Campos Polanco, an intimate Art Deco retreat in the heart of Polanco. In the evening, travel to Roma Norte for an immersive dinner inspired by Frida Kahlo. A chef-host brings the artist’s story to life through five courses paired with mezcal, wine and hibiscus cocktails, with each plate reflecting moments from her life and her pride in Mexican identity. Overnight: Campos Polanco
Day 2: Explore San Ángel and Coyoacán Discover the tree-lined streets, cobbled plazas and creative heritage of southern Mexico City. Explore San Ángel and Coyoacán with your private guide, stepping inside Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul and Casa Estudio San Ángel, designed by Juan O’Gorman for Kahlo and Diego Rivera. On Saturdays, browse the Bazaar del Sábado arts market. During the day, enjoy an authentic lunch at a neighborhood market while supporting local businesses and connecting with the capital’s living cultural traditions. Overnight: Campos Polanco
Day 3: Fly Over Teotihuacán Rise early for a private hot-air balloon flight above the Valley of Teotihuacán, with views across the ancient city and its monumental pyramids. Celebrate your landing with sparkling wine before breakfast at a nearby restaurant. Continue on foot with your expert guide, following the Avenue of the Dead past temples, palaces, murals and carvings. Learn about the daily life, rituals and beliefs of the Teotihuacanos before returning privately to Mexico City. Overnight: Campos Polanco
Day 4: Travel to Oaxaca via Cholula Leave Mexico City with your private driver and guide for the journey to Oaxaca. Pause in Cholula, a historic town overlooked by Popocatépetl volcano, with time for lunch at a local restaurant (not included). Continue through the valleys and mountain landscapes of central Mexico before arriving at Casa Oaxaca. Settle into this intimate hotel in the historic center and enjoy the remainder of the evening at leisure.
Overnight: Casa Oaxaca Day 5: Monte Albán and Oaxaca City Explore Monte Albán, the ancient Zapotec capital dramatically positioned above the Oaxaca Valley. Your private guide reveals the site’s political, economic and spiritual importance as you walk among its ceremonial buildings and plazas. Return to Oaxaca City to wander its cobbled streets, vibrant squares and historic architecture. Visit the Zócalo and the city’s principal market, where colorful displays introduce the region’s traditional ingredients, handicrafts and creative heritage.
Overnight: Casa Oaxaca Day 6: Cook with a Zapotec Family Travel to Teotitlán del Valle, a Zapotec community celebrated for its handwoven rugs and enduring artisan traditions. Browse the local market and visit a family workshop to see how wool is carded, spun, colored with natural dyes and woven on wooden looms. Remain as a guest in the family home for a hands-on Oaxacan cooking class, preparing traditional dishes before sitting down together to enjoy your creations over lunch.
Overnight: Casa Oaxaca Day 7: Fly to Mérida and Explore Its Arts Scene Transfer privately to Oaxaca International Airport for your flight to Mérida (not included). On arrival, meet your driver and continue to Hotel Sevilla in the historic center. As evening falls, explore Paseo Montejo and Mérida’s atmospheric streets with an art and history specialist. Visit selected galleries, studios and creative spaces, meeting local makers whose work draws upon Yucatán’s landscapes and ancestral narratives. Enjoy a welcome cocktail and time for dinner at a recommended restaurant (not included).
Overnight: Hotel Sevilla Day 8: Visit Chichén Itzá and Continue to Valladolid Travel privately from Mérida to Chichén Itzá, where your expert guide introduces the cosmology, beliefs and daily life of the ancient Maya. See the Pyramid of Kukulkan, the Platform of the Skulls, the ceremonial ball court and the sacred cenote beyond the city walls. After exploring one of Mexico’s most celebrated archaeological sites, continue to Oriundo Luxury Natural Village near Valladolid and settle into your villa with its private terrace and pool. Overnight: Oriundo Luxury Natural Village
Day 9: Enter Ek Balam After Hours As evening approaches, travel to Ek Balam for private access after the archaeological site has closed to the public. Explore its temples and plazas through three curated stations connecting Maya architecture, writing and timekeeping with the night sky. Pass through an underground tunnel normally closed to visitors and emerge near the elevated western plaza and Acropolis. An optional professional astronomer can join the experience for guided observation of the stars before your return to Valladolid. Overnight: Oriundo Luxury Natural Village
Day 10: Discover Valladolid and Reach the Riviera Maya Explore Valladolid, a colorful Pueblo Mágico where Spanish and Maya influences shape the city’s architecture, traditions and daily life. Walk through the lively main square, visit San Servacio Church and discover the historic Convent of San Bernardino de Siena. There may also be time to browse artisan shops or taste Yucatecan specialties before continuing privately to Etéreo, Auberge Resorts Collection, set between protected mangroves and the Caribbean Sea.
Overnight: Etéreo Day 11: Swim Through Río Secreto Journey beneath the Yucatán Peninsula at Río Secreto, an extraordinary semi-submerged cave system. After a Maya welcome ceremony, follow your specialist guide along a one-kilometer underground route, walking and swimming through crystal-clear water among stalactites and stalagmites. Emerge from the caves for a toast with Xtabentún, a regional liqueur made with anise, honey and rum, followed by a Yucatecan buffet before returning to your resort.
Overnight: Etéreo Day 12: Relax in the Riviera Maya Enjoy a day at leisure beside the white sands and turquoise waters of the Riviera Maya. Relax at Etéreo, spend time by the pool or explore the resort’s dining and wellness experiences. Optional activities can be arranged (not included), including a visit to the ocean-facing Tulum archaeological site or an exploration of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
Overnight: Etéreo Day 13: Depart the Riviera Maya Meet your private driver at Etéreo for the journey to Cancún International Airport. Depart after a richly varied exploration of Mexico’s cities, ancient sites, culinary traditions, artisan communities, underground landscapes and Caribbean coastline.
