About Our Group Tours

To find out more about how our group tours including group sizes, solo travellers and why to choose us. Please click here.

Tour Leader

On this tour, you’ll be accompanied from start to finish by one of our exceptional Journey Latin America tour leaders. From the moment you land in Latin America until the day the tour ends they will deal with all the practicalities, expertly adapting to the circumstances and individual needs of the group. Rather than different guides in different cities, your leader will get to know the group and keep you informed and entertained as you go.

Transport

1 flight (1.5 hrs), 6 road journeys (longest 7 hrs with stops).

Accommodation

On this tour we use high quality mid-range hotels.

Examples of hotels are
• Mexico City: Hotel Zocalo Central
• Oaxaca: Parador San Miguel
• San Cristóbal: Diego de Mazariegos
• Palenque: Hotel Chan Kah
• Campeche: Hotel Plaza
• Mérida: Mision de Frey Diego
• Chichén Itzá: Mayaland

On very rare occasions these hotels can change, however please speak to one of our consultants who can provide full details for each departure if you have any doubts. Address and contact details will be sent out with your final documents.

Meals

Breakfast daily.

Summary Of Nights

15 days, 14 nights: Mexico City 3; Oaxaca 3; San Cristóbal 2; Palenque 2; Campeche 1; Mérida 2; Chichén Itzá 1.

Optional Excursions

There are optional excursions which are booked locally through your tour leader once you are in Latin America. Not all excursions available will suit everybody, whilst others only operate within certain seasons, with minimum numbers or may not be included due to time constraints. A budget of around $120 should cover participation in the following options, but prices can fluctuate depending on the size of the party and so cannot be provided accurately until travel commences. The list below is only a guideline, so please enquire with your tour leader for any further areas of interest:

• Mexico City: visit the Frida Kahlo Museum in the historic neighbourhood Coyacán 
• Mexico City: cruise on a traditional gondola along the rural canals of Xochimilco
• Mérida: Visit the gulf resort Celestun: spot flamingos, take a boat trip, sunbathe on the beach

Budget

A budget of around US$50 per day should cover the cost of meals, drinks and the odd souvenir.

Currency

The unit of currency in Mexico is the Mexican Peso.

How To Take It

Cash machines are available in all major cities and towns, and so taking a debit or credit card with a PIN number is the most convenient way of withdrawing money while on your trip, and in most shops and restaurants you can also pay by card. USD are no longer very useful to have in Mexico and most places are reluctant to take payment in USD. Very few will do so, and those that do have a very low exchange rate. There are also not very many opportunities on the tour to change dollars as we are quite rushed. Therefore, it is far better to take money out with a cash card, as ATM’s are fast and easy and avoid the high currency exchange.

Tipping

Tips are normally welcomed and expected. Local guides often rely on their tip as a significant proportion of their income. We recommend approximately $US2 (or local equivalent) per person per day for each of guides and drivers, depending on the size of the group. 

Most service industry workers will expect a tip of some kind and so it is useful to have spare change for hotel porters, taxi drivers and the like. It is common to leave 10 – 12% in restaurants.

If you would like to show your appreciation to your Journey Latin America tour leader, who you may feel has exceeded your expectations, a discretionary gratuity would be gratefully received. As a guideline we recommend an amount of between $4 and $6 per person, per day. You are obviously free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality.

Tipping guidelines can be found in our Briefing Dossier.

Insurance

Travel insurance is essential. Details of our recommended policy can be found on our Travel Insurance page.

Airport Taxes

International departure tax is included on the ticket.

Journey Grade

This journey covers some large distances and although we try and make it as relaxed as possible there are some long days of travel. However all transportation is private and comfortable and accommodation is of a high standard. Walks and excursions are optional; ascents to some of the pyramids at the Maya and Aztec sites can be steep and vertiginous. Consult your tour leader if you have any doubts.

Visas

Holders of a full British passport do not require a visa, although passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate.

If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.

Climate

In Mexico City and the mountain towns the climate is temperate all year round.

The wet/rainy season lasts through June to August, which usually means a couple of hours of rain in the afternoon. Don’t be discouraged from visiting the mountains during rainy season – you’ll see a lush, green landscape (as opposed to the dry season’s parched, brown landscape) and it often only rains in the late afternoons and evenings. During the rest of the year there is little or no rain.

The Yucatan is hot all year round, with temperatures consistently over 30 degrees Celsius, with the rainy season also falling from June to September.

Clothing And Special Equipment

Bring plenty of light cotton clothing and good, comfortable walking shoes. Some warm items and waterproof jackets are also necessary for all departures. We suggest that you plan to ‘layer’ your clothing; it is easier and more efficient to put on a couple of light layers than one thick jumper. Sandals are a good informal option for evenings. Protection against the sun (sunblock, sun hat) and mosquito repellent are essential and you should bring swimwear. It’s a good idea to take a day-pack in which to carry guidebook, water, extra layers etc whilst on excursions. Mexico can be noisy so in case there is an impromptu fiesta – light sleepers should bring earplugs.

Vaccinations

Preventative vaccinations are recommended against the following: typhoid; polio; tetanus; hepatitis A. You should consult your GP for specific requirements, including advice on malaria tablets. You can also find helpful information on the Masta Travel Health website. 

Although Yellow Fever is not prevalent in Mexico people arriving from a Yellow Fever at ‘risk’ country, may be denied entry without a valid certificate so please bare this in mind if arriving from outside the UK or countries with similar Yellow Fever status.

Travelling Alone

There is no extra cost for single travellers who are willing to share a room. You will be accommodated with another same-sex member of the group who is also travelling solo. For single travellers who wish to have their own room there are a limited number of single rooms available which carry a surcharge.