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Mexico & Belize: Mayan wonders and Caribbean beaches
3 stops
6 nights
1274 miles
From the capital, Mexico City, to the Yucatán Peninsula, southern Mexico is home to some of the most archaeologically important Mayan cities. This Route du Bonheur road trip blends this unique legacy with the chance to relax on the stunning shores of the Caribbean. Then, south of Tulum, the small nation of Belize offers a lush escape, with limitless diving on its astonishing barrier reef.
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Departure
Recommended duration : 2 nights
Mexico City
Things to do, see, and discover
During your stay
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Quintonil Restaurant
During your stay
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Pujol Restaurant
During your stay
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Stroll through Constitution Square (Zócalo)
This vast square is unquestionably the beating heart of the Mexican capital. Known as El Zócalo, Plaza de la Constitución features a constant stream of street vendors, traditional pre-Hispanic conchero dancers, protesters and worshippers making their way to the cathedral. Facing this immense masterpiece of religious architecture is the National Palace, from which the country’s president re-enacts the famous El Grito de Independencia–‘The Cry of Independence,’ which triggered the Mexican War of Independence against Spanish rule–every September 15th.
During your stay
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Explore the pre-Columbian city of Teotihuacán
Located about 30 miles from the capital, the ancient city of Teotihuacán was the capital of the largest pre-Columbian empire. Set within a meticulously planned grid, two colossal pyramids–the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon–still preside over what remains of a once-thriving metropolis that was home to an estimated 200,000 people. A walk along the 1.5-mile-long Avenue of the Dead in the early morning light feels like taking a journey back in time.
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964 milesCar
Recommended duration : 2 nights
Tulum
Things to do, see, and discover
On the road
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Huniik Restaurant
On the road
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Explore the Sian Ka’an Reserve
In the local language, its name means 'where the sky is born' –a reference to its sheer natural beauty, where the horizon seems to disappear as land, sea and sky merge into one, mirrored on its calm waters. Designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1986, this Garden of Eden is home to tropical forests, coral reefs, Mayan archaeological sites, vast prairies, lagoons and mangroves. Along the way, you might spot spider monkeys, hummingbirds, manatees and crocodiles.
On the road
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Visit the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá
Considered one of the new wonders of the world, the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá is one of Mexico’s most visited sites, with a spectacular archeological panorama that impresses all that visit. Since its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988, its temples and pyramids–blending both Mayan and earlier Toltec cultural influences–have been extensively restored. Dedicated to the Feathered Serpent deity, the iconic Kukulcán pyramid (also known as El Castillo) continues to fascinate with its mathematical precision, including 365 steps that make it an architectural calendar of stone.
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311 milesBoat
Recommended duration : 2 nights
Placencia Caye (Belize)
Things to do, see, and discover
On the road
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Diving on the coral reef
Just off the coast of Belize lies one of the world’s most beautiful barrier reefs, offering diving enthusiasts–whether snorkelers or scuba divers–the chance to swim amid manta rays, turtles, sharks, manatees and an incredible diversity of colorful fish. It was here, some 60 miles off the coast of Belize, that Jacques Cousteau introduced the immense cenote known as the Great Blue Hole to the world.
On the road
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Visit a jaguar reserve
Belize is home to the world's largest population of jaguars. In 1990, in the center of the country, authorities created the 128,500-acre Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in an effort to protect this endangered species. Conservation awareness programs and guided night hikes through this tropical rainforest reserve offer a chance to encounter these magnificent animals in their natural habitat.
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