Contrasts of Mexico & Maya World – Self-Launched (Day of the Dead Edition)
15 days · Mexico, Guatemala & Belize
Explore! charges £4,400
No-markup version: ~£1,490 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, hostel-and-guesthouse version of Explore!'s 15-day "Contrasts of Mexico" run, taking you from Mexico City's Aztec heart through Oaxaca's Day of the Dead celebrations, the Zapotec and Mixtec ruins of the southern highlands, the jungle canyons of Chiapas, and across into Guatemala's Petén and Belize's Cayo district. Every included guided visit is replaced with a self-bookable version — GetYourGuide day tours, local site guides hired at the gate, ADO buses and colectivos instead of a private coach. Costs are backpacker-realistic estimates in GBP, assuming shared dorms or budget private rooms and street food plus cheap comedores.
Day-by-day
Arrive Mexico City – Centro Histórico orientation
Mexico City, Mexico
Land at MEX and take the Metrobús or the authorised airport taxi (~£8) into the Centro Histórico. Check into a hostel around Alameda Central or the Zócalo — Hostel Home and Casa Pepe are reliable budget picks. Spend the afternoon walking Alameda Central, Mexico's oldest municipal park, and grab tacos al pastor for dinner (~£4).
🚌Metrobús from airport ~£0.60, or authorised taxi ~£8
🛏Budget hostel dorm, Centro Histórico (~£14)
- →Self-guided walk of Alameda Central
- →Evening wander around the Zócalo
Mexico City – Zócalo, Templo Mayor & Anthropology Museum
Mexico City, Mexico
Do it yourself rather than on a coach: join the free (tip-based) Straw Hat walking tour of the Zócalo to see the National Palace murals and the Metropolitan Cathedral (~£5 tip), then pay the ~£4 entry to the Templo Mayor ruins and museum next door. In the afternoon take the Metro Line 7 to Chapultepec and spend 2–3 hours in the National Anthropology Museum (~£4 entry) — it's vast, so pick the Aztec and Maya halls. A GetYourGuide half-day Zócalo + Templo Mayor tour runs around £25 if you'd rather have a guide.
🚌Metro ~£0.30 per ride
🛏Budget hostel dorm, Centro Histórico (~£14)
- →Free walking tour of the Zócalo (tip-based)
- →Templo Mayor ruins & museum entry
- →National Anthropology Museum entry
- →Chapultepec Park stroll
Teotihuacan pyramids & Basilica de Guadalupe
Mexico City / Teotihuacan, Mexico
Pre-book a GetYourGuide day tour to Teotihuacan and the Basilica de Guadalupe (~£30–35 including transport and a guide), or DIY it: bus from Terminal del Norte to the pyramids (~£3 each way, 45 min) plus ~£5 site entry, and the Basilica by Metro Line 6 to La Villa. Climb the Pyramid of the Sun for the view, and if there's time stop at an obsidian/agave workshop on the way back. Optional evening: Torre Latinoamericana observation deck (~£8) for sunset over the city.
🚌Bus to Teotihuacan ~£6 return (or included in day tour)
🛏Budget hostel dorm, Centro Histórico (~£14)
- →Teotihuacan pyramids (guided day tour or DIY with local guide at gate)
- →Basilica de Guadalupe
- →Optional Torre Latinoamericana viewing deck
Mexico City → Oaxaca by ADO bus
Oaxaca, Mexico
Take the ADO GL or ADO Platino bus from TAPO terminal to Oaxaca — around 6 hours through the Sierra Madre with a scenic stop, roughly £30–35 one-way (book on the ADO app a few days ahead). Arrive into Oaxaca, check into a hostel in the Centro Histórico, and head straight out into the Day of the Dead atmosphere: ofrendas in the zócalo, comparsas (street parades), and the markets glowing with marigolds. In the evening, walk to the Panteón General cemetery where families gather.
🚌ADO bus Mexico City TAPO → Oaxaca ~£32
🛏Hostel dorm near Oaxaca Centro (~£15)
- →Sierra Madre mountain scenery from the bus
- →Self-guided Day of the Dead walk: zócalo, markets, Panteón General cemetery
Monte Albán & Oaxaca's Día de los Muertos
Oaxaca, Mexico
Catch the shared tourist shuttle from the Hotel Rivera del Ángel to Monte Albán (~£4 return, leaves hourly from 8:30am) and hire a licensed local guide at the entrance (~£12 split between a few travellers) or take a GetYourGuide Monte Albán half-day tour (~£22). Entry is ~£5. Back in town, spend the afternoon at the Mercado 20 de Noviembre and the Benito Juárez market for tlayudas and tejate, and join the evening muertos festivities in the plazas — Oaxaca is arguably the best place in Mexico for this.
🚌Shared shuttle to Monte Albán ~£4 return
🛏Hostel dorm near Oaxaca Centro (~£15)
- →Monte Albán pyramids & Zapotec site with local guide
- →Mercado 20 de Noviembre food crawl
- →Evening Día de los Muertos celebrations in the historic centre
Tule, Teotitlán del Valle & Mitla
Oaxaca → Tehuantepec, Mexico
Take a local bus or colectivo to Santa María del Tule to see the 2,000-year-old cypress (~£1), then a colectivo on to Teotitlán del Valle to visit a family weaving workshop (free, but buy a rug or textile to support them, ~£15+). Continue to the Mixtec ruins at Mitla (~£3 entry). Book a GetYourGuide Valle Sagrado day tour (~£28) if you want it stitched together, or piece it together by colectivo for about £8. In the late afternoon take an ADO bus on to Tehuantepec (~4.5h, ~£15) and overnight there.
🚌Colectivos around the valley ~£6; ADO Oaxaca → Tehuantepec ~£15
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse, Tehuantepec (~£18)
- →Santa María del Tule cypress tree
- →Teotitlán del Valle Zapotec weaving workshop
- →Mitla archaeological site
Tehuantepec → San Cristóbal via Sumidero Canyon
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico
Long travel day: ADO bus from Tehuantepec to Tuxtla Gutiérrez (~5h, ~£18), then a local colectivo or taxi to the Sumidero Canyon embarcadero and a shared lancha speedboat through the canyon (~£20, 2 hours — stunning 1,000m walls). From Chiapa de Corzo catch the frequent colectivo up to San Cristóbal de las Casas (~£2, 1 hour). Overnight in a colonial guesthouse in the highlands — it gets cold at night, bring a layer.
🚌ADO Tehuantepec → Tuxtla ~£18; colectivo to San Cristóbal ~£2
🛏Colonial guesthouse/posada, San Cristóbal (~£18)
- →Sumidero Canyon speedboat trip
- →Chiapa de Corzo town and plaza
San Cristóbal – Chamula & Zinacantán villages
San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico
Join a GetYourGuide or locally booked half-day tour to the indigenous villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán (~£20 including transport and local guides — this is far easier than DIY as colectivos are irregular). You'll see the candle-lit Chamula church and Tzotzil weaving co-ops. In the afternoon explore San Cristóbal: the amber and jade museums (~£2 each), Na Bolom museum (~£4), and the textiles centre. Dinner at a comedor for ~£5.
🚌Included in village tour
🛏Colonial guesthouse/posada, San Cristóbal (~£18)
- →San Juan Chamula church and village
- →Zinacantán weaving cooperatives
- →Na Bolom museum
- →Amber & jade museums
- →Andador Guadalupe market walk
San Cristóbal → Palenque (jungle road)
Palenque, Mexico
Travel day. The direct ADO from San Cristóbal to Palenque takes about 5–6 hours (~£20) via Ocosingo — ask the driver about a stop in Chontalpa/Ocosingo to try piña miel (pineapple liqueur). Alternatively do it in two hops via Ocosingo to break up the journey. Arrive in Palenque village (El Panchán jungle cabañas are the backpacker classic) and settle in for an early night ahead of the ruins.
🚌ADO San Cristóbal → Palenque ~£20
🛏Jungle cabaña or guesthouse, El Panchán/Palenque (~£15)
- →Scenic Chiapas highland-to-jungle road
- →Optional piña miel stop in Ocosingo
Palenque ruins in the morning mist
Palenque, Mexico
Get to the Palenque ruins for opening at 8am (colectivo from the village ~£1, entry ~£5) to beat the heat and the crowds. Hire a local guide at the gate (~£15 split) or pre-book a GetYourGuide Palenque tour (~£20) — the Temple of the Inscriptions and the Palace are the highlights. Afternoon: cool off at the Roberto Barrios or Agua Azul waterfalls on a shared tour (~£15), or just swing in a hammock and listen to howler monkeys.
🚌Colectivo to ruins ~£1 each way
🛏Jungle cabaña or guesthouse, El Panchán/Palenque (~£15)
- →Palenque archaeological site with local guide
- →Optional Agua Azul / Roberto Barrios waterfalls
- →Jungle wildlife spotting
Cross into Guatemala – Flores, Petén
Flores, Guatemala
Take the colectivo or minibus from Palenque towards the border at El Ceibo (~£12, 3h), do the straightforward exit/entry formalities (Guatemala gives most Western passports 90 days free), then continue by colectivo to Flores (~£5). Flores is a tiny island town on Lake Petén Itzá — check into a hostel with a lake view, climb the mirador at sunset, and eat at one of the cheap lakeside comedores.
🚌Minibus Palenque → El Ceibo ~£12; colectivo to Flores ~£5
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse on Flores island (~£14)
- →Border crossing Mexico → Guatemala
- →Sunset from Flores mirador
- →Lake Petén Itzá evening stroll
Yaxhá ruins & Lake Petén Itzá
Flores, Guatemala
Yaxhá is the quieter, jungle-shrouded alternative to Tikal and sits inside the Maya Biosphere Reserve. Shared shuttle tours from Flores run ~£25–30 including entry (~£8) and a guide — book the day before at your hostel. Climb Temple 216 for a view over the lake and canopy. Back in Flores by late afternoon, take an optional sunset boat trip on Lake Petén Itzá (~£8) or swim off the pier.
🚌Shared shuttle to Yaxhá (usually included in tour price)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse on Flores island (~£14)
- →Yaxhá ruins guided tour
- →Optional sunset boat trip on Lake Petén Itzá
Tikal at dawn
Flores, Guatemala
Book a sunrise or early-morning shared shuttle to Tikal (~£15 return) with entry ~£15 and a licensed guide (~£12 split) — or take the 4:30am public colectivo. Tikal is the trip's showstopper: Temple IV rising above the canopy, spider and howler monkeys, toucans and coatis in the rainforest. Spend the whole morning there and return to Flores for a lazy afternoon. Cheap set lunch in Santa Elena across the causeway (~£4).
🚌Shared shuttle Flores ↔ Tikal ~£15 return
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse on Flores island (~£14)
- →Tikal archaeological site with guided morning tour
- →Free exploration of the ruins and jungle trails
- →Rainforest wildlife viewing
Flores → San Ignacio, Belize (via Xunantunich)
San Ignacio, Belize
Take a morning colectivo or shared van from Flores/Santa Elena to the Belize border at Melchor de Mencos (~£8), cross on foot, then a Belizean bus or shared taxi to San Ignacio (~£5). En route (or the next morning), visit Xunantunich — reached by a hand-cranked ferry across the Mopan River and a short walk; entry ~£4 and the view from El Castillo is superb. Overnight in San Ignacio town where hostels and guesthouses run ~£18–22. Costs creep up here — Belize is noticeably pricier than Mexico or Guatemala.
🚌Colectivo to border ~£8; Belizean bus/shared taxi to San Ignacio ~£5
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, San Ignacio (~£20)
- →Border crossing Guatemala → Belize
- →Xunantunich ruins (hand-crank ferry + site entry)
Cahal Pech & transfer to Belize City airport
San Ignacio → Belize City, Belize
Morning at Cahal Pech, the small Maya site on the hill right above San Ignacio town (~£4 entry, walkable). Browse the San Ignacio market for Marie Sharp's hot sauce and Belikin souvenirs, then catch a local bus or shared shuttle to Belize City (~2h, ~£6–8) and onward to Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport for your flight home. If you have spare days, continue to Caye Caulker or Hopkins by water taxi (~£20).
🚌Local bus San Ignacio → Belize City ~£7
🛏—
- →Cahal Pech ruins
- →San Ignacio market
- →Optional water taxi to the Cayes
Self-launched vs. Explore!
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Explore! | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,490 | £4,400 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,910 per person (66%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Explore!-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,490
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Contrasts of Mexico & Maya World – Self-Launched (Day of the Dead Edition) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,490 per person for 15 days in Mexico, Guatemala & Belize. 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 Explore!?+
Yes — Explore! charges around £4,400 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,490 — a saving of roughly £2,910 (66%) per person.
How long is the Mexico, Guatemala & Belize trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Mexico, Guatemala & Belize.
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, hiking trip through Mexico, Guatemala & Belize, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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