2-Day Uxmal Tour from Merida

Uxmal, "Three Times Built”, located 78 km from Merida, has a history rich in legends, myths and anecdotes. This archaeological site is located in a hilly region known as the Puuc region, a Mayan word for "mountain range" later given to the distinctive architectonic style of the archaeological sites in the region. Uxmal is the most representative example of this style: the “Governor’s House” and “Temple of the Wizard”, 35 m. high, considered by experts as architectonic marvels for their precise construction and beauty. With your specialized tour guide you will explore this World Heritage site. Highlights include the oval-shaped Magician’s Pyramid, the Nun’s Quadrangle with its magnificent friezes depicting the Mayan rain god, owls and serpents, the Palace of the Governor, and the Great Pyramid.
You’ll enjoy a free afternoon for relaxing at the hotel where you can swim or sunbathe. Spend the night at the Hacienda Uxmal hotel. On your second day, after breakfast you will have the opportunity to visit the archaeological park on your own or take an optional tour to Kabah (10 minute drive from Uxmal), an archaeological site famous for its Palace of Chaac Masks (Chaac is the rain god). You will also find the arch that is thought to be center of the city and the entrance to the "sac-be" (white road-Mayan highway) that went to Uxmal.

Day 1: Merida – Uxmal (L)Set out by minivan to Uxmal, located about 48 miles (78 km) away. Upon arrival, tour the UNESCO World Heritage Site with your guide, who will enlighten your small group about the distinctive architectonic style and decorative design of the buildings.
Explore the archaeological site, which is uniquely situated amid hills in the Puuc (Mayan for ‘mountain range’) region. This architectural marvel, reaching 115 feet (35 meters) skyward, is renowned for its precise construction and unrivaled beauty.
Visit the Nunnery Quadrangle and admire its magnificent friezes depicting owls, serpents and the Mayan rain god Chac. Learn about the significance of the façades and lower walls of its four buildings, each set at a different level around Uxmal's central plaza.
See the Governor's Palace, a rectangular residence covering an area of more than 3,940 square feet (1,200 square meters), whose frieze reveals the image of Chac more than 100 times. Discover the astronomical alignment of its central doorway, and take a peek at the double-headed jaguar throne nearby.
After your tour, enjoy lunch at Hacienda Uxmal, followed by an afternoon at leisure. Relax at your hotel with full access to the swimming pools and botanical gardens. Take a dip or sunbathe on a lounge chair, or take a walk on the nature trail to the Old Hacienda.
Overnight: Hacienda Uxmal Hotel in Uxmal
Day 2: Uxmal – Merida (B)After breakfast, either visit the archaeological park again on your own or take an optional guided tour of the Mayan city of Kabah – just a 20-minute drive from Uxmal. The Puuc-style buildings of Kabah date to the 9th century, and the city was abandoned around 1200 AD.
If you choose this option, follow your guide through the archeological site to the famous Palace of Masks, whose façade is covered with hundreds of stone masks depicting the rain god Chac. You’ll also view the ceremonial arch, considered the entrance to the sacbé – a Mayan causeway linking Kabah with Uxmal via a 16-foot (5-meter) wide raised walkway.
Relax during the afternoon before return transport to Merida.