Is it possible to see Mayan ruins and other cultural activities as day trips if you're staying in Cancun?

Enjoy the rest of your day relaxing at your lodge or hotel, located within the archaeological park. Start your day with breakfast at your hotel, and then embark on a small-group tour of Chichen Itza with your expert guide. Skip the lines and gain private entry to the archeological site, where you’ll learn about the pre-Columbian Mayan civilization that built this amazing city – one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

First, head to the Great Plaza that’s located at the center of Chichen Itza and admire the excavated ruins of this fascinating complex. Listen as your guide describes the cultural significance of its most famous landmarks, such as the Temple of the Warriors, the Temple of the Jaguars and the Pyramid of Kukulcán. Next, visit the sacred cenote on site, as well as the ball court and observatory.

Your guide will show your small group a set of buildings constructed during the classic Maya period, including the nunnery, La Iglesia (the Church) and Akab Dzib, which means ‘The House of Mysterious Writing’ in Mayan. Enjoy Mexican and Yucatecan dishes for lunch at the Mayaland Resort, considered a National Geographic favorite since 1936. Afterward, relax for the afternoon, lounging by your hotel pool or touring the area on horseback (own expense).

If you’d like, go bird watching as you stroll through the beautiful gardens at Mayaland; the Yucatan boasts more species than the United States and Canada combined! (If you are staying at the Hotel Chichen Itza you will be driven back to your hotel.)In the evening, a delicious dinner will be served at the Mayaland Hotel in the El Mural dining room and terrace. You may also attend the light and sound show at Chichen Itza if you'd like.

After breakfast, depart from your hotel with your small group and drive up the northern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Pass the magnificent archeological site of Ek Balam, one of the most mysterious Mayan cities ever to be discovered. See its main temple, which features a delicate stucco relief as well as feathered sculptures and jaw of the jaguar.

Continue to Rio Lagartos, a nature reserve and bird-watching haven located on the Mexican Gulf, and take a lovely boat ride through the mangroves as you learn about the flora and fauna. Then, visit the feeding ground of the beautiful pink flamingoes, where you’ll enjoy a box lunch as you take in the gorgeous surroundings. In the late afternoon, return to your hotel to spend the rest of your time at leisure.

After eating breakfast, depart for Merida, stopping in the quiet colonial city of Izamal on the way. Your guide will take you to visit the Convent of San Francisco de Padua and its famous yellow monastery, as well as the central park and regional market. Next, explore the pyramid of Kinich Kak Mo, the Mayan sun god.

Located downtown just behind the church, it reaches a height of 115 feet (35 meters) – the largest pyramid temple on the Yucatan Peninsula. Upon arrival in Merida, take a walking tour of the city center, including the zocalo (main square), the stately cathedral and the Casa de Montejo – a 16th-century home of city founder Don Francisco de Montejo. Your guide will point out the City Hall and the palace of the state government before leading your small group on a walking tour of the city market to see local arts and crafts.

Enjoy lunch at a typical Mexican restaurant, where you will taste authentic local cuisine and listen to the serenades of strolling trovadores (musicians). When you’re satisfied, continue your guided walk to the church of Tercera Orden, a stately 17th-century monastery, and admire the architecture of the Peon Contreras Theater and the University of Yucatan. Afterward, board a traditional calesa (horse-drawn carriage) for a ride down Paseo de Montejo, a lovely avenue housing some of the beautiful buildings in the city.

Enjoy a visit to the Regional Museum of Anthropology and History before boarding your luxury vehicle for a tour around the Monument to the Nation. Ride past 19th-century mansions on Avenida Colon before returning to Uxmal for dinner at your hotel. Enjoy conversation with your small group over breakfast at your hotel before walking to the temples at Uxmal for a guided tour.

Visit the 120-foot (37-meter) high, oval-shaped Magician’s Pyramid and the Nun’s Quadrangle with its magnificent friezes depicting the Mayan rain god. Your guide will show you the Palace of the Governor and the impressive Great Pyramid, telling tales of the pre-Columbian Mayans who built these edifices. Spend your afternoon relaxing during free time at the hotel, where you can swim in the beautiful pools or enjoy the spa.

In the evening, attend the Uxmal light and sound show if you choose, staged nightly in the Nun’s Quadrangle at Uxmal’s central plaza. The amazing spectacle, acclaimed as the finest light and sound show in the world, features music, dialogue and illumination for an unforgettable experience. After this awesome introduction to the Puuc Mayan culture and the legends of this ancient city, enjoy dinner at your lodge or hotel.

Your guide will take you to the village of Becal after breakfast at your lodge or hotel. The town is famous for its Panama hats, which are created by artisans who construct them in caves in order to preserve the quality of the palm fronds. After touring the town with your small group, drive to the city of Campeche – at one time a fortified haven for pirates and now declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here, enjoy a scrumptious seafood lunch while dining at a local restaurant before embarking on a walking tour of the city to visit several small museums and other places of interest. Back in Uxmal, enjoy a leisurely evening with dinner at your lodge or hotel. Eat a delicious breakfast at your hotel or lodge and then hop in your luxury vehicle for a day trip to several more sites.

First, stop in Kabah and admire the Codz Pop, a palace famous for its facade of 250 Chaac masks and statues of Mayan rulers. Your guide will take you through the Arch of Kabah, which marks the entrance to the Sacbe, an ancient path that links Kabah to Uxmal. Your next stop is Sayil, a unique Mayan archeological site known for its 3-tiered palace.

Visit the labyrinth of 70 rooms adorned with columns and gorgeous Chaac masks carved in stone. After exploring the area with your small group, head to Labna, a classical Puuc Maya village with many fascinating temples, such as The Palace and The Mirador. Just minutes away, you’ll find the town of Ticul, a contemporary Mayan village.

Artisans in this community will demonstrate how their own pottery is constructed, as well as show your small group reproductions of ancient Mayan figurines. A box lunch will be served on your way to the caves of Loltun, where pre-Maya engravings date back more than four thousand years. Your guide will explain the unique geological formations that mark the Yucatan Peninsula’s resurgence from the sea.

Your last stop of the day is in the nearby city of Tekax, where you’ll visit a 17th-century convent and fortress-like chapel. Before heading back to your accommodation for dinner, learn about the Yucatan’s turbulent past when Mayan revolts against Spanish rule resulted in the war of castes. After breakfast, leave your lodge or hotel for the archaeological site of Tulum, a Mayan word for wall, and admire the impressive cliffs overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea.

As you tour the area, learn how this walled fortress in the Mayan Riviera once served as a main port for the Mayan Empire during the post-classical period. After a brief visit, hop in your deluxe van back to the hotel of your choice in Cancun, the Riviera Maya or the Cancun airport.