Contrasts of Mexico

This 14-night tour by Explore Worldwide begins in Mexico City, where the vast Zocalo square, Aztec ruins, and the National Anthropology Museum offer a brisk introduction to the country's complex past. A day trip from the capital visits the enormous Teotihuacan pyramids and the Basilica de Guadalupe.

Next comes a long drive south to Oaxaca, home to Zapotec ruins at Monte Alban and a lively colonial centre. The journey continues through Sierra Madre mountains to highland San Cristóbal, where villages preserve Mayan traditions and weaving crafts. From here the route descends through jungle to Palenque, where rainforest-cloaked ruins include the tomb of the priest Pakal.

After crossing into Guatemala, the tour visits Flores by Lake Peten Itza, and the lakeside ruins of Yaxha before spending a day at Tikal, one of the largest Maya cities. The final day leads to Belize with a visit to the pyramid site of Xunantunich and the relaxed town of San Ignacio. Comfortable shoes and a tolerance for long drives reward travellers with a well-rounded picture of Central America's layered histories and landscapes.