After touchdown at Cancún International Airport, head to your hotel. Upon check-in, you’ll be greeted by our local insider, who will accompany the group throughout the trip. Then it’s time to meet your fellow travelers at 6pm and make your way downtown for a lively welcome dinner. Afterwards, hit the hay – or the clubs for dancing and drinks.

From here, you’ll be running on island time. Start the day by heading northeast to the tiny town of Chiquilá, where you’ll board a ferry to Holbox, the laid-back, no-cars-allowed beach getaway. Once you arrive on the island, your chariot awaits: a golf cart, ready to whisk you off to the hotel. Spend the rest of the day exploring on foot, checking out the street art, shops and white-sand beaches – or take a yin yoga class on the shore at sunset, before cooling off with a freshly opened coconut.

Wake up in paradise. Breakfast is served overlooking the palm-tree-flanked pool, with the Caribbean Sea just beyond. You’ll have the day at leisure – so grab a book and head to the beach, or hire a bicycle to explore the island. Regroup in the afternoon for a sunset sailing trip on a private catamaran. Dive off the boat into the clear water, then climb aboard to munch on chips and guac, followed by a cold beer as the sun dips below the horizon.

It’s time to wave goodbye to Holbox and board a ferry back to the mainland. From here, you’ll be taken to an off-the-beaten-track cenote for a refreshing dip before lunch. Next, it’s on to the famous Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. You’ll arrive late afternoon, allowing you to marvel at the 1,500-year-old pyramid once most of the crowds have departed. Later on, check into your hacienda in Izamal, one of Mexico’s designated Pueblos Mágicos; here you'll tuck into an al-fresco barbecue dinner, served family-style under the stars, and swap stories from the day’s adventures.

Ease into the day with optional sunrise yoga, or enjoy a lazy breakfast before a guided tour around Izamal. You’ll gain a real local insight as you walk around the historic plaza, which is filled with street vendors selling everything from ice-cold helados to artisan wares. After lunch, make your way up to Mérida for another local-led stroll through the colorful streets and the zócalo, or downtown square. Before dinner, it’s time for drinks. Forget tequila – here you’ll be sipping pox (pronounced posh) at Posheria, which has been serving the centuries-old, corn-based liquor for more than a decade.

Today, you can choose your adventure. Opt to explore Mérida and its museums, shops and food stalls on your own. Alternatively, you can head out to Uxmal and Kabah, the lesser-visited Mayan ruins south of town, or the coastal temple of Xcambó. There’s also the option to swim and snorkel in the Cenote Hacienda Mucuyche, a sinkhole that sits within an abandoned 18th-century hacienda. Regroup for dinner – you’ll be whipping up a variety of Yucatecan classics (cochinita pibil, anyone?) in a private cooking class and dining on your creations.

It’s an early start this morning to beat the crowds. Hop aboard a transfer to Cobá, the last Mayan pyramid in the area that can still be climbed. Rent a bike and pedal through the archeological zone. Next, it’s time for lunch before journeying to a secluded cenote surrounded by jungle for an afternoon swim. Then it’s time to hit the coast – the beach town of Tulum will be your base for the final few days of your trip. Meander through town or unwind with a margarita at the oceanfront bar – where there’s often live music playing as the sun sets.

You’re on your own today – you might like to cycle into town and enjoy a fruity paleta (ice pop) on the beach, before browsing the boutiques in the downtown area. Alternatively, meet up with some of your fellow travelers for lunchtime tacos and a cerveza or two. Reconvene with the whole group in the early evening for a classic cocktail-making workshop – the more tequila the better, right? – followed by a final celebratory dinner. Afterwards, the clubs await. It would be criminal not to make the most of the lively nightlife in Tulum on your final night.

Got a slightly sore head? Enjoy a well-deserved lie-in before breakfast. Then it’s time to pack your bags and wave goodbye to the group at noon. You can either make your way to the airport, or perhaps you might like to extend your stay on Mexico's Caribbean coast.