Tailor-made specialist James has just spent two weeks travelling around Mexico.
Campeche is a gorgeous walled city which reminds me of a mini Cartagena. There are labyrinthine alleyways full of colourful houses and bars with traditional live music. This really is a must do if you have time to explore the whole of the Yucatan.
The next morning we set off to Uxmal which has some of the most ornate structures of all the Mayan sites. Here there are huge edifices with intricate carvings and large ancient plazas with great acoustics. If you clap outside the main temple then you'll hear an echo similar to a birdcall.
This area of the Yucatan is well known for hacienda hopping – these are isolated luxury hotels built in an authentic style – some of which retain features from the old farmhouses.
We nipped through Merida stopping at the Monument to the Fatherland and visiting the historical centre, although it is worth staying a couple of nights here to enjoy the culture, including art galleries and museums.
Billed as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, Chichen Itza pulls in the tourist crowds, so it's best to visit early at 8am. It really is a site that deserves its reputation – the Great Pyramid is stunning from all angles. If you take a local guide then they'll enlighten you about the significance of Mayan mathematics and astrology in the architecture, as well as the importance of the ball courts and temples in human sacrifice.
The journey from Merida to the Mayan Riviera offers plenty of stopping off points – including the beautiful yellow colonial town of Izamal with its huge walled convent and past Chichen Itza there is Valladolid which is a lovely spot for lunch.
One of the highlights of the trip was swimming in a cenote – the Yucatan has plenty of these naturally formed beautiful sinkholes filled with warm water – perfect for jumping in. You'll find Cenote Ikil a few minutes from Chichen Itza, but last entry is at 4.30pm so it's worth getting there as early as possible.
The trip didn't feel touristy in the slightest until we reached the hotel zones of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, but if you fancy some beach time then Tulum is the place to go. Here you'll find the white sands and turquoise waters of the Riviera Maya in a more chilled out setting.
It's not just about the snorkelling and water sports here – we also took a caving trip to Rio Secreto which is a great thing to do if you're not lucky with the weather one day. Yet another adventurous activity on an action packed schedule...
