ELAC Archaeology in the Yucatan

East Los Angeles College

Archaeology and Culture in the Yucatan, Mexico

January 14-24, 2026

Professor Julienne Bernard
bernarjl@elac.edu

Information: Center for Global Education and Engagement, CGEE@elac.edu

Deadline to register: October 8, 2026

Program Summary

This program takes students through the archeological treasures of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, one of the safest parts of Mexico with a Level 1 (lowest risk possible) advisory from the US Department of State. In addition to learning about the archeology of the area, students will immerse themselves in  the region’s exceedingly rich culture and history. The program includes site visits to numerous archaeological sites like the famous Chichén Itzá,  traditional artisan communities, and a off-the-beaten path community-based activities. In addition to ELAC faculty, a bilingual guide will be the group throughout the itinerary.  

Itinerary

Day 1 Thu Jan-14

Arrival to Cancun and private transfer to Valladolid (2 hrs)

Orientation on health, safety, culture, and logistics with LFT guide

Welcome dinner in authentic restaurant

Day 2 Fri Jan-15

Breakfast at or near lodging

Transfer to Chichen Itza (45 min)

Guided tour of Chichen Itza, a complex of Mayan ruins, some of which date back to 600 AD and include a massive step pyramid.

Transfer to nearby Yokdzonot Maya village (20 min)

Visit to Yokdzonot, a traditional Maya village, where students will visit a cenote and learn to prepare local culinary favorites like pancuchos, empanadas and sopes.

Lunch included in activity

Transfer to hotel in Valladolid (1 hr)

Independent dinner

Day 3 Sat Jan-16

Breakfast at or near lodging

Transfer to Coba (1 hr)

Guided visit to Coba, an ancient immense Mayan city nestled in a dense jungle. It features a 130-foot tall pyramid, one of the tallest in the region. Tour will utilize tricycle taxis. 

Group lunch

Visit to Punta Laguna Monkey Reserve, a 5,000+ hectare jungle reserve,  managed by a local Maya community to protect wild spider and howler monkeys. Students will take a guided jungle walk to see monkeys in their natural habitat.

Return to Valladolid (1 hr)

Independent dinner

Day 4 Sun Jan-17

Breakfast at or near lodging

Transfer to Tihosuco (1.5 hrs)

Visit the Tihosuco Caste War Museum, a community-run museum dedicated to the 19th-century Maya uprising against Mexican authorities.

Transfer to X'canche Cenote near Ek Balam (1.5 hrs)

Visit to the stunning X'canche Cenote, an open-air sinkhole surrounded by lush jungle. Optional activities include a zipline and rappelling (cost not included). 

Group lunch

Transfer to Ek Balam Maya Community (10 min)

Free time to reflect, explore, or relax. 

Dinner in the Ek Balam community 

Lodging in Ek Balam community

Day 5 Mon Jan-18

Breakfast at or near lodging

Visit the Ek Balam archeological site and an adjacent Maya community with a Maya cooperative guide. Students will visit tortilla, hammock, and embroidery workshops. 

Lunch in the Ek Balam community 

Dinner in the Ek Balam community 

Lodging in Ek Balam community

Day 6 Tue Jan-19

Breakfast at lodging

Transport to Kimbila (1.5 hrs)

Visit to Kimbila, a small Maya village off the tourism path, known for some of the best embroidery in the area. 

Independent lunch

Transport to Merida (45 min)

Independent dinner

Day 7 Wed Jan-20

Breakfast at lodging

Guided bus tour of Merida on a repurposed school bus. The group will see the major landmarks over a 90-minute ride. 

Independent lunch

Transfer to Dzibilchaltún (30 min)

Visit Dzibilchaltún, a site that has been continuously occupied for thousands of years, featuring a temple whose door aligns perfectly with the rising sun on the vernal equinox.  

Return to Merida (30 min)

Independent dinner

Day 8 Thur Jan-21

Breakfast at lodging

Transfer to Hacienda Sotuta de Peon (45 min)

Visit to Sotuta de Peón Hacienda to experience Yucatan's "green gold" henequen era overa 3-hour journey through a living museum, including a ride on a mule-drawn "truk" on rails and a swim in a cenote. 

Group lunch

Transfer to Cazuma Cenotes (1 hr)

Visit the Cuzama Cenotes, an adventure involving travel between the three cenotes on horse-drawn, wooden carts along historic sisal plantation tracks through the jungle. 

Return to Merida (1 hr)

Independent dinner

Day 9 Fri Jan-22

Breakfast at lodging

Transfer to Uxmal (1 hr) 

Visit the ruins of Uxmal, considered one of the most important archaeological sites of Maya culture.  

Group lunch

Transfer to Oxkintok (45 min)

Visit the Oxkintok Maya archeological site featuring a mysterious labyrinth and rare anthropomorphic columns representing warriors and deities.

Return to Merida (1 hr)

Independent dinner

Day 10 Sat Jan-23

Breakfast at lodging

Transfer to Río Celestún Biosphere Reserve 

Visit the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve, a vital, protected wetland ecosystem famous for its large colony of migratory pink flamingos (up to 23,000 in peak season) and its magical "Petrified Forest".

Group lunch

Return to Merida

Experience the ancient Maya Ball Game, played with rubber balls on stone courts, in central Merida.  

Farewell dinner in a traditional restaurant with quiet ambience. 

Day 12 Sun Jan-24

Breakfast at lodging

Transfer to the Cancun Airport 

Departure. Program ends. 

Additional Details

Cost

$ 3,290, 12-15 students

$ 2,940, 16+ students

Invite your friends to reduce the price!

Single occupancy: +$300 (subject to availability)

Includes

• All lodging in double or triple occupancy

• All ground transportation in private van or minibus

• Meals as listed in the itinerary, including one free non-alcoholic drink per student

• All activities described in itinerary, including entrance fees when applicable

• Carbon offset for air travel 

• Guide/translator with the group the entire trip from airport pickup to drop-off

• 24-hour emergency support 

Excludes 

• Tuition

• International airfare

• Travel interruption and medical insurance

Payment Process

$200 non-refundable deposit due to register and secure your spot. Program will close if it fills up. You must pay the deposit in order to secure a place in the program. 

$300 2nd deposit due before October 8, 2026.

Balance amount due November 8, 2026

We recommend travel insurance which can be purchased at www.squaremouth.com

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel…

After registration and making the $300 deposit, we retain the deposit

After October 16, 2026:  we retain $500 deposit 

After November 15, 2026: 50% refund

After December 15, 2026: no refund

We recommend all participants to purchase travel insurance with cancellation and interruption coverage, which can be purchased at www.squaremouth.com

Course Information

Students who complete the required reading and a written assignment based on their observational experiences on the trip will receive 1 unit in Anthro 185 or Spanish 185.

Note: If you don’t have a passport valid through July, 2026 please submit a passport application now. The processing takes much longer than indicated on the Passport website. We recommend expediting it regardless of when you apply.

Registration Form - ELAC Yucatan

Deadline to register: October 8, 2026

After registering you will be redirected to make a deposit.
By registering you are agreeing to out terms and conditions available at: https://www.learnfromtravel.com/terms-and-conditions

If you wish to make a deposit payment after submitting your registration form you may do so at this link.

Do you have questions?