Sunday December 22:

• Leave home for Alberto Castro's house in Tijuana at 10 pm; arrive 11 pm.

• Alberto will take us to the airport. Arrive at airport at 11:30 pm.

• Leave Tijuana at 1:45 am; arrive in Mexico City at 8:10 am; leave for Cancun at 10:15 am, arriving at 12:10 m. Take taxi to bus station (Central Camionera).

• Take bus from Cancun to Piste; 200 km, 3 hr ride. Arrive at Piste at about 6 pm.

• Overnight in Piste (Chichen Itza) at Piramide Inn, Calle 15, Piste, Salida a Valladolid, Tel. 52-985-851-0115 (Orencio Balam; $64; Alfredo)

Tuesday December 24:

• Visit Chichen Itza, from 10 am to 3 pm.

• Overnight in Piste at Piramide Inn.

• Travel to Merida by bus; 200 km, 3-hr ride.

• Visit Merida and Parroquia San Sebastian, Calle 70 X 75; Tel. 52-999-928-5751.

• Overnight in Merida at Mediomundo Hotel, Calle 55 No. 533 por 64 y 66, Tel. 52-999-924-5472 (Reserva por email; Nicole; $74, two days paid in advance).

Thursday December 26:

• Travel to Uxmal by bus; 80 km, 1.5-hr ride.

• Visit Uxmal. Return to Merida at 3 pm.

• Overnight in Merida at Mediomundo Hotel.

Friday December 27:

• Travel from Merida to Cancun by bus; 400 km, 5-hr ride.

• Travel to Playa del Carmen by bus, 60 km; 1 hr ride.

• Overnight in Playa del Carmen at Hotel Don Emilione, Quinta Avenida Norte No. 7, Tel. 52-984-87-32073 (Ulises Vasquez; reserva por email; $80 + 10 + 10) .

Saturday December 28:

• Visit Xcaret during the day. See show at 7 pm; exit at 9 pm.

• Overnight in Playa del Carmen at Hotel Don Emilione.

Sunday December 29:

• Travel from Playa del Carmen to Tulum by bus; 60 km, 1.5-hr ride.

• Visit Tulum from 10 to 2 pm.

• Travel to Coba, 45 minutes.

• Overnight in Coba at Villas Arqueologicas, Coba, Tel. 52-985-858-1527 (Humberto, $100, family room with three beds, no prepayment required).

Monday December 30:

• Visit Coba from 10 to 2 pm. Return to Cancun; by bus 2-hr ride.

• Overnight in Cancun at Hotel Imperial Las Perlas, Blvd. Kukulcan Km 2.5, Tel. 52-998-849-5200; 4270; (Lucy, $90 + $15 + $15; todo incluido $59/47 per person per day, Reserv. No. 9363)

Tuesday December 31:

• Visit Cancun: beach, shopping.

• Overnight in Cancun at Hotel Imperial Las Perlas.

Wednesday January 1:

• Go to Cancun airport at 5:30 am, to catch flight at 7:40 am to Mexico City.

• Arrive in Mexico City at 9:55 am. Leave for Tijuana at 1:15 pm.

• Arrive in Tijuana at 2:45 pm.

• Take taxi to Alberto's house; then car to go home. Arrive at 6 pm.