Spend our first few days in Mexico City with a trip out to the 1800-year-old ruins at Teotihuacan.

Puebla is packed with churches (70 in the city centre alone), so the best thing to do is check out a few, then head to the market for local hand-painted ceramics and street food.

Next up is Oaxaca. This is the place to shop for colourful textiles and lots of different margarita flavours. Stop by the Zapotec ruins at Monte Alban on our way to San Cristobal.

Ever wondered how to suture a wound using human hair? The Mayans knew all about it, so pick up a few tips.

See the impressive 1300-year-old Mayan palace at Palenque with screeching parrots and monkeys as your soundtrack.

Nearly every Mexican dish is made using corn tortillas (like tacos, tostadas, flautas, chilaquiles and enchiladas), and there's a bicycle cart on almost every corner in Merida selling elotes (corn on the cob) doused in salt, chilli, cheese, lemon juice or mayonaise. So yeah, they like corn.

Cancun. People either hate it or love it. We're guessing after two days of snorkelling, diving, swimming, tanning, seafood, cocktails and freshly squeezed juices you'll be leaning towards the latter.

Whether you’re taking in man’s greatest works at places like Petra or Angkor Wat, experiencing grand set-pieces like the Trans-Mongolian Railway or trying your hand at regional specialities like tango in Buenos Aires, getting to grips with local cultures is what travel’s all about. A few tips from a guide and a sense of adventure are pretty much all you need. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to get the lowdown on high Tibet among Lhasa’s magisterial temples; follow up Delhi’s eye-popping bustle with a fix of its fiery food; and mix manic markets and Incan masterpieces in Peru.

- Gecko's expert English-speaking regional tour guide throughout the tour, and local guides at some sites. - Orientation walking tour in Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, San Cristobel, Palenque and Merida. - Exploration of four archaeological ruin sites with local guides and entry included: Teotihuacan, Monte Alban, Palenque and the most famous Mayan site in Mexico - Chichen Itza. - Visit to indigenous highland villages near San Cristobal. - Time at the waterfalls of Agua Azul and Misol Ha. - Free time to relax on the beaches of Cancun. - Free time to explore Mexico City, Spanish colonial Puebla; Oaxaca, and the 'White City' of Merida

International flights, arrival and departure transfers, departure and airport taxes, visas, all other meals, all optional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature.