Head to the massive (12 acre) main square for your street food fix. See if you can find the vendor selling tacos made from 15 different animal parts (ribs, stomach, tongue, brain, cheek, lips, eyeballs, throat etc.) You'll soon find out who the alpha male of your group is.

Puebla's famous for mole poblano - a sauce made with over 20 ingredients like chilli, chocolate, nuts and cinnamon. Fill your bag with painted wooden animals, woven rugs, embroidered clothing and pottery at the markets in Oaxaca ('wha-haw-kah').

If someone offers you a shot of mezcal, you had better be wearing your party pants. This stuff is like tequila's idiotic, hyperactive, slightly insane brother whose name you won't remember the next day. Goes down a treat with a plate of fried grasshoppers.

Indiana Jones wannabes take note - apparently only 10% of these Mayan ruins have been uncovered. Here's your chance to climb a pyramid in the middle of the jungle with the creepy sounds of howler monkeys as your soundtrack.

Cancun's divided into two parts. For the real Cancun, stay away from the hotel zone and head to the main city where the locals are friendlier, the drinks are stronger and the food is so spicy you'll regret boasting to your waiter: "Don't worry, I can handle it".

The next few days will involve some hard decisions. Where is the best spot on the beach to put your deck chair? Do you feel like tacos or tamales for lunch? Swim or snorkel? It's a tough life.

Roadways, marketplaces, jails, temples and palaces - it's all here. Well, it was here about 1500 years ago. Nowadays it's a little different, with a lot more jungle.

Panajachel, Chichicastenango, Casa Cakchiquel, Mashenos. We suggest you stuff your mouth with tortillas so you won't be asked to pronounce anything.

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 leader throughout the tour, and local guides most sites. - Orientation walking tour in Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca, San Cristobel, Palenque, Merida, Caye Caulker, Flores and Antigua. - Exploration of six archaeological ruin sites with local guides and entry included: Teotihuacan, Monte Alban, Palenque, the most famous Mayan site in Mexico - Chichen Itza, pre-Columbian walled city ruins of Tulum; and ancient city of Tikal. - 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 and Caye Caulker. - Free time to explore Mexico City, Spanish colonial Puebla; Oaxaca, the 'White City' of Merida, and colonial town of Antigua. - Return speedboat ride from Belize City to the palm-fringed island of Caye Caulker. - Guided walk to the summit of one of the volcanoes near Antigua.

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