Exploring the Mayan World – Mexico Tour

Day 1: Welcome to Mexico (-/-/-)

Welcome reception at Cancun airport and transferred to your well-located hotel in Cancun. On the way to your hotel our guide will give you all the tips and recommendations to get the most out of your trip in Mexico - and answer any questions you may have. Free rest of the day to acclimatise after your flight. Optional: If you prefer you can stay in Playa del Carmen beach tonight (approx 1 hour from Cancun).

Day 2: Cancun to Mayan Community of Takkbil’Ja (B/L/D)

Free morning to enjoy the beach of Cancun. Around noon, transfer to the Mayan community of Takkbil’Ja (approx. 1 hour), where you will arrive for lunch and experience a homestay with a local family (this is a new project and still rather unknown). In the afternoon, swim in a natural cenote (sinkhole) and trek in the natural reserve, and if we are lucky we can see a family of monkeys that live nearby. This community (composed of 245 people) has created a community school and are guardians of 22,000 hectares of natural reserve. Free evening.

Day 3: Subterranean river, archaeological site of Cobá & the town of Tulum (B/L/-)

After breakfast, get ready for a swim in a subterranean river. To avoid causing damage to the ecosystem, do not wear sunscreen, creams or lotions of any kind in the water! We will have lunch with a lovely family of Mayan community of Nuevo Durango (at 20 min from Takkbil’Ja). After lunch, transfer to Cobá (approx. 45 min) for a visit of the archaeological site of Cobá, surrounded by beautiful lagoons and trees. Here you can learn about this important site, whose design and purpose was very different from other Mayan cities. The white roads lead from each settlement to the main pyramid, Nohoch Mul. Transfer to the town of Tulum (50 minutes), to check into the charming hotel. Free evening.

Day 4: Siaan Ka’an Biosphere Reserve (B/L/-)

After early breakfast, you will be picked up from your hotel in Tulum, to go to Muyil. You will get to the community centre and get ready for your activity today. You will take a boat to discover an ancient canal that goes through four different ecosystems. Hopefully, you will be able to see manatees! We will go to the beach, where you will have time to have a swim, and you will be able to have a swim on the canal, too! After this, you will have a regional lunch and if you fancy it, you can visit the community museum. Back to your hotel in Tulum. We recommend you go to bed early today, for an early start tomorrow!

Day 5: Sunrise at the archaeological site of Tulum - Snorkelling in Cenote- Mayan Community of Chunhuhub (B/L/D)

Today, we will leave before sunrise. Why so early? Because seeing the sunrise from the archaeological site of Tulum is an amazing experience that not many people know about. Also, the site will only have a few people around (if any). Back to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we transfer to a beautiful cenote (sinkhole) located 5 Km from Tulum, where you will be able to snorkel in its clear waters (this activity could also be a Discover Scuba Diving course for those who wish to initiate in this wonderful sport, or a scuba diving activity for those who are certified). The Mayan Riviera has many of these beautiful natural caves with crystal clear waters. Around noon, we will head towards the community of Chunhuhub, and on our way, we will make a stop in the village of Felipe Carrillo Puerto (approx. 1 hour) to enjoy a delicious Yucatecan regional lunch and continue our way until we reach our lovely Kiichpam Kaax ecolodge in Chunhuhub (approx. 1 hour). Free afternoon and evening. Dinner will be served at the ecolodge.

Day 6: Mayan Community of Chunhuhub (B/L/D)

Today we will wake up very early in the morning, have a little snack and go into the jungle to see the process of extracting the resin from the trees, which is used to make chewing gum (season goes from June to October). We will learn about medicinal plants and the interesting flora and fauna around. When we are back from our trek, we will have our breakfast at the cooperative. We will visit the premises and learn about the melipona bees, how they are looked after, and their honey production. We will also be able to see a typical Mayan house, and learn about the community’s organic garden. If you are up for it, our host will take us to a little known cenote located 30 min away from Chunhuhub: Dzulá. After this, we will go back to our ecolodge to have lunch and have a rest. Later, we will be able to participate in a small workshop of sisal (agave) fibre and sit with the members of the community to get to know them and listen to myths and legends. Dinner will be served at the ecolodge.

Day 7: Chunhuhub - Laguna de Bacalar (B/-/-)

After breakfast, we transfer from Chunhuhub to Bacalar (approx. 2 hours). Have a day off in this lovely town to enjoy its famous Seven Colours freshwater Lake. After, check-in at the small charming hotel, where you will have kayaks at your disposal to go into the lake, which always has warm temperatures.

Day 8: Lightweight catamaran on the Bacalar Lake (B/-/-)

After breakfast, pick you up for a great sail on the lake for about 3 hours, on a lightweight catamaran. You will be able to go along this very large lake, discover its cenotes, and simply enjoy! Definitely, one of our favourite experiences. Rest of the day is free to nap on the hammock, swim or simply relax.

Day 9: Bacalar - Calakmul (B/BL/-)

After breakfast, we transfer to Calakmul (approx. 1.5 hours). Check-in at the hotel, take our box lunch and transfer to the reserve and archaeological site (the site is at 1.5 hours from the hotel). This site is far more photogenic in the afternoon than in the morning and the animals are more visible either in the early morning or late afternoon, so it is perfect timing to visit. We will go on a trek through the forest, where, if we are very lucky, we might see a jaguar, as this is one of the most important jaguar reserves. We will finish at the archaeological site, where you will be able to take amazing photographs in the sunset. Free evening back at the hotel.

Day 10: Calakmul to Chetumal or airport (B/-/-)

At scheduled transfer to Chetumal airport (approx. 2 hours) for your flight back home or continue your journey to Belize or Guatemala. End of tour.

You will be greeted at the airport on arrival by a local guide who will take you to your hotel and will be able to answer any questions, make any additional arrangements and generally ensure everything goes smoothly.

No minimum number of passengers required. Prices quoted are per person and based on at least 2 people travelling. You should expect a cheaper price for bigger groups.

Your passport is required at time of booking. For information on visa requirements, immunisations and health formalities please visit the FCO Travel Advice Website (for UK citizens) and US Travel Advice website (for US citizens).

Information on money changing in each destination, as well as what it is customary to tip for various services, will be provided.

This tour of Mexico has a low level of physical difficulty and participants can choose to do as much or as little as they like.

What to bring: Travel insurance, passport, binoculars, alarm clock, walking shoes, water bottle, daypack, sun protection, insect repellent, sun glasses and hat, swimwear, flip-flops, torch with extra batteries, comfortable light cotton shirts with long and short sleeves, comfortable trousers made of cotton or a light synthetic material (bring at least two sets of light clothes which can be washed and dried easily), shorts, rain coat, dry bag /ziplock bags for valuables, and waterproof cover for your luggage in case of rain.