Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula: a Mayan heritage tour

Cancun Airport - Puerto Morelos

Tag 1: Welcome to Mexico!

Your Mexican vacation begins today when you land at the airport in Cancun. A tour representative will meet you to assist you with the rental car procedures. 

Climb in behind the wheel of your rental car and set off for your hotel, which is about a 25-minute drive south of Cancun International Airport, in the coastal town of Puerto Morelos.

Check in and enjoy the stunning Caribbean setting. 

Puerto Morelos - Ek Balam

Tag 2: Immerse yourself into the Mayan Way of Life

Start the day with a visit to the first Mayan site of the trip -- the Ek Balam archaeological site, which features well-preserved temples with beautifully carved stone sculptures. Spend some time exploring this enchanting place, then continue to a nearby cenote, where you can rent bicycles. Ride along the lovely "white road" to a cenote that's just right for swimming. 

This afternoon, enjoy a walking tour led by community members of a local village. During this fascinating visit, you will have the chance to meet three different families, enter their homes, observe their daily life, and learn how to make homemade tortillas and knit hammocks. You can also take part in an embroidery workshop.

Tonight you will stay at an ecotourism cabin in the Mayan village of Ek Balam.

Ek Balam - Uxmal - Mun-ha

Tag 3: Meet the People of the Mun-Ha Mayan Cooperative

Today's adventure takes you to the Mayan cooperative Mun-Ha, where you will spend the night, but first, head to the Mirador de Muna, where you will learn how the Mayans used natural fruits to make crafts as well as useful objects for storing food and water. You can even take part in a workshop where you will learn to engrave a jicara and make a lovely bowl or cup from this local fruit. 

Later, make your way to Mun-Ha, where you can enjoy lunch with the locals. Learn about how this community preserves their Mayan traditions while conserving the natural setting in which they live. 

In the afternoon, you can either relax in your cabin or visit the Uxmal archaeological site, about a 20-minute drive away.

Mun-ha - Chunhuhub

Tag 4: Learn Mayan Textile Production

The next Mayan community you will encounter on your Yucatan adventure are the Chunhuhub people, who live about 3.5-4 hours away.

Here, you will stay in lovely cabins that fit right in with the traditional landscape of the ecotourism center. Learn how this community preserves Mayan customs and traditions by observing their ancient practices. During a henequén fiber workshop, local artisans will demonstrate how they extract this indigenous textile fiber from the local plants.

Later, visit a village home, where a Spanish-speaking guide will explain the various elements found in a traditional Mayan house.

Chunhuhub - bacalar

Tag 5: Encounter the Lagoon of Seven Colors

Today you will venture to a very special place in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. While the delightful town of Bacalar is situated about 12 km from the Caribbean coast, its main attraction is a unique body of water -- the lagoon of seven colors, or in Spanish "Laguna de Siete Colores." This magnificent freshwater lagoon is an extraordinary sight to behold as it shimmers with myriad shades of blue.

Today is yours to spend at your leisure. Check in to your beautiful hotel on the lagoon and enjoy this Mexican paradise to the fullest. 

bacalar

Tag 6: Delve into the Paradise of Bacalar

Another full day awaits in paradise! Wake up this morning and take in the jaw-dropping views that surround you. Here, cerulean skies meet the dark blue line of the horizon, with various shades of blue merging into one another in a tapestry of turquoise, azure, and aquamarine. 

Go for a swim after breakfast or ask your hotel or nearby beach club about kayak rentals. There is so much dazzling nature to explore in extraordinary Bacalar!

bacalar - Nuevo Durango

Tag 7: Visit the Tranquil Town of Nuevo Durango

Your journey into Mayan culture continues today with a visit to the community of Nuevo Durango. In this small ecotourism town, the local population is dedicated to preserving its cultural identity by retaining their language as well as their ancient customs. Here, you will observe how the people of Nuevo Durango live in balance with the environment. Explore the region's tranquil natural sites with a local Spanish-speaking guide who will bring you to a small cave in the area where you can enjoy an exquisite sense of peace. At sunset, a remarkable spectacle can be observed, when thousands of swallows fly in and out of an old well in the town. 

During your drive from Bacalar to Neuvo Durango, which takes about 4 hours, you could stop in the village of Felipe Carillo Puerto or visit the ancient Mayan city of Tulum.

Nuevo Durango - Ta'akbil-ja - Nuevo Xcan

Tag 8: Enjoy a Homestay Experience with the Nuevo Xcan Community

Tonight you will be welcomed by a local family in the community of Nuevo Xcan for a special homestay experience. But before settling in with your host family for the night, discover some of the region's magnificent natural wonders. Ta'akbil-Ja is a cenote with a subterranean river that is a magical place to go for a swim. Cool off in the refreshing waters and take in the spectacular scenery of this dramatic underground cavern.

Upon arrival in Nuevo Xcan, you will be welcomed by your host family. Take a stroll through the village to learn about its community school and nature reserve.

Enjoy this very special final night in Mexico!

Nuevo Xcan - Cancun Airport

Tag 9: Goodbye, Mexico!

Your Mayan discovery vacation to Mexico comes to an end today. Cancun International Airport lies about 1 hour and 15 minutes away from Nuevo Xcan. Allow plenty of time to return your car before your flight, and if you need any help, a tour representative will be on hand to assist you. We wish you pleasant travels as you make your way back home and hope you have had an enriching experience in the Yucatan Peninsula.