Mexico explorer: the world of the Mayans

Cancun Airport - Puerto Morelos

Day 1: Welcome to Mexico!

Arrive at Cancun International Airport, where your local driver will be waiting for you.

You will then head towards Puerto Morelos, a charming little town located very close to the airport.

Puerto Morelos - Ek Balam - Valladolid

Day 2: Visit the Mayan Community of Ek Balam

After breakfast, head towards the Mayan community of Ek Balam.

Head to the entrance of the archaeological site for the cenote.

At the main gate, you can ride bicycles on the sacbe (old Mayan road) to reach the Xcanché cenote.

Once in the cenote you can cool off and take a dip.

Afterwards, head towards the town, where a guide will be waiting to take you on a community walk, during which you will visit three homes to see the daily life of the Mayan families.

Learn how to make tortillas by hand and weave hammocks.

Finally, take part in an embroidery workshop.

Continue your journey to the colonial city of Valladolid.

Check in at your hotel and spend the evening at your leisure, walking through this beautiful city. 

Valladolid - Chichen Itza - Yaxunah

Day 3: Tour Chichen Itza and Learn to Prepare a Traditional Yucatecan Meal in Yaxunah

After breakfast, make an early start to visit the emblematic Mayan ceremonial center of Chichen Itza.

This Prehispanic city was the most outstanding capital of the Mayan area at the end of the Classic period and the beginnings of the Postclassic period.

Upon the arrival of the Spaniards, it was constituted as the center of worship and pilgrimage of the Yucatan peninsula.

Next, visit the community of Yaxunah, where a group of women and men have gotten together to preserve their culture by creating cultural travel experiences for visitors.

Help prepare a traditional Yucatecan meal and meet other members of the community to taste the masterpiece together!

Return to Valladolid in the afternoon to rest.

Valladolid - Mérida - Uxmal

Day 4: Visit Merida's Lucas de Gálvez Market and Travel to Uxmal

After breakfast, make your way to the white city of Merida, where you will meet your local guide for a tour of the city center.

Merida developed a very strong cultural and political identity due to its isolation from the rest of the country.

The city is a symbol of the Mayan legacy, something that you can discover during this guided cultural tour, where you will visit the local market - Lucas de Gálvez - known for its endemic food products that form an essential part of traditional gastronomy.

Here you will be able to taste exotic fruits and Mayan dishes with different types of corn tortilla. You will also be able to witness the particular religious life, discovering the Prehispanic and Christian syncretism that characterizes the Mayan culture.

Head towards Uxmal and rest at the hotel.

Uxmal Archeological Site - Muná - Uxmal

Day 5: Visit the Mirador Muná Chac-Nah and Mun-Ha Ecological Center

In the morning you will head to the beautiful archaeological site of Uxmal, one of the most important archaeological sites of the Mayan culture.

Here you will take a guided tour of the area and arrive at the Mirador Muná Chac-Nah, a beautiful project that preserves local biodiversity and culture.

You will be invited to participate in a jicara engraving workshop and visit their craft workshop and ecological museum. When finished, you will head towards the Mun-Ha Ecological Center to taste delicious regional food.

Enjoy some time exploring the area before returning to your hotel to rest.

Uxmal - Chunhuhub

Day 6: Discover the Yu'um Lu'um Trail

After breakfast, you will head to a Mayan cooperative located in the village of Chunhuhub.

The hospitality of the members of this ecotourism center will make you feel at home.

Upon your arrival, visit their facilities to then participate in the experience of being in a traditional Mayan house discovering how the ancient Mayans lived.

Have lunch and rest or explore the area in the afternoon. In the evening, set out to discover the Yu’um Lu’um trail.

Before beginning the trail, a purification ritual is carried out to allow you enter the jungle, guided by torches and your local guide, you will reach a meeting point on the path, where your hosts will share stories and legends with you while enjoying a typical drink of the region called balché (only for adults, as it contains alcohol).

Return to the ecotourism center for dinner.

Chunhuhub - bacalar - Calakmul

Day 7: Make Your Way to Glorious Calakmul

After breakfast, you will depart for Calakmul.

You can make a stop in Bacalar to eat or take a short break to have a quick look at the village and the fantastic lagoon.

After this, continue to Calakmul.

Upon arrival, head to your hotel located at the entrance to the Calakmul Reserve to check in.

Enjoy the rest of the afternoon at your leisure.

Calakmul Archeological Site - Conhuás - Calakmul

Day 8: Explore the Surreal Calakmul Archaeological Site

In the morning, your guide will pick you up at the hotel to take you to the archeological site of Calakmul.

You will cross the unpaved road through the reserve, where you could see different types of flora and fauna.

This is one of the most important reserves for jaguars, although they are normally seen at night.

At the end of the road, you will find the archaeological site, one of the most photogenic and impressive of Mexico!

After your visit, head to the community of Conhuás, towards Campeche.

Here you will visit a wonderful stone carving workshop where you will see examples of the different types of stone that are found in the area and how each one of them is used.

Then you will participate in an archeological activity in search of the lost treasure! You would be able to keep any stone that you find and like.

After this beautiful activity, return to your hotel.

Calakmul - bacalar

Day 9: Go Kayaking in Idyllic Bacalar Lagoon

After breakfast, leave for Bacalar.

Now you will spend some time in this paradise.

The Bacalar Lagoon is famous for its seven colors and fresh warm water.

Enjoy some kayaking. Depending on the hotel or restaurant, this may be included in the price of a drink.

bacalar - Felipe Carrillo Puerto - Tulum

Day 10: Head to Mesmerizing Tulum

After check-out today you will travel to Tulum.

Along the way we recommend that you stop in the small village of Felipe Carrillo Puerto to taste the delicious Yucatecan food at a village restaurant.

Continue to Tulum to check in at a charming hotel in the town center.

Enjoy a  free afternoon to relax.

Tulum - Sian Ka'an - Tulum

Day 11: Explore Otherworldly Sian Ka'an

Today, set out to explore some of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

You will arrive at the Sian Ka’an Center to have a light breakfast and then take a transport with the rest of the group.

You will explore an archaeological site hidden in the jungle and enjoy a path in the middle of nature.

You will be able to go up to a viewpoint to observe the incredible views of the lagoons!

Next, you will take a boat to visit the beautiful lagoons and the mangrove forests, and then reward your senses by floating through crystal-clear channels of fresh water leading to the Muyil Lagoon.

Its gentle current will drag you very slowly towards the end point.

After this activity, you will walk a path to return to the center, where a regional meal will be waiting for you.

Return to your hotel in Tulum.

Tulum - Cobá Archeological Site - Nuevo Durango

Day 12: Tour Coba Archaeological Site

After breakfast, we suggest you visit the archaeological site of Cobá to explore its ancient white roads known in the Mayan language as sacbé to discover Nohoch Muul, the highest Mayan pyramid of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Next, you will get on your way to the community of Nuevo Durango.

Nuevo Durango is a traditional Mayan village that has retained a strong cultural identity in terms of language and customs. Their conservation project has created an ecotourism cooperative.

Discover the beauty and tranquility of life in balance with the environment. Have dinner in Nuevo Durango.

Nuevo Durango - Cancun Airport

Day 13: Hasta Pronto, Cancun!

We recommend leaving early for Cancun Airport in order to arrive in time for your outbound flight.

Safe travels and visit again soon!