Highlights
- Explore archaeological ruins like Ek' Balam and Chichén Itzá
- Visit a brilliant pink lake on a boat ride in Ría Lagartos Reserve
- Swim in nearly a dozen sacred cenotes (swimming holes)
- Sail through an ancient Maya trade route canals of Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
- Zipline, cliff jump, or canoe in the Tulum jungle
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Cancún, Drive to Valladolid, Walking Tour | Valladolid |
| Day 2 | Boat Ride in the Ría Lagartos Reserve, Pink Lakes & Flamingos | Valladolid |
| Day 3 | See the Ek' Balam Archaeological Site, Swim at Cenote Xcanche | Valladolid |
| Day 4 | Explore Chichén Itzá & Yokdzonot Cenote | Valladolid |
| Day 5 | Drive to Tulum, Dinner in the City | Tulum |
| Day 6 | Bike Ride to the Cenotes of Chemuyil | Tulum |
| Day 7 | Ancient Canal Experience in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve | Tulum |
| Day 8 | Cooking Class with a Local Chef in Tulum | Tulum |
| Day 9 | Outdoor Adventure in Tulum National Park | Tulum |
| Day 10 | Return Drive to Cancún, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Cancún, Drive to Valladolid, Walking Tour
Welcome to Cancún! After picking up your rental car at Cancún International Airport, you'll drive two hours to Valladolid, one of Mexico's Pueblo Magicos, or Magical Towns. Enjoy the scenic drive as you pass colorful Yucatecan villages across the backdrop of the Maya jungle.
Once you arrive in Valladolid, get settled in and then meet your guide for a 1.5-hour walking tour of the city's historic center. Founded in 1543 and built by the Spanish on the remains of an ancient Maya city, the perfectly preserved center is filled with colorful colonial architecture. As you continue the tour, you'll stop at the ex-convent of San Bernadino de Siena and walk through the beautiful Calzada de Los Frailes (Road of the Friars), an exciting street with coffee shops, restaurants, and mezcalerias. Stop for a bite to eat, take some photos, or grab a drink!Day 2: Boat Ride in the Ría Lagartos Reserve, Pink Lakes & Flamingos
Today, you'll get up early and drive 1.5 hours to Río Lagartos—a town located within the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve—one of the main American flamingo nesting areas in the Yucatán Peninsula. Here you'll meet your guide, who will take you on a boat ride through this natural reserve to discover the mangrove's incredible biodiversity, home to endemic birds like the yellow-lored parrot or the red-vented woodpecker.
Along the boat ride, you'll also see Las Coloradas, a beautiful salt pond known as the Pink Lake, which gets its rosy color from the salt concentration. As part of this tour, you'll also have the chance to indulge in an exfoliating Maya bath in the white clay mounds, which offers numerous benefits to your skin from the sulfur, minerals, salts, and seaweed. Finally, wrap up the day with some free time at one of the many beaches in the area, like Playa Cancunito or Playa Pública. Just head a few minutes in the car and drive around the river's bend to the ocean side, and you're there!
Day 3: See the Ek' Balam Archaeological Site, Swim at Cenote Xcanche
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Ready to play archaeologist for the day? Today's itinerary starts with a 30-minute drive from Valladolid to the incredible archaeological site of Ek' Balam, which in Mayan means "Black Jaguar." The site was hidden for centuries by the Yucatán jungle until it was ultimately rediscovered in the 1800s.
Spend the morning exploring the fascinating ruins yourself, and even climb up 95 feet (29 m) to the highest point, where you'll be rewarded for your efforts with incredible views of the surrounding jungle. Best of all, Ek' Balam tends to be less crowded than other ancient sites on the peninsula, so you can take your time here.
After the visit, take a break for lunch. When you're feeling re-energized, take a 30-minute walk or drive less than 10 minutes to get to the beautiful Cenote Xcanche, one of the many cenotes (natural limestone sinkholes) in the area. Here, you can swim in the cool but refreshing turquoise waters. When you're ready, head back to your hotel in Valladolid for the evening.
Day 4: Explore Chichén Itzá & Yokdzonot Cenote
If you had fun yesterday, you'll get to do it all over again today! Wake up early and drive about 40 minutes to meet your guide by 8 am at the entrance of Chichén Itzá for a private tour. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this pre-Columbian Maya city was once the most revered center of worship in the Yucatán Peninsula. As you move around the main pyramid of Kukulkán (El Castillo), look for an impressive serpent's head carved into the pyramid at the descent, built in honor of the feathered serpent god, an important deity to the Maya.
After exploring these ruins, you'll drive to Yokdzonot, an ecotourism destination built around a Maya cenote by a group of women from the local community. Cenotes like these were considered sacred and symbolic spaces for Maya life cycle rituals. Here, you can swim and cool off after a long morning out in the sun while appreciating the significance of this place. Finally, you'll be invited to have a delicious lunch when you're all dried off. Then, head back to your hotel for your last night in Valladolid.
Day 5: Drive to Tulum, Dinner in the City
This morning, you'll take a scenic 1.5-hour drive from Valladolid to the Caribbean coast and the vibrant beach town of Tulum. Once a thriving pre-Columbian walled port city, today Tulum is best known for its excellent beaches, the dramatic clifftop Maya ruins of El Castillo, and the nearby natural wonders of Tulum National Park.
Once you get to town, relax at your hotel or head out on foot to start exploring. For a late lunch or early dinner, duck into one of the many excellent local eateries for Asian-Mexican fusion at Mestixa or vegan tacos at Pepe Best Tacos (word on the street says these are the best street tacos in Tulum). Get acquainted with the city by taking a paseo (evening stroll) through the cobblestone streets of the historic center before calling it a night and resting up for tomorrow's adventures.
Day 6: Bike Ride to the Cenotes of Chemuyil
Drive about 30 minutes north up the coast to the community of Chemuyil today. Here your guide will welcome you with a plate of local fruit, and you'll meet local community members dedicated to preserving the area's cenotes, where most of them spent their childhood playing.
To kick off the tour, you'll participate in a bike ride around the town, then cycle off to visit the many different cenotes that are part of the community initiative, including La Cuevita. Each cenote offers a slightly different opportunity to connect with nature, whether it's simply swimming in the cool waters, sitting under the canopy in the native forest, or listening to the exotic sounds of the Yucatán's endemic birds. After an exciting afternoon, say goodbye to the new friends you've made, ride your bike back into town, and drive back to your hotel in Tulum.
Day 7: Ancient Canal Experience in Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve
Today you'll take part in an ancient canal experience at the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve located 30 minutes outside of Tulum. Meaning "a place where the sky was born" in ancient Mayan, the reserve is home to diverse ecosystems like tropical forests, lagoons, mangrove swamps, wetlands, and some of the most pristine coral reefs in the country. Today you'll follow the recreation of a Maya trade route that linked to the Caribbean Sea through a system of lagoons and natural canals.
The eco-tour begins early at the Muyil Community Center. After getting acquainted, you'll begin a five-hour excursion that involves walking and boating. Hike through the jungle until you reach the archaeological site of Muyil, and spend some time exploring the ruins before continuing to the Chunyaxche Lagoon. Then, you'll board a small boat to cross a mangrove-flanked canal. When you arrive at the dock, you'll get to jump off into the waters and float gently through a series of crystal-clear canals. At the end of the experience, a delicious traditional lunch awaits back at the community center.
Day 8: Cooking Class with a Local Chef in Tulum
Today's agenda features an authentic cooking class with a local chef in their very own kitchen. You'll start your lesson with an introduction to this region's culinary history, which has influenced the ingredients you'll be working with and the flavors you'll be tasting. Once you get a background on what you'll be preparing today, it's time to put on that apron and get cooking!
With the help of the chef, you'll learn step-by-step how to prepare each ingredient and whip up a full traditional meal. In fact, many of the dishes you'll be cooking come from the chef's family recipes! In addition to the cooking experience, you'll also enjoy a mezcal tasting with artisan mezcals led by a certified mezcalier. ¡Buen provecho!
Day 9: Outdoor Adventure in Tulum National Park
An exciting day of outdoor adventure awaits on your last full day in the Yucatán. Your full-day tour starts early in the morning, with your guide transferring you to the Tulum Ruins within Tulum National Park. Explore the remains of this ancient Maya city overlooking the Caribbean Sea while your guide shares the history and uses of the magnificent pyramids and temples.
Next, you'll be taken inland to the tropical jungle, where you can take your pick of several outdoor activities. Visit nearby cenotes to swim or snorkel in the refreshing waters, then take a dizzying zipline ride over the jungle canopy. You could also join a canoe tour, where you'll navigate the park's rivers and spot diverse wildlife and birdlife along the banks. After a day of exploring the jungle, wrap up with a delicious traditional Maya meal before transferring back to your hotel to pack up for tomorrow's departure.
Day 10: Return Drive to Cancún, Depart
Last morning at this paradise! You'll have a free morning to relax, and at the scheduled time, you'll drive back to Cancún International Airport to return your rental car and catch your flight home. Safe travels!
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