Our trip was amazing
Mexico
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Jul 1 - Jul 10, 2023
Our trip was incredible. Rene helped us put together an outstanding itinerary with excellent recommendations for excursions and lodging. We worked with Lizbeth from Rutopia during the trip and she was also fantastic. Both Rene and Lizbeth were responsive, helpful, and truly dedicated to making this a really special experience for our family.
We are keen on adventure, so we wanted to do some tours that were a little off the beaten path and removed from the more "touristy" places (of which there are many). We are so glad KimKim and Rutopia were able to accommodate us. We got to spend time with local Maya families and guides; ate traditional home-cooked meals; and contributed directly, sustainably, and positively to the communities we visited. Our guides were all highly knowledgeable and conscientious.
In addition to our visits to the extraordinary ruins and archeological zones of the region, one highlight of the trip was spending a day with a local Maya community exploring a stunning cenote and learning to make tortillas by hand over an open fire. The entire trip felt very authentic and connected to the local cultures, rather than the commercialized theme parks and tourist traps. Our kids our probably too young to realize how special this vacation was, but I am confident they will remember it forever!!
Hotel Reviews
This was a luxurious hotel with beautiful pools and good restaurants. It was a nice place to relax and pamper ourselves after more adventurous days. However, it felt more commercial compared to the more authentic experiences we had during our trip.
Casa Don Diego was small, private, and gave us the authentic experience we were looking for. We loved how it was tucked away in Tulum and offered a quiet and unassuming atmosphere. The staff was really nice and made us feel like family. We even had the chance to see their beehives and learn about a specific type of bee that doesn't sting, but produces fantastic honey. The hotel has around six rooms and an outdoor kitchen for families to use which added to the home-like feel. It was a wonderful place to stay and we really missed it when we moved to a larger resort later in our trip.
Activity Reviews
This was an absolute highlight of our trip! We got there early, before the crowds and it was just our family and our guide. We floated down the river, surrounded by stunning nature, in crystal clear water. Our guide taught us about the jungle and let us enjoy some quiet moments just floating. We didn't do any snorkeling, but it was still an amazing experience.
This was one of the most special days of our trip. We got to spend time with a Mayan community and learn about their traditional ways of life. Our children even made tortillas by hand with Maya women — an unforgettable experience. We also visited a hidden cenote, which was an adventurous and stunning experience.
This was a commercial but fun experience. We went into the caves with a guide and a group, which felt a bit rushed and less personal than our other adventures. Still, it was beautiful and interesting.
The tours of the ruins, including Coba and the sacred Mayan roads, were stunning. All of our guides were well informed and we learned a lot about the culture and history. It was wonderful to meet the people and know that the money from our tours was going directly into the local community. It was fantastic to see the ruins and spend time with Mayan families.
Thank you very much for your words! Our team is very happy to hear the experience was what you were looking for and was able to create special memories! Rutopia's goal is to create this bridge between fantastic travelers like yourselves and the communities that have so many amazing experiences to offer, it is heartwarming to read we were able to achieve this! I wish I could have tasted a taco from one of your tortillas, but it'll have to be for the next time your family visits... Read more