The Mayan Expedition Round Trip

Arrival to Mexico, at Cancun Airport. Meet&Greet at the airport, meeting with your tour representative. Then transfer to the accommodation. Free program in the evening.
Meal Plan: None. There are tons of places to eat in Playa del Carmen within walking distance!

Breakfast near the accommodation, then we will head towards the first stop of our tour, to the northern part of the Yucatan Peninsula, to Rio Lagartos in Tizimín province, or "Holkoben" as it was called in the ancient Maya. Rio Lagartos got its name from the Spanish conquistadors who came here in search of fresh water, who, finding this surface river (which is very rare on the Yucatan Peninsula) was short of drinking water, wanted to explore the entire area. When they got inside the river, they only noticed that it was full of crocodiles, which is why they named it "crocodile river" or "Rio Lagartos". This nature reserve is currently one of the most significant and beautiful eco-tourism attractions. Our first day is dedicated to the natural beauty of the Yucatan Peninsula. The area of Rio Lagartos is famous not only for crocodiles, but also for the pink miracle, "Las Coloradas". A traditional salt mine, where salt is still extracted according to traditional Mayan traditions and then dried in the sun. The coastline, located next to huge salt mountains, paints the water a beautiful pink color thanks to the small creatures that feed on the minerals dissolved from the salt. The pink color of the flamingo colony of hundreds of members living here is also due to the same small creatures, who feed on them. The view is simply gorgeous. We travel from Rio Lagartos to Las Colorados by motorboat, admiring the local flora and fauna along the way and spotting some of the hundreds of endemic bird species nesting here. Bathing in the river is possible, while we learn about the ancient Mayan beauty ritual, which we can try. The mud is an excellent exfoliator, after body exfoliation, we smear ourselves with the mud found in the river, which fills our skin with a lot of minerals, smoothing out our wrinkles and making our skin velvety. After the pampering, we will head back, followed by an optional lunch at a local restaurant, where you can taste delicious seafood. After lunch, continue to Chichen Itza. On the way, we stop in Valladolid, a beautiful colonial city on the Yucatan Peninsula, founded in 1552 by Franciscan monks. Here we will go on a short city tour, seeing the main sights of the city, the Parroquial Church and the colonial style Main Square. Then we continue our journey towards Chichen Itza. Arrival in the early evening. Chichen Itza, the most famous of the Yucatan Peninsula, is the second most visited historical site in Mexico by tourists. The ruins of Chichen Itza are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, but in 2006 they were also awarded the title of one of the 7 Newest Wonders of the World. His world fame and popularity are no accident. Excavated on an area of more than 30 km2, the former huge city reached its heyday in AD 950. At this time, Chichen Itza became the largest mythical city that ever existed in Central America and at the same time one of the most important centers of the Kukulkan cult. Most of the monuments appear as Kukulkan, the "Feather Serpent" or "Queztalcoatl" in the Aztec language. The main attraction of Chichen Itza is the Kukulkan pyramid, which can optionally be viewed not during the day, but also in the darkness of the night. When night falls and the pitch-black sky is lit only by stars, we will sit at the impressive Kukulkan Pyramid and learn about the mystical and mysterious Mayan culture in the form of light and sound projected on the pyramid. The program is optional! The sight is astonishingly beautiful, the history of the Mayans comes to life before our eyes, bringing the former city to life. Then departure, arrival at our accommodation. Booking accommodation. Free program in the evening.
Meal plan: Not included in the package. Optional meals  individually.
Optional Program:
Chichen Itzá Luz y Sonido - Night visit and laser show at Kukulkan Pyramid
Price: $65 usd/person

Breakfast individually at the hotel. Then visiting the archaeological site of Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza, the most popular Mayan-Toltec monument on the Yucatan Peninsula, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World since 2007. Chichen Itza was founded by the Mayans between 435 and 455. It was occupied by the Toltecs fleeing from Tula to the East in the 10th century, and then allied with the Mayan leaders, they made it the sacred capital of the Mayan-Toltec empire. The Toltecs introduced the veneration of the feathered snake god, their fighting customs and human sacrifice to Kukulkan. According to Toltec belief, the gods were bloodthirsty tyrants, and according to their belief, the Sun had to be constantly fed with human blood in order to rise from the underground house of dawn. Toltec art, shocking to many, bears witness to constant bloodshed, while the Mayan-style buildings found in the archaeological area bear witness to mathematical, astronomical and engineering genius, raising new and new questions about this mysterious and awe-inspiring culture. As a result of these two effects, the tourist can feel like he is in an archaic thriller, as the most important buildings of the ruined city come to life in the interpretation of our guide: the "El Castillo" or Kukulkan Pyramid Temple, which, thanks to its exact size and orientation, is cast by the rising and setting sun during the equinoxes. a shadow shows the shape of a snake crawling out of the temple. We will see the Temple of the Warriors, with the Chac mool statue, which has become an emblematic figure of the Mayan culture, the Ball Game field, where the ritual ball game "pok ta pok" was played, during which the players could not touch the otherwise very heavy puck weighing up to 4 kg with their hands or feet. Our imaginary film reaches one of its climaxes here, when we learn that the winning team's reward was that they were sacrificed to the gods after the game. We will also see the El Caracol Astronomical Temple, the Well of Sacrifices, and the Nunnery. After this visual and story-rich culture shock, as if nothing had happened, we continue towards Merida.

Merida is the cultural center of the Yucatán Peninsula. Its vibrant artistic life and beautiful colonial downtown make it attractive to tourists. Here in the evenings you can always stumble upon some good program, in the evening it is worth taking a walk in the old town, seeing what the evening has in store for us.

Accommodation. Free program in the evening.
Meal plan: Not included in the package. Optional meals  individually.

We start our day with a truly authentic program, visiting the Lucas de Galves market, which has been operating for almost 130 years, where local producers sell their products. We can get to know a whole range of special tropical fruits and vegetables, a good opportunity to taste exotic fruits. Here we find out that chili can be enhanced even for us, and bananas are a type of grass, and there are also vegetables types of it! In the local whirlwind, we gain an insight into the everyday lives of the residents of the city of Merida. We admire the colorful colonial buildings and see the local hustle and bustle of a bustling city. Merida was a city mainly engaged in textile trade, which is still the dominant commercial and economic center of the entire Yucatan Peninsula and, incidentally, the capital of the Yucatan State. The city, founded in 1542, is both ancient and contemporary. Ruins, haciendas and cathedrals are lined up side by side with art galleries, museums, restaurants and boutiques. We will see the city's main square, the cathedral, and have a look around the old town. We pass along the Paseo Montejo avenue, where you can admire the palaces of the rich textile magnates of the time. Optional lunch in Merida at a local restaurant, then we continue our journey to the beaches of the Riviera Maya. On the way, we have the opportunity to stop to swim in a Cenote (sinkhole). Cenotes are typical natural formations of the Yucatán Peninsula, open or closed karst caves with crystal clear, fresh water. Some cenotes also have stalactites. It is a wonderful feeling to immerse yourself in the natural wonders described by the Mayans as the gateway to the underworld.
Arrival in the Riviera Maya in the early evening. End of tour program and Guide service. On the following days, there is the possibility of additional optional programs, stargazing from the seaside hotel. (see description of days 5 and 6).
Accommodation. Free program in the evening.
Meal plan: Not included in the package. Optional meals  individually.

Excursion to Coba, which was one of the most populous of the former Mayan cities (with more than 50,000 inhabitants in its heyday) and had the greatest political and economic power between AD 200-600. Coba controlled the trade and even the water supply of the region, which was decisive at the time, but it is assumed that such a port city as Xel-Ha was also under the control. It is interesting that this powerful city had several female leaders, and Coba also boasted the longest paved road network. Its power and influence weakened around AD 600, due to the strengthening of Chichen Itza. Our destination is the archaeological area of Coba, where the highest pyramid of the Yucatan Peninsula is located. After seeing the main sights of the ruined city, we continue our journey to the last Mayan ruined city of our tour, Tulum. Tulum is interesting and attractive due to its location. This is the only Mayan city built directly on the beach, which dates back to the XIII. century was the commercial center of the Mayan civilization. When the Spanish conquistadors arrived, the region was also a religious center. Conquistador Juan Díaz compared its dimensions to those of Seville in 1518. We will see Tulum's tallest building "El Castillo" or "Castle", the "Temple of Frescoes" decorated with snakes, fish and sea animals, and the "Templo de Dios del Viento". After visiting the ruined city, we continue our journey to our seaside holiday destination. Return to the hotel. 
Optional: Lunch during the program (Not included in the package price!).
Optional Program:
Excursion to the archaeological sites of Tulum and Coba
Price: $179 usd/person

Cenotes are one of the most wonderful natural formations. Each one is different, each one a miracle in its own right. Discovering Cenotes, trying newer and newer, more beautiful ones is a very good pastime. Those who enjoyed the program can still come as part of a half-day program where we will show you the most hidden gem, hardly visited by tourists!
Optional Program: Half-day Cenote program
Price: $79 usd/person