Compare Mexico | Nature and Mayan Culture in the Yucatán Peninsula by Holbrook Travel vs Cancún Escape: Beaches, Cenotes, & Crystal-Clear Water by G Adventures

Day 1: Puerto Morelos

Meals: Dinner

Arrive at the Cancún International Airport. Transfer to the hotel and check in. Check-in available at 3:00 pm. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner and program orientation. Overnight at Hacienda Morelos.

Day 2: Rio Lagartos

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning, meet in the hotel restaurant for breakfast. Afterward, check out and depart for the Dr. Alfredo Barrera Marín Botanical Garden. Established in 1982 to protect the regional flora and fauna of northern Quintana Roo, it is currently the only reserve of original forest in the area. Collections at the garden include epiphytes (orchids and bromeliads), cycads, palms, ferns, succulents, and plants used in traditional Maya medicine. In addition to great flora and a resident troop of spider monkeys, there are many interesting bird species, including the Great Kiskadee, Boat-billed Heron, and Cinnamon Hummingbird. En route to Rio Lagartos, stop for lunch with a Maya family in the self-sustaining community of Laguna Chabela. Learn about the family's way of life, including the milpa agricultural system and methods of beekeeping. Participate in a traditional cooking demonstration where you'll learn how to make tortillas by hand, and then enjoy a delicious meal of pollo pibil ("buried chicken"), handmade tamales, and rice and beans. Continue on to the hotel for check-in. Before dinner, attend a lecture on the birds of the Yucatán. Overnight at Hotel Rio Lagartos.

Day 3: Valladolid

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin the day with a field trip to the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve and take a boat ride in the reserve's wetlands. There are high levels of biodiversity in this important Ramsar site, including 523 registered plant species, 335 bird species (of which 179 are resident, 142 are migratory, and 14 are resident migrants), 95 reptile and amphibian species, 71 fish species, and 58 mammal species. The reserve's most famous resident is the colorful American Flamingo, which can be seen nesting in El Cuyo basin. Have lunch at a local restaurant and then depart for the colonial city of Valladolid. Upon arrival, explore the city on foot and have dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at Meson del Marques.

Day 4: Valladolid

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After an early breakfast, visit Chichén Itzá and hear an on-site lecture. Between 600 AD and 1200 AD, Chichén Itzá was considered one of the most important Maya political centers in the Yucatán. The forests in and around the impressive archaeological complex are home to a variety of wildlife. With luck, you might see endemic bird species like the Yucatán Parrot. Return to the hotel for a lecture on cenotes and underground rivers. Overnight at Meson del Marques.

Day 5: Tulum

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, check out and travel to the archaeological ruins of Cobá for a walking exploration of the complex; also listen to a site lecture. Learn about the history and architecture of Cobá while exploring its pyramids and temples, which are linked together by a large number of sacbes, or ceremonial roads. Still primarily covered by vegetation, Cobá has many structures yet to be excavated. At its peak occupation, Cobá is estimated to have had 50,000 inhabitants or more, in an area covering about 30 square miles. It is located around two lagoons that attract much wildlife. Have lunch at a local restaurant and then visit the Gran Cenote for swimming and snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters. Although its name suggests it is only one big cenote, it really consists of several cenotes meandering along the verdant jungle floor and connected by wooden walkways. Afterward, continue to the coast. Overnight at Hotel Los Lirios.

Day 6: Tulum

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning visit Xel-ha archaeological site. Xel-ha was one of several key ports of the Maya city of Cobá; others included Tancah and Tulúm. It was likely used as a point of intercultural exchange between the Maya and other sea-navigating peoples between the 7th and 12th centuries, and eventually was a beacon to which European colonial navigators were drawn. Explore the ruins, which include remnants of murals. In the afternoon, head to Tulúm archaeological site for a private sunset visit. During a walking field trip, you will begin to uncover the cultural and historical secrets of the ancient coastal city and have the unique opportunity to enjoy the park after hours, accompanied by a park service guard. Tulúm, which originally served as a major trading center, is a modest site. Its Late Postclassic buildings date between approximately the 13th and 15th centuries and were still in use at the time of Spanish conquest. Dinner tonight is at a local restaurant. Overnight at Hotel Los Lirios.

Day 7: Tulum

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Have breakfast at the hotel and then transfer to Muyil archeological site located just south of Tulúm, on the Sian Ka'an Lagoon. Your guide will introduce you to the history and architecture of Muyil during a walking exploration of the complex. Later, board a boat at the Sian Ka'an Lagoon and travel across the lagoon to a man-made canal engineered by the Maya. While wearing life vests, disembark in the shallow waters of the canal and let the light currents carry you down the beautiful, mangrove-fringed waterway. Board the boat to travel back across the lagoon. A snack will be provided on the boat. Continue to downtown Tulúm for lunch at a local restaurant. If time allows, walk around the downtown area and maybe do a little souvenir shopping. Afterward, visit a rural school in the town of Tulúm to learn about their educational program. Before dinner, receive a formal lecture on "Modern Mayas." Overnight at Hotel Los Lirios.

Day 8: Cancun

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, transfer to Akumal for snorkeling off the beach, including sea grass beds for the opportunity to observe sea turtles. Have lunch in a local restaurant and then transfer to the Centro Ecológico de Akumal (CEA) headquarters. CEA is a non-profit marine research and conservation organization that monitors the environmental impact of urban development in the Mexican Caribbean. Through scientific research and community education, the CEA hopes to raise public awareness about local ecosystems and the need for conservation. Hear a lecture on sea turtle conservation before continuing to Cancún. Transfer to the non-governmental organization Amigos de Sian Ka'an. Dedicated to environmental conservation and sustainable development, they promote public policies, environmental ordinances, and urban development plans. Amigos de Sian Ka'an works in collaboration with communities, entrepreneurs, authorities, and students in order to increase the participation of society in nature conservation through productive projects, the design of good environmental practices, and environmental education strategies. Meet their staff and receive a talk about their conservation projects. Attend a farewell dinner this evening. Overnight at Courtyard Marriott Cancun.

Day 9: Departure

Meals: Breakfast

Individual transfers to the airport for flights home.

Day 1 Cancún

Arrive at any time, and kick back at the hostel or head out to explore the city before meeting up with fellow Roamies in the evening. Later, head downtown to the Parque de las Palapas to find some food and to check out the local scene.

Day 2 Cancún

Day trip! Head away from the tourists into the jungle of the Yucatán to a local community. You'll learn all about the delicious regional cuisine and help prepare some of the dishes before scarfing it down on the spot for lunch. Later, top it all off with a swim in a nearby cenote to cool off from the midday heat. Don’t worry, you’ll still have time to hit the beach or hang out at the hostel pool when we get back to Cancún in the afternoon.

Day 3 Cancún

A free day in Cancún, how good does that sound? If you're craving more adventure you could head out on a day trip to Isla Mujeres or Playa del Carmen, or stay local and squeeze every last moment out of that white sand beach or the hostel hang-out spots. Your CEO is always on hand to give recommendations or to show you the best local stretches of beach, the rest is up to you. Ready to party? Of course you are! Your CEO knows all the best bars and clubs Cancún has to offer. Who needs sleep anyways?

Day 4 Cancún

Depart at any time, or maybe decide to add on a few more nights at the beach.