Transport to and from hotels
Our guide Karina was amazing and knowledgeable. We got to both stops (Tulum and Maya village/cenote) before the crowds and were able to roam around freely to look around but also got guided sections. I enjoyed the smaller group as well. The food was not amazing (cold snacks, not many veggie options) but we had time to sit down and buy lunch. The only thing is that we were told it would be a 12-hour trip but it was more 10 hours.
Historic ruins, beaches and swimming in underground caves make this an action-packed morning of discovery. A guided tour of Tulum is followed by a visit to a traditional Maya community. What's more, you'll get to take a dip in a cenote, too. Benito, one of our local guides, says, "most of Tulum dates from the two centuries before Spanish colonisation, so it's a final snapshot of a doomed civilisation. Among the many things you'll learn is the symbolism behind the deities carved into the temples."
First up, explore the remains of the Maya city of Tulum. Your expert guide will show you temples of the Frescoes, the Descending God, the Winds and more. And then there's El Castillo pyramid, whose clifftop location overlooking the Caribbean saw it double as a lighthouse. Nowadays, it's made for Instagram – it's the most photographed location in the Riviera Maya. Gustavo, another of our local guides, says, ‘Tulum is that perfect balance between culture and nature – just look at all the iguanas you'll see lazing around. The ancient Maya appreciated this, and each area represented one of the elements – earth, water, wind and fire.'
Then we'll take some time to look around a Maya village and meet some members of the community. We'll find out about the traditions and customs of the village, before finishing up with a swim in a cenote. These freshwater sinkholes were sacred to the ancient Maya. A bit of snorkelling in this hallowed cavern is the ideal way to round off your experience.
