Mexico The Yucatan Peninsula

Today you will have the opportunity to live a unique experience in the world. You will arrive at the meeting point to meet your local English-speaking guide and a group of travelers who will do the activity together. Here you will enjoy a delicious continental breakfast while you are given an informative talk and all the necessary equipment. Once you are ready, you will sail from the dock in a boat to begin your whale shark search. This experience lasts approximately 8 hours. Along the way, you may also see other species, such as rays, dolphins, and turtles. Once you find the whale shark, you will experience the thrill of seeing or swimming alongside the largest fish in the world. The whale shark is the most peaceful giant shark on the planet and can grow as big as a bus. Your guide is an expert in swimming alongside the whale shark and will advise you on how to enjoy the experience safely and confidently. You will stop at a small reef for snorkeling on the way back. Important: Whale Shark season goes from mid May to mid September; the best season to have perfect weather conditions and see whale sharks is during June, July, and August.

Rio Secreto is a natural reserve located a few minutes from Playa del Carmen in the heart of the Riviera Maya, where nature and human beings converge harmoniously. Your meeting point will be at the entrance of the site. Today you will have the opportunity to explore a wonder of the natural world in one of the largest subway river systems in the world, where the history of our planet is written in thousands of geological formations. Floating in its clear fresh water is an experience of a lifetime. During the approximately 3.5-hour tour, your local English-speaking guide will explain all about the walls and formations of this marvelous geological library while you explore different flooded caves. Some you can walk in, and others where you will need to swim. You will enjoy a traditional buffet lunch at the end of the tour.

Today you will snorkel for approximately 45 minutes in Akumal, one of our favorite destinations in the Caribbean Sea. With your English-speaking guide, you will board a boat to take you only two minutes from the shore. Here you will have the opportunity to visit Akumal Bay, a Refuge Area for the Protection of Marine Species decreed by CONANP since 2016, where you can dive in depths between 4 to 35 meters with the necessary snorkeling and safety equipment to swim and enjoy turtle watching. Several species visit Mexican beaches, such as the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta), and hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata). It is essential to abide by the regulations and indications to not alter or harm the turtles and contemplate them in their maximum splendor.

Your adventure begins in the community of Chemuyil, a small beachfront town with plentiful white sand beaches and shallow waters. This project was initiated by five young people from the community of Chemuyil who seek to introduce and preserve the cenotes where they used to live and play during their childhood. Their initiative allows visitors to explore virgin forests, discover the fauna, and become one with nature. First, you will be assigned a bicycle and start cycling through the charming town of Chemuyil. Then, you will continue your bike tour to visit three different cenotes of different shapes and sizes. Then, you will visit one of Mexico's most emblematic archaeological sites declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With your local English-speaking guide, you will take a tour of approximately 1 hour and a half to learn why these ruins played a vital role in the maritime and land trade of the Mayan area, as well as functioning as an astronomical observatory and defensive system. This Mayan city is in the middle of a mangrove ecosystem and on a cliff facing the beautiful Caribbean Sea, making it a unique and spectacular place.

Today you will visit the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve, which in Mayan means "a place where the sky is born." Next, you will be transferred to the Muyil dock, where you will take a boat to navigate through the reserve visiting the Muyil and Chunyaxche lagoons until arriving at the Xlapak dock. Once there, enjoy a serene dip in the water. It is a moment of reconnection with mother earth as you float slowly through the channels of crystalline waters surrounded by mangroves and the soft sounds of the local birds and other animals. After this magical experience, you will visit the Capelchen Lagoon, where with a bit of luck, you will be able to observe manatees and crocodiles in their natural habitat. Finally, back to Muyil, you will be welcomed with a traditional meal to complete the excursion.

You will meet at the meeting point with a grandfather of the community who will be your guide in this gastronomic experience of approximately 3 hours to prepare a very traditional dish of the Mayan culture: Piib tamales. Together with your guide and an English-speaking interpreter, you will go around the community to collect firewood and stones to make the oven, you will also go to the orchard to get banana leaves essential for this preparation. You will go to a rustic kitchen to prepare the oven and start the preparation, the banana leaves will be roasted, and the ingredients will be cooked, such as corn paste, weeded chicken, and natural dye anatto (red recado) with which you can prepare your traditional tamale.

Time to say goodbye and continue your trip to Bacalar Lagoon, where you will have a free afternoon to rest and enjoy the beautiful destination.

You will start your tour at the Bacalar dock, where you will board a catamaran sailing boat with your local English-speaking guide. This shared experience lasts 3 to 4 hours, and you will start english toward the south of the lagoon. During the tour, you will enjoy fresh fruit, fruit water, water or beer while you observe and learn about the importance of the mangroves. It is a perfect opportunity to connect with nature sustainably since you will only need the wind to navigate and avoid polluting the ecosystem. You will visit the famous "Pirates Channel'' where you can swim and snorkel. Then, you will continue to the Cenote de la Bruja or Cenote Negro; here, you will also be able to explore its waters and enjoy the colors of the different depths. You will also visit the Isla de Los Pájaros, a locally declared sanctuary, where you will see several species of birds and the famous shades of blue of the Bacalar Lagoon. Finally, you will venture to Cenote Esmeralda, an area of outstanding beauty.

Self drive to Chetumal International Airport. We are sure you will not leave as you started, this is the charm of Mexico, unique and beautiful, and there are more places to explore; we wait for you for the next adventure.