Mexico trip: Mayan heritage tour

Arrive in the Yucatán Peninsula and pick up your rental car. Drive to your hotel, settle in, and ease into your Mexico travel experience with a sunset stroll or a refreshing swim in a nearby cenote.

Cycle from the beachfront village of Chemuyil with a local English-speaking guide to discover three hidden cenotes. Founded by five community members, this grassroots initiative protects the surrounding jungle and invites you to swim in crystal-clear waters, spot wildlife, and enjoy a tailored, authentic five-hour ride through nature.

Later, enjoy a private tour of Tulum, exploring El Castillo, its vibrant murals, and the striking coastal ruins. Learn how these structures shaped Maya trade and astronomy, then cool off with a refreshing swim at Playa Ruinas.

Drive from Tulum to Bacalar, making scenic stops along the way. At the Muyil community center, join a small-group excursion beginning with light refreshments before a local guide leads you on a five-hour journey through the Muyil archaeological site. Continue to the Chunyaxché lagoon for a boat ride along mangrove-lined channels and a serene river float.

End the experience with a traditional community meal and meaningful insights into conservation-focused ecotourism, an enriching addition to any Mexico itinerary.

Begin at the Bacalar dock and board a private catamaran with an English-speaking guide. Enjoy fruit and drinks as you glide past mangroves, learn about stromatolites, swim in turquoise waters, and choose your preferred stops. Visit the Pirate’s Channel, Cenote de la Bruja or Cenote Negro, Isla de los Pájaros, and Cenote Esmeralda.

After the sailing trip, self-drive from Bacalar to Chunhuhub.

In Chunhuhub, gather in Selva Bonita for a sunset bonfire led by a J’men, a traditional Maya healer. The short ceremony is meant to cleanse and renew your energy while storytellers share myths of the sacred ceiba tree, the aluxes, the wayes, and the xtabay, accompanied by a sip of the Maya’s sacred drink.

Begin your day with a morning jungle walk guided by a community elder. Learn about local birds, medicinal plants, and trees that hold cultural significance, observe traditional gum-extraction techniques, and even try your hand at tree climbing.

After the walk, self-drive from Chunhuhub to Chichén Itzá, about three hours across the peninsula, to reach one of the best places to visit in Mexico and its most iconic archaeological sites.

Enjoy a privately guided visit to Chichén Itzá, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Your English-speaking guide will share Maya history and explain the significance of its architecture, including the famous Kukulcán pyramid, an ideal spot for memorable photos.

Continue to Yaxunah for a hands-on farming experience on a sustainable milpa with Don Francisco. Learn about corn planting and nixtamal preparation, sample eight varieties of pozole and atole, and see how corn continues to support Maya families and traditions.

After the visit, drive from Chichén Itzá to Valladolid.

In Yalcobá, explore hidden cenotes with a local guide and an English-speaking translator while learning about the natural cycle that shapes these formations. Visit an open, wildlife-rich cenote, a large historic cave, and a pristine underground cenote where you can swim beneath dramatic shafts of light.

Continue to Valladolid for a walking tour of the historic center. Taste Yucatecan honey and visit landmarks such as the Ex Convento de San Bernardino de Siena, the cathedral, and the charming Calzada de los Frailes.

Drive from Valladolid to Nuevo Durango, a journey of about 1.5 hours through quiet countryside. If you prefer, stop in Valladolid first to walk its colonial streets, browse the local market, or take a swim in a nearby cenote.

In Nuevo Durango, a living Maya village, your English-speaking guide will lead a 4-5 hour cooking workshop. You’ll harvest ingredients from the community garden, prepare cochinita and chicken pibil with local cooks, and share the meal while listening to traditional songs.

After the workshop, continue to Punta Laguna, a 5,500-hectare reserve run by a Maya cooperative. Walk the jungle trails to look for spider and howler monkeys, then cross the lagoon by canoe.

Pack your belongings, enjoy a final coffee or a quick dip in a nearby cenote, and then return your rental car at the airport. Leave a little extra time for last-minute photos and a relaxed check-in. Yucatán will be waiting when you return.

We hope your Mayan heritage tour in Yucatán offered genuine connections with local communities and memorable, tailor-made experiences. Thank you for choosing this Mexico trip. We look forward to crafting your next personalized journey.