15 To 20 Day Journeys

Treasures of the Riviera Maya for the family

A family trip to the Yucatan Peninsula is tempting, but you don't want to constantly rush from one activity to another, or change hotels every day. You are there to rest and enjoy your children.

Surely you want to fully experience each destination and take the time to discover the region in depth. Then this circuit of 15 to 20 days is made for you! It will take you to discover the Riviera Maya and its surroundings with an alternation of cultural and natural excursions, family activities and rest days. A tailor-made program to satisfy all the members of your family.

Your itinerary:
Cancún
- Isla Mujeres - Puerto Morelos - Playa del Carmen - Cozumel - Tulum - Sian Ka’an - Coba -
Valladolid - Chichen Itza -Ría Lagartos - Las Coloradas -
(Opción de 20 días: Chiquila - Holbox)
Cancún

Day 1 : Cancun - transfer airport / hotel

In the afternoon, arrival at the airport in Cancun, Quintana Roo. Upon leaving the airport, your private driver will be waiting for you to take you to the hotel. The private chauffeur service will be at your disposal throughout your stay. Bilingual driver. Installation at the hotel and dinner of your choice or included in your all-inclusive stay (depending on the offer chosen). Free afternoon.

Day 2: Cancun - free day to enjoy the beaches of Cancun / taco tour

For your first day in Cancun, we offer you a day of rest to enjoy the beaches of the Riviera Maya. Cancun's beaches are world famous for their white sand and turquoise waters. In addition to this dream setting, they offer many attractions and entertainment that your children will love and will give you the opportunity to rest.

Water parks, volleyball court, beach games, kayaking, paddle boarding, and bungee jumping for the more adventurous... fun is not lacking!

To find the best beach for your family's needs, check out our special article on the best beaches in Cancun: the ultimate guide!

Free time for lunch or at the hotel depending on the option chosen.

Free afternoon to enjoy the beaches.

Tip: If you've had enough of the beach and want to occupy your children with a fun and artistic activity, we suggest you discover Cancun from a new angle— a walk-through street art! Discover the most beautiful frescoes in the city and introduce your children to urban art. At night, a gastronomic Taco Tour in different taquerias of Cancun. In the company of connoisseurs of local cuisine, you will be taken from restaurant to restaurant to discover all the flavors of world famous Mexican tacos.

This introduction to Mexican cuisine can replace a light dinner.

Day 3: Cancun - hotel zone bike tour / Aquarium or Dolphinarium / 360° Tour

In the morning, try a city bike tour. A fun and perfect family activity to get to know the city of Cancun and the main places of interest that make it up.

Your guide will take you to the coastal area, easily accessible by bike. Pedal through the Cancun hotel zone and admire its white sand beaches, discover the contemporary architecture of the city and the Nichupté lagoon. Continue to downtown Cancun.

Tip: This activity can also be done by foot.

Free time for lunch in downtown Cancun or in the restaurant of your hotel.

The afternoon will be dedicated to family entertainment.

On the program, a discovery of the marine world of the Mexican Caribbean in one of the many attractions of the city.

The interactive aquarium in Cancun will delight both young and old thanks to its high-quality animations. An original activity to discover the fauna and flora of the oceans. Another suggestion is the dolphinarium located in the hotel zone near Punta Cancun. This place is ideal for your children to discover the majestic marine mammals — dolphins —, and watch them play during the shows. Your kids can even swim with them. A unique experience that will stay forever in your memory.

At night, go to the 360° Scenic Tour to enjoy a magnificent sunset over the city of Cancun with a panoramic view. A magical moment to share with the family.

Dinner on your own or at the hotel restaurant.

Day 4: Cancun - day trip to Isla Mujeres by catamaran

The islands near Cancun are one of the jewels of the Caribbean Sea. Discover one of them during a relaxing day aboard a catamaran, an ideal activity to enjoy with the family. Isla Mujeres is a small island of a few square kilometers located just in front of Cancun. There you will find the charm of small Caribbean towns.

On the program of this catamaran excursion : swimming, snorkeling, walking tour of the island. A catering service and a self-service bar will be at your disposal throughout the journey. Loan of snorkel equipment and life jacket included.

At night, free time for dinner or within your all-inclusive package.

Day 5: Cancun - Puerto Morelos / The Cenotes Route - Playa del Carmen

In the morning, departure from Cancun for a new stage of your circuit—Playa del Carmen. Along the way, make a stop in Puerto Morelos. Walking tour to discover this charming fishing village that has preserved its authentic character in a calm and warm atmosphere. We recommend visiting the craft market that takes place in the central square. Exhibitors offer beautiful handmade objects as well as original creations by Mexican artists. The prices are attractive and cheaper than in the big seaside towns on the coast.

Lunch on the spot in a small restaurant with your feet in the sand.

In the afternoon, we continue along the route of the cenotes. Located very close to Puerto Morelos, the road earned its name because many water wells are located on both sides.

Stop for a refreshing swim. Time to rest.

Continue to Playa del Carmen, the second largest coastal city in the Riviera Maya. Much appreciated by visitors for its lively and not so large urban center.

Hotel registration. Dinner on your own or at the restaurant. Free afternoon to enjoy the nightlife.

Day 6: Playa del Carmen: Playa del Carmen - day at one of the Riviera Maya theme parks

It is impossible to come to spend your vacations in the Riviera Maya with your children and not dedicate a day to have fun in one of the theme parks around Playa del Carmen.

Depending on the age and composition of your group, we can suggest a different park, more suitable for your family. The most famous theme park is of course Xcaret, suitable for guests of all ages. You can spend the whole day there exploring the jungle, spotting wild animals, and swimming in the underground rivers and on the private beaches.

Lunch included in your day tour.

Xcaret also offers folkloric dance shows that will allow you to appreciate Mexican culture in all its diversity. If you have older children, teenagers will be happy to test their energy in sportier parks like Xenses or Xplor, which offer attractions with more thrills. Tip: If you don't want to visit one of the theme parks in the Riviera Maya, opt for our Outdoor Adventure Tour. A day trip full of outdoor activities with ATVs, zip lines, rock climbing and many other sports entertainment!

Return to Playa del Carmen in the afternoon.

Day 7: Visit to the city of Playa del Carmen with the discovery of Fifth Avenue - beach day (beach club) and La Joya circus show

Quieter day to discover Playa del Carmen at your own pace and enjoy the sea.

In the morning, free time to stroll through the streets of Playa del Carmen. Take a walk along the most famous avenue in the city, Fifth Avenue. Mexican clothing, jewelry and handicraft shops are an invitation for a shopping spree.

You will also find attractions and entertainment of all kinds, as well as a wide range of restaurants and bars ready to welcome you in a warm atmosphere.

Free time for lunch in the city center or at your hotel. In the afternoon, relax in one of the most beautiful beach clubs in the Riviera Maya. The "beach clubs" are part of the pleasures of vacation by the sea and the Riviera Maya does not escape this trend. These clubs offer restaurant services, musical entertainment , sports equipment (deckchairs, towels, umbrellas) and beach and sea games (kayak, paddle, etc.). A day of relaxation to enjoy with your family and the pleasures of the beach in total serenity. Dinner on your own or at your hotel restaurant. At night, a place to enjoy a family show that has become a must in the Riviera Maya.

Cirque du Soleil, built several years ago near Playa del Carmen, offers a new show called "La Joya". It gathers Mexican folklore and traditions and mixes them in a colorful and lively show.

Day 8: Playa del Carmen - Snorkeling excursion to Cozumel to discover the great Mesoamerican reef / Eco Beach Park Tour

In the morning, go to the pier in Playa del Carmen to cross by ferry to the island of Cozumel. Once there, you will be taken by a motor boat to the coral reef of Cancun.

This coral reef, also known as the Great Mesoamerican Reef, is one of the most impressive marine ecosystems in the world. It is the second largest barrier reef after Australia.

The coral reef of the Riviera Maya is home to hundreds of species of fish, sponges, mollusks, and corals, not to mention the marine mammals that can swim in these food-rich waters.

During this day trip to Cozumel, you’ll have 2-3 snorkeling opportunities along the reef. Number of dives depends on weather conditions.

Lunch on board.

In the afternoon, you will be taken to one of the most secret and extraordinary beaches in the Riviera Maya, Playa El Cielo. This beach owes its name to the hundreds of starfish that can be admired on its white sand.

Tip: If you don't like diving, why not visit the Eco Beach Park located in Punta Sur? It is possible to organize a tour that includes the entrance fees to the park and the rental of a jeep to get there.

Return to Playa del Carmen by ferry.

Dinner on your own or at the hotel.

Day 9: Playa del Carmen / Tour Akumal swim with turtles and cenote / Tulum

In the morning, departure for a half day excursion. Your driver will meet you in the lobby of your hotel. Transfer by car, about 30 minutes south of Playa del Carmen to discover Akumal, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Riviera Maya.

Akumal is composed of 5 coves with shallow and crystal clear waters. The name Akumal in Mayan means "the place of the turtles" since many sea turtles choose these beaches each year as a nesting place. In addition, the seagrass located not far from the beaches attracts the turtles that feed on it. Therefore, it is very common to see multiple turtles in this area.

In the company of a specialized guide, you will be equipped with a life jacket and snorkel equipment to observe sea turtles in their natural environment.

Good to know: this highly supervised practice involves group outings of a maximum of 6 people (guide included), a regulatory distance must be respected from marine animals, the prohibition of touching them and the use of sunscreen.

Your tour continues with a visit to a cenote, unique geological formations in the world that form a network of underground rivers and natural freshwater pools in the open air. A snack of fruit and nuts will be offered. During this time of repose, you will be able to immerse yourself in the energetic and crystalline waters of the cenote and admire magnificent rock formations. You will also have the opportunity to benefit from the knowledge of your guide who will teach you more about these sacred places of the Mayan culture that had ritual functions. In the early afternoon, head to Tulum, the next stop on your tour. Hotel registration.

Lunch on your own or at the hotel restaurant. In the afternoon, free time to discover your new destination and its dream beaches.

Dinner on your own and free night.

Day 10: Tulum - Tulum ruins - beach club in the hotel zone of Tulum

In the morning, departure for a guided tour of the Tulum ruins. Perched on a cliff facing the Caribbean Sea, this amazing fortified city is one of the best preserved in the entire Mayan civilization. An obligatory point of passage for trade from the sea, the city of Tulum was a powerful port city.

Its most impressive building, called El Castillo, also served as a beacon for ships wishing to dock. Thanks to an ingenious system of lights, it guided the boats through the channel, thus avoiding the pitfalls of the barrier reef.

Lunch at one of the beach clubs in a quiet and idyllic setting. The afternoon will be dedicated to leisure over the Caribbean Sea and the beach activities offered by the club.

In the program, relax on the sun loungers, snorkel (equipment rental), paddle, kayak, etc. All in a relaxing atmosphere with chill out music thanks to the talent of the DJs who will be playing for your greatest pleasure.

Tip: to visit the hotel zone of Tulum, nothing better than a bicycle! An ecological, fun and suitable means of transport for the whole family.

Day 11: Tulum - Sian Ka'an Reserve - bird watching

A day of nature to discover one of the largest nature reserves in the Yucatan Peninsula. A wonderful moment to share with your children. In the morning, get up early to check out of the hotel at 5:30 am. Road to the Sian Ka'an Reserve along the road that leads to Punta Allen. The Sian Ka'an Reserve is one of the largest biodiversity reserves in the Yucatan Peninsula. For the ancient Mayans, it was a sacred place: “the place where the sky was born”. Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1897, it houses a unique ecosystem. Once in the heart of the reserve, you will arrive at the dock to cross the lagoons in a lancha, a typical flat-bottomed boat. During the tour, in the company of a guide expert in the fauna of the region, you will be able to enjoy bird watching and lake fauna (crocodiles, manatees, dolphins, etc.)

Lunch included in your tour.

At the end of the day, return to Tulum. Dinner on your own and free night.

Day 12: Tulum / Coba cenote jungle tour / Valladolid

In the morning, departure to the depths of the Mexican jungle. Together with your local guide, go in search of spider monkeys in their natural habitat. Expert in the fauna and flora of the region, your guide will answer all your questions. Later, take a stop near a freshwater lagoon to relax and cool off. The tour continues with a visit to the city of Cobá, the mysterious Mayan city buried in the heart of Quintana Roo. An ancient commercial city of the Mayan Riviera, Cobá was a place of great importance for the Mayan civilization. Built between 50 and 100 AD JC, it quickly became one of the most powerful City-States in the Yucatan Peninsula.

If you feel like it, you can climb the Nohoch Mul pyramid. With its 42 meters high and 120 steps, it is also the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan Peninsula. At the top, enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the jungle. After a light snack, make a stop at a cenote where you can swim in the cool, crystal-clear waters and observe the impressive rock formations sculpted over the centuries. You'll also have plenty of time to soak up the sacred atmosphere of this mystic-laden place. Lunch with local flavors in a Mexican restaurant. Road to Valladolid. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, a guided tour of the heart of the city. See the main buildings of this old colonial city with a rich historical past. During the visit, discover the central square and its emblematic monuments, the cathedral, the Calzada de los Frailes and the old convent of San Bernardino.

Dinner of your choice or at the hotel. The night, free time to stroll through the colorful streets of this charming magical town also known as the Pearl of the Orient.

Day 13: Valladolid - Ría Lagartos - Las Coloradas - show

In the morning, departure to the north of the Yucatan Peninsula to discover one of the most beautiful nature reserves in the entire region. Ría Lagartos is the perfect place to observe wildlife. Ria Lagartos, means “Mouth” and is located at the crossroads of freshwater and saltwater. A multitude of endemic and migratory birds come every year to nest in this reserve of waters rich in fish.

It is a protected and privileged place to observe the thousands of pink flamingos that choose the Ría Lagartos Reserve as a nesting place every year. The best time to observe the flamingos is from mid-May, when they migrate from the Celestún reserve, located near Mérida, to the Ría Lagartos reserve. flamingos es a partir de mediados de mayo, cuando migran desde la reserva de Celestún, ubicada cerca de Mérida, a la reserva de Ría Lagartos.

Lunch included in the visit of the day.

In the afternoon, visit a small fishing village. Las Coloradas is one of the most iconic attractions on the north coast of Yucatan due to its salinas. Due to a naturally occurring bacteria in the water, the marshes are tinted pastel colors of pink and orange. Visit the salt marshes with a local guide who will explain how the salt is collected.

Beautiful Instagram photos guaranteed! Transfer to Valladolid At night, go to the gardens of the Ex-Convent of San Bernardino to attend a light and sound show that retraces the history of Valladolid "Heroic City". Duration about 20 min. Screening in Spanish is followed by an English version.

Dinner on your own or at your hotel restaurant.

Day 14: Valladolid - Chichen Itza + Ik kil cenote + culinary experience

In the morning, your private driver will be waiting for you in the lobby of your hotel. Very early departure and transfer to the site of Chichen Itza, Yucatan.

The archaeological site of Chichén Itzá is one of the main ones in the region. Emblematic of the Yucatan region, it has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1988 and was included among the Wonders of the Modern World in 2007.

Witness to the coexistence of the Mayans and Toltecs, Chichen Itza offers you a unique architectural synthesis. It is a must-see for visitors who wish to learn about the Mayan civilization.

Arrival at 8 am to the archaeological site. Visit to the city-state of Chichen Itza in the company of a tour guide. Duration of the visit approximately 2 hours. On the program, the Great Pyramid of Kukulkan, the Observatory, the Sacred Cenote, the Temple of the Thousand Columns, the Temple of the Warriors and the Great Ball Court (the largest in all of Mesoamerica).

Traditional Mayan lunch

Our offer for you is a culinary experience organized by a Mayan community. Discover all the flavors of the Yucatan Peninsula and take advantage of the know-how of your hosts to learn how to prepare typical dishes of the region during a cooking class. In the afternoon, let’s continue with the visit to a cenote located near the site of Chichen Itza. The famous Ik Kil cenote, one of the most impressive in the Yucatan Peninsula, is an open cenote.

Between noon and 2 p.m., daylight falls there as if by magic, illuminating a stone platform located in the center of the waterhole.

Time to rest and relax with the possibility of swimming in the cenote. Your guide will teach you about the ritual role of the cenotes for the Mayan peoples. Transfer to Cancun Dinner of your choice or at the hotel restaurant.

Day 15: Cancun - transfer from hotel to airport

In the morning, meet your private driver in the hotel lobby. Transfer to Cancun airport. Assistance in unloading and transporting luggage.

Departure to your country of origin. End of services.

*For a Stay of 20 days

Day 14: Chichen Itza - cenote - culinary experience among the Mayans. Same program.

Dinner on your own and free night in Valladolid.

Day 15: Valladolid / Chiquila / Holbox

Day 16 - 18: Holbox

Day 19: Holbox / Cancún - beaches - shopping tour

Day 20: Cancún - hotel / airport transfer