10 To 12 Day Journeys

Do you dream of discovering the Yucatan peninsula and its magnificent maritime coasts? Here it is a 10-day stay that will take you to the heavenly coasts of Quintana Roo to discover the east coast of Yucatan. From Cancun to Tulum, you will discover the natural treasures of the Riviera Maya and its archaeological sites.

But the adventure will not stop there, and will go well beyond these legendary seaside resorts to let you explore the north coast of the Yucatan peninsula, its nature reserves and its breathtaking landscapes.

From the East Coast to the North Coast, the Yucatan is waiting for you!

Day 1 : Cancun Airport / Playa del Carmen

In the afternoon, arrival at Cancun airport. Once you pass the controls, your private driver will be waiting for you. Thanks to your private chauffeur service, a comfortable SUV type tourist vehicle will be available to you for the duration of your stay on the Riviera Maya. You’ll get assistance with luggage transport and car transfer to Playa del Carmen, which is a must-see seaside resort on the Yucatan Peninsula. Upon arrival in Playa del Carmen, check-in at your hotel. Dinner on your own or at the hotel restaurant if you have chosen the all-inclusive holiday package.

In the evening, free time to enjoy downtown Playa del Carmen and its famous Quinta Avenida.

If you are looking for advice on how to discover Playa del Carmen, do not hesitate to consult our article on the subject, click here.

Day 2 : Playa del Carmen - Akumal and Cenote Tour

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. It is a succession of 5 small bays with shallow and crystalline waters. The name Akumal means in Mayan "the place of the turtles" as many sea turtles choose these beaches as a nesting place every year. In addition, seagrass located not far from the beaches attracts turtles which feed on them. It is therefore common to see them in this area. Accompanied by a specialized guide, you will be equipped with life jackets and snorkeling equipment to watch sea turtles in their natural environment.

For your information: this very framed and supervised practice involves group outings of a maximum of 6 people (guide included). You’ll need to respect the regulatory distance from any marine animal you encounter and it’s completely forbidden to touch them or to use sunscreen.

Your tour continues with the discovery of a cenote, unique geological formations in the world that form a network of underground rivers and natural open-air freshwater pools. A fruit and dried fruit snack will be offered. During this time of rest, you can dive into 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 which had ritual functions. In the early afternoon, return to the hotel. Lunch on your own or at the hotel restaurant. Free time in Playa del Carmen.

Suggestions:
An afternoon at the beach? Ultimate guide to the beaches in Cancun and the Riviera Maya: learn about the state of the beaches, infrastructure, beach clubs… we tell you everything!

A family show? Find all the most beautiful shows to discover on the Riviera Maya, in our article on the subject, click here.

Day 3 : Playa del Carmen - Sea Safari and Cozumel Tour

Playa del Carmen is the ideal starting point for a day trip to the island of Cozumel located just opposite.

In the morning, head to the pier in Playa del Carmen for a ferry crossing to Cozumel. Once you arrive at the island, you will be transferred to a motor boat, heading 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 the one in Australia.

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

During this day trip to Cozumel, 2 to 3 snorkeling trips will be offered along the reef. The exact number of dives will depend on weather conditions.

Lunch included in your day of visit.

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

Discover our article on the paradise-like beaches of Cozumel here!

For your information: it is not allowed to reach the beach on foot. On the other hand, the waters around it are shallow. So you can walk nearby and watch the seabed in absolutely crystal clear waters.

Return to Playa del Carmen by ferry.

Dinner on your own or at the hotel.

Day 4 : Tulum - visit to the ruins of Tulum - beach club hotel zone

In the morning, a guided tour of the archaeological site of Tulum.

The city of Tulum used to be a powerful port city in the past. This ancient fortified town is one of the best preserved of the entire Mayan civilization. Perched on a cliff facing the Caribbean Sea, it was an obligatory point of passage for trade coming from the sea.

Its most impressive building called El Castillo was also used as a lighthouse for ships wishing to dock. Thanks to an ingenious light system, it guided the ships through the channel avoiding the reef's pitfalls.

The road towards the hotel zone of Tulum is located at the edge of the Caribbean Sea and driving it is pure bliss. Tulum is one of the most fashionable seaside cities of the Riviera Maya. Its tourist facilities built in accordance with the seaside landscape and its bohemian stores give the place a hippie chic character very pleasant to spend a relaxing moment. Lunch in one of the beach clubs in a quiet and idyllic setting. The afternoon will be devoted to lazing around and admiring the Caribbean Sea and to the beach activities offered by the club. On the program, relaxation on the deckchairs, snorkeling (loan of the equipment), paddle board, etc... Everything, accompanied by a relaxing and chill out atmosphere and music thanks to the talents of the DJ's who will play the whole afternoon for your greatest pleasure. Dinner on your own or at the hotel.

Day 5: Tulum - Sian Ka'an - Bird watching tour - Muyil ruins

In the morning, an early wake up for a departure from the hotel at 5:30 am. Drive to the Sian Ka'an Reserve.

The Sian Ka'an Reserve is one of the largest reservoirs of biodiversity in the Yucatan Peninsula. For the ancient Mayan people, this reserve was a sacred place considered "the place where the sky was born". Classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, it is home to a unique ecosystem. Sian Ka'an is the ideal place to indulge in ecotourism activities such as wildlife observation.

Once arrived at the heart of the reserve, transfer to the pier to cross the lagoons by lancha, a flat-bottomed boat. Along the way, in the company of a guide specialized in the wildlife of the region, get ready for the observation of birds and lake wildlife (crocodiles, manatees, dolphins...).

Lunch included in your tour. In the afternoon, the discovery of the archaeological area of Muyil located near the Sian Ka'an Reserve. This ancient Mayan site, inhabited between 300 BC and 1500 AD, is home to the remains of various temples and Mayan objects. At the end of the day, return to Tulum. Dinner on your own and evening free.

Day 6: Tulum / Jungle tour - cenote and ruins of Coba / Valladolid

In the morning, departure in the direction of the depths of the Mexican jungle. Alongside your local guide, you will search for spider monkeys in their natural habitat. Your guide is an expert on the flora and fauna of the region and will answer all your questions.

Continue with a stop near a freshwater lagoon to relax and refresh yourself.

Next, we will visit the city of Coba, the mysterious Mayan town buried in the heart of the jungle in Quintana Roo. Ancient commercial city of the Riviera Maya, Coba was a place of great importance for the Maya civilization. Built between 50 and 100 AD, it became one of the most powerful city-states of the Yucatan Peninsula.

If you feel like it, you can climb the pyramid of Nohoch Mul. With its 42 meters high and 120 steps, it is also the highest pyramid of the Yucatan Peninsula. At the top, enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the jungle.

After a light snack, stop in a cenote where you can swim in the fresh and crystalline waters and observe the impressive rock formations sculpted over the centuries. You will also have time to fully absorb the sacred atmosphere of this mystical place.

Lunch with local flavors in a Mexican restaurant.

Transfer to Valladolid. Upon arrival, check-in at the hotel.

In the afternoon, guided discovery of the heart of the city. We will visit the main buildings of this old colonial town with its rich historical past. During the visit, discovery of the central square and its emblematic monuments, the cathedral, the calzada de los frailes, the former convent of San Bernardino.

Dinner on your own or at the hotel.

In the evening, free time to enjoy the end of the day strolling through the colorful streets of this charming pueblo mágico also known as the Pearl of the Orient.

Day 7: Valladolid - Chichen Itza cenote tour and culinary experience - sound and light show

In the morning, your private driver will be waiting for you in the lobby of your hotel. Drive to the site of Chichen Itza, Yucatan. The archaeological site of Chichen Itza is one of the major sites of the region. Emblem of the Yucatan region, it has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1988 and was classified as a Wonder of the Modern World in 2007. Witness of the cohabitation of the Mayas and Toltecs, Chichen Itza offers a unique architectural synthesis. It is a must for visitors who want to know about the Mayan civilization.

Arrival at 8:00 am at the archaeological site. Visit the city-state of Chichen Itza with a 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 Game (the largest in all Mesoamerica).

Lunch special culinary experience among the Mayans. For lunch, we propose to participate in a culinary experience organized by a Mayan community. Discover all the flavors of the Yucatan Peninsula and take advantage of your hosts' know-how to learn how to prepare typical dishes of the region during a cooking class. In the afternoon, continue the exploration with a visit to a cenote located near the site of Chichen Itza. The famous cenote Ik Kil, one of the most impressive in the Yucatan Peninsula, is an open cenote. Between noon and 2 pm, the daylight falls as if by magic, illuminating a stone platform located in the center of the water hole. Time to rest and relax with the possibility of swimming in the cenote. Your guide will teach you more about the ritual role of the cenotes for the Mayan people.

Transfer to Valladolid.

Dinner on your own or at the hotel.

In the evening, we will meet on the lawns of the former San Bernardino convent to attend a sound and light show retracing the history of Valladolid "Heroic City". Duration: about 20 minutes. Projection in Spanish followed by a second version in English.

Day 8: Valladolid / Las Coloradas / Río Lagartos / Cancún

In the morning, departing to the north of the Yucatan Peninsula to discover one of the most beautiful natural reserves in the entire region. The nature reserve of Ria Lagartos is the ideal place to observe the wildlife. The name Ria/Río means "mouth" and is where fresh and saltwater meet. A multitude of endemic and migratory birds come every year to nest in this reserve with rich and fishy waters.

It is a protected and privileged place to observe the thousands of pink flamingos that choose the Rio Lagartos reserve as their nesting place every year.

The bird watching tour is best done early in the morning.

When to go. The best time to watch the flamingos is from mid-May onwards, when they migrate from the Reserve of Celestun, located near Merida, to the Reserve of Rio Lagartos.

Lunch included in your day of visit

In the afternoon, discovery of a small fishing village. Las Coloradas is one of the most emblematic attractions on the northern coast of Yucatan because of its salt marshes. Due to a bacterium naturally present in the water, the marshes are tinged with pastel pink and orange colors. Visit the marshes alongside a site guide who will explain how salt is harvested. Beautiful Instagram photos guaranteed! Transfer to Cancun.

Dinner on your own or at the hotel.

Day 9: Cancun - hotel zone tour / Nichupté lagoon - taco tour / shopping

In the morning, we suggest you discover Cancun in a different way. Cycle through the hotel area of the city to enjoy the pleasures of this modern part of Cancun at your own pace.

Located between the Caribbean Sea and the Nichupté lagoon, this 23 km long strip of land is easily accessible by bicycle. This ecological and practical means of transportation will also allow you to stop and enjoy the beaches in Cancun to your liking.

You will also have the possibility of reserving a boat tour on the lagoon of Nichupté to discover the fauna and the lacustrine flora which surround Cancun. Lunch on your own in the hotel area or return to the hotel for a restaurant lunch.

Suggestion: a taco tour will be organized in different taquerias of Cancun. In the company of local food connoisseurs, you will be taken from restaurant to restaurant to discover all the flavors that make up the wide range of Mexican tacos.

This introduction to Mexican gastronomy can be done in place of lunch. In the afternoon, free time to enjoy the beaches of Cancun or a shopping tour with a local guide who will take you to the best stores and craft markets in Cancun. Dinner on your own or at the hotel.

Day 10: Cancun - hotel - airport transfer

In the morning, meet with your private driver in the hotel lobby. Transfer to Cancun airport. Help with the unloading and transportation of luggage. Departure by plane to your country of origin. End of the services. *If you stay 12 days and 14 nights there are two options for additional days:

option n°1

• Day 10: Cancún - Isla Mujeres catamaran tour or Isla Contoy
• Day 11: Puerto Morelos + cenotes road
• Day 12: Cancun - airport

option n°2

• Day 8: Drive to Holbox at the end of the day
• Day 9: Holbox
• Day 10: Holbox - drive to Cancun
• Day 11: Cancun - Same program
• Day 12: Cancun - airport.