Celestun – Ek Balam – Cenotes – Valladolid – Ria Lagartos – Las coloradas – Chichen-Itza – Izamal – Merida – Uxmal – Haciendas
The Best of Yucatan + Ria Lagartos...
This is one of our recommended tours. We will visit the Ria Celestun and Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserves, Las Coloradas, the archaeological sites of Ek-Balam, Chichen-Itza and Uxmal, the cenotes Xcanahaltun, Ik-Kil, Kankirixche, Homun and Cuzama, the Pueblos Magicos of Izamal and Valladolid , and the beautiful "white city", Mérida.
ITINERARY
Day 1: RIa Celestun – Real de Salinas – Celestun Beach
9:00 a. m.: We leave the city of Mérida for the Ria Celestun Biosphere Reserve, a multicolored paradise just 95 km away, west of the state capital. Upon arriving at the fishing community of Celestun, we will board a boat to take a tour of the estuary. The Ria Celestun Reserve, with an area of 60,000 ha, is the favorite place for thousands of flamingos to feed and rest. Flamingos are white or greyish at birth, the pink color is provided by the carotenoids present in the mixture of their diet. We will also be able to observe other species of birds, such as cormorants, herons, frigates and storks. Get your camera ready!
Inside the mangrove, we will visit an area with dead trees, known as the "petrified forest", and a fresh water spring where we can swim and refresh. Mangroves are vital to the coastal zone; they protect from hurricanes, provide shelter for migratory birds and are growth areas for hundreds of mollusks, crustaceans and fish.
We continue to the town of Real de Salinas in Campeche, where in addition to the ruins of the old salt-producing hacienda, we will find evaporation ponds or "pools", as in Las Coloradas. The pink color of the water is due to the high concentration of halobacteria and microalgae that live in high salinity waters.
We return to Celestún beach, in Yucatán, to eat and enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Nigth in Merida.
Inside the mangrove, we will visit an area with dead trees, known as the "petrified forest", and a fresh water spring where we can swim and refresh. Mangroves are vital to the coastal zone; they protect from hurricanes, provide shelter for migratory birds and are growth areas for hundreds of mollusks, crustaceans and fish.
We continue to the town of Real de Salinas in Campeche, where in addition to the ruins of the old salt-producing hacienda, we will find evaporation ponds or "pools", as in Las Coloradas. The pink color of the water is due to the high concentration of halobacteria and microalgae that live in high salinity waters.
We return to Celestún beach, in Yucatán, to eat and enjoy a beautiful sunset.
Nigth in Merida.
DAY 2: Ek Balam – Xcanahaltun Cenote – Valladolid
7:00 a. m. Breakfast at the hotel.
8:00 a. m.: We leave the city of Merida towards the amazing archaeological site of Ek-Balam, which means in the Mayan language “black or dark jaguar”. Of the 45 constructions of this walled city, the most important discovered so far is the Acropolis (30 m high), built by King Ukit Kan Lek Tok "the father of the four flint fronts", who was buried in that very place.
1:00 p. m.: We continue our journey to the Xcanahaltun cenote, where we will float calmly in its turquoise waters, while contemplating the formations inside the cavern. In the Yucatan peninsula, rainwater seeps into the ground and forms underground rivers that erode the limestone rock, giving origin to the caves of the cenotes. A wonder of nature!
In the afternoon we will go to the city of Valladolid, founded on the ruins of the Mayan city of Zací, which means “white hawk”. Time to try the typical food of the region; the "lomitos" are a true delight. After eating, we will walk through the main square and visit the church of San Servacio and the convent of San Bernardino de Siena.
Night in Valladolid
8:00 a. m.: We leave the city of Merida towards the amazing archaeological site of Ek-Balam, which means in the Mayan language “black or dark jaguar”. Of the 45 constructions of this walled city, the most important discovered so far is the Acropolis (30 m high), built by King Ukit Kan Lek Tok "the father of the four flint fronts", who was buried in that very place.
1:00 p. m.: We continue our journey to the Xcanahaltun cenote, where we will float calmly in its turquoise waters, while contemplating the formations inside the cavern. In the Yucatan peninsula, rainwater seeps into the ground and forms underground rivers that erode the limestone rock, giving origin to the caves of the cenotes. A wonder of nature!
In the afternoon we will go to the city of Valladolid, founded on the ruins of the Mayan city of Zací, which means “white hawk”. Time to try the typical food of the region; the "lomitos" are a true delight. After eating, we will walk through the main square and visit the church of San Servacio and the convent of San Bernardino de Siena.
Night in Valladolid
DAY 3: Ria Lagartos – Las Coloradas – Valladolid
7:00 a. m.: Breakfast at the hotel.
8:00 a. m.: We leave Valladolid heading to the Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve and make a brief stop in the city of Tizimin, in Mayan "place of the tapir", recognized for its traditional fair in honor of the Three Kings. We resume the journey to reach the fishing community village of Rio Lagartos, where we will board a boat to take a tour of the estuary. The Ría Lagartos Reserve, with an area of 60,000 ha, is the favorite place for thousands of flamingos that nest (they lay only one egg a year) and take care of their young. Flamingos are White or grayish at birth, the pink color is provided by the carotenoids present in the mixture of their diet. We will also have the opportunity to see other species of birds and with some luck, some amphibians and reptiles too. Get your camera ready!
We continue to the town of Las Coloradas, where we will visit among dunes and mangroves, the "lagoons" or evaporation ponds of the Salinera de Yucatan, whose colors will make you think of landscapes out of a fantastic dream. The pinkish tones of the water are due to the high concentration of halobacteria and microalgae that live in high salinity waters. The higher the temperature and the salt concentration, the more intense the pink color will be. Time to eat and enjoy a walk on the beach.
In the afternoon-night we will return to Valladolid.
Night in Valladolid
8:00 a. m.: We leave Valladolid heading to the Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve and make a brief stop in the city of Tizimin, in Mayan "place of the tapir", recognized for its traditional fair in honor of the Three Kings. We resume the journey to reach the fishing community village of Rio Lagartos, where we will board a boat to take a tour of the estuary. The Ría Lagartos Reserve, with an area of 60,000 ha, is the favorite place for thousands of flamingos that nest (they lay only one egg a year) and take care of their young. Flamingos are White or grayish at birth, the pink color is provided by the carotenoids present in the mixture of their diet. We will also have the opportunity to see other species of birds and with some luck, some amphibians and reptiles too. Get your camera ready!
We continue to the town of Las Coloradas, where we will visit among dunes and mangroves, the "lagoons" or evaporation ponds of the Salinera de Yucatan, whose colors will make you think of landscapes out of a fantastic dream. The pinkish tones of the water are due to the high concentration of halobacteria and microalgae that live in high salinity waters. The higher the temperature and the salt concentration, the more intense the pink color will be. Time to eat and enjoy a walk on the beach.
In the afternoon-night we will return to Valladolid.
Night in Valladolid
DAY 4: Chichen-Itza – Ik-kil Cenote – Izamal
6:30 a. m.: Breakfast at the hotel.
7:30 a. m.: We start our journey very early to head towards the Archaeological Zone of Chichen-Itza, in the Mayan language "on the edge of the well of the Itzaes." A World Heritage Site by UNESCO and since 2007 a wonder of the world, Chichen-Itza was founded by the Itzaes in the 9th century AD, but invaded by the Toltecs at the end of the 10th century. Perhaps this strong cultural influence is the reason behind the constant representations of Kukulkan; the feathered serpent.
At noon we will visit the Ik-Kil cenote, in Mayan "the place of the winds." Ik-Kil is an open-air cenote 60 meters in diameter, surrounded by the abundant vegetation of the area. To reach the water level, you have to go down a ladder 26 meters from the surface. If you like diving, this is the place! Time to swim, eat and rest.
We continue to the beautiful colonial city of Izamal, which has been declared a Pueblo Magico "magical town" and where everything is colored in yellow. We will visit the Convent of San Antonio de Padua, founded in 1549 by the Franciscans and we will walk through the squares and streets of the center to reach the pyramid of Kinich Kak Mó "fire macaw with a solar face" in Mayan, one of the largest in Mexico. At night we will go back to Merida.
Night in Merida
7:30 a. m.: We start our journey very early to head towards the Archaeological Zone of Chichen-Itza, in the Mayan language "on the edge of the well of the Itzaes." A World Heritage Site by UNESCO and since 2007 a wonder of the world, Chichen-Itza was founded by the Itzaes in the 9th century AD, but invaded by the Toltecs at the end of the 10th century. Perhaps this strong cultural influence is the reason behind the constant representations of Kukulkan; the feathered serpent.
At noon we will visit the Ik-Kil cenote, in Mayan "the place of the winds." Ik-Kil is an open-air cenote 60 meters in diameter, surrounded by the abundant vegetation of the area. To reach the water level, you have to go down a ladder 26 meters from the surface. If you like diving, this is the place! Time to swim, eat and rest.
We continue to the beautiful colonial city of Izamal, which has been declared a Pueblo Magico "magical town" and where everything is colored in yellow. We will visit the Convent of San Antonio de Padua, founded in 1549 by the Franciscans and we will walk through the squares and streets of the center to reach the pyramid of Kinich Kak Mó "fire macaw with a solar face" in Mayan, one of the largest in Mexico. At night we will go back to Merida.
Night in Merida
DAY 5: Cuzama Cenotes - Homun Cenotes - Free afternoon in Merida
7:00 a. m. Breakfast at the hotel.
8:00 a. m.: We start our journey to go to the town of Cuzama, within the Ring of Cenotes, where we will board a “truck” (cart pulled by a horse), which will take us along the roads that were used to transport henequen in the haciendas. We will visit three cenotes; Chan-Ucil "little mosquito", Chak-Zinik-Ché "house of the red ant" and Bolon Chojol "nine mouse holes", where we can swim, dive and devote ourselves to the contemplation of these wonders of nature. The word cenote (ts’ono’ot), means in Mayan “cavity with water”.
We continue to the town of Homun, with more than 300 cenotes registered so far. There we will repeat the relaxation therapy in three more cenotes; Balmil, Hool-Kozom and Bebelchen, all of them, of the closed type. The caves of the cenotes are formed slowly by the dissolution of the limestone rock soils (karstification) and the fall of their walls and roofs.
The Ring of Cenotes, a State Geohydrological Reserve since 2013, is aligned with the shape of the crater of a meteorite that fell 65 million years ago, near Chicxulub, Yucatan. The Cuzama and Homun cenotes are located within it. In the afternoon we will return to the city of Merida.
Night in Merida
8:00 a. m.: We start our journey to go to the town of Cuzama, within the Ring of Cenotes, where we will board a “truck” (cart pulled by a horse), which will take us along the roads that were used to transport henequen in the haciendas. We will visit three cenotes; Chan-Ucil "little mosquito", Chak-Zinik-Ché "house of the red ant" and Bolon Chojol "nine mouse holes", where we can swim, dive and devote ourselves to the contemplation of these wonders of nature. The word cenote (ts’ono’ot), means in Mayan “cavity with water”.
We continue to the town of Homun, with more than 300 cenotes registered so far. There we will repeat the relaxation therapy in three more cenotes; Balmil, Hool-Kozom and Bebelchen, all of them, of the closed type. The caves of the cenotes are formed slowly by the dissolution of the limestone rock soils (karstification) and the fall of their walls and roofs.
The Ring of Cenotes, a State Geohydrological Reserve since 2013, is aligned with the shape of the crater of a meteorite that fell 65 million years ago, near Chicxulub, Yucatan. The Cuzama and Homun cenotes are located within it. In the afternoon we will return to the city of Merida.
Night in Merida
DAY 6: Uxmal – Kankirixche Cenote – Yaxcopoil Hacienda
7:00 a. m.: Breakfast at the hotel.
8:00 a. m.: We leave the city of Merida bound for the Uxmal Archaeological Zone, which in Mayan means "three times built." Uxmal, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is considered the most important city in the Puuc region, where constructions are decorated with masks of Chac "God of the rain". We will visit the Pyramid of the Magician, the Quadrangle of the Nuns and the Governor's Palace.
To refresh ourselves after visiting Uxmal, nothing better than to immerse ourselves in the crystal clear and calm waters of one of the 7,000 cenotes that are estimated to exist in the Yucatan peninsula, the Kankirixche cenote in Abala, where we can also admire stalactites, stalagmites and columns. that have taken a long time to form. The cenotes are wells of water called ts'onot "water cavern" by the Mayans.
Finally, after relaxing, we will go to Yaxcopoil, where we will take a tour of its facilities and will get to know a very important part of the recent past of Yucatan, inscribed in the henequen haciendas. The henequen or sisal, was for many decades the engine of the peninsular economy. Time to eat. At night we will return to Merida.
END OF OUR SERVICES
8:00 a. m.: We leave the city of Merida bound for the Uxmal Archaeological Zone, which in Mayan means "three times built." Uxmal, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is considered the most important city in the Puuc region, where constructions are decorated with masks of Chac "God of the rain". We will visit the Pyramid of the Magician, the Quadrangle of the Nuns and the Governor's Palace.
To refresh ourselves after visiting Uxmal, nothing better than to immerse ourselves in the crystal clear and calm waters of one of the 7,000 cenotes that are estimated to exist in the Yucatan peninsula, the Kankirixche cenote in Abala, where we can also admire stalactites, stalagmites and columns. that have taken a long time to form. The cenotes are wells of water called ts'onot "water cavern" by the Mayans.
Finally, after relaxing, we will go to Yaxcopoil, where we will take a tour of its facilities and will get to know a very important part of the recent past of Yucatan, inscribed in the henequen haciendas. The henequen or sisal, was for many decades the engine of the peninsular economy. Time to eat. At night we will return to Merida.
END OF OUR SERVICES
Our tours can start and / or end, at the Mérida and Cancun international airports or at the hotel where you are staying. Please request a personalized itinerary.
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