Ek Balam – Xcanahaltun Cenote – Valladolid – Ria Lagartos – Las coloradas – Chichen-Itza – Ik-kil Cenote – Izamal
Ek-Balam and Lagartos...
This is one of our short tours. We will visit the archaeological sites of Ek-Balam; in the Mayan language “black jaguar” and Chichen-Itza; Wonder of the World, we will swim in the turquoise waters of the Xcanahaltun and Ik-Kil cenotes and we will walk through the streets of the beautiful cities of Izamal and Valladolid.
ITINERARY
DAY 1: Ek Balam – Xcanahaltun Cenote – Valladolid
7:00 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.
12:00 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
12:00 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 2: 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.
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.
Night in Valladolid.
DAY 3: 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.
END OF OUR SERVICES
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.
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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