MAYA OF THE CARIBBEAN COAST
4 days of excurions from your hotel anywhere in the Cancun or Maya Riviera area
Explore Mayan archeological sites at Tulum, Coba, Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, Muyil, the Island of Cozumel, the Si'an Kan Biosphere and other wonders of the Maya Riviera while spending your free time relaxing on spectacular pristine beaches and swimming in the blue, translucent waters of the Caribbean.
This tour can be customized to suit your individual interests. For more about the many exciting activities in the Maya Riviera that can be included in your tour, please see our Custom tour page.
| Home Custom Vacation Packages Off season Vacation Packages Family Vacation Packages Year Round Tours Day tours from Cancun/ Maya Riviera & Shore excursions from Cozumel & Calica Special Tours Educational Tours What Our Clients Say About Us Our Guides & Staff Site Descriptions About Us Map of the Maya World Reading List Contact Us |
Day 1: Your driver and guide will pick you up at your hotel at 8 am. Today you visit spectacular Tulum. This site, perched atop cliffs overlooking the blue Caribbean, is the most visited of the ancient Mayan archeological sites. Graceful and elegant Mayan temples and art adorn this place blessed with incredible natural beauty. Turquoise waters lap onto pristine white sand while enigmatic iguanas accept tokens of fruit from curious tourists. Every angle is a photographer´s dream come true. After your guided tour take time to visit the beach below, so beautiful it is almost surreal. It´s easy to imagine the ancient Maya landing here with their canoes filled with trade goods. Take a swim, or for shoppers there is a market where you can browse local Mayan art and textiles. After seeing Tulum´s natural beauty you´ll know why it is treasured throughout the world. After lunch you´ll continue on to Coba for an afternoon guided tour of these extensive ruins. You may explore the ruins by foot, bicycle or human-powered tricycle. Coba is situated in a lush natural setting filled with many specifies of animals, birds and butterflies and is a real nature lover´s delight. It is also home to the tallest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan. From its top you can see above the jungle canopy for miles in each direction. We´ll return you to your hotel at the end of the day. Day 2: This morning you catch the ferry to Cozumel Island, a favorite of underwater explorer Jacques Costeau. Cozumel translates to ¨Land of the Swallows¨ possibly in reference to the Mayan goddess Ixchel, who is often depicted with swallows at her feet. You'll then travel into the jungle to San Gervasio , the Classic period site dedicated to Ixchel. With its lush jungle, San Gervasio is the perfect place to get a feel for the island ruins of the ancient Maya along the Caribbean. You´ll take a lunch break at a beachside restaurant on the beautiful and secluded east side of the island. Before ferrying back, you can stop in San Miguel de Cozumel for sightseeing and shopping at the famous stores offering art, jewelry and clothes. Or, snorkel at Chan Kanab reef if you wish. You´ll get back to your hotel in the late afternoon with free time for dinner and relaxation. Day 3: Your day starts out early with a visit to the exquisite ruins of Ek Balam. This is one of the latest finds, only recently opened to the public and not yet discovered by tour buses. In terms of art and architecture, not enough can be said when comparing and contrasting this unique site with other Mayan ruins seen in the area. Ek Balam has amazingly well preserved art. Noteworthy attractions include the mouth of the Witz Monster (entry to the underworld) and full figure sculptures. With its well-preserved, majestic palace and grounds, Ek Balam seems untouched by time. This is a site sure to change your fundamental concepts of the ancient Maya. Then you stop for lunch in the lovely colonial city of Valladolid. This is a Maya city with an important history and we´ll take time out to shop in the plaza, where authentic Mayan goods are sold. After lunch you'll continue on to the most majestic of Mayan ruins -- Chichen Itza. This is, without a doubt, the most famous Maya archeological site. With its careful preservation, powerful frescoes, shocking sacrificial imagery and grand pyramid, Chichen Itza is sure to impress you. Both the Old City and its newer structures attest to its tremendous political influence in the Terminal Classic and Post Classic Maya world. Late afternoon we'll return you to your hotel for another fun Caribbean evening. Day 4: Today you visit the fascinating ruins of Muyil, bordering the Sian Ka´an Biosphere. This protected zone inhabits over 70 miles of Caribbean coast and jungle. It is home to over 350 types of birds, as well as pumas, jaguars, ocelots, 3 different species of monkey and turtle, and other tropical wildlife. It is at Muyil that we encounter some of the oldest Maya archeological sites in Mexico. This site was dedicated to the Mayan moon goddess and has a very different feel. The most prominent building in Muyil is its pyramid and atop it you get a great view of the surrounding jungle and nearby lagoon. Then you journey by boat through the lush canals of the biosphere's lagoon to see the Mayan ruins located on its banks and experience the beauty of its incredibly diverse wildlife. If you wish you may get out of the boat and float gently through the crystal clear waters. After a lunch stop in the village of Tulum you'll make a visit to the small but elegent ruins at Xel-Ha. In the afternoon we return you to your hotel for a relaxed late afternoon and evening enjoying the beautiful Maya Riviera. |
        |
Tour Specifics:
Hotel cost is not included in the price as this will depend on the type of accommodations you desire. We will assist you with making your hotel reservations if you wish.
The cost of this 4 day tour depends on the number of participants. If you would like to be grouped up with other people (no more than 8 per group), please let us know and we´ll let you know what dates we currently have for groups. For groups of 9 or more people, please contact us for further discounted prices.
Cost per person for a private tour:
2 people $1,200 per person
4 people $850 per person
6 people $700 per person
8 people $600 per person
This includes:
- All transportation (in air-conditioned vehicle driven by a licensed chauffeur) including pick up and drop off at your coastal hotel.
- All day services of professional tour guide.
- Bicycle or human powered tricycle rental at Coba.
- Tourist train at Tulum.
- Ferry to and from Cozumel Island.
- Private boat trip in lagoon at Muyil (Sian Ka'an Biosphere).
- All other entry and guide fees for activities listed on the itinerary (with the exception of snorkel equipment rental and entry to Chan Kanab Park on Cozumel).
For more information or reservations, please phone MayaSites Travel Services at our U.S. office toll free 877-620-8715 (outside of the U.S. call 505-255-2279), or e-mail us at mayasites@yahoo.com.
Prices for Thanksgiving week, Dec. 18-Jan. 6 and Easter week may be slightly higher depending on availability.
All photographs and text Copyright 2000-2006 by MayaSites Travel Services. All rights reserved.