Mexico Holidays

Two sets of other-worldly Mayan ruins are the focus on this history-packed day out. First up is the forest-surrounded relics of Coba where you’ll find Quinta Roo’s tallest pyramid, Nohoch Mul, and a whole host of hidden ruins that are a joy to discover. Those with a head for heights can climb to the top of the pyramid and take in the incredible views from the top. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant before you travel south to Tulum, one of Mexico’s most iconic ruins; the combo of a clifftop setting and Caribbean backdrop have made the site something of a cover star. Between the 13th and 15th Centuries, this Mayan settlement was a hub of international trade and a religious centre.

• Daily departures from Playa del Carmen
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
Museums are closed on Mondays.

Quintana Roo’s natural landscapes are the focus on this full-day adventure. You’ll travel south to the breathtaking UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka’an where tropical jungles meet wetlands, mangrove forests, lakes, lagoons and hidden cenotes. There are also picture-perfect tropical beaches and vibrant coral reefs just offshore. You’ll take a boat through the region’s coastal environments, passing through lagoons, mangrove forests and out to the vibrant coral reef. If the weather allows, you’ll have the chance to explore the Mesoamerican Reef, the world’s second largest barrier reef. A homemade lunch will be served on the beach and then there’ll be a bit of time to relax before returning to your hotel.

• Daily departures from Playa del Carmen
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Good to know
Wear comfortable shoes and shoes and pack swimming gear and a towel. Please use biodegradable sun cream and insect repellent, use a reusable bottle for water and take some cash for tips and souvenirs.

The ruins at Chichen Itza are arguably Mexico’s most iconic pre-Columbian relics and have been designated a New Wonder of the World. Over a thousand years ago, it was one of the largest Mayan cities that was reportedly home to a diverse community – a factor that’s likely to have led to the varying architectural styles within the site. In the company of an attentive English-speaking guide, you’ll explore ruins such as the Great Ball Court, the observatory El Caracol, and the 12-metre-high Temple of the Warriors with its hundreds of columns and stunning bas-reliefs that depict eagles, jaguars and warriors. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant and there’ll even be a chance to take a dip in a cenote – a natural sinkhole permanently filled with crystal clear water, and symbol of this corner of Mexico.

• Daily departures from Playa del Carmen
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Good to know
Wear comfortable shoes and shoes and pack swimming gear and a towel if you wish to swim in the cenote. Please use biodegradable sun cream and insect repellent, use a reusable bottle for water and take some cash for tips and souvenirs.

A duo of Yucatan coast islands awaits on this full-day adventure from the Riviera Maya. Board a boat and hope over to bijou Isla Contoy, a haven for sea turtles and over 150 species of tropical birds. You can wander along the talcum-white beaches or swim or snorkel in the clear-as-glass sea (weather permitting). A laid-back lunch will be served on the shore before you transfer over to Isla Mujeres, another picture-perfect barrier island where you can swim, snorkel or browse the local shops and stalls which sell a host of Yucatan-made handicrafts. Throughout the day, you’ll be accompanied by an English-speaking guide.

• Daily departures from Playa del Carmen
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Good to know
The island and nature reserve fee of US$ 20 is not included (amount subject to change) and will need to be paid on the spot on arrival. Please use biodegradable sun cream and insect repellent, use a reusable bottle for water and take some cash for tips and souvenirs. The consumption of alcohol is not recommended before or during this tour.

This marine adventure begins at sunrise when you are picked up at your hotel on Isla Mujeres and transferred to the boat that will whisk you up to Isla Holbox. The warm waters off the coast of this off-the-beaten-track island are home to Earth’s largest fish species, the whale shark, which can grow up to 14 metres in length. You’ll be on the lookout for these sedately swimming creatures as they feed on the abundant plankton and krill in the warm waters off the Yucatan coast and even have the chance to swim amid the giants if you so choose. You’ll then sail to a local beach for a ceviche lunch before returning to Isla Mujeres and your resort.

• Daily departures from Isla Mujeres
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
All equipment for swimming/snorkelling with whale sharks, including life jackets, is provided. Please use biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent and take your own swim wear.

The wonderful colours of nature are on display during this full-day adventure to the northern reaches of the Yucatan peninsula. The first stop are the mangrove-lined waterways of the Ria Lagartos UNESCO Biosphere Reserve where you’ll take a wildlife-spotting boat ride. Keep an eye out for Morelet’s crocodiles, horseshoe crabs and vibrant flamingos paddling in the shallows. Later in the day, head to Las Colorades, a world of beautiful pink and orange lagoons that are used to harvest salt. The pans get their colour from the high concentration of algae and brine shrimp – the same organisms that give the flamingos their famous pink-hued feathers. There’ll be the chance to take an exfoliating and skin-enriching dip in one of the shallow salt pools before heading to a local village and one of the beautiful local beaches.

• Daily departures from Isla Holbox
• Operates year-round
• Group experience

Good to know
Includes ferry and taxi service to Holbox hotel where this ezpernce Please use biodegradable sun cream and insect repellent. A US$ 5 tax for entry into the Rio Lagartos Reserve is payable as you board the transportation.

Isla Holbox is famed for the myriad avian species that call this wonderfully rustic island – and its surrounding shallows – home. Hop on a boat and take a trip to the appropriately named Bird Island (Isla Pajaros), an islet off Holbox’s south coast. Try to spot ducks, pelicans, frigate birds and flamingos (April to October) as you cruise along the edge of the mangroves. Other non-feathered creatures that you may spot include iguanas and snakes, while plant species such as orchids are in abundance. You’ll have the chance to swim in the clear waters of Yalabau, a pool that’s fed by cooling spring water that was once believed to have age-defying properties. The final stop of the day is Passion Island, a castaway spot with swaying palms, hammocks, sun-kissed sands and a tower from which to spot more bird species from.

• Daily departures from Isla Holbox
• Operates year-round
• Group experience