- Ages 6+
- Cooking, Culture
- 5-6 hours
Discover a produce market not many tourists visit, pick up some Spanish lingo, learn how to cook regional delicacies, and eat dishes made with your own hands.
Quick Details
Splash into the Cenotes and enjoy a homemade meal in a Maya village from Merida
Visit remote cenotes deep within the jungle and only accessible by motorbike. Learn about the geology and local legends of Yucatán’s underground caves. Dive in for a swim or snorkel in subterranean watering holes. Peek into the modern-day life of a Maya town and visit a traditional “drugstore” that continues to practice ancient medicinal remedies.
Travel like a local on public transportation from downtown Merida out to a traditional village and taste the local life with a family who is going to use their traditional cooking skills to prepare our delicious meal
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, public transportation, snorkel mask, moto-taxi ride, and entrance fees to three different cenotes.
Exclusions: Meals, drinks, items of a personal nature, souvenirs, tips for the guides.
Schedule details
- Duration: 7 hours
- Meeting point: Parque de Mejorada (In front of Hotel la Piazzetta)
- Starting time: 8:30 a.m.
- Ending point: Ki’Xocolatl
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Your Merida tour takes you out of the city centre (via local public transit) and to a nearby Maya village, where sustainable tourism feeds back into the local economy. You’ll meet with locals and see some of the region’s most precious natural treasures.
First up, hop on a four-person motorbike and take off into the jungle, toward the first of three different cenotes (underground caves) only accessible on two wheels. You’ll learn about the geology of these gorgeous subterranean worlds, and hear the stories and mysteries that surround them as you descend narrow staircases and through hollow passageways deep underground. You’ll escape the heat and swim and snorkel in the fresh waters of these eerie caverns, where a world of mystery awaits just beneath the surface.
Next, your Merida tour will lead you through a nearby village to give you a taste of local life — and a few ancient practices. You’ll visit a traditional “drugstore,” where ancient Maya medicinal remedies are prepared. All of the medicines are derived from natural plants and prepared with knowledge that has been preserved and passed down by families living in this corner of the Yucatán. You may even hear a short prayer and blessing in the Mayan language, thanking the guardians of this sacred place for allowing us to visit.
From here, you’ll begin your journey back to Merida — but, if you’re feeling adventurous, you’re free to stay longer on your own to explore more cenotes in the afternoon and make your own way back to Merida.
Additional information
Dress standard: Comfortable clothing and walking shoes are recommended. The air conditioning in public transportation can be very cold, so bring a jacket. You’ll need a swimsuit and towel for this tour so you can participate in swimming and snorkelling activities in the cenotes. During the rainy season (May to September) we recommend bringing a raincoat or umbrella. Leave your valuables such as passports and credit cards in the hotel and bring a small amount of spending cash for snacks, drinks, and souvenirs. Keep large cameras discreetly stored in a backpack.
Your trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We’ll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Additional information: We provide basic snorkelling equipment (snorkel and mask) for this tour. All of the equipment is sanitized after every use, however, if you prefer to bring your own equipment, please feel free to do so.
Closure of sites: Some of the places visited along the route are local houses and businesses which have irregular opening hours. Our route and stops may vary to accommodate this in efforts to ensure a unique and genuine experience.
Child policy: Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children below the age of 6 are not permitted on this tour.
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Mrs. Heather D. from USA travelled on 28 May 2018:
Gus was wonderful and attentive. He made us feel very comfortable and had a passion and pride for his work. He obviously loves his job and showcasing the community.
Ms. Lynn I. from Mexico travelled on 30 Mar 2018:
What a great adventure!! 3 cenotes…all different in size, setting, temperature and character, what a wonderful introduction to the underground world of the Yucatan.
Alejo was the perfect guide and his excellent English was very much appreciated. His love and knowledge of cenotes and the land of the Yucatan, as well as his connection with and respect for the Maya people made the day truly memorable. He shared so much information on the geology of the region, the lifecycle of cenotes, Maya culture and modern Mexican culture that I was truly impressed with his breadth of knowledge. I wish I’d had time to do the tour again.
Ms. Pilar C. from Australia travelled on 02 Feb 2017:
Our tour guide Gustavo was friendly and gaves a lot of information about the local community and lifestyle. 🙂 The cenotes was great it was a cold day and raining but the water from the cenotes was super warm <3