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Dates
TBD 2020
Price
To be determined when a trip date is set
Length
8 nights, 9 days
Activity Level
Moderate
Hosts
Walkstars founders Dawn & Patrick Moore
Welcome to this exciting tour that includes healthy walking every day!
Welcome to this exciting tour that includes healthy walking every day!
This is Walkstars second adventure in Mexico with One Percent Travel. Experience the Mysteries of the Mayan at pedestrian speed where you can notice the small details, take pictures and create memories with friends old and new. There is nothing better than to sit down at the end of the day in a locally owned eatery, order a cerveza and share your day’s experiences with friends. Salut!
Our last tour included participants that ranged from 18 – 70!
Join Walkstars founders Dawn & Patrick Moore
Our tour provider is One Percent Travel: Rare and Unique Experiences specializing in unique, small-group experiences. The marvelous owner Alberto Morales has created a carefully planned, rich itinerary and will personally guide us. He will include many out-of-the-way spots that big groups just don’t get to. Alberto’s deep love of the area and his thorough knowledge will help us appreciate the history of the ancient Mayan civilization, modern Yucatan, natural and city environments, and of course the local cuisine.
Mysteries of the mayan highlights
Mysteries of the mayan highlights
Situated between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula is a diverse landscape that includes mangrove forests and the stunning coastline of the Riviera Maya. It has pre-Colonial and Colonial history and a rich contemporary culture. We’ll admire the temples and palaces left by the enigmatic Maya civilization. The experience will be colourful, whether it is the blue ocean, the green of the jungle, brilliant birds, or breathtaking experiences like a dip in a limestone sinkhole and meeting the local people of this wonderful part of the world.
We’ll see beautiful exotic-birds, lush vegetation and breath taking landscapes in protected biosphere reserves
We will plunge into refreshing cenotes
In the cities we’ll admire the Spanish colonial heritage and the clash between two cultures.
On the culinary side, we’ll enjoy the delicious gastronomy of the Yucatan, pibil pork and chicken - the signature plate of the region, horchata, hot chocolate - the beverage of the Maya lords and Xtabentun - the liquor with bee honey.
To "close with a gold pin", the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Ocean will greet us after walking the Yucatan on this Walkstars Mysteries of the Mayan Tour.
Local crafts people
Beautiful local hotels
Happy Group
Authentic Mayan Customs
Your experience includes
Your experience includes
A carefully planned, rich itinerary that includes unique experiences
small-group travel
Bilingual tour guide licensed by SECTUR (Mexican tourism bureau)
Healthy walking each day
Hosting by Walkstars founders Dawn and Patrick Moore to ensure extra care before and during your adventure
9 Days and 8 Nights accommodation at 4 stars and Petite Boutique hotels **
8 breakfasts and 6 lunches at local eateries
complimentary non-alcohol beverages at included meals
Welcome dinner in Cancun. Restaurante La Parrilla, or similar
Farewell Fiesta dinner in Playa del Carmen
Modern, clean, air conditioned vehicle for all our private transfers
Professional driver
Insurance (Travellers should arrange their own medical and cancellation insurance)
Souvenir Water bottle to refill
Souvenir T-shirt
Unlimited purified water refills
Onboard snacks
Entrance fees to all the proposed activities
Boat ride for wildlife observation at Rio Lagartos
Traditional buggy ride in Merida
*One common, group transfer when arriving and departing on the first and last day of the tour
“Know Before You Go” information including, reading lists, packing list, what to bring, security information, weather and and lots more
pre-departure social in Vancouver
Merida Market
Ek Balam
Spider Monkeys
Warm Caribbean
ITINERARY
ITINERARY
DAY 01 Welcome
DAY 01 Welcome
Arrival at Cancun International Airport and transfer* to your accommodation in downtown Cancun
Welcome dinner, briefing and general information session
Overnight 1 of 1 nights Cancun, Hotel El Rey del Caribe www.elreydelcaribe.con/en
Meals included Welcome Dinner
Cancun We will stay in the heart of downtown Cancun for an authentic start away from the tourist zone. An overnight before an early start on Day 2. Welcome & Information Session
DAY 2 Punta Laguna and Valladolid
DAY 2 Punta Laguna and Valladolid
Early departure to Punta Laguna Biosphere Reserve, nature observation featuring exotic birds, lush vegetation, wild monkeys and more
Walk through sacred, unexcavated Maya ruins
For the adventurous, bring your snorkeling gear and climb down to a watery grave of the post-classic period
Biosphere Reserve A secluded lake and forest that supports a variety of monkey, birds, un-excavated ruins and a cenote.
Overnight 1 of 2 nights Valladolid, Casa Quetzal, www.casa-quetzal.com
Meals included breakfast, lunch
Colonial Town with an intimate flavour
DAY 3 Ek Balam, Rio Lgartos
DAY 3 Ek Balam, Rio Lgartos
After breakfast we’ll depart to Ek Balam where we will ascend the pyramid to gaze with awe on the façade of the mortuary chamber of Ukit Can Lek’toc, the ruler when the Maya reached their heyday
After the visit we’ll continue our journey towards Rio Lagartos, where we’ll board a boat for a guided bird watching tour through the estuary, a Maya mud bath and rinsing at the beach
After lunch we’ll stroll around this tranquil fishermen’s village and visit the beautiful cemetery. Return to Casa Quetzal in Valladolid for lodging
Maya Ruin Ek Balam or "Black Jaguar" is one of the "newest" rediscovered Mayan complexes
Biosphere Reserve Rio Lagartos - excellent bird watching in this magnificent reserve
Overnight 2 of 2 nights in Valladolid
Meals included breakfast, lunch
DAY 4 Chichen Itza, Yokdzonot & Merida
DAY 4 Chichen Itza, Yokdzonot & Merida
Today we’ll visit one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza, the capital of the Maya in the northern Yucatan
After the impressive central square, we’ll visit the Observatory, the Nunnerie complex, the Akab Dzib - the palace of the dark writings - and many other structures often overlooked by most commercial tours
To cool off we’ll head to the ecological wonder, Yokdzonot Cenote, a jewel of community effort, built stone by stone by Maya women, where lunch will be offered
Maya Ruin One of the "new" Seven Wonders of the World - enough said!
Eco Tourism A swim in this cenote is a magical experience. Small fish dart all around you, birds are swooping overhead and dragonflies flutter above the water’s surface.
Overnight 1 of 3 nights in Merida, Hotel Casa del Balam. https://www.casadelbalam.com
Meals included breakfast, lunch
Colonial Town The stately mansions in the peninsula's capital are impressive
DAY 5 City Tour & Leisure
DAY 5 City Tour & Leisure
Morning city tour in Merida to admire the murals at the Yucatan state Government Palace by Fernando Castro Pacheco, the main square, post office and the market - quite a cultural and possibly gastronomical experience!
Afternoon and evening at leisure. Optional excursion to the beach in Progresso (additional fee)
Market This is a fun colourful market where the local people shop and eat.
Overnight 2 of 3 nights in Merida
Meals included breakfast
DAY 6 Uxmal & Chocolate
DAY 6 Uxmal & Chocolate
Today we’ll visit the archaeological site at Uxmal, where we’ll walk through and admire a different architectural style of the Maya, the “Puuc”
Afterwards, we’ll visit the Chocolate Museum, where we’ll learn about the origin, rituals, traditions and uses of cocoa
In the evening, we’ll enjoy a romantic horse buggy ride along the Montejo Causeway
Maya Ruins Set in the hilly Puuc region, this site contains fascinating structures
Overnight 3 of 3 nights in Merida
Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Colonial Town A charming town with signature paint colour. It is the "City of Three Cultures, combining pre-Hispanic, colonial, and contemporay influences.
DAY 7 Ixamal, Coba & Cenote
DAY 7 Ixamal, Coba & Cenote
Enroute to the coast we’ll visit the magical city, Izamal “Yellow Town” for lunch
In the afternoon we’ll visit the archaeological site in Coba, where we’ll enjoy a walk through the lush vegetation in the jungle to find temples, palaces, monuments and diverse fauna
Ascend Nohoch Mul Pyramid, or admire it from below
Afterwards we’ll swim at a refreshing cenote
Maya Ruins A sprawling site in a jungle setting. For the brave of heart, climb the 42m of steps of Nohoch Mul!
Overnight 1 of 2 nights in Playa del Carmen (hotel to be confirmed)
Meals included breakfast, lunch
Beach, shopping and nightlife A fun town to end the voyage
DAY 8 City Walk Playa del Carmen, leisure
DAY 8 City Walk Playa del Carmen, leisure
Today we’ll start with a City Walk in Playa del Carmen
The rest of the day is at leisure to enjoy and relax at the beach, take the ferry to Cozumel, or to shop on the colourful Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue)
Optional tour of Tulum is available (additional fee)
In the evening we’ll celebrate our adventure together with a Farewell Dinner. Lodging Playa del Carmen
Overnight 2 or 2 nights at Playa del Carmen
Meals included breakfast, dinner
DAY 9 Buen Viaje
DAY 9 Buen Viaje
Buen Viaje!
Airport transfer to Cancun International Airport*
If you want to arrange an extension to your holiday, One Percent Travel can help you
Meals included breakfast
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Amazing trip
Carlynn
6 STARS - A+
Thank you for organizing this wonderful trip!
The itinerary was well planned, quite varied and Alberto was extremely knowledgeable and engaging.
It was great to get to know everybody better and traveling together was a lot of fun.
We both had a very good time and look forward to other adventures.
Doina & Peter
"I had so much fun! I enjoyed everything we did and learned so much. I am ready to embark on another journey with this group.
Marilyn
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Contact your hosts at walkstarsinfo@gmail.com
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