☼  Highlights for Mayan Passage

★ Enjoy a special walking tour of Isla Mujeres toward sunset
★ Have lunch next to a famous cenote
★ Experience guided tours of several key Mayan cities, including Uxmal, Chichen Itza, and Tulum.
★ Delight in a special visit to the famous Cenote Suytun at just the right time of day.
★ Witness the beautiful pink flamingoes at Celestun Biosphere.
★ Climb to the top of the pyramid at Coba.
★ Take an optional excursion to the sprawling Ek Balam archaeological site.

  What’s Included for Mayan Passage 

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   ACCOMMODATION       8 nights of accommodation at highly rated, centrally located hotels.  All hotel taxes, porterage fees, and housekeeping tips are included.

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   TRANSPORTATION       Private airport transfer upon arrival, ferry rides between islands.  Private coach or minibus journeys between land destinations.  Transfer back to Cancun airport at end of tour.

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   MEALS      11 meals:  8 breakfasts, 2 dinners, 1 lunch

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   EXCURSIONS AND ENTRANCE FEES       Extended visits to Coba Archaeological Site, Uzamal, Cenote Suytun, and Cenote Xkeken, all fees included.  Guided tours of Celestun Biosphere, Chichen Itza, Uxmal, and Tulum, all fees included.  

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   TOUR LEADER       A Blue Onyx Tour Leader to handle all logistical aspects of the group, offer valuable information, and guide your group from start to finish.

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   Itinerary for Mayan Passage (9 days)

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DAY 1:  ARRIVAL IN CANCUN
Arrive at Cancun International Airport where a Blue Onyx Travel representative will meet you and direct you to your private transportation to the Cancun ferry port en route to your hotel on Isla Mujeres.  At 7 p.m., the whole group will meet in the hotel lobby for a brief orientation and then proceed to a welcome dinner.

  MEAL:  Dinner           ACCOMMODATION:   Hotel La Joya Isla Mujeres (2 nights)

DAY 2:   WALKING TOUR OF ISLA MUJERES, EXCURSION TO PUNTA SUR
You’ll have the entire morning and much of the afternoon to delve into the local culture of Isla Mujeres.  Peruse the quaint shops, walk around the pristine beaches, or even swim with dolphins.  In the late afternoon, a Local Expert will lead you on a brief walking tour, including entry to Garrafon Park, with stops at Temple Ixchel and Punta Sur at sunset.

  MEAL:  Breakfast     

DAY 3:   SIGHTSEEING IN IZAMAL, FREE TIME IN MERIDA
In the morning, you’ll journey to Izamal, the famous Yellow City of Mexico for some leisure time.  In the afternoon, your group will arrive in lovely and historic Merida.  

  MEAL:  Breakfast           ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel Boutique La Casona by Kavia (2 nights)

DAY 4:   EXCURSION TO CELESTUN BIOSPHERE, GUIDED TOUR OF UXMAL
In the morning, the group will take in the magnificent flora and fauna at the Celestun Biosphere, including a look at the famous pink flamingoes.  Later, your travels will afford you a fully guided tour of Uxmal, a glorious Mayan complex of the Classic period.  

  MEAL:  Breakfast

DAY 5:  LUNCH AT CENOTE, OPTIONAL EXCURSION TO EK BALAM
Upon arrival in colorful Valladolid, the group will have lunch next to a famous cenote.  Later, you can choose between a tour of the Mayan archaeological site Ek Balam or free time in Valladolid.

  MEAL:  Breakfast, Lunch            ACCOMMODATION:  Hotel Colonial Zaci by GuruHotel or Casa Hipil Valladolid (2 nights)

OPTIONAL EXCURSION:  Guided tour of Ek Balam ($28)

DAY 6:   VISIT TO CENOTE SUYTUN, TOUR OF CHICHEN ITZA
In the early part of the day, we will arrange for you to visit the famous Cenote Suytun when the sun is shining through the hole in the top.  Later, you’ll enjoy a fully guided tour of Chichen Itza, a phenomenal Mayan complex from the Late Classic period and one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

  MEALS:  Breakfast

DAY 7:   VISIT TO CENOTE XKEKEN, STOP AT COBA, GUIDED TOUR OF TULUM, ARRIVAL IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN
After hotel checkout, the group will stop at the spectacular Cenote Xkeken (also known as Cenote Dzitnup).  Later, you’ll enjoy a semi-guided visit to Coba Archaeological Site, with its climbable Nohoch Mul pyramid.  Later, a Local Expert will lead your group on an in-depth tour of Tulum, one of the last Mayan cities to fall in the wake of the Spanish invasion.  Finally, you’ll arrive in Playa Del Carmen for the night.

  MEAL:  Breakfast             ACCOMMODATION:    Hotel Mariachi by Kavia (2 nights)

DAY 8:  FREE DAY IN PLAYA DEL CARMEN
This might be a good day to do a little shopping or relax on the beach.  Or, we can help arrange a variety of actitivies for you, such as a swim in a local underground cenote, or a visit to an eco-archaeological park, or a ferry ride to Cozumel island.  Around 7 p.m., a tasty farewell dinner awaits you.

  MEAL:  Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 9:   DEPARTURE
In the morning, after hotel checkout, we will convey you to Cancun International Airport for your departing flight.  Hasta luego!

  MEALS:  Breakfast

 
   Optional Excursions for Mayan Passage

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DAY 5: 

Optional Excursion #1:  Guided tour of Ek Balam

For interested parties, we will provide you with round-trip transportation to Ek Balam, along with entry fee, and a fully guided tour from a Local Expert (Price: $28 per person).

DAY 7:  

Optional Excursion #4:  Wine Tasting Lunch in an authentic vineyard

For those so inclined, a lovely wine tasting luncheon awaits on the far side of Ischia at a sleepy local vineyard.  On the way back there will be a couple of sightseeing stops (Price $39 per person)

*Please note that optional excursions are reserved and paid for on the first day of the tour

 
   Dates & Prices for Mayan Passage

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Dec. 28, 2022, Jan. 5th, 2023 (Wed – Thurs)                       $1,329                         Book Now

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   What to Expect for Mayan Passage

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  The Weather

The weather on this tour should generally be warm and sunny, with occasional clouds and rain.  The average amount of daily sunlight is 8 hours in December and January across the entire region.

We advise our guests to bring sunscreen and an umbrella with them on this tour.

  Bugs and Pests

Bugs tend not to be prevalent in the Yucatan peninsula in the months of December and January.

  Physical Activity of Tour

On a scale of 1 to 10, the level of physical activity of this tour is 7, which is high.   If you plan to undertake the optional excursion, the level of physical activity is 8.

  Potential Issues

We urge our guests to use common sense on our tours.  Be wary of strangers offering you something or trying to sell you something.  Keep guard of your important belongings, such as purse, wallet, keys, and cell phone.

Pickpocketing is a potential problem in Cancun and other areas of Mexico.  A common scam that occurs is where one person will walk up to you, pretending to ask directions, while his or her partner in crime will slip past you from another direction entirely, casually taking your wallet or cell phone.  Be aware of your belongings at all times.

We also urge our guests to use extra caution while crossing the street.  Walk defensively and look in every direction before crossing. Don’t walk distracted.

  What to Bring

We urge our guests to pack light.  As previously stated under our Terms and Conditions, all of our guests are allowed one carry-on measuring 45 linear inches (22 x 14 x 9) and a personal item, such as a laptop bag or purse.  We strongly recommend bringing travel size toiletries.

  Journeys Between Destinations

Some of the journeys on this particular tour will be medium-distance.  About four hours is the most we will travel on any given day en route to the next stop and most journeys will be of a significantly shorter duration.  We will have basic refreshments and snacks available on the bus for purchase. 

  Your Hotels

We always book hotels that are centrally located, highly rated, and close to major attractions.   The service level of this tour is Standard, which means that the hotels are upscale, in the 3 and 4 star range, and usually include a full breakfast.  For this particular tour, all of the hotels will be at the 4 star level.   

  Your Restaurants

We strive to treat our guests to lunches and dinners at restaurants with interesting settings and this tour is no exception to that concept.  The lunch at Valladolid, as previously mentioned, will take place next to a cenote.

  
  
  Currency Exchange and Credit Card Usage

The Tour Leader will be able to tell you where to exchange currency and there will usually be a place to do so within walking distance of your hotel.  Most major banks will be able to exchange any currency that you have brought with you, for a small fee.

In most countries (Mexico included), the best exchange rate can often be obtained by simply withdrawing money from a standard bank ATM using your debit card (not to be confused with your credit card).

   The Tour Leader

All of our Tour Leaders must undergo a rigorous training course designed to help them handle not only the ups and downs of a tour group situation, but also the disparate personalities that they might encounter.  All of our Tour Leaders are thoroughly background checked and must adhere to a strict code of conduct at all times.  You can rest assured that we are placing you with a Tour Leader who has your best interests at heart.

★★★★★
“For us, Mayan Passage was a good mix of active days and free time.  It was good to have the last day to relax and decompress.”

-Janie, Chicago, IL

★★★★★
“Having a special time slot at the cenote for our group was really terrific.  This tour got all the details just right.  We loved the sights, the hotels, and the meals.”

-Stephanie, Jersey City, NJ

★★★★★
All of the sights were amazing but climbing to the top of Coba was my favorite moment from this tour.  A close second would be Celestun or Chichen Itza.  In fact there were a lot of memorable sights and I’m still processing it all.  The whole tour was a blast.

-James, Baton Rouge, LA