Top 10 Best Cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula The Yucatan Peninsula is well known for being the home of dozens of cenotes. Due to their geographical location and geological formation, cenotes are natural sinkholes resulting from the collapse of limestone rocks, filled with either sea or fresh water. They can be found all across the region for the greatest pleasure of tourists and locals. Whether they are open or underground cenotes, the Best Maya Tours team selected for you the Top 10 Best Cenotes to visit during your stay in the Quintana Roo and the Yucatan States ! Cenotes near Tulum Apart from the gorgeous beaches, an archeological site, and crazy parties and festivals, Tulum and its surroundings are particularly popular for hosting various cenotes, either open, partially open or underground ones. GRAN CENOTE This cenote might be the best-known one around Tulum. Even if its name let you think it is only one big cenote, it is in reality several cenotes, some of them going running under a cave, connected along the jungle. The Gran Cenote is very popular for snorkeling in its crystal blue waters where you can see the underwater life without even needing a snorkel equipment. After swimming in the cenote, you can rest inside the complex. Although you will not find restaurants, food stalls are available and picnics are allowed. Location : 3 miles/ 10 minutes car ride from Tulum Admission fee : 500 pesos / 25 USD (includes lifejackets and snorkel equipment) Lockers available CENOTE CASA TORTUGA If you decide to visit the Casa Tortuga cenotes, you will undoubtedly be marveled by the complex. It hosts a total of four cenotes, two of them being opened and the two others being underground cenotes. Casa Tortuga is the occasion to discover and enjoy
Top 10 Best Cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula
The Yucatan Peninsula is well known for being the home of dozens of cenotes. Due to their geographical location and geological formation, cenotes are natural sinkholes resulting from the collapse of limestone rocks, filled with either sea or fresh water. They can be found all across the region for the greatest pleasure of tourists and locals. Whether they are open or underground cenotes, the Best Maya Tours team selected for you the Top 10 Best Cenotes to visit during your stay in the Quintana Roo and the Yucatan States !
Turtles season in the Yucatan Peninsula, Where to see them The Yucatan Peninsula and the Riviera Maya are particularly known to be the home to thousands of fauna and flora species. From dolphins to reef corals, from birds to crocodiles, the region is a wonder for any person willing to observe nature and wilderness. Among all of these species, the sea turtles always attract countless of tourists wanting to discover them in their natural habitat. Through this article, you will get to know everything you need to be able to see the sea turtles in the region, where to find them and when. What kind of turtles Only seven species of sea turtles inhabit the coasts of Mexico. You can already find four of these species along the Quintana Roo’ coastlines. They are easy to differentiate as they have very distinctive characteristics. The leatherback turtles : their shell is usually very dark, almost black and have a similar look to leather. The loggerhead turtles : they look more brownish than black The hawksbill turtles: they usually have big black dots on their shell The white turtles : as their name says, they are all white ! The best spots The Mexican Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico have a lot of good spots to watch the turtles and even to swim among them. AKUMAL The most renowned is the municipality of Akumal, located on the coastline between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. This is the best place to snorkel and watch the turtles as the bay is protected by the reef, hence preventing the waves from turmoil the water. The turtles there are very used to human activity and are not afraid to wander among them, allowing the tourists to witness them evolving in their natural home, while still respecting
Turtles season in the Yucatan Peninsula : When and where to see them
Turtles season in the Yucatan Peninsula, Where to see them
The Yucatan Peninsula and the Riviera Maya are particularly known to be the home to thousands of fauna and flora species. From dolphins to reef corals, from birds to crocodiles, the region is a wonder for any person willing to observe nature and wilderness. Among all of these species, the sea turtles always attract countless of tourists wanting to discover them in their natural habitat. Through this article, you will get to know everything you need to be able to see the sea turtles in the region, where to find them and when.
Why be with Best Maya Tours to enjoy Ek Balam private tour If you desire to be at the most compact and interesting Mayan site and explore impressive pre-Columbian architecture, you cannot miss being at Ek Balam. It is in the midst of an arid jungle in the Mexican state of Yucatan. If you are with us at Best Maya Tours, you can expect to have the best exploration of this Mayan site and a visit to the Rio Lagartos Biosphere and the Pink Lakes. Many tour operators organize tours to Ek Balam; however, our Ek Balam private tour is the one preferred by many vacationers. There are obvious reasons for such, and we would like to highlight those here. Enjoy at your own pace We organize the tours in such a fashion that you never feel any crunch of time. You can enjoy and explore taking your own time. To make it possible to have maximum time at Ek Balam, we begin our trip early at around 8.00 AM. We make our return trip at about 5.00 PM, so you have enough time to spend in Ek Balam. Comfortable and safe transportation We desire that our guests have total energy when they reach Ek Balam. Keeping this in mind, we arrange transportation in an air-conditioned and comfortable van. Therefore, you will not feel exhausted traveling from your hotel to Ek Balam. Furthermore, as our vans are spacious and comfortable, even if you are traveling with a group, you will not feel suffocated while traveling. Guidance of professional guide If you do not have a professional guide with you, it is impossible to explore Ek Balam. Our guides are local and knowledgeable about Mayan culture, so they can explain to you the importance of the archaeological sites you visit. Their explanation will
Why be with Best Maya Tours to enjoy Ek Balam private tour
If you desire to be at the most compact and interesting Mayan site and explore impressive pre-Columbian architecture, you cannot miss being at Ek Balam.
It is in the midst of an arid jungle in the Mexican state of Yucatan. If you are with us at Best Maya Tours, you can expect to have the best exploration of this Mayan site and a visit to the Rio Lagartos Biosphere and the Pink Lakes.
Many tour operators organize tours to Ek Balam; however, our Ek Balam private touris the one preferred by many vacationers. There are obvious reasons for such, and we would like to highlight those here.
Enjoy at your own pace
We organize the tours in such a fashion that you never feel any crunch of time. You can enjoy and explore taking your own time. To make it possible to have maximum time at Ek Balam, we begin our trip early at around 8.00 AM. We make our return trip at about 5.00 PM, so you have enough time to spend in Ek Balam.
Comfortable and safe transportation
We desire that our guests have total energy when they reach Ek Balam. Keeping this in mind, we arrange transportation in an air-conditioned and comfortable van. Therefore, you will not feel exhausted traveling from your hotel to Ek Balam. Furthermore, as our vans are spacious and comfortable, even if you are traveling with a group, you will not feel suffocated while traveling.
Why be with Best Maya Tours to enjoy Ek Balam private tour
Guidance of professional guide
If you do not have a professional guide with you, it is impossible to explore Ek Balam. Our guides are local and knowledgeable about Mayan culture, so they can explain to you the importance of the archaeological sites you visit. Their explanation will take you back to the classic historical period of the Mayans.
Explore nature and history in one tour
Our Ek Balam private tour lets you explore nature and history in one trip. Our tour will also take you to the Rio Lagartos Biosphere and the Pink Lakes. At Rio Lagartos Biosphere, we will arrange a boat and make it possible to watch various species of birds like herons, fishing eagles, and the famous flamingos. Not only that, but you may also have close encounters with some inhabitants of the mangrove, such as crocodiles or raccoons.
Our tour does not end here. We will take you to the Pink Lakes. The lake’s color is due to the abundance of seaweed, plankton, and shrimps. Our guide will explain how the Mayans used the lake. We will also make it possible to have a Mayan mud bath and wash at a private beach.
Ideal tour for food lovers
We think exploring a place or civilization is incomplete without tasting its cuisines. Keeping this in mind, we arrange to enjoy a great seafood meal at the Rio Lagartos restaurant. You also do not have to bother about snacks and water when you are with us.
We would love to arrange Ek Balam private tour for you. So, when you intend to have a vacation in Ek Balam, give us a call.
Solstices and especially equinoxes have a very special place in the Mayan religion and culture. As the Mayans relied a lot on the sun in their cosmology and beliefs, each solstice and equinox celebrate a special time or renewal during the year. Learn more about this in the following article ! What is a solstice and an equinox ? Solstice The word “solstice” derives from the Latin words “sol” : Sun, and “sistere” : to stand still. Solstice happens twice during the year, when the sun reaches its highest point during the solstice summer, or its lowest point during the winter solstice. Due to the sun’s position twice during the year, the Northern Hemisphere will know the winter solstice on December 21st or 22nd, marking the beginning of the winter while the summer solstice, introducing summer, will occur on June 20th or 21st. However, the situation is the exact opposite for the Southern Hemisphere as seasons are reversed. Equinox The word “equinox” derives from the Latin words “aequus” : equal, and “nox” : night. Equinoxes also happen twice a year, but unlike the solstice, they mark two times of the year during which daytime and nighttime are equals. This phenomenon, happening twice a year, is the result of the sun’s position above the equator. Thus, the Northern Hemisphere will know the autumn equinox between the 21st and 23rd of September while the spring equinox occurs generally on March 20th or 21st. just like the solstices, as the seasons are reversed, the Southern Hemisphere will know its spring equinox in September and the autumn equinox in March. The sun and the sky in the mayan religion and hierarchy The Mayans attached a huge importance to the sun for their daily life and religious beliefs. Indeed, they believed
Solstices and especially equinoxes have a very special place in the Mayan religion and culture. As the Mayans relied a lot on the sun in their cosmology and beliefs, each solstice and equinox celebrate a special time or renewal during the year. Learn more about this in the following article !
Best Private Sian Ka'an Biosphere Tours Not To Miss Are you looking for a private Sian Ka'an Biosphere tour? Visiting Mexico is on many people’s bucket lists, and one of the main reasons why people want to come to Mexico besides its food and the tequila is because of its beaches, abundant nature, including extraordinary places like the Sian Ka’an Biosphere. Located on the eastern shore of the Yucatan Peninsula, 20 minutes away from Tulum, Quintana Roo, Sian Ka’an is a gorgeous Biosphere Reserve. It’s one of Mexico’s largest protected areas, containing mangroves and marshes, tropical forests, as well as a barrier reef, and plenty of marine life. In the ancient Mayan language Sian Ka’an means ‘Origin of the Sky’, and you will understand why once you are there. Sian Ka’an Biosphere Overview Sian Ka’an is home to 9 different ecosystems, and a wealth of flora and fauna, including around 100 mammals, 320 bird species, 47 species of dragonflies, 90 species of native bees, 318 species of butterflies, 5 neotropical felines, 84 species of coral, and 310 species of mosquitoes. It’s also home to many archaeological sites like Muyil, and 120 kilometers of the Mesoamerican reef are included in it. This provides the area with a double heritage UNESCO designation. Popular as a tourist destination, Sian Ka’an is a part of Maya Ka’an. And Maya Ka’an is a rich region that offers unique experiences in natural environments combined with cultural and historical elements of the Mayan communities of today. But, what is a Biosphere Reserve? A biosphere reserve is a portion of the biosphere where sustainable development is promoted to build a balanced, working relationship between nature and humans. It is one large ecosystem that hosts a complex community of living and non-living things functioning as a single unit. Private
Best Private Sian Ka’an Biosphere Tours Not To Miss
Are you looking for a private Sian Ka’an Biosphere tour? Visiting Mexico is on many people’s bucket lists, and one of the main reasons why people want to come to Mexico besides its food and the tequila is because of its beaches, abundant nature, including extraordinary places like the Sian Ka’an Biosphere.
Located on the eastern shore of the Yucatan Peninsula, 20 minutes away from Tulum, Quintana Roo, Sian Ka’an is a gorgeous Biosphere Reserve. It’s one of Mexico’s largest protected areas, containing mangroves and marshes, tropical forests, as well as a barrier reef, and plenty of marine life. In the ancient Mayan language Sian Ka’an means ‘Origin of the Sky’, and you will understand why once you are there.
Sian Ka’an Biosphere Overview
Sian Ka’an is home to 9 different ecosystems, and a wealth of flora and fauna, including around 100 mammals, 320 bird species, 47 species of dragonflies, 90 species of native bees, 318 species of butterflies, 5 neotropical felines, 84 species of coral, and 310 species of mosquitoes.
It’s also home to many archaeological sites like Muyil, and 120 kilometers of the Mesoamerican reef are included in it. This provides the area with a double heritage UNESCO designation.
Popular as a tourist destination, Sian Ka’an is a part of Maya Ka’an. And Maya Ka’an is a rich region that offers unique experiences in natural environments combined with cultural and historical elements of the Mayan communities of today.
But, what is a Biosphere Reserve?
A biosphere reserve is a portion of the biosphere where sustainable development is promoted to build a balanced, working relationship between nature and humans. It is one large ecosystem that hosts a complex community of living and non-living things functioning as a single unit.
Private Sian Ka’an Biosphere Tour
This full day Sian Ka’an adventure is perfect if you want to go on a private Sian Ka’an excursion with your friends or family. You will be taken into the heart of the Biosphere Reserve and get to explore the Mayan ruins of Muyil, meet the local wildlife, and learn about the history and culture of the Mayan people.
Not only the private Sian Ka’an Biosphere tour, but there are also many other tours that visit the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve from Tulum, Cancun, and Riviera Maya. So, be sure to choose the one that is trustworthy and offers a good service.
Sian Ka’an Bird Watching Tour
In this tour, you will walk through the jungle with a knowledgeable Mayan guide that will point out the birds you encounter along the way. You will learn about the species that live in Sian Ka’an and the history and culture of the Mayans.
Kayaking Tour in Sian Ka’an
If you are looking for active Sian Ka’an excursions, the kayaking and snorkeling experience might be for you. In this tour, you will explore the mangrove mazes and open cenotes – the best combination to get to see the dynamic marine life of the reserve from all its angles. In this excursion tour, you will also learn educational details about the reserve and the wildlife.
Discover the natural beauty of Sian Ka’an with our private Sian Ka’an Biosphere tour! Besides these tours, we can also avail several other tailor-made tours and tour combinations upon availability. Visit us today!
Everything you need to know about Chichen Itza If you are about to visit the Yucatan peninsula, there is no doubt that you will stop a few hours at Chichen Itza, this splendid archeological site built by the Mayans and designated one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. Chichen Itza, with the pyramid of Kukulkan, is a place filled with history and traditions, with myths and culture representing the Maya civilization. And if you have never heard about this place until now, this blogpost will certainly convince you to visit and discover this mysterious and must-see landmark of Yucatan ! History Chichen Itza, meaning “at the mouth of the well of the Itza”, was founded by the Maya people around 550 AD after conquering the city and its surroundings, even though the debate is still active concerning the founding date of the site. It developed during the Classical Period (600-900 AD) by building its powerful, commercial and religious influence and became, by the tenth century, the capital of the northern coast of the Yucatan peninsula and the main religious center of the region, spreading its power to the western and eastern coasts of the peninsula. The Mayans introduced the cult of Kukulkan, the Mayan representation of the Quetzalcoatl, one the main gods of the Toltec pantheon and built the main pyramid of the site to honor him. The city lost its influence and power by the middle of the thirteenth century, even though some pilgrimages were still done to the Sacred Cenote close to Chichen Itza. Finally, after the arrival of the Spaniards in Mexico during the sixteenth century, the site was officially abandoned until the nineteenth century when explorers rediscovered the sites and sacred artefacts in the cenote. The site then became a major place of
Everything you need to know about Chichen Itza
Everything you need to know about Chichen Itza
If you are about to visit the Yucatan peninsula, there is no doubt that you will stop a few hours at Chichen Itza, this splendid archeological site built by the Mayans and designated one of the Seven New Wonders of the World. Chichen Itza, with the pyramid of Kukulkan, is a place filled with history and traditions, with myths and culture representing the Maya civilization.
And if you have never heard about this place until now, this blogpost will certainly convince you to visit and discover this mysterious and must-see landmark of Yucatan !
The famous ruins of Chichen Itza are a UNESCO World Heritage site and were designated as one of the ‘New 7 Wonders of the World’ in 2001. This archeological site is one of the most visited places in Mexico and is a true landmark when visiting the Yucatan.
Filled with thousands of years of history, this archeological site, Chichen Itza is mainly known for having been the home of the most diverse Mayan population in Mexico. The temple of Kukulcan, nicknamed “El Castillo” is surrounded by a marvelous mix of historical facts and mystery. It is supposed to be located on an underground cenote where the Mayans took part in many sacrifice rituals. El Castillo sees over two millions of visitors each year. Although you are no longer able to climb the 91 historical steps of the pyramid, you cannot miss visiting this ancient marvel. You will also have the time to enjoy the Mayan village on the site to discover Mayan crafts and souvenirs.
Dive into the heart of the Mayan civilization with our full-day private guided tour
Our private Chichen Itza full-day tour is an excellent way to see the incredible sights that this ancient wonder has to offer. You will be traveling back in the past with the discovery of the complex with a private expert guide before the crowds arrive. You will have the occasion to experience a private tour, go at your own pace, take a break at any moment and our certified guide will be completely dedicated to answer all your queries and reveal all of the greatness and history behind the Mayan civilization during this walkthrough of some of the city’s most remarkable ruins.
Enjoy and relax in the crystal waters of cenotes
After the visit, our guide will take you into Chichen Itza’s ancient architecture may be the central focus of the tour, but it is not the only thing you will get to experience. After your visit to Chichen Itza, our guide will take you into the depths of the Mayan underworld with the visit of one of the many cenotes surrounding Chichen Itza where you will be able to swim, relax and finish the day with the visit of a traditional Mayan village.
With flexible schedules and itineraries, our guides available will give you the most authentic experience you could hope for. Thanks to our different kind of tours, Best Maya Tours can customize your itinerary to make it a truly tailored experience. Read on to learn more about our Chichen Itza guided tour, and book with us today!
Enjoy a private full-day guided Chichen Itza tour starting at $185 per person. Contact our travel advisor and start planning your tour to Chichen Itza at +52 5544985184 or info@bestmayatours.com.
Tour Included:
Professional guide
Professional driver
Transportation in a comfortable air conditioned van
