Highlights
- Stay exclusively in luxe boutique hotels and enjoy private experiences
- Explore the ancient Maya pyramids of both Ekʼ Balam and Cobá
- Swim in pristine cenotes and wander through dense jungles with a private guide
- Cruise along the Caribbean coast with a personal skipper and onboard chef
- Join a local chef at home for a private cooking class with cocktails and mezcal
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Cancún, Transfer to Valladolid, City Walking Tour & Ek' Balam | Valladolid |
| Day 2 | Day Trip to Yalcobá: Maya Jungle, Culture & Cenotes | Valladolid |
| Day 3 | Transfer to Tulum, Cobá & Sacred Maya Roads, Cooking Class with Cocktails | Tulum |
| Day 4 | Authentic Maya Life Immersion, Private Yacht Experience | Tulum |
| Day 5 | Transfer to Cancún, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Cancún, Transfer to Valladolid, City Walking Tour & Ek' Balam
Welcome to Mexico! On arrival at Cancún International Airport, a private driver will be waiting to collect you for the two-hour transfer to Valladolid, one of Mexico's charming Pueblos Mágicos (Magical Towns) known for its colorful and well-preserved Spanish architecture. Along the drive, you'll pass Yucatecan villages and lush Maya jungle. Once you arrive, check into Hotel Boutique Olbil Valladolid, a serene city oasis. Here, each luxe and minimalist room looks onto a junglelike garden, with huge windows bringing the outside in and a private hammock to get you in the holiday mood.
Drop your bags and lace up your walking shoes, then meet your private guide for a 90-minute jaunt through the historic heart of Valladolid. This town, founded in 1543, witnessed extensive clashes between the Maya and conquistadors and was the first spark of the Mexican Revolution in 1910. These days, it stands out for its hospitality, cenotes, gastronomy, and beautiful facades. Hear stories of the past and details of local life as you pass landmarks like the former Convent San Bernardino de Siena, the Cathedral, and the picturesque Calzada de Los Frailes.
Afterward, you'll explore nearby Ekʼ Balam, one of the few archaeological sites that still allows you to climb its ancient structures. Scale the Acropolis, where the Maya kings lived, which gives you incredible views across the whole site and the surrounding jungle. A private guide will show you the most important monuments, such as the Observatory, where scientists, astronomers, and mathematicians lived, and the ball court, a sacred and religious practice. After, return to Valladolid for the evening.
Day 2: Day Trip to Yalcobá: Maya Jungle, Culture & Cenotes
After breakfast, you'll set off for a full-day adventure immersed in the Maya community of Yalcobá, a 30-minute drive from the city. Your special day starts with a private guided tour through the milpa (a traditional agricultural system where maize is intercropped with other species) and an interpretive trek through the jungle. Along the way, you'll explore caves, rehoyadas (dry cenotes full of vegetation), and pristine cenotes where you can stop for a swim.
Day 3: Transfer to Tulum, Cobá & Sacred Maya Roads, Cooking Class with Cocktails
Tulum is best known for its stunning white-sand beaches, well-preserved Maya ruins overlooking the Caribbean Sea, and access to cenotes and underwater caves. After breakfast, meet your private driver for a 90-minute transfer to this famous coastal town on the Riviera Maya. Check into your hotel, the luxurious beachfront La Zebra Colibri. This boutique haven will be a chic base for your relaxed Caribbean vacation. Drop your bags, meet your private guide, and set out to explore the neighboring archaeological site of Cobá by bike.
Together with your guide, you'll pedal around the ancient site, learning why Cobá's design and purpose were very different from those of other Maya cities. Follow sacbé (white roads) built by the ancient Maya that lead from each settlement to the main pyramid, Nohoch Mul—the largest in the Yucatán Peninsula. If you don't enjoy cycling, a bicycle taxi can be arranged.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Authentic Maya Life Immersion, Private Yacht Experience
This morning, you'll experience the heart of Maya culture in a traditional house. Your hosts will share the meaning of the structure, the rustic kitchen with three stones, and the family's daily chores, from hammock weaving to planting and harvesting corn to the preparation of tortillas. With this one-hour private immersion, you'll get to understand local life and taste chaya quesadillas (Maya spinach). Then, it's time for a full-day aquatic adventure.
Set sail on the Riviera Maya aboard a private luxury vessel, with six hours to explore this stretch of Caribbean coastline with your own skipper and onboard chef. Stop to dive in and observe tropical, colorful reef fish with a snorkel and, if you're lucky, swim with giant sea turtles that have returned to this same spot for generations. When you climb back on deck, your personal chef will have prepared specialty cocktails, snacks, and a deliciously fresh Mexican lunch. As a private excursion, you can choose how to explore this coastal paradise and its beaches however you like.
Back on dry land, you'll return to Tulum, refresh at the hotel, then venture out for dinner. You might like to try Mestixa for Asian-Mexican fusion, Pepe Best Tacos for cheap and cheerful tacos, or Gitano Tulum for local and seasonal ingredients cooked with fire.
Day 5: Transfer to Cancún, Depart
It's your final morning in paradise. In this part of Mexico, you can experience famously beautiful sunrises, so wake up early to embrace the day. Venture down to the beach, where a majestic show unfolds each day that will make you appreciate the beauty of this planet even more. The rest of the morning is yours to relax.
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