Family Adventure on Mexico's Costa Maya - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Chetumal, Transfer to Mahahual

Welcome to Mexico! Upon your arrival at Chetumal International Airport, you'll be met by your private driver and transferred to Mahahual. This peaceful, beachfront town is located in the heart of Mexico's stunning Costa Maya, a paradise of white sands and Caribbean waters on the southern Yucatán Peninsula. Depending on your time of arrival and how tired you and the kids are after your trip, you can get out and explore the small fishing village on your first day. In the evening, enjoy a candlelit dinner under a starry sky, as most restaurants here are outdoors. 

Day 2: Snorkeling in Mahahual

Mahahual is located in the center of three important marine ecological reserves: Sian Ka'an, Banco Chinchorro, and the Xcalak Marine Reserve. Explore the region's colorful reefs and spot interesting marine life, including turtles and manta rays, on today's snorkeling tour. The water is clear and crystalline, and a few feet from the coast, you can see the reef line that divides the reef lagoon from the open sea. A guide'll accompany you and will be able to adjust the activity to suit your kids' needs.

Day 3: Transfer to Chunhuhub, Mystical Bonfire Experience

Transfer two hours northwest today to Chunhuhub, a small Maya community rich with archaeological wonders. After settling in, you'll meet our guide for a mystical experience that will teach you and your kids more about the local culture and customs. Connect with the local community's sacred tree, recharge your energy, and receive purification from the village grandparents. According to popular belief, they have the ability to cure illness with herbs. Listen to their stories, enjoy a sacred drink, and appreciate the atmosphere around the bonfire.

Day 4: Maya Community & Jungle Tour

Day 5: Transfer to Tulum, Afternoon Cooking Class

It's back to the coast today as you transfer two hours northeast to Tulum, where you'll get checked into your accommodations and then have some free time to chill out and explore. This destination has become very popular in recent years thanks to its beautiful beaches with turquoise waters, dramatic clifftop ruins, and delicious international cuisine. Everyone in your family will find something to interest them. Visit some of the many nearby beaches or the lively central avenue with lots of restaurants and boutiques.

Later on, try your hand at cooking some authentic local food in your instructor's kitchen, and learn tips and tricks that you can replicate later at home. Start the lesson with an introduction to Mexican culinary history, learning about Mesoamerican cultures and traditions and the main ingredients used. Then, learn to cook some recipes from the chef's family collection. Enjoy eating your creations after. Your kids can feel proud of their efforts and may be inspired to cook once they return home!

Day 6: Cenotes of Chemuyil, Tulum Archeological Site

Today, enjoy some more active adventures, starting at the community of Chemuyil, a small beachfront town with white-sand beaches and shallow waters. Meet your local guide and pick up a bicycle to cycle to three different cenotes (natural swimming holes): the enclosed cenote of La Cuevita, an open cenote where you may be able to see some of the endemic birds of the Yucatán Peninsula, and a final open cenote where you can swim. These cenotes are part of a system fed by the largest underground river in the world. Both kids and adults will enjoy the physical bike ride followed by a refreshing swim.

Next, visit the ruins of Tulum with a guide. This is one of the most famous archaeological sites in Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old Maya city sits in the middle of a mangrove ecosystem, on a cliff facing ​​the Caribbean Sea. Enjoy views of the forest and open water, and check out the Playa Ruinas ("Ruins Beach"), where you can take a dip at the beach to round out your visit.

Day 7: Cenotes & Handicrafts in Yalcobá

Experience more cultural immersion today in the Maya community of Yalcobá in Valladolid. Take a guided tour through farms that use traditional farming methods. It'll be fascinating for your kids to see where their food comes from. Then, head into the forest, where you can explore caves and swim in gorgeous cenotes. Back in town, visit a handicrafts workshop, where artisans create jewelry out of bull horns and weave intricate hammocks. You might like to pick up a few souvenirs for your family here. Later, participate in a culinary workshop to learn more about the region's food.

Day 8: Caving at Río Secreto

Río Secreto is a natural reserve near Playa del Carmen, in the heart of the Riviera Maya. Today, you'll have the opportunity to explore it up close as you don lifejackets and helmets and dive into one of the largest underground river systems in the world. Experience millennia of geology while swimming in clear freshwater. As you make your way through the caves, your guide will explain the history of the features and formations of this marvelous geological wonder. This adventure is best suited to older kids/teens and is sure to be a highlight of the trip for the adventurous.

Day 9: Cobá by Bike, Punta Laguna Hike

Day 10: Chichén Itzá Tour, Yokdzonot Cenote Swim

There's more ancient history on the agenda today as you meet a local guide to explore the magnificent archaeological site of Chichén Itzá, a place that is sure to capture the imagination of kids of all ages. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this pre-Columbian Maya city was once the most revered center of worship and pilgrimage in the Yucatán Peninsula. Its most iconic attraction is the stepped pyramid of Kukulkán (El Castillo), built in honor of the feathered serpent god, an important deity to the Maya.

Later, enjoy some more refreshing time at the peaceful Yokdzonot Cenote. Cenotes were the main water supply in the middle of the jungle in ancient times and a vital part of developing early cities and settlements. They were also considered symbolic spaces for rain, life, death, rebirth, and fertility rituals and served a sacred function for the Maya. This quiet cenote is not busy with tourists, so your family can enjoy some peaceful time together.

Day 13: Sunrise Paddling Tour, Stone Carving Workshop

If you're a family of early risers, make the most of your last full day in Mexico with a sunrise paddle tour of the Laguna Bacalar. Accompanied by a great instructor, discover the treasures of the Bacalar ecosystem and see the locations you explored yesterday from a different vantage point. Check out the Grand Cenote, over 968 feet (295 m) deep. Admire the sunrise from Cenote de la Bruja while observing the blue gradation of the lagoon. Finish at the Pirates' Channel, where you'll likely be alone and will be able to enjoy a well-deserved morning swim. 

In the afternoon, make your own souvenir at a stone-carving workshop at El Veinte de Noviembre, a small Maya village surrounded by nature. Famous for its handicrafts, El Veinte stands out as the only community in the region to highlight the past and present through handicrafts, which fuse the traditions of the community. Under the instruction of Doña Guadalupe, make a design with a rough stone and turn it into a design. In the end, keep your carving as a memento of your trip. Your kids can proudly wear their own Mexican designs.

Day 14: Transfer to Chetumal, Depart

Depending on your time of departure, enjoy a final beach walk or swim before transferring from Bacalar to Chetumal International Airport for your return flight. Safe travels!