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10-Day Riviera Maya Escape

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Overview

Escape to the beautiful pristine shores of Quintana Roo with this 10-day self-driving trip. Explore the beaches, cenotes, lagoons and reserves of the Eastern Yucatán Peninsula.

Step off-the-beaten-track and visit some of the sites not often visited by tourists. Learn to cook authentic Mexican cuisine with Lily at Rivera Kitchen and take the recipes home with you to share with family friends.

This holiday to Riviera Maya will connect you with nature, local people, and the true heart of Mexico. Take home memories of cycling to hidden cenotes, sailing across the lagoon of Bacalar and swimming with the turtles in the bay of Akumal.
Outdoors & Nature
Sightseeing
Cycling
Food & Drink
Culture & Arts
Diving

Itinerary

Day 1

Bienvenidos a Riviera Maya!

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Bienvenidos a Riviera Maya!

Welcome to Cancun airport! Before you begin your holiday to Riviera Maya, make your way to the car rental desk to collect your vehicle. An English-speaking guide will meet you at the desk and assist you with the process of collecting your car! With your car and a map of the peninsula, you'll head south along the coastal road to Tulum where you will spend your evening settling into your surroundings. Go for a stroll along the white sandy beaches or drink a cocktail in your hotel.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Casa Colonial Vintage Hotel Tulum3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Free Time in Tulum

    Tulum Archaeological SiteOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Cancun International Airport to Casa Colonial Vintage Hotel Tulum

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Tulum

    Quintana Roo

Day 2

Mayan History and Swimming with Turtles in Akumal

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Mayan History and Swimming with Turtles in Akumal

This morning, you'll head to Coba, one of the largest Mayan cities on the peninsula. Its ruins have remained essentially intact in the middle of the tropical jungle. Afterwards, you'll head to Akumal, ‘land of the turtles’, for some snorkelling with the numerous turtles that come, eat the abundant sponges in the bay, and lay their eggs on this pretty beach. It will be a day full of adventure and driving yourself means you can stop as many times as you wish.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Casa Colonial Vintage Hotel Tulum3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Coba PyramidOptional Activity

    AkumalOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Casa Colonial Vintage Hotel Tulum to Coba

    Self-Driving from Coba to Akumal

    Self-Driving from Akumal to Casa Colonial Vintage Hotel Tulum

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Tulum

    Quintana Roo

    Akumal

Day 3

Flavours of Mexico

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Flavours of Mexico

Today, you'll step off the tourist track and live an authentic Mexican culinary experience at Rivera Kitchen Tulum! Many of the dishes you will learn and help to cook come from family recipes and after, you will sit down to enjoy the fruits of your labour along with a "jarrito de agua fresca " or beer, or wine, or both! As well as enjoying delicious food, you'll learn about the history of Mexico and how these delightful foods came to be on your table.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Casa Colonial Vintage Hotel Tulum3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Rivera Kitchen Cooking Class Tulum

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Casa Colonial Vintage Hotel Tulum to Rivera's Kitchen Tulum

    Self-Driving from Rivera's Kitchen Tulum to Casa Colonial Vintage Hotel Tulum

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Tulum

Day 4

Cenote Bike Tour

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Cenote Bike Tour

Today, you'll discover the variety of underwater rivers and caves that wind their way through the Mayan jungle as you cycle through the forests outside of Tulum. Over the course of the day, you'll explore three different cenotes, each of them unique! You'll travel through the jungle on bikes and discover a world you didn't know existed. You'll swim in cenotes and snorkel in underground rivers to refresh yourself along the trip.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Casa Colonial Vintage Hotel Tulum3 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Cenote Trail Bike Tour

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Tulum

Day 5

Bacalar Lagoon of Seven Colours

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Bacalar Lagoon of Seven Colours

Today, you'll travel further down the coast to Bacalar. This is a huge lagoon surrounded by mangroves and forests. It earned the nickname ‘the lake of seven colours’ for its incredible watercolour variations, here you can identify seven different shades of blue in the different parts of the lagoon. If you want to fill your free time, you can try waterskiing or wakeboarding or go on a boat tour. In the evening, you can watch the sunset from your veranda.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Rancho Encantado

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Free Time in BacalarOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Tulum to Bacalar

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Tulum

    Bacalar

    Quintana Roo

Day 6

Boat Tour on the Laguna

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Boat Tour on the Laguna

Today after breakfast, you'll take a trip on a small boat and discover the lagoon of Bacalar, as well as the canal which was used by the pirates as access to the lagoon and the town during their repeated assaults to plunder Bacalar. You can swim all morning in the multi-coloured water and even a cenote. Arriving back just after lunchtime, you'll have the rest of the day free to spend as you wish. You may want to try waterskiing or waterboarding on the lake.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Rancho Encantado

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Laguna Bacalar

    Boat Tour Bacalar

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Quintana Roo

    Bacalar

Day 7

Mysteries of Cenote Sac Actun

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Mysteries of Cenote Sac Actun

Today you'll discover the extraordinary Cenote Sac Actun, the cenote with the largest network of underground rivers in Mexico. The Maya considered it a gateway to the underworld. You'll take the opportunity to swim in a truly unique and magical setting. One thing is certain, you will leave completely transformed. You'll travel to Playa del Carmen in the afternoon and enjoy the buzz of this beach town.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    HM Playa del Carmen4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Cenotes Sac Actún

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from Bacalar to Cenotes Sac Actún --4.7

    Self-Driving from Cenotes Sac Actún --4.7 to Playa del Carmen

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Quintana Roo

    Playa del Carmen

Day 8

Floating through Sian Ka'an

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Floating through Sian Ka'an

Today, you'll visit the biosphere reserve of Sian Ka'an. You'll visit the archaeological site of Muyil, an ancient Mayan training post where you can admire many Mayan temples. After, you'll take a boat across two lagoons connected by a canal that has been in use for many centuries. Xlapak is the name of the building at the beginning of the lazy river where you can enjoy an incredible experience floating in crystal clear water leading all the way to the Caribbean sea.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    HM Playa del Carmen4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Sian Ka'an

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Playa del Carmen

    Quintana Roo

Day 9

Wonders of Xcaret

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Wonders of Xcaret

Spend your day im the magical theme park of Xcaret, a place where the Mexican Caribbean's nature is highlighted. Explore this park with its many features. There are natural, ecological or aquatic attractions, such as scuba diving or snorkeling in rivers, swimming in lagoons and exploring old caves where underground rivers flow into the sea.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    HM Playa del Carmen4 star

    Note: We will endeavor to book the aforementioned hotels. If, however, we are unable to secure them due to circumstances out of our control, we will replace them with hotels of similar value and standard.
  • activities icon
    Activities

    Xcaret

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from HM Playa del carmen to XCARET

    Self-Driving from XCARET to HM Playa del carmen

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Playa del Carmen

    Tulum

Day 10

Hasta Luego Riviera Maya

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Hasta Luego Riviera Maya

This morning, you'll depart from your hotel with plenty of time to return your car to the rental desk and check-in. We hope you've had a wonderful time on this enchanting holiday to Riviera Maya, exploring the heart of Mexico. Come back soon!

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Self-Driving from HM Playa del carmen to Cancun International Airport

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Playa del Carmen

Included in Price

  • 9 nights accommodation
  • 7 activities
  • 9 breakfasts and 3 lunches
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

Not Included in Price

  • Airport transfer
  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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