9 DAYS NATURALIST EXPEDITION – IN SEARCH OF THE JAGUAR
An extraordinary expedition, an exceptional tour – a circuit for naturalists, photographers, and enthusiasts.
Important information: This extraordinary tour will only take place between March and May at the end of the dry season, in small groups of 6 people maximum, on dates scheduled on our calendar (please see below), and may be conducted with a multilingual group
Important information: This extraordinary tour will only take place between March and May at the end of the dry season, in small groups of 6 people maximum, on dates scheduled on our calendar (please see below), and may be conducted with a multilingual group
TRAVELER NOTICE
WARNING: This is not a tourist expedition: this tour is not for everyone and it must remain so in order to minimize the impact on wildlife and flora. The purpose of this expedition is to be as unobtrusive as possible in an area rich in wildlife. Part of this expedition will take place in hides to observe the numerous species in the area, which of course requires remaining silent and still for long periods.
Do you think this is the tour for you? Remember: for this tour, conditions will be basic with nights in hammocks, no hot water for bathing, no electricity for several nights, and no mosquito repellents or other fragrances to avoid unnatural scents and products in the hide area.
Do you still think this suits you? Remember: nature is not at our service or disposal, so no species can be guaranteed. Some expeditions offer VERY nice surprises, while others may be less exciting.
Do you still believe you’re someone who will appreciate a unique expedition like this? If so, let’s move on to the program details.
CIRCUIT DETAILS
Highlights of the circuit
- 3 nights in the jungle, away from everything, in a wildlife-rich area, and 1 night near a cenote just for us
- 3 nights in comfortable cabins
- 1 night in Bacalar
- Observation of wildlife in their natural habitat using our blinds and photographic traps
- High chances of observing felines and other iconic species of the area
- Visit to Calakmul natural reserve and archaeological site
- Canoe tour of Bacalar in lesser-known areas
- Visit to a unique cave in the world with snakes hunting bats
- An extraordinary experience, without artifice
- Discovery of local fauna and flora
Difficulty
Intermediate / Expert: Good physical condition required.
Next available dates
- du
20/04/2025
au
28/04/2025
- du
18/05/2025
au
26/05/2025
PROGRAM
Day 1
We will leave the Riviera Maya to head south towards the second lung of America, its various reserves, and primary forests. On the first day, a long stretch of road awaits us, which we will break up with a visit to a magnificent archaeological site to learn more about the Maya civilization. It’s a beautiful city, not heavily frequented, nestled in the jungle with superbly preserved stucco masks. After a meal on the road, we will arrive in a village where we will leave our vehicle for the next 3 nights. To reach our campsite, we will ride motorcycles with our Maya friends. We will arrive at María’s, a woman living alone, far from other villages, near a water source. The reason for going there at the end of the dry season is explained by this water point becoming the only one within a 9 km radius, thus, a necessary stop for many species. We will set up our hammocks in one of the old dilapidated cabins and put up our mosquito nets for the night. María’s cooking will delight us from this first dinner.
Days 2 & 3
The program will be simple: everyone can enjoy the surroundings at their own pace. Observation blinds near the water point will allow for bird, mammal, reptile, and other wildlife observation. Each person can decide how long they want to spend in the hides and can return to their hammock or María’s place at any time, or stay quietly by the water with their camera in hand. Additionally, many trails depart from María’s place for those who want to go accompanied by Pablo, María’s son or the guide Tristan, to search for monkeys, birds, and other wildlife in the vicinity. A pond 9 km away will allow hikers to photograph crocodiles and waterfowl. There is the possibility of spending the night in hammock camps by the pond with a dinner cooked over a wood fire. It’s also possible to accompany Pablo to see his beehives and harvest honey.
Days 2 & 3
Why María’s place unlike a nature reserve devoid of humans where one might expect to have a better chance of observing animals ? María has been living there for over 30 years. For this reason, the animals have become accustomed to the presence of humans, the smell of cooking, and the sounds. However, they still hide from us, so patience is required to photograph them.
What can we hope to see there? On almost every expedition, we have observed coatis, agoutis, white-tailed deer, ocellated turkeys, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, gray foxes, brown owls, crocodiles, Mexican parrots, tiger heron, Moctezuma oropendolas, various species of raptors, and more. Occasionally, we have also seen pumas, tapirs, peccaries, pacas, and even jaguars. The jaguar has passed in front of our cameras several times while we were asleep, sometimes during the day, but always fleeting, silent, and elusive.
Day 4
We’ll have one last wake-up at María’s, to the sound of numerous birds. A final visit to the hides to take our last photos. We’ll enjoy another meal, then head back to the village, retrieve our vehicle, and head to the entrance of the vast Calakmul Reserve, where we’ll spend the night in comfortable cabins. We’ll have the opportunity to visit the bat cave from which about 2 million bats take flight every evening.
Day 5
We’ll rise at dawn to be among the first to enter the reserve upon opening. The 60 kilometers/37 miles that take us from the entrance to the archaeological site offer us the chance to see animals crossing the road. We’ll try to spot a tapir in one of our favorite spots. Then, we’ll explore the immense Mayan site of Calakmul, a splendid city blending nature and history. In the afternoon, we’ll leave the reserve and head towards Bacalar and its Seven Colors Lagoon, where we’ll spend the night.
Day 6
We’ll continue our expedition, this time by canoe. We’ll paddle across Bacalar Lagoon and explore the numerous canals and lagoons bordered by mangroves and jungle, hoping to encounter beautiful species of fauna and flora. Later, we’ll visit a unique place in the world: a cave at sunset, from which hundreds of thousands of bats take flight each evening. It’s also the time when the snakes living in the cave come out to hunt the bats. We’ll exit the cave after nightfall and spend the night in nearby rustic Mayan cabins.
Day 7
After a breakfast prepared by our Mayan hosts, we’ll head towards a new lagoon, this time bordered by jungle, where we can canoe, swim, and observe several bird species. After a meal by the lagoon, we’ll hit the road towards a Maya community. Away from the village, deep in the jungle, we’ll set up our camp by a beautiful cenote. Another night in the heart of the jungle with a cenote all to ourselves.
Day 8
We’ll enjoy the morning by exploring a lagoon in canoes, where monkeys can be observed. We’ll have a typical meal with a Maya family living away from other villages. Before heading to a neighboring community where we’ll spend the night in comfortable cabins, we’ll take a swim in a cenote.
Day 9
In the community, a family has initiated a conservation project for the Melipona Maya bees, Virginia deer, and a few other species from the region. We’ll spend the morning with them, assisting in the tasks of this ecological project. After lunch, we’ll visit a pond where several bird species roam, and where a Maya ruin lost in the jungle will allow us to play explorers.
Day 1
We will leave the Riviera Maya to head south towards the second lung of America, its various reserves, and primary forests. On the first day, a long stretch of road awaits us, which we will break up with a visit to a magnificent archaeological site to learn more about the Maya civilization. It’s a beautiful city, not heavily frequented, nestled in the jungle with superbly preserved stucco masks. After a meal on the road, we will arrive in a village where we will leave our vehicle for the next 3 nights. To reach our campsite, we will ride motorcycles with our Maya friends. We will arrive at María’s, a woman living alone, far from other villages, near a water source. The reason for going there at the end of the dry season is explained by this water point becoming the only one within a 9 km radius, thus, a necessary stop for many species. We will set up our hammocks in one of the old dilapidated cabins and put up our mosquito nets for the night. María’s cooking will delight us from this first dinner.
Days 2 & 3
The program will be simple: everyone can enjoy the surroundings at their own pace. Observation blinds near the water point will allow for bird, mammal, reptile, and other wildlife observation. Each person can decide how long they want to spend in the hides and can return to their hammock or María’s place at any time, or stay quietly by the water with their camera in hand. Additionally, many trails depart from María’s place for those who want to go accompanied by Pablo, María’s son or the guide Tristan, to search for monkeys, birds, and other wildlife in the vicinity. A pond 9 km away will allow hikers to photograph crocodiles and waterfowl. There is the possibility of spending the night in hammock camps by the pond with a dinner cooked over a wood fire. It’s also possible to accompany Pablo to see his beehives and harvest honey.
Days 2 & 3
Why María’s place unlike a nature reserve devoid of humans where one might expect to have a better chance of observing animals ? María has been living there for over 30 years. For this reason, the animals have become accustomed to the presence of humans, the smell of cooking, and the sounds. However, they still hide from us, so patience is required to photograph them.
What can we hope to see there? On almost every expedition, we have observed coatis, agoutis, white-tailed deer, ocellated turkeys, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, gray foxes, brown owls, crocodiles, Mexican parrots, tiger heron, Moctezuma oropendolas, various species of raptors, and more. Occasionally, we have also seen pumas, tapirs, peccaries, pacas, and even jaguars. The jaguar has passed in front of our cameras several times while we were asleep, sometimes during the day, but always fleeting, silent, and elusive.
Day 4
We’ll have one last wake-up at María’s, to the sound of numerous birds. A final visit to the hides to take our last photos. We’ll enjoy another meal, then head back to the village, retrieve our vehicle, and head to the entrance of the vast Calakmul Reserve, where we’ll spend the night in comfortable cabins. We’ll have the opportunity to visit the bat cave from which about 2 million bats take flight every evening.
PRACTICAL INFO
Included
- Transportation from Riviera Maya
- Specialized guide
- Nights in hammocks / mosquito nets
- Nights in cabins (based on double occupancy)
- Night in Bacalar (based on double occupancy)
- Choice of snacks and soft drinks on board
- All meals
- Entrance fees to archaeological sites
- Entrance fee to Calakmul reserve
- Canoes in Bacalar and other lagoons
- Bat cave visit
- Equipment: hammocks, headlamps, light sleeping bags, etc.
- Insurance
Not Included
- Tips
- Personal souvenir purchases
An eco-conscious tour
For this unique tour, we must set an exemplary behavior towards the welcoming nature. The number of participants, the frequency of this expedition per year, noise, odors, and the location of sleeping and observation spots are all factors we carefully consider to minimize our impact on the environment and the animals inhabiting it. Conducting tours in these areas also provides an economic alternative for the families and locals we collaborate with, helping to reduce hunting, deforestation, and agriculture in these jungle zones, thereby transforming them into sanctuaries for wildlife. This circuit allows you to discover the preserved nature of the peninsula and all its wonderful species.
PRICES
Prix du Circuit
Tous nos prix sont en Pesos Mexicains et par personne.
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2 people
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3 people
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4 people
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5 people
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6 people
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7 people
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8 people
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9 people
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10 people
$54,000 Mxn
/ person
Minimum 2 people / maximum 6 people
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Select your preferred circuit from the dropdown menu and indicate your preferred dates.
We will contact you to organize the trip of your dreams in the Yucatán Peninsula.
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