CENOTE EXPLORATION AND MAYAN HISTORY

A 5-day, 4-night tour to explore lesser-known and less-frequented cenotes than the famous Riviera Maya cenotes. Cenotes for experienced divers, full of archaeological and anthropological remains, punctuated by encounters with Mayan families, visits to splendid archaeological sites and colorful colonial towns, not forgetting the discovery of Yucatec gastronomy. 5 days of diving and sightseeing in the heart of the Yucatan and its secrets.

NOTICE TO TRAVELERS

TOUR DETAILS

Tour Highlights

Dives in 6 magnificent, well-preserved cenotes with Mayan remains
Visit to 2 of Yucatan’s most beautiful Mayan sites
Overnight in the historic centers of Merida and Izamal
Visit to an authentic sisal fiber hacienda
Discover Yucatec gastronomy

Difficulty

Advanced divers, minimum level 2

Advanced divers, minimum level 2 with good buoyancy control and deep diving experience (40m/130ft). For non-diving companions: easy, for the whole family.

PROGRAM

Day 1

Departure from Playa del Carmen to Mérida, Yucatan. On the way, we’ll make a stop at the market in the superb, colorful town of Valladolid, where we’ll taste our first local specialties, full of flavors, smells and colors. Then we’ll head off to a cavern-type cenote for our first dive, which will cut the road in half. Theis cenote is located in an original spot: no natural light here, we’ll see numerous stalactites, columns, as well as some remnants of Mayan pottery. We’ll sleep in rustic but comfortable cabañas in a small village, to enjoy the rural calm and birdsong.

Day 2

2 cenotes await us near our resting place: one offering a magnificent setting for a swim and some great photos, the other for a deep dive, with white-walled rooms, crystal-clear water and, above all, our first Mayan skull to be seen on these explorations. We’ll head off to another village for a second dive in a semi-open cenote, offering us a beautiful play of light, if the sun is out! After a home-cooked meal, we’ll head for Mérida, the Yucatec capital, where we’ll spend the next 2 nights, enjoying its historic center, street shows and renowned gastronomy. Overnight in Mérida’s historic center.

Day 3

This is a day combining diving and culture, starting with 2 different cenotes with beautiful dunes, light shows and a few human bones. We’ll have lunch with a Mayan family, who will prepare a typical dish for us. After lunch, we’ll visit the archaeological site of Mayapan, a beautiful and little-visited site. Return to Mérida for the night.

Day 4

An exceptional dive awaits us with an abseil down the shaft of an old hacienda: no prior knowledge necessary, it’s more like winching with the help of sherpas. You’ll see plenty of animal and human bones, pottery and stalactites. It’s an absolutely extraordinary dive! This place is more of a sanctuary than a dive site, and should be treated as such. To make this last exceptional dive, each diver must have demonstrated diving skills, buoyancy management and, above all, a real respect for Mayan history and the history of the surrounding communities. We reserve the right to replace this dive if we consider that the group would be a threat to the preservation and conservation of the cave. We’ll then visit one of the last remaining sisal haciendas, where natural rope is still produced, one of the products that made the Yucatan so rich in the 19th and 20th centuries. We’ll then head off to the colonial town of Izamal, the famous yellow city, to discover its convent and ochre-yellow historic center and spend the night.

Day 5

On the way back to Playa del Carmen, we will visit another archaeological site. It’s up to you to decide whether to visit the imposing site of Chichen Itza, where you can admire a wonder of the modern world and two different architectural styles: Maya-Toltec and Maya Puuc, or the site of Ek Balam, with its superbly preserved stucco fresco and the chance to climb the acropolis for a breathtaking view of the site and surrounding jungle. After a final tasting of Yucatec specialities, it’s time to return to Playa del Carmen.

PRACTICAL INFO

Included

Transportation from Riviera Maya
Specialized full cave guide – official archaeological site guide.
4 nights in hotels and cabañas (based on double occupancy)
Snacks and drinks on board
Breakfasts
Lunches
Entrance fees to all archaeological sites
Entrance fees to cenotes
Visit to the sisal hacienda
Diving equipment
All insurances

Non Included

Dinners
Alcohol during meals
Gratuities
Personal souvenirs

A complete tour

5 days to discover little-known cenotes preserving part of the archaeological and historical heritage of the Yucatan. A tour for adventurous divers looking for the perfect balance between diving and land-based visits, meeting local families and enjoying typical Yucatan cuisine. A tour designed so that non-divers can accompany their families while enjoying great places.

PRICES

Prix du Circuit

Tous nos prix sont en Pesos Mexicains et par personne.

2 people $40,000 Mxn / person
3 people $32,000 Mxn / person
4 people $28,500 Mxn / person
5 people $27,500 Mxn / person
6 people $26,000 Mxn / person

7 people $25,000 Mxn / person
8 people $24,000 Mxn / person
9 people
10 people

/ personne

PHOTO GALLERY

DIVE WITH SAYAB TRIP

Tell us when you’d like to explore the underground wonders of Yucatan!

Let us know your preferred dates by completing the attached form.

We’ll contact you to arrange the trip of your dreams in the Yucatán Peninsula.