SHORE EXCURSIONS

OVERVIEW

Cruise off Cozumel on a luxury yacht and snorkel the crystal-clear turquoise waters, where you will likely see an abundance of colorful fish and perhaps even a hawksbill turtle or two. It won’t take long to reach Colombia Reef, an area teeming with marine life. You may spot neon-colored parrotfish, black groupers, pinkish-purple Creole wrasses and graceful eagle rays swimming by remarkably close. El Cielo is another prime place to snorkel that can only be reached by boat as it lies about a half-mile off Cozumel. The water along the sandbar there is only about 3 to 4 feet deep, making it ideal even for novice snorkelers. The calm shallow waters also attract huge numbers of red-cushion starfish, the largest species of starfish in the Caribbean Sea. Despite their name, these starfish can be yellow, brown and green. Back onboard the yacht, you can snack on fish ceviche, shrimp salad and guacamole.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy cruising the waters off Cozumel’s sheltered west coast in a luxury yacht.
• Observe the colorful fish and marine life while snorkeling Colombia Reef.
• Look for starfish, which are abundant on the shallow sandbar known as El Cielo.
• Snack on fresh fruits, shrimp salad and other seafood while onboard the yacht.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Visit one of the most beautiful private islands in the Caribbean and enjoy an unforgettable day of relaxation away from the crowds. Board a motorized Catamaran for a pleasurable sail, as you listen to tropical music and discover colorful sights on your way to Isla Pasión. Upon arrival, a white sand beach and iridescent greenish, blue waters will greet you. Freshen up with a drink on the shoreline, while relaxing on a hammock or under a palapa. Savor the Chicken Fajitas, Guajillo Fish, Potato Ceviche, Potato with Sausage, Seasonal fruits, French Fries, Guacamole, Pico de Gallo Sauce, Tortilla Chips, Open Bar: Regular coke, sprite, fruit punch, mineral water and purified water, domestic cocktails (margarita and rum punch) at the lunch buffet while enjoying a pleasant view of the Caribbean Sea. Take a swim or paddle a boat. Walk along the shoreline, go shopping, or get a massage. Comfortable walking shoes, hat, beach towel, sunscreen and sun glasses are recommended. Approximate time on the island is 3 hours.

Savor a pairing of tacos and tequilas that highlights Mexico’s traditional food and spirit. UNESCO added Mexican cuisine to its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity because it involves so many ritual practices, techniques and ancestral customs. The taste is even more impressive as you will discover by sampling three distinctly different types of tacos. Tacos Dorados are unique in that the corn tortillas are stuffed with spiced meat and then fried until crispy. Conchinita Pibil tacos originated on the Yucatan peninsula and feature juicy smoked pork topped with onions and achiote sauce. You will also likely sample Tacos de Guisado – the so-called King of Tacos – which are made with savory stewed ingredients ranging from steak to vegetables. The tacos will be thoughtfully paired with tequilas that complement their flavors. Silver tequila is usually among the choices as this clear, unaged or slightly aged spirit is known for its smooth, warm finish.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Sample three types of tacos that are representative of traditional Mexican cuisine.
• Taste three different tequilas that demonstrate the spirit’s versatility.
• Appreciate how the thoughtful pairing of tacos and tequila brings out their flavors.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

See the highlights of Cozumel by riding an open-top state-of-the-art bus around the city in a Caribbean style. Hop on and off at the attractions along the way while listening to a fascinating narrative that brings the island alive. Your adventure starts at the Port, followed by a stop at Benito Juarez Square – named for the national hero and former president of Mexico. Take a stroll through the captivating streets and then hop off at the different destinations throughout the route. Enjoy a tequila tasting, while learning about the early Mayan culture. History buffs may enjoy the Monument of Two Cultures. It commemorates a shipwrecked Spanish sailor in the early 16th century that chose to live among the Mayas rather than return to his homeland. You can also stop at one of Cozumel’s premier beaches, where you can relish the white sand and refreshing waters. Stay as long as you like, and enjoy the Caribbean style Hop on Hop off, where you don’t wait for the bus, the bus waits for you.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride a state-of-the-art open-top bus around Cozumel, taking in the sights along the way.
• Hop off the bus at attractions at the designated stops.
• Hear engaging commentary that describes each attraction, so you can easily pick your favorites.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a beach towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

The Barracuda Beach Club on the island’s northwestern shore will be the venue for the barefoot cookout and day at the beach. Upon arrival, you will be served a welcome drink of Xtabentún, a honey and anise-flavored liqueur synonymous with the Yucatan peninsula. You will then learn how to prepare Tikin Xic-style fish. The fish – usually a firm white fish such as grouper or snapper – is traditionally marinated in achiote sauce, wrapped in plantain leaves and cooked in an earthen oven. It makes for a tasty lunch as you will discover firsthand. The open bar for margaritas perfectly complements the meal. The Barracuda Beach Club sits right on a beautiful stretch of sand that couldn’t be more inviting.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Enjoy cooking fresh fish on the beach in a traditional Mayan manner.
• Savor a honey-flavored welcome drink and take advantage of the open margarita bar.
• Relax at the Barracuda Beach Club.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Join a hands-on cooking class and learn to prepare authentic Mexican dishes for your lunch, after which you can relax on San Juan Beach. The venue for your culinary adventure will be Buccanos, a waterfront restaurant known for its innovative menu and casual ambiance. The chef will welcome you with a freshly mixed margarita – which you can help prepare if you wish – and an enlightening overview of the local cuisine. Everything you need to make a delicious three-course meal will be waiting at your work station. The chef will be standing by to offer guidance, cooking tips and answers to any questions you may have about the preparation. After dining on your concoctions, you will be treated to a sampling of tequila, the quintessential Mexican spirit. Beach time follows, during which you will be free to do whatever you please, even if it is nothing more ambitious than basking in the sun.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn to prepare authentic Mexican dishes in a hands-on cooking class.
• Dine on the three-course meal that you have prepared at Buccanos restaurant.
• Enjoy a tequila tasting that will reveal the complexities of this Mexican spirit.
• Relax on San Juan Beach, the beautiful stretch of sand that Buccanos fronts.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Fly between Cozumel and mainland Mexico in a helicopter for the ultimate sightseeing experience and explore the Mayan ruins at Tulum after landing. Once you take off, you will soon look down on attractions such as the Punta Sur lighthouse near the island’s southern tip and the adjacent El Cielo sandbar. Not long after crossing Cozumel Channel, you will touch down in Tulum. Although not the largest or most elaborate archaeological site on the Yucatan peninsula, Tulum may be the most beautiful. The Maya built the walled city of Tulum in the 11th century to control maritime commerce, and the city-state’s excavated temples and buildings are spectacular. As you meander about, you will see El Castillo – a cliffside tower that probably served as a landmark for sailors – and the Temple of Frescoes, an observatory used to track the sun’s movements. The building was once painted red and you can still see remnants of that hue.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Fly high over southern Cozumel and the Riviera Maya coast before landing in Tulum.
• Wander through the ruins of Tulum, a Mayan walled city built in the 11th century.
• Explore excavated buildings such as the temple that the Mayas used as an observatory.
• Enjoy a traditional Mexican lunch at a restaurant in Tulum.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Fly high over Cozumel in a helicopter and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of ancient Mayan sites before dining at a Mayan-themed restaurant. Although you will initially fly over the contemporary downtown of San Miguel de Cozumel, it won’t take long to reach the northernmost reaches of the island where the Mayan presence was greater. At the very tip, you will look down on the lighthouse at Punta Molas, where the ruins of Mayan navigation beacons were unearthed. Not far away, you will find Mayan ruins along the waterfront at Castillo Real and more extensive ruins at San Gervasio, an inland pilgrimage site where the Mayans worshipped Ix Chel, the goddess of childbirth and medicine. Upon landing, you will head for Ix-Kool, a restaurant that celebrates Mayan culinary traditions with authentic recipes. Lunch will likely include Mayan-style tortillas stuffed with marinated pork and sikilp’aak’, a Mayan appetizer with a wonderfully smoky flavor.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See northern Cozumel from high above in a helicopter with large windows.
• Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of Mayan ruins along the coast and inland.
• Hear enlightening commentary that describes the landmarks as you fly over them.
• Dine on dishes made from authentic Mayan recipes in a Mayan-themed restaurant.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Observe the wonders underwater through the completely transparent hull of a boat and then snorkel the crystal-clear waters for another perspective of the marine life. Unlike boats with only see-through bottoms, this one is almost entirely made of clear polycarbonate resin so there is nothing to block your view of life beneath the sea. Even the seating is transparent. Yet the boat is strong and sturdy enough to accommodate an outboard motor so you can easily zip through the water. You will pass over shipwrecks and coral reefs teeming with colorful fish before pausing at a sand bar that attracts huge numbers of red-cushion starfish, the largest species of starfish in the Caribbean Sea. Snorkeling will offer an even closer look at the bountiful marine life off Cozumel. Expect to see an ever-changing parade of tropical fish of every imaginable shape, color and size, including black groupers, neon-colored parrotfish and pinkish-purple Creole wrasses.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise through the crystal-clear sea in a boat with a hull that is 100% transparent.
• Enjoy an uninterrupted view of the marine life below.
• Observe the largest species of starfish in the Caribbean while pausing at a sand bar.
• Snorkel the crystal-clear waters of a coral reef for a closer view of the marine life.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Watch an authentic Lucha Libre wrestling show and toast the spectacularly flamboyant performances with margaritas and a traditional Mexican lunch. As an introduction to this wildly popular style of professional wrestling, you will watch a short video that describes its origins in Mexico and how it has developed over the past century. Lucha Libre means “free fight,” although there are some rules to keep the fast-moving nonstop action from getting out of hand. Most luchadores wear colorful masks – even in public when not wrestling – that conjure up images of ancient Aztec warriors and spiritual figures. A wrestler that removes an opponent’s mask in the ring is instantly disqualified. You can expect to see the luchadores execute high-flying aerial maneuvers, moves similar to those in mixed martial arts and all sorts of acrobatic variations. You will have plenty to discuss over lunch, after which you will be free to browse the wrestling venue.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See a wild, gravity-defying performance by masked Lucha Libre wrestlers.
• Watch a video that explains the basics of this popular wrestling style that begin in Mexico.
• Enjoy a traditional Mexican lunch and margaritas at the wrestling venue.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Join a hands-on cooking class and learn to prepare authentic Mexican dishes for your lunch, all of which contain the not-so-secret ingredient Tabasco hot sauce. The venue for this fun-filled culinary experience will be the special work-station kitchen at the Blu by Dolphinaris, a facility that offers sweeping views of the Caribbean Sea. Everything you need to make a tasty three-course meal will be waiting at your work station, as well as the Mexican master chef who will offer entertaining guidance and cooking tips. Although the menu may change, it typically includes a delicious and flavored fresh shrimp cocktail, our traditional “Yucatecan Style Cochinita Pibil (pork meat)” and refreshing Caramel sweet potato for dessert. You will also learn to make an inventive style of a Rumchata (tiger rice milk) with a little bit of Rum. The drinks are unlimited, even after class if you wish to relax out on the deck that surrounds the infinity pool.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn to prepare a variety of authentic Mexican dishes in a hands-on cooking class.
• Discover the versatility of Tabasco hot sauce, which is an ingredient in each dish.
• Follow cooking tips from the entertaining chef to create your three-course lunch.
• Enjoy endless margaritas, domestic national drinks and draft beer during class, lunch and afterwards.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Find everything you need for a fun-filled, carefree day with family and friends at Playa Mia Grand Beach Park. Enjoy the best of the Caribbean; relax and let loose with top-notch services, facilities and exciting activities for all ages. Your worry-free tour package includes round-trip transportation, all you can eat service, and domestic open bar, access to waterslides, pools, non-motorized water toys and much more! This is the ideal place to swim in the crystal- clear waters of the Caribbean, sunbathe on the white-sand beach or have a blast in the largest floating park of the island. Explore the Buccaneer’s Bay kid’s area; a lagoon-pool chock-full of fun activities including a pirate ship, water cannons, water sprays and animal slides; relax with your favorite drink at the Oasis Island Pool and make a splash on the 200-foot long Twin Twister Waterslides. Your tour also includes access to lounge chairs, beach umbrellas, a large shopping area, underwater Mayan city, organized games, playground, kayaks pedal boats, beach volleyball, and more. Other optional services and activities such as massage and snorkel gear rental are available for an additional fee.