SHORE EXCURSIONS

OVERVIEW

Become immersed in the Mayan culture through interactive experiences and explore an archaeological site that shows how the Mayas lived more than a millennia ago. Once a pilgrimage site where the ancient Mayas worshipped the moon deity, San Gervasio has been painstakingly excavated to reveal a fascinating complex of residences, temples and plazas. As you wander about the ruins, the guide will describe their historical importance and the lasting effect of the ancient world on life today. Another way to understand that influence is to live it, an opportunity that you will enjoy at Pueblo de Maíz, a theme park that recreates the pre-Columbian world on the island of Cozumel. You can experience it firsthand by indulging in a face-painting ceremony, grinding maize, making chocolate and tamales from scratch, and trying your hand at pitz, a Mayan ball game that was often played to settle disputes or simply to please the gods.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Browse the ruins at San Gervasio, the largest Mayan pilgrimage site on the island.
• Gain insight into Mayan life in Mesoamerica more than a thousand years ago.
• Experience the ancient Mayan lifestyle firsthand at an interactive theme park.
• Learn how to grind maize, make chocolate and plant crops just like the Mayas.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

See historical landmarks on an enlightening walk through downtown Cozumel and toast the occasion with a sampling of craft beers at the city’s first brewery. You will begin at Benito Juarez Square, an expansive plaza named for the national hero who in 1858 became the first indigenous president of Mexico. A clock tower dedicated to Juarez has risen above the square for more than a century. Just a block away, you will find San Miguel Church, a modest but iconic building that has long provided a spiritual anchor. After a bit of free time to shop for artisanal handicrafts, you will settle in at the microbrewery Cerveceria Punta Sur. A behind-the-scenes tour will reveal the more interesting aspects of the brewing process that produces signature beers that include an IPA, blonde ale and stout. To complement the tasting, you will be served a snack platter with Guacamole, boneless chicken wings and potato wedges.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk through a pedestrian-only section of downtown that is known for its landmarks.
• See an iconic clock tower above the main square and Cozumel’s oldest Catholic church.
• Shop for handicrafts such as pottery, woven bags and casual clothing.
• Tour Cozumel’s first brewery and sample some of its signature beers.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Sample tacos at three venues – each specializing in a different style of taco – and learn a bit about the various ingredients and history of this iconic Mexican dish. Tacos have come a long way since Mexican silver miners supposedly invented them in the 18th century. Before your first sampling at the downtown Municipal Market, the guide will show you around the food stands and explain the types of taco seasonings. You will then be served two cochinita pibil tacos, a traditional Yucatan dish made with marinated and seasoned suckling pig meat that has been wrapped in banana leaves and roasted in an underground oven. The second and third venues will be restaurants, one known for seafood tacos, the other acclaimed for another type of taco. A refreshing beer will be served to complement your dining experience, along with samples of tequila, water or soda. Also, one drink will be included at each venue.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy taco tastings at three different venues, each offering its own special variety.
• See the typical ingredients used in traditional tacos while browsing the Municipal Market.
• Learn about the history of tacos and the types most popular on the Yucatan Peninsula.
• Spend free time in downtown Cozumel following the taco sampling.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Spend a fun-filled day at Xel-Ha, an aquatic theme park where you can enjoy activities such as river tubing, bicycling, snorkeling and soaring like a bird on the zip-line.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a scenic journey to Xel-Ha, a beautiful aquatic park in a large protected cove on the mainland. Centuries ago, the Maya created a trading center, pilgrimage site and shelter for sailors here. In the Mayan language, Xel-Ha means “where the water is born,” and it is still a fitting description.

In this natural wonderland, you will be free to participate in whatever activities interest you the most. You might ease into an inner tube and float down the Xel-Ha River. Along the way, you can pause on the riverside platforms and, if you are feeling adventurous, you can climb the Cliff of Courage and then jump off into the river.

Riding the zip-lines and then splashing down into the water is another exhilarating, adrenaline-pumping activity. You can also fly through the air on a rope swing named for the Mayan Guardian of the Air, Chuc Kay.

There are also plenty of activities that are less physically demanding. You might meander down a jungle trail, enjoy the serenity of Chacah’s Garden, and snorkel through the cove, which is teeming with marine life such as angelfish, snapper, turtles and even manatees. The day is yours to enjoy as you so fit, whether it’s being physically active or simply relaxing.

Challenge your senses and sense of reality in Xenses Park, a fantastic setting where up is down, right is left and nothing is as it appears.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a picturesque ride to the mainland and on to Xenses Park. You will then spend the next four hours or so exploring this highly unusual sensory park with all sorts of entertaining activities that are designed to challenge your perceptions and enhance your senses.

Starting at the welcome area, known as the Pinwheel, two different circuits are available. The Consensible Circuit will test your senses in areas such as The Way of the Dwarfs and Giants. Here, you feel small one second and then enormous a moment later. Enter the complete darkness of the Xensatorium and all of your senses but sight will sharpen. Then, there is the Xitric Garden, where you can drink lemonade straight from a faucet in a lemon tree.

The Inconsensible Circuit will play tricks on your sense of balance and reality. You might float down a super-salty river, soar through the air on a zip-line, and meander through a make-believe town where the laws of physics and logic don’t apply. Water will seem to defy gravity, and you may think you are ascending steps but are actually walking down them.

The experience will be extraordinarily fun, wildly amusing and mentally challenging. Afterwards, you will enjoy free time in Playa del Carmen to ease back into reality.

This unique experience begins with a scenic tour along the Cozumel coast, onboard our vessel Ana that will take our guests to the Submarine Atlantis XII, and then dive to a depth of up to, at least, 100 feet. This adventure will show you a spectacular natural scenery of the Chankanaab reef, which is part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, one of the largest living structures on the planet, and which is home to fish, lobsters, rays, sharks, and turtles, which can be admired depending on it's from the season. It will also take you to the famous Cozumel’s Wall, with a vertical drop of 2000 feet which delimits the Island. The new submarine route explores the biggest dive wreck in the area, the Felipe Xicotencatl, a 154 feet longship that was sold to the Mexican Navy. Later was sank to enhance the life of this Protected Natural Area and preserve it for future generations. Nowadays, it is home of mainly fish, sponges, and soft corals. An experienced crew will relate to you an interesting narration of the area and its diversity of underwater life, providing relevant information during your tour. The Submarine Atlantis XII is the only one of its kind in Mexico; it is powered by batteries, which helps minimize its ecological footprint, and its passenger cabin is air-conditioned and maintains the same pressure as atmospheric at the surface.

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

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

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.

Come and witness the region's most unique natural treasure, a series of caverns connected by underground waterways and awarded as “Mexico and Central America’s Leading Nature Reserve”! Picture yourself in there admiring the breathtaking crystal museum carved by Mother Nature during millions of years. Experience a short ride into the jungle to the Río Secreto Nature Reserve where you’ll be outfitted with a wetsuit, life vest, helmet and a head lamp, at the end a towel. Incredible natural formations will meet you around every corner as you walk, wade and swim through the easy 0.37 mile/600 meter route in its crystal clear fresh water. This protected nature reserve, included in the “NAT GEO Top 10 Family Activities” and EarthCheck Gold certified for its good sustainable practices, has astounding stalactites, stalagmites and other formations that will amaze you with their variety and natural splendor.

Your expert guide will inform you about the ancient caverns’ cultural and natural importance as you marvel at the magical subterranean world that until now has remained unexplored for millions of years. After the tour you will taste the local flavors with a Delicious regional buffet and beverages. You will have the opportunity to visit, explore and shop in Playa del Carmen at the famous 5th Avenue, before the ferry ride to Cozumel. The ferry ride to and from Playa del Carmen is included. This adventure is perfect for all ages and everyone will be amazed as they explore one of the most unique caverns in all of Mexico.

OVERVIEW
After a 45-minute ferry to Playa del Carmen, your guide will lead you to an air-conditioned motor coach for a scenic and informative one-hour drive to Tulum.

Discover the only mayan city located on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean sea and visit a natural park located in the jungle to explore the beautiful and mystic cenotesTulum sits atop a small seaside cliff and is considered the most beautiful archaeological site on the Yucatan peninsula. The Maya built the walled city-state of Tulum in the 11th century to control maritime commerce, and its excavated temples and buildings are spectacular, especially the tower El Castillo. As you meander about, you will also see the Temple of Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God. The Yucatan is just as captivating beneath the surface, as you will discover at the Mayan Cenote. To enhance the experience, you can swim in the crystal-clear, cenote-fed by the filtration of rain and by the currents of underground rivers.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Walk through the clifftop ruins of Tulum, the only Mayan city-state on the sea.
• Behold the ruins of buildings and temples that the Mayas constructed in the 11th century.
• Enjoy a guided visit to a natural park located in the jungle.
• Swim in the cenote fed by the filtration of rain and by the currents of underground rivers.

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

Explore the ruins of Tulum, the only Mayan city-state on the sea, and then enjoy a delicious lunch at an aquatic park built on a natural inlet where the Mayas once gathered.

After a 45-minute ferry ride to the mainland, settle in for a relaxing drive to the Mayan ruins at Tulum, which sit atop a small cliff overlooking the sea. 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. The most prominent is El Castillo, a tower at the edge of a cliff that probably served as a landmark for sailors.

As you meander about, you will see the Temple of Frescoes, which was an observatory used to track the sun’s movements. The frescoes inside the temple represent various gods and supernatural serpents. The building was once painted red and you can still see remnants of that hue. The carving over the doorway of the adjacent Temple of the Descending God is worth a look, as well.

Continuing on, you will soon arrive at Xel-Ha, which means “where the water is born” in the Mayan language. Although the inlet of Xel-ha has been developed into an aquatic theme park, it has retained the natural beauty that attracted the Mayans centuries ago. You will have 2 hours to enjoy lunch and explore as much as you can of the park. Ask your guide for quick recommendations to make the most out of this leisure time.