CARB

Spend the day exploring the wonders of the ancient Yucatan with a visit to the spectacular ruins of Chichen Itza and a refreshing swim in a sinkhole pool known as a cenote. Located some 150 kilometers inland from Progreso, Chichen Itza emerged as the most important ceremonial center of the ancient Maya on the Yucatan peninsula. The combination of traditional Maya building techniques and styles, including alignment with astronomical events, with elements incorporated from the Toltec culture of Mexico’s central highlands factor into its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Spend the day getting to know Mérida, the cultural capital of the Yucatán Peninsula. Driving along its narrow streets with vibrant colonial architecture, you begin your day at the Monument to the Country, a massive stone sculpture that tells the story of the Yucatán. A drive down Paseo de Montejo reveals some of the city’s most iconic buildings, and a stop at the Santa Ana neighborhood allows time to visit its cathedral and market. You will also explore one of the oldest cathedrals on the continent and contrast that with the Museum of Modern Art in Merida’s historic center.

Built on a bluff overlooking crystal-blue Caribbean waters, the ruins of Tulum represent Mexico’s most scenic archaeological site. To reach them, you’ll travel by ferry from Cozumel to the beach town of Playa del Carmen on the mainland. There you’ll board the van for the scenic, hour-long drive along the coastal road to Tulum. Your guide will escort you around the ruins, sharing the history of the ancient Maya and explaining the meaning and mysteries of the pyramids and other buildings, frescoes and iconography.

The Nachi Cocom Beach Club is your destination for sun and relaxation on Cozumel without the crowds. Set on the island’s southwest coast, facing the Mexican mainland, the private club has nearly 2,000 feet of sandy beachfront with sheltered waters that are ideal for swimming. Over several hours, you can relax in your beach chair in the shade of an umbrella, soak in the Jacuzzi and lounge around the swimming pool and bar. Your club visit includes a four-course lunch at the open-air restaurant that stays cool thanks to the traditional high thatched roof.

On this mouthwatering tour of The Mayan Cacao Company, you'll learn about Mayan culture and one of the most popular foods in the world. Discover the origins of cocoa, how the Mayans used beans as currency and how chocolate was enjoyed exclusively by priests and emperors. After watching a demonstration of how ancient Mayans prepared chocolate, you get to taste this time-honored delicacy. In an interactive workshop, you’ll make chocolate margaritas and chocolate bars using a traditional Mayan recipe.

Hop on a dune buggy for a thrilling exploration of Punta Sur Park’s nearly 2,500 acres, which host a phenomenal variety of plants and animals. Following behind a guide, you'll drive jungle roads and sand paths in search of exotic birds, crocodiles and other wildlife that call this nature reserve home. After a brief stop to admire the historic Celerain Lighthouse, you'll check out the Marine Navigation Museum located at the base of the lighthouse before heading to Punta Sur Bay.

Delve into the mysteries of the ancient Maya at Uxmal, one of the most important archaeological sites on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. The ancient city is renowned for many well-preserved examples of Puuc architecture, a style that flourished from 600 to 900 AD, and sophisticated representations of the civilization’s complex cosmogony.

La Casa de los Murmullos (The House of Whispers) is the unique setting for a memorable meal inspired both by Mexico and the French heritage of the chef-host. A longtime resident of Mexico, Patrick Cross both lives and works in a 17th-century mansion in Campeche’s historic center that he has restored and filled with art, artesania and antique furniture. Upon arrival, enjoy champagne as a musician plays the piano before sitting down to an intimate dinner in the dining room. There is no menu.

The charming walled city of Campeche, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is yours to discover on a driving and walking tour of its most iconic sights. Your first look will be a drive past colonial architecture characterized by vibrant yellows, greens, blues and reds. A guide will call out sites of significance and regale you with the city’s history. Two of Campeche’s bastions now serve as museums where you can dive deeper into harrowing tales of pirate attacks.

Take a picturesque drive along the coast to Terminos Lagoon, one of over 2,000 sites included on Ramsar Convention’s Wetlands of International Importance. One of the largest and most biologically diverse estuaries in Mexico, the site offers a thrilling spectacle of marine and avian life. Board a small boat at Aguada Island and travel the coastline of Terminos Lagoon in search of the diverse wildlife that call these gorgeous waters home, many of which are endangered. Keep an eye out for jabiru storks, ospreys, crocodiles, hawksbill and green turtles, manatees and bottlenose dolphins.