Top Merida Day Trips - page 5

This was a highlight of my trip to Mexico, Jorge, our driver and guide went over and above to ensure we had an unforgettable day in the Yucatan, treating us like family. Jorge is incredibly knowledgeable about history and wildlife (and in fact anything). He brought the ruins of Uxmal to life, teaching us how to read the symbols and carvings of each building, telling the story that led to the downfall of the Mayan empire. Jorge's storytelling was evidence-based which the whole group enjoyed, focussing on facts and avoiding unsubstantiated claims that we heard other guides repeating. For this reason the tour feels like you are being led around by a true expert (because you are!). Uxmal itself is much quieter than other well-known sites and offers lots of shaded areas under trees to allow some respite from the sun. This makes for a more intimate and relaxing experience. We were then taken for a traditional Mayan lunch which I was very pleased wasn't at a touristy themed venue, but a very real small family restaurant. The food was delicious and healthy and we really enjoyed the two traditional drinks offered with it, an ice hibiscus tea and a barley drink (a bit like horchata if you've tried that). Again Jorge told us the story of the relevance of the ingredients used and how far their use dated back. Next we visited two Cenotes to cool down. The first was I think our favourite out of the 4 we visited during our whole trip. The water was crystal clear, it wasn't too busy and the walls of the Cenote were teaming with wildlife. Life jackets were provided at both, don't hesitate to get in or you will regret it for the rest of your life! Taking this trip is a no brainer, you could certainly get to Uxmal cheaper by yourself, but you would miss out on the story of the site and on meeting a truly inspirational character (Jorge). The transport was very comfortable and air conditioned and his driving made for a relaxing journey.

An incredible experience visiting Chichén Itzá and exploring the ruins. Mauricio was patient, knowledgeable, and shared plenty of useful insights throughout the day. Lunch was buffet-style, though the staff served the food based on what you selected. It was enjoyable for what it was. The cenote was a highlight—the swim was refreshing and well worth it. Izamal, however, could have been skipped. By that point, it had been a long day and most of us were ready to head back to the hotel.

This was a fantasy experience and tour of the biosphere here in the Yucatán. I could not imagine coming to this area with such rich biodiversity and not seeing some of it firsthand. We saw Flamingos in flight which is rare. We saw crocodiles, other water foul, and the mangrove forests. Our guide Rodrigo was fantastic and we later took some time on the beach. I highly recommend the tour as it offers something very different than the others.