Top Merida Day Trips - page 8

We really enjoyed the tour with Anel and Roberto. Anel was really knowledgeable and kept us all well informed on where to meet etc. The tour of Chichen Itza itself was good, and the archeological area is quite big so our free time went very quickly. The cenote was great, if a little busy, but that's to be expected. There wasn't any waiting around, everything was ran really efficiently. Lunch is a buffet and you can go up multiple times if you want, so good value. Izamal as the final stop was a nice way to finish, with another Mayan ruin that you can even climb.

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.

Excellent trip. Our guide was very informative & helpfull. Saw lots of Racoons at the centre & lizards then went on the boat tour to see a huge flock of Flamingos who seemed unbothered by us coming in really close. Saw other birds such as spoonbills & a couple of crocodiles, boat went through mangrove forest like a tunnel to a fresh water spring where you could bathe but.... beware a resident crocodile so probably not recommended. This was followed by lunch & beach time.