Nat Geo Day Tour: Exploring the Underworld and Mayan Culture
Activities

Nat Geo Day Tour: Exploring the Underworld and Mayan Culture

Free cancellation
Language: Spanish, English
Mobile voucher accepted
Duration: from 4 hours to 8 hours

This experience meets the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria. By choosing this experience you can protect the places you love, care for the environment and support local communities.

Do this because
  • The ancient Maya believed that cenotes were portals to the underworld. On this National Geographic tour you'll learn more from specialist guides and enjoy private access to a newly discovered cenote, walk the Maya Path of Xibalba and feast on local dishes
  • Your National Geographic-trained guides are specialists in Maya culture and heritage. As descendants of the Maya, they possess extensive knowledge and can provide insight into the traditions and beliefs of ancient Maya society
  • Walk the Maya Path to experience the journey of Maya gods through Xibalba – the gate to an unknown underground world
  • Take a purifying plunge in the cenotes revered by the Maya, a unique opportunity to connect with ancient rituals
  • Get a taste of Mexican cuisine by indulging in traditional local dishes for lunch
What to expect

When you imagine the ancient Mayans peering into mysteriously deep and limpid underground pools, it's easy to see how they came to believe these cenotes were windows to the underworld. This National Geographic Day Tour is a journey into the deepest aspects of Mayan culture, bridging the gap between the tempting beauty of the cenotes the region is so famous for, and the significance they hold in local tradition.

You'll begin the day with a descent into either Abuelo or Zoi Che cenote, where you can choose to enjoy a cooling dip. These water-filled caverns offer a tangible connection to the Mayan way of life. Your National Geographic-trained guide will explain how the fresh water of cenotes was crucial for the survival of Mayan settlements, especially given the scarcity of rivers and lakes in the Yucatan. As well as their spiritual status, the guide will also describe the Mayan concept of the underworld, or Xibalba, and it's nine layered structure which is reflected in many of Mexico's Mayan pyramids.

Next, you'll take a guided stroll along the Mayan Path of Xibalba where thirteen representations of Mayan gods punctuate the route, and your guide will unravel their stories on the way. National Geographic guests will have private access to the park's recently discovered fifth cenote, steeped in the aura of the ancient world.

After your exploration of the connection between cenotes and Mayan culture and beliefs, it's time to relax over a traditional homemade local lunch, a homage to the region's culinary heritage.

Read more
What's included
  • check Transport
  • check Guide
  • check Admission fees
  • check Lunch
  • check Soft drinks
  • check Lifejacket
What to remember
  • Height, weight and/or age restrictions may apply
  • Bring bathing gear and sunblock
  • Bring a towel
  • Not suitable for wheelchairs
Read more
Provider
TUI MEXICANA SA DE CV
Booking fee
Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 1 day before the experience begins.

What people say about this experience

0%
0%
0%
0%
0%

You might also like

Playa del Carmen Coco Bongo Tickets
Excursions & day trips

Playa del Carmen Coco Bongo Tickets

Party the night away at Playa del Carmen's legendary Coco Bongo nightclub, where a Vegas-style extravaganza awaits. In a four-hour show featuring dancers, performers, acrobats and singers, you'll be swept away by the club's dazzling nighttime atmosphere. There are five options to choose from – Regular, Gold Member, Silver Member, Front Row and Ladies Night.The fun starts as soon as you're dropped off at Coco Bongo. Well-known for its glittering performances and music that's sure to keep you on the dancefloor. Once the lights are dimmed, the show truly gets started with glittering confetti falling from the sky and tribute acts taking to the stage bringing the best of Madonna, Michael Jackson and Beyoncé to you.Choose from five options:Regular – Standing only entry ticket with snack and open barGold Member – Separate fast-track Gold Member entrance, with reserved seating, snack and open barSilver Member - Silver Entrance, premium bar with one snack to choose, no seat (one mini hamburger, one hotdog, french fries or nachos)Front Row Ticket – Reserved front row seating area with snack and open bar

free cancellation
Available in:

de, es, en, fr, nl 

Snorkelling with Turtles and Cenote Swim in Riviera Maya
Activities

Snorkelling with Turtles and Cenote Swim in Riviera Maya

For an amazing underwater adventure, this half-day tour into the heart of the Mexican jungle and the Caribbean reef is a must-do. You'll swim in the mystical surroundings of a cenote and snorkel with turtles in the Caribbean during an action-packed morning in the Riviera Maya.

free cancellation
Available in:

de, es, en, fr, nl 

Xplor Tour with Rafting & Ziplining
Activities

Xplor Tour with Rafting & Ziplining

If you're in search of a holiday experience that'll get your heart pounding, then a day at Xplor is just what you need. Ziplines, 4x4 jungle trails, underground pools, rafting through caves – and that's only the beginning. Bring out your inner Tarzan and enjoy an action-packed day in Cancun.Heading deep into the Riviera Maya jungle, you'll discover a land of adrenaline-pumping opportunities. Soar through the treetops on ziplines as high as 45 metres – the height of an 11-storey building – then back on solid ground, you'll get behind the wheel of a 4x4 to rev your way through the rainforest.Your journey will also bring a few surprises along the way, with a chance to swim and raft in an ancient cenote – an underground cavernous pool – where you'll use your hands to propel you through the water as you admire stalactite spears that have formed on the roof. To bring your day to an end with a splash, you'll zoom through the sky in a hammock and land in the refreshing cenote water. Make sure to bring a digital copy of your voucher to get a 50% discount on your photo package. That way, you can prove to anyone you've overcome your greatest fears.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Nat Geo Day Tour: Unveiling the Importance of Cancun’s Reef Restoration
Excursions & day trips

Nat Geo Day Tour: Unveiling the Importance of Cancun’s Reef Restoration

Explore the wonders of the Mesoamerican Reef System on this exclusive National Geographic Day Tour. Led by marine specialists, you will have the unique opportunity to snorkel and witness the impact of humanity on the reef and see coral bleaching. This is followed by an insightful talk on actionable steps for reef restoration.Setting sail when the waters are at their calmest, you'll venture to two different reefs, each affected by bleaching due to global warming, water pollution, and microplastics. Visit the reef known as “El Meco”, which boasts the youngest corals, making it a particularly special attraction.The boats used for the tour are certified by Blue Flag for sustainable tourism, ensuring your voyage aligns with eco-conscious practices. Along the way, you'll also get to know the local fauna and savour samples of traditional snacks including Kibi.During this tour, you will be inspired to protect these marine ecosystems, which is the aim of the National Geographic-sponsored Pristine Seas project. This project has carried out expeditions to Banco Chinchorro, a significant part of the Mesoamerican Reef System. This project's work underscores the importance of safeguarding marine environments from human influence while protecting the last wild places in our oceans.By joining this tour, you will engage with the vital importance of preserving and protecting the precious Mesoamerican Reef System. See for yourself the marvels of the ocean and gain a profound understanding of coral reefs and their critical role in the biosphere.

free cancellation
Available in:

es, en 

Mayan village evening tour from Riviera Maya in Mexico
Activities

Mayan village evening tour from Riviera Maya in Mexico

Spend an evening with a small Mayan community to learn about their lifestyle and traditions on this half-day tour. You'll begin with a tour of the village, before learning how to make tortillas the traditional way. Next, you'll take part in the temazcal ceremony, a sacred purification ceremony which takes place in a volcanic stone steam bath. Then, you'll have time for a nighttime dip in the community cenote, and, to round the evening off, you'll tuck into some traditional Mayan dishes for dinner.

free cancellation
Available in:

es, en, fr 

Xcaret Eco Archaeological Park Tour
Excursions & day trips

Xcaret Eco Archaeological Park Tour

Experiences for all the family, traditional food, jungle trails, culture and nature – Xcaret has it all. This eco-archaeological park is like nothing else in the Riviera Maya. Located by the sea near Cancun, Xcaret boasts more than 50 attractions that take you through the heart of the jungle in many different ways.

free cancellation
Available in:

es, en 

Priority Tickets to Xel-Há Park with Transfer and Lunch
Activities

Priority Tickets to Xel-Há Park with Transfer and Lunch

Xel-Há is the stuff of fantasy. Limpid lagoons with shades of sapphire, jade and aquamarine surrounded by tropical jungle and mangroves. It's bursting with natural beauty and exciting things to do, making it one of the most appealing Riviera Maya destinations. Swim, snorkel, zipline and soak up the atmosphere of this tropical adventure park.Discover mystical caves in the jungle, snorkel down the river as you admire the surrounding wildlife, jump five metres into the water beneath you and zipline across the river – Xel-Há is 100% pure excitement. You'll also be able to relax in the calming surroundings of unspoiled nature or walk, cycle and take the mini-train along jungle paths to admire species of flora and fauna in their natural habitat.Last but not least, there are four restaurants serving local dishes. And you can learn all about the Maya legends surrounding Xel-Há, too. It's a place of wonder and beauty, where you and all the family can experience a wild time immersed in nature. You can also take advantage of up to 50% off selected Dream activities such as Zip Bikes and Ray Encounters, as well as photo packages. And with exclusive tour, you'll enjoy an exclusive transfer and priority access.

free cancellation
Available in:

en 

Chichen Itza and Valladolid full-day tour with Cenote swim and lunch
Attractions & guided tours

Chichen Itza and Valladolid full-day tour with Cenote swim and lunch

Discover the main archaeological site of the Yucatan Peninsula on this full-day tour to Chichen Itza. Also, you will swim in a sacred cenote, and explore the colonial town of Valladolid.

free cancellation
Available in:

en, es 

Delphinus Dolphin Experiences at Riviera Maya
Activities

Delphinus Dolphin Experiences at Riviera Maya

Swimming with dolphins is the stuff holiday dreams are made of. Put a big tick on your bucket list with the range of experiences on offer at Delphinus. From couple's swims and one-on-one interactions, to family options for up to eight of your nearest and dearest, Delphinus' team of experts will help you make memories in Mexico that'll last a lifetime.

free cancellation
Available in:

es, en 

Holbox Island Boat and Buggy Tour from Chiquila
Excursions & day trips

Holbox Island Boat and Buggy Tour from Chiquila

Holbox Island offers 36km of pristine white beaches washed by emerald green seas. On this exclusive TUI excursion, you'll tour spots like Isla Pasion and Punta Mosquito on a private boat, enjoy lunch at a five-star eco resort and more. And there's also golf buggy tour of the island to look forward to.

free cancellation
Available in:

de, es, en, fr, nl, +1  pl