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The Journey Begins - pack your bags

Playa Del Carmen & Mayan Night Show - first & last night

~ Fiesta time for the culturally curious traveler ~

All participants should arrive and depart from Cancun International Airport. Once in Cancun you will seek transportation of your choice to Playa Del Carmen. We recommend the $7u.s. bus ride. Playa Del Carmen, or just 'Playa' as it is colloquially referred to, is the center of the Riviera Maya and home to some of the most beautiful white sand beaches and turquoise water. Come see for yourself why people all around the world rave about Playa's Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, a pedestrian walkway located just one block inland from the beach, and lined with boutiques, hotels, shops, bars and restaurants. Playa's small town charm draws from a mix of European, Spanish and indigenous influences to offer a truly cultural experience on the Caribbean Coast.

A Mayan-themed "ecological theme park", Xcaret ("e-shcaret") will be one of our stops on this 8-day journey. In the late afternoon we will venture into Xcaret where we will be greeted by the sounds of tankules (wooden drums) that resound through the afternoon silence. We will follow a stone path through the jungle that will lead us to a Mayan ball game court. There we will watch a reenactment of the pre-Hispanic ball game played by the Maya. At sunset, we will tantalize our taste buds with a traditional dinner and be spectators of the best folklore show in Mexico and the best known worldwide. It is a splendid feast of color, sound and traditions.

Laguna Bacalar, Mayan Ruins & Enchanted Ranch - three nights

~ A tropical haven located on the edge of the 'Lagoon of seven colors' ~

The Enchanted Ranch eco-resort will be our home base as we explore the Lagoon of Bacalar, 50 miles of turquoise water extending through a tropical haven.  We will venture into Bacalar´s crystal clear water by kayak and catamaran to retrace the trading routes of the ancient Mayas and to explore the labyrinth of mangroves – a paradise for birding. Laguna Bacalar is the second largest sweet water lake in Mexico and still the best-kept secret.  It is located in the southern part of the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico , just 3 hours from Cancun, and it sits near the coast just before Belize and the river that divides Belize from Mexico. Bacalar lagoon is linked to the Rio Hondo by the Chaac canal. The perfect place to access the mayan ruins of Kohunlich and Chacchoben.

Rancho Encantado has twelve beautifully designed private cottages, which are appointed with native mahogany and cedar or traditional palm-thatched ceilings, Mexican tile and handcrafted furniture. Each casita has a living room and patio porch opening onto the gardens and lagoon. All have convenience kitchenettes and electric coffee makers. Bathrooms are American-style with tiled showers. Laguna Bacalar creates a perfect backdrop for this paradise. An outdoor Jacuzzi provides an area for rejuvenating and a large thatched open-air palapa allows for group activities such as yoga, music, dance, and meditation. Outdoor activities include kayaking, snorkeling, nature & archeology explorations, and trips by catamaran. In addition, sailing & scuba diving lessons available upon special request for an additional cost.

Majahual & Barrier Reef - two nights

We will stay at one of the lovely beach front resorts just south of town, where we will have access to Mahahual's most lovely soft sand beaches and the second larges coral reef, which is just a short distance off-shore. There really aren't words to describe the experience of the reef - you'll just have come see for yourself! We will spend our days exploring the reef by kayak and snorkeling and just plain relaxing! Daily yoga & free diving lesson will be offered. Outings into town will be available for those who want to visit the local bars, restaurants, and shops. The center has a central plaza with saltwater pools and "swim-up" style bars. There are several jewelry stores and many small shops selling local souvenirs.

For those who have a desire for scuba diving adventurse, we will be able to offer you the best rates so you can visit Banco Chinchorro. Banci Chinchorro is the largest coral reef atoll in the Great Maya Reef and has been declared a marine sanctuary by the Mexican government. Limited access means that very few divers have had the opportunity to visit this underwater wonderland, which is located approximately 30 kms from the mainland.  Chinchorro covers approx. 800 square kilometers (300 sq. miles), and is comprised of three small keys, Cayo Norte, Cayo Centro, and Cayo Lobo. The water inside the barrier reef is 3 to 5 meters deep (10 to 15 feet); beyond the outer reef are a variety of dive sites from 10 to 40 meters in depth (30 to 130 feet). It is the perfect place for divers and snorkels alike as most sites are along walls that offer shallow enough water for the snorkler and plenty of depth for the diver.

DAY 1:  Arrive in Cancun and seek transportation of your choice to the tourist hotspot Playa Del Carmen. We have made reservations for you at one of the beautiful beach resorts. That evening we will breathe in the ocean breeze  & go over our travel and adventure plans.

DAY 2: The adventure begins! We will travel three hours south to Laguna Bacalar where you can settle into your casita at the Enchanted Ranch. Take your pick; take a rejuvenating dip in the lagoon, relax in the hot tub, or unwind with some gentle yoga. In the late afternoon we will journey by catamaran & kayak to explore two narrow rivers; the river of rapids and the jungle river. In the evening, we will return to our Enchanted Ranch for a gourmet Mexican style dinner and a restful nights sleep.

DAY 3: Explore the cultural richness of the Yucatan. We will visit the ruins of the ancient Maya, stop-in at a traditional & sustainable gum plantation and swim the rejuvenating cenotes, a system of underground fresh water caves. That evening will relax and to enjoy another night at the Enchanted Ranch. Those who desire can partake in a traditional Mayan sweat ceremony.

DAY 4:  Explore the Mayan trading routes of the Mayas. We arrive by motorboat to the mouth of a maze of mangrove channels that we will navigate by kayak. Paddling with the tide, we will be in no rush and there will be plenty of time of refreshing swims in the crystal clear water. This will be a birders paradise! If we continued for a few days we would end in Belize, but this time we will beach at a shaded limestone flat for lunch. From the resting spot we can continue on a walking tour through the tropical jungle and swim in a fresh water cenote.  Once again returning to our Enchanted Ranch.

DAY 5: Today we journey 2-hours by van to arrive at the fishing village of Majahual. We will have access to one of the hottest diving spots, Banco Chinchoro and the second largest barrier reef. Hear we snorkel to the most enchanting white sandy beaches and discover the aquatic world below. This could be the day you drink fresh coconut water or try a fresh fish ceveche. We will stay at a lovely beachfront resort just outside of town.

DAY 6: We will enjoy a full day in Majahual kayaking the inner reef zone and picnicking on a remote beach. Those who wish can stay at the resort to take in sun and relaxing sounds of the ocean or venture into town. The evening will be fruitfully spent watching the sunset from the beach ta our resort.

DAY 7: Before heading back to playa, you might take one more dip into the refreshing Caribbean or take a morning stroll down the beach looking for shells. After breakfast we will journey 3-hours by van to Playa Del Carmen. In the Evening, we will venture to Xcaret and enjoy dinner and the most talked about musical & theatrical show of the history and beauty of Mexico.

DAY 8: Concludes the guided portion of your trip. Depending on your departure time you could walk the streets, eat fresh fruit and maybe even find a little something special for those back home awaiting your return. Blue Waters Kayaking is more than happy to give travel advise for those who plan to stay in the area longer. Those who are returning home can seek transportation of their choice to Cancun International airport to return home.