Where do I begin?! My husband and I had the most wonderful day in Tulum as guests of YucaTreks for their "Tulum & Beyond" package. Our hosts for the day, Eder and Cesar, were promptly awaiting our arrival at 7:30am at the foot of our building with big, friendly smiles and a cooler full of beverages and snacks. As luck would have it, the other group of people who were supposed to be in our van for the day, had to cancel last minute so my honey and I ended up having our own private tour!
The morning started off with an informative lesson on the history of the Yucatan and the Mayan culture. It was so interesting to hear about the symbolism of life and death, their agriculture, and geography. Who knew the Maya were so attune with astronomy and mathematics as well! Before I knew it, we were arriving at the entrance of the Tulum Ruins. Since it was still early, the air was cool and comfortable. Eder was prepared with bottled waters, mosquito repellent and sunblock for us to use while we toured the grounds, which was so helpful since we forgot ours. We took a leisurely 5 minute stroll up to the entrance where we were greeted by a coatimundi, a devilishly cute and furry creature, native to the Riviera Maya. (I'd never seen one before!) Once inside, Eder shared an endless wealth of knowledge about the architecture, botany and the ingenuity behind this ancient civilization. It was so nice to be able to explore the ruins without loads of tourists and before the sun got too intense. We got some great photos and stayed relatively cool because we went early...I'd definitely recommend the same.
After we finished up at the ruins, our next stop was at the beautiful Gran Cenote. Eder handed us our own snorkels to use and we were off to explore the stalactites and stalagmites inside the crystal clear waters. There weren't a ton of fish but there was a sectioned off area for the turtles who call the Gran Cenote home. The waters were cool and refreshing after walking around the ruins for the last hour or so. It was also a nice change from the Ik Kil cenote we'd been to a few days prior. Ik kil was much more touristy and crowded but Gran Cenote was very relaxing.
Although we didn't want to leave, we were excited to have lunch on this secluded little beach in Tulum that Eder had told us about. Once we arrived, Eder and Cesar got to work preparing a delicious traditional meal while my hubby and I went for a dip in the ocean. When I tell you how spectacular this little slice of beach was, the best words I could use to describe it are - Corona commercial!! It's truly paradise. Lunch by the waters edge was everything! We noshed on grilled chicken, cabbage coleslaw, salsa, beans, tortillas and fresh guacamole. It was the perfect pit stop to fill up and unwind a bit before the next leg of our adventure.
Cenote Azul was the cherry on top of the day. This is the biggest (most exposed) cenote of the three I've been to and in my opinion, the best. There are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore, there's an array of fish to discover and cliffs to dive off of. And, although it was busy season when we went, the crowd didn't seem overbearing because the cenote is so expansive. I could've stayed there all day but alas, it was time to go yet again.
I must say, as a couple that usually likes to venture off on our own to explore, we truly had a remarkable day with YucaTreks. They were helpful and informational but chill and amicable. This is not your typical tour company! We felt like we were hanging out with friends all day, talking about life, love and Mexico! What an awesome experience, I would definitely try another one of their tours when I return. :) read more