Tours in the Yucatan


If you're coming to the Yucatán, there are many ways to get around and explore what the Peninsula has to offer. Chances are, if your first destination is a large hotel in Cancún, you will be touring with one of the larger corporate charters in an air-conditioned bus, staying at prearranged hotels along the way.

If you are a more independent traveler and coming to Mérida or the surrounding area on your own, there are a number of attractive options for personalized travel and tour services that will help you make the most of your Yucatán adventure. There are travel agencies and tour operators based in Mérida that can arrange anything you can imagine, or provide you with a structured itinerary.

An easy introduction to the city of Mérida is the open-air bus tour that leaves every day from Santa Lucía Park at the southwest corner of Calle 60 and Calle 55. The bus leaves at 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm daily and the tour lasts about 1.5 hours and costs $75 pesos. On board, a guide will point out and explain the stops along the way, although sometimes he talks so fast, it's hard to get it all! The tour starts downtown, goes up Paseo de Montejo, past an old 15th century neighborhood church, past many old mansions on Avenue Colón, south to the church of San Sebastian, through the San Juan Arch and back to where it started. Halfway through the tour, the bus will stop at Parque de las Americas where you can get out and stretch your legs.

A wonderful tour to see a real live hacienda at work visit Hacienda Sotuta de Peón. During the 2.5 hour tour, the guests will learn about the origins of henequen, a Mayan home, three cenotes and if you like, you can go to the restaurant and savor the Yucatecan cuisine they specialize in.

One of the most delicious things to do in Mérida is the Tasting and Yucatecan Gastronomy Tour. On this tour you will have the opportunity to visit 17th Century haciendas located in and near Mérida and partake of the liqueurs and foods of the Yucatán. The Tasting Tour takes place at the 17th century hacienda artisan distillery Aristi and the Gastronomy part takes place at the renowned Hacienda Teya.

For more extensive tours, such as a day trip to Chichén Itzá or a private tour of the local haciendas, contact one of the tour operators listed below or on our list of travel agencies. Most of them provide personalized bilingual (English and Spanish) travel services.

Day trips to popular destinations like Chichén Itzá, Celestún or Uxmal are easy to sign up for and cost about $40 USD per day. Want to go scuba diving in Cancún or go rock climbing in a cenote? Want to book an airline ticket to another Mexican city or a day trip to the town of Izamal? A travel agency can work it out for you. Or if you have your own ideas about what you want to do, but would like a tour guide and a driver, an agency can arrange that as well.

A typical day trip to Chichén Itzá starts out at 9 am when the tour guide picks you up at your hotel in an air-conditioned van. You may be accompanied by up to 10 people. Included in the price is the entrance fee at the ruins, the guided tour in English or Spanish, lunch with folkloric dancing and the drop-off at 5 pm at the door of your hotel. Tips for the guide are usually not included, so if you liked your guide, be sure to tip him. 50 to 100 pesos per person is a reasonable and much-appreciated gesture.

For the more adventurous traveler, consider Ecotourismo Yucatan. Ecotourismo Yucatan specializes in trips to the more out-of-the-way places on the peninsula, while Bike Mexico takes small groups of cycling enthusiasts on challenging rides. If cycling, kayaking, rock climbing and camping appeal to you, check out these tour experiences.

The guides for private tour groups such as these usually speak English as their first language, and their knowledge will add to your travel experience. The costs of the package may help you save money on your trip as well.

Recommended travel agents and tour operators:

ADVENTURES MEXICO
Calle 10 No. 374 Pedregales de Tanlum

Tel: (999) 925 1700

Fax: (999) 925 1700


E-mail: info@adventures-mexico.com
Website: www.adventures-mexico.com

BALAMKAAN TOURS WITH CONSCIOUSNESS
Cel. 9991 03 5750, 9999 05 39 26
www.balamkaan.com

CATHERWOOD TRAVELS
Tel: (999) 920 2632

Toll Free USA: 1 800 499 3225
Toll Free Mexico: 01 800 823 0585
Email: reservations@catherwoodtravels.com
Web: www.catherwoodtravels.com

ECOTURISMO YUCATAN

Calle 3 #235 between 32-A and 34, 
Col. Pensiones

Tel: (999) 920-2772

Fax: (999) 925 9047

E-Mail: info@ecoyuc.com
Website: www.ecoyuc.com.mx

MAYAN ECOTOURS
Calle 80 No. 561 x 13-1 Col. Pensiones 6 Etapa
Tel: (999) 987 3710
Cel. (999) 243 1489
E-mail: info@mayanecotours.com
Website: www.mayanecotours.com

MAYAN HERITAGE 

Calle 62 #471 Depto 2 x 55 y 57, Centro
Tel: (999) 924 8283
Cel: (999) 900 6154
E-mail: gerencia@mayanheritage.com.mx
Web: www.mayanheritage.com.mx

MEXIGOTOURS
Calle 43 x 40 y 42, Centro, Valladolid
Tel: (985) 856 0777
www.mexigotours.com

ORBITUR

Calle 6 #480 between 19 and Av. Colon, Col. García Ginerés

Tel: (999) 920 3085

Website: www.orbitur.com.mx

ROYAL TRAVEL

Calle 41 No. 522 between 72 and 74 Downtown.
Tel: (999) 920 3831
In Mexico: 01 800 7018737

From the US: 1 (626) 243 2971
E-mail: royaltravel@prodigy.net.mx
Website: www.operadoraroyal.com.mx

TURITRANSMERIDA

Calle 55 #495A x 58, 
Centro
Tel: (999) 924 1199

Fax: (999) 928 1871
Email: operaciones@turitransmerida.com.mx
Web: www.turitransmerida.com.mx

WILLIAM LAWSON'S YUCATÁN EXCURSIONS
Cel. (999) 947 7599
Email: lawson_william@hotmail.com
Web: http://lawsonsdriving.blogspot.com/

YUCATAN CONNECTION
Tel: (999) 922 0565
Cel: (999) 163 8224 

Email: info@yucatan-connection.com
Website: www.yucatan-connection.com