Tours in Yucatán

If you are coming to Yucatán, there are many ways to explore what the peninsula has to offer. Tours with major tour companies in an air-conditioned bus, staying in hotels reserved ahead of time, or if you are a more independent traveler coming to Mérida or Yucatán, there are various attractive options for personalized trip services which will offer you a better experience here. There are travel agencies in Mérida who can arrange whatever you can imagine, or offer you a structured itinerary.

Many people ask what are the “must-see’s” in Yucatán, and this depends on the time that you decide to spend in our state. And when it comes time to return home, you will probably agree that the best part of your trip was the Yucatecan people.

Here are our suggestions:

Mérida

If you are here for two to three days, you should definitely take a city bus tour, your best option in time and cost.

– The other option is the double-decker Turibus with continuous stops at various points in the city center, and the cost is 120 pesos for adults and 50 pesos for children.

– You can also enjoy a guided walking tour in the historic center of Mérida, free, every day at 9 am at the Palacio Municipal on the main plaza.

Archaeological zones

In Yucatán everything is close by, so you won’t need to drive for more than 2 hours to get anywhere. You can see the Maya sites in three ways: taking a tour, driving yourself, or taking a public bus. The closest site to Mérida is Dzibilchaltún, only 20 minutes away, where you can also swim in their open cenote. If you have more time you can venture to the classic sites of Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, or the Puuc Route. A typical day trip to Chichén Itzá begins at 9 am when the guide picks you up from your hotel in an air-conditioned van. You may be accompanied by up to 10 people. Included in the price is the entrance to the site, the guided tour in English or Spanish, lunch with folkloric dances, and return to the door of your hotel at 5 pm. The tip for the guide is not included, so be sure to tip from 50 to 100 pesos per person, a reasonable and much appreciated amount.

Beaches and flamingos

Day trips to popular destinations such as Progreso, Celestún, or Río Lagartos are easy to buy, and to get there you can take a tour, drive, or take a bus. Our beaches are safe and tranquil, with the true flavor of a typical port town. Only in Progreso will you see more tourism because it is a cruise ship port. To see flamingos, in general there are more in Celestún in the fall and winter, and in spring and summer there are more in Río Lagartos.

Colonial cities

Definitely Valladolid and Izamal will steal your heart, and both are “magical towns”. The location of both is strategic for spending the night and visiting other places. You can get there on a tour, driving, or take a bus. These cities plus many others will be your reward if you travel along the free roads (not the toll road), being sure to take the turn-offs into the pueblos. These back roads are essential for seeing everything our state has to offer. The main focal points of each and every colonial town or city are the churches, parks, and individual flavor of each one. You may also fall in love with the historic convents…and for this we recommend the Convent Route.

The haciendas

Yucatán heritage, something unique to our region, the haciendas which have been restored are a true jewel that should not be lost. We can divide them into 3 categories: hacienda hotels, hacienda restaurants, and hacienda tours. If you are not a guest at one of the hacienda hotels, you will only have access to hacienda restaurants and tours. There are many haciendas where you can enjoy a buffet lunch or a five star dinner. And if you want to learn about the splendor of a hacienda and how it functioned as if it were 1900, we suggest a visit to Hacienda Sotuta de Peón, the only living henequén hacienda in Yucatán. You can also visit a hacienda museum, frozen in time, at Hacienda Yaxcopoil.

Ecotourism

In Yucatán the main ecotourism attraction is the cenotes. We have infinite cenote visiting options, from the classic truck tour in Cuzamá where you can swim in three different cenotes, to more private off-the-beaten path cenotes. You can visit on your own or take a tour or guide. Our caves are another magical attraction, and there is something for every age and level of expertise. The options are unlimited!

Contact the tour operators below. They offer tours in English and Spanish, and some offer other languages as well.

Travel agencies / tours / private driving service:

ADVENTURES MEXICO
Calle 10 #374 Pedregales de Tanlum , Mérida
Tel: 999 925 1700
[email protected]
www.adventures-mexico.com

CATHERWOOD TRAVELS
Tel. 999 920 2632
Toll Free USA: 1 800 499 3225
Toll Free Mexico: 01 800 823 0585
[email protected]
www.catherwoodtravels.com

CO’OX MAYAB TURISMO ALTERNATIVO
Cel. + 52 1 999 447 8395
www.cooxmayab.com
FB: Co’ox Mayab

DESTINO MERIDA PRIVATE TOURS
WhatsApp: 999 261 6126
[email protected]
www.destinomeridatours.com

ECOTURISMO YUCATAN
Calle 3 #235 x 32-A y 34, Col. Pensiones, Mérida
Tel. 999 920 2772
Tel. 999 920 2742
[email protected]
www.ecoyuc.com.mx

FRONTERAS DE ECOTURISMO
Cel. 999 127 1685
[email protected]
FB: Fronteras de Ecoturismo

GRAY LINE YUCATÁN
Toll free: 01 800 719 5465
www.graylineyucatan.com

LAWSON’S ORIGINAL YUCATÁN EXCURSIONS
[email protected]
www.lawsonsyucatanexcursions.com

MAYAN ECOTOURS
Calle 51 # 488 x 56 y 54, Centro
Tel. 999 987 3710
Cel. 999 105 4614
[email protected]
www.mayanecotours.com

MAYAN HERITAGE
Calle 79 518 D, Centro
Tel. 999 924 8283
Tel. 999 924 8284
[email protected]
www.mayanheritage.com.mx