This exclusive private tour ensures you'll be one of the first visitors through the gates to explore the Yucatan's best-preserved archaeological site – the ancient ruins of Tulum. A guided tour is followed by a visit to a Maya community. What's more, you'll get to take a dip in a cenote, too. Benito, one of our local guides, says, ‘Most of Tulum dates from the two centuries before Spanish colonisation, so it's a final snapshot of a doomed civilisation. Among the many things you'll learn is the symbolism behind the deities carved into the temples.'
First up, explore the remains of Tulum. Your expert guide will give show you temples of the Frescoes, the Winds and more. And then there's El Castillo pyramid, whose clifftop location overlooking the Caribbean saw it double as a lighthouse. Nowadays, it's made for Instagram – it's the most photographed location in the Riviera Maya. Gustavo, another of our local guides, says, ‘Tulum is that perfect balance between culture and nature – just look at all the iguanas you'll see lazing around. The ancient Maya appreciated this, and each area represented one of the elements – earth, water, wind and fire.'
Then we'll take some time to look around a Maya village and meet some members of the community. We'll find out about the traditions and customs of the village, before finishing up with a swim in a cenote. These freshwater sinkholes were sacred to the ancient Maya. A bit of snorkelling in this hallowed cavern is the ideal way to round off your experience.
