- Tour code
MEXADV01
- Start
Tulum
- End
Cancún
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
The first days belong to Tulum. You'll snorkel in calm Caribbean water, walk among Maya ruins perched on the cliffs above the sea, and swim off a white-sand beach nearby.
Then the trip heads inland. A protected reserve introduces you to local wildlife and the conservation work tied to nearby communities. That night you sleep at a jungle camp beside its own cenote, after a blessing ceremony and a dinner shared with local people.
Next comes the adrenaline: a descent into a cenote cavern for a swim and a zipline over a lagoon. From the colonial town of Valladolid you'll reach one of the Maya world's great ancient cities early in the day, then explore the town's colorful streets and sample Mexico's signature spirit.
The final stretch is all coast. Boat through the Ría Lagartos reserve to look for flamingos, then cross to Holbox for sandy streets, sunset drinks, a snorkeling trip, a fishing lesson that ends with a meal made from your catch, and a last dinner together. Your Soca Islands Host is with the group throughout.
Why This Journey
The Yucatán Peninsula is far more than its resort strip. This route starts on the beach in Tulum but quickly moves into the Maya heartland: cenotes, jungle, a colonial town, ancient cities and a fishing island with no cars on its sandy streets.
It suits travelers who want sun and swimming alongside real culture and a bit of adrenaline, and who like the idea of a night in the jungle and a dinner shared with a local community. By the end, you'll have seen the Caribbean coast, the interior and the Gulf side of the peninsula in a single week.
Where You'll Stay
Tulum (2 nights): Kimpton Aluna Tulum. Jungle camp (1 night): beside a private cenote in the reserve. Valladolid (2 nights): Zentik Project Boutique Hotel & Spa. Río Lagartos (1 night): Hotel Río Lagartos, on the waterfront facing the ría. Holbox (2 nights): Casa Las Tortugas Petit Beach Hotel & Spa, on the beach. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into Cancún International Airport (CUN) or Tulum International Airport (TQO), and out of Cancún International Airport (CUN). Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Wake up in a treetop tent in the jungle, steps from a private cenote
Rope down 40 feet into a cavern cenote and swim in the pool below
Stay at a boutique hotel tucked into Tulum's rainforest
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Max 16 travellers per group
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities and drinks during free time
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Your trip starts on Mexico's Caribbean coast. A private transfer brings you to Tulum, an easygoing beach town where the jungle runs right down to the sea.
Tonight you'll meet your Soca Islands Host and the rest of the group over a Yucatán-style dinner, with a margarita to get things going.
Get in the water early. The morning is a snorkeling session in clear, calm Caribbean water, with a chance to see marine life up close.
Later you'll walk among Maya ruins set high on the cliffs over the sea, one of the most photographed views on this coast, then cool off at a white-sand beach close by.
Head into a protected nature reserve to look for wildlife and hear how conservation here supports the communities who live alongside it.
By evening you're at a jungle camp, where your bed sits among the trees and a quiet cenote is waiting for a swim. A local spiritual guide leads the group through a traditional blessing ceremony, and afterwards dinner is shared with members of the community.
The morning takes you through the jungle to a secluded cenote. You'll make your way down into it and swim in water clear enough to see the rock beneath you.
Next, a zipline sends you flying across a nearby lagoon. Afterwards the group continues to Valladolid, a colonial town of pastel facades, shady plazas and slow, easy streets.
Set the alarm. You'll arrive early, ahead of the crowds and the midday heat, at one of the world's best-known ancient sites and walk among the temples and plazas of a Maya city that once thrived here.
Back in town, a guided outing shows you the streets from a local's point of view, and the day finishes with a tasting of Mexico's signature spirit.
Board a boat into a protected coastal reserve, where you may see flocks of flamingos feeding in the shallows.
With the boat ride done, the rest of the day is for a nearby beach and doing very little.
On the way, stop at a colorful cemetery that holds real cultural meaning for the region.
Then it's over to Holbox, a small, laid-back island that runs at its own slow rhythm. The afternoon is unscheduled: explore on your own, settle in by the water, or find a good spot for a sunset drink.
A boat trip takes you out to snorkel among the island's marine life.
You'll also learn traditional fishing methods, and whatever the group lands becomes a freshly cooked meal. Tonight is the farewell dinner, a chance to swap favorite moments from the trip.
Today a transfer takes you to the airport for your flight home, with sand still in your bag and a few new friends in your phone.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Kimpton Aluna Tulum
A design-led hotel in Tulum with 78 rooms and suites, each with a private terrace, a short drive from the beaches and the clifftop Tulum ruins.
Two outdoor pools, a pool bar and a rooftop bar give the group places to gather between snorkeling and sightseeing.
Zentik Project Boutique Hotel & Spa
A small boutique hotel on Calle 30 in Valladolid, with Maya-style cabin rooms, some designed by artists, set in tropical gardens a short ride from the town's main square.
There's an on-site restaurant and spa, a calm base for the early start to the ancient city and the evening tasting in town.
Hotel websiteHotel Río Lagartos
A waterfront hotel near the start of the malecón in Río Lagartos, facing the ría, with its own pier a few minutes from where the flamingo boats leave.
There are 30 rooms with sea or garden views, a pool, a restaurant and a rooftop terrace, the highest point in town, with views over the ría and the sea at sunset.
Hotel websiteCasa Las Tortugas Petit Beach Hotel & Spa
A 30-room beach hotel on Isla Holbox, right on the sand and a short walk along the shore from the sandy streets and plaza of the village.
It has a spa and beachfront setting suited to the slow pace of the last days of the trip, with sunsets over the water close by.
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$1,335 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Apr 24, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into either Cancún International Airport (CUN) or Tulum International Airport (TQO) and out of Cancún International Airport (CUN).
Proposed accommodation is Kimpton Aluna Tulum in Tulum, Zentik Project Boutique Hotel & Spa in Valladolid, Hotel Río Lagartos in Río Lagartos and Casa Las Tortugas Petit Beach Hotel & Spa on Holbox (or similar hotels), subject to confirmation. Night 3 is at a jungle camp beside a cenote.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
8 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners are included, as described in the itinerary. Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our Mexico Dreaming: Tulum to Holbox trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
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