Mexico Family Holiday
7 Days Starting and ending in Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Visiting: Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Tulum, Laguna Chabela, Izamal, Merida, Plaza de la Independencia, Merida, Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve, Chichen Itza, Piste, Yokdzonot
Tour operator:
Tour code:
QMFA
Specialist Group:
Family/Kids
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 16
Age range:
5-99
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Embark on a captivating Mexico Family Holiday, where adventure and culture await. Begin your journey in the vibrant Playa del Carmen, where you can relax on pristine beaches or explore the underwater wonders of Cozumel. Discover the ancient Maya ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza, marveling at their historical significance. Immerse yourself in the local culture by visiting Maya families, learning to make tortillas, and savoring a traditional pibil feast. Explore the charming city of Merida, with its leafy plazas and vibrant streets, and witness the breathtaking beauty of the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve. Swim in the crystal-clear waters of a cenote, believed to be formed by an ancient asteroid. With private mini-bus transport and family-friendly accommodations, this tour offers a perfect blend of relaxation, exploration, and cultural immersion for families seeking an unforgettable Mexican adventure.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Playa del Carmen
Location: Playa del Carmen, Cozumel
Accommodation: Hacienda Maria Bonita or similar
Accommodation Name: Hacienda Maria Bonita or similar
Meals Included: Dinner
Welcome to Playa del Carmen, Mexico! A great destination for families, you may like to arrive early and explore the local area and some of the many activities on offer. Go snorkelling among the mangroves, relax on white sandy beaches or perhaps take a ferry across to Cozumel to experience some of the fantastic diving on offer. At 5pm you'll meet your group leader for an important welcome meeting at the hotel before heading to a nearby restaurant for an included dinner and the opportunity to get to know the other families travelling in your group.
Day 2: Tulum Day trip
Location: Tulum, Playa del Carmen
Accommodation: Hacienda Maria Bonita or similar
Accommodation Name: Hacienda Maria Bonita or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today, you’ll head down the coast for a daytrip to the Tulum archaeological site, the sprawling walled grounds of a well-preserved ancient Maya city backed by the Caribbean Sea. Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya and stood at the height of its progress during the 13th and 15th centuries and stood for about 70 years after the Spanish occupation began. Get the lay of the land on a guided tour with your leader in the morning, and then spend the afternoon either at the beach or stay in town to perhaps rent some bikes and explore. Return to Playa del Carmen later in the day for a free evening to spend how you’d like.
Included Activities:
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Day 3: Izamal
Location: Laguna Chabela, Izamal
Accommodation: Hotel Tuul or similar
Accommodation Name: Hotel Tuul or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Head inland today to Izamal, stopping first at Laguna Chabela where you’ll meet a local Maya family with deep roots in this small town. On a tour of their farm, you and the kids will see what they grow and learn how they live off the land. You’ll even get the chance to learn how to make Coba-style tortillas and enjoy a traditional lunch.
Onwards to Izamal, you’ll pretty quickly understand why some call it the City of Yellow as you arrive among the many yellow ochre buildings. Take in the town on an orientation walk with your leader and enjoy some free time to explore the town further or have a swim at the hotel.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Merida
Location: Merida, Plaza de la Independencia, Merida
Accommodation: Hotel Dolores Alba or similar
Accommodation Name: Hotel Dolores Alba or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today it's onwards towards Merida, the vibrant capital of the state of Yutacan.
Merida bridges very different cultures, which can perhaps be best absorbed from the city’s focal point – the Plaza de la Independencia. Here you are surrounded by colonial-era buildings, many of which were built with stones from the Maya temples that were here before. Join your leader for an orientation walk around town and a visit to a local Pola ice-cream shop. If you're feeling adventurous you may like to try some traditional Mexican ice-cream flavours - Avocado, blue cheese or camote (sweet potato) ice-cream anyone? We'll also pass by local street vendors where you'll have the opportunity to buy sweet marquesitas to try. Native to Merida, this crepe-like pastry is filled with caramel, jam, chocolate or cheese and rolled up like a taco. Delicious! This rest of the day is free for you to enjoy as you like.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Merida
Location: Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve, Merida
Accommodation: Hotel Dolores Alba or similar
Accommodation Name: Hotel Dolores Alba or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, we travel west to the Gulf of Mexico coast and take a boat ride to visit the Ría Celestún Biosphere Reserve and Bird Sanctuary, home to vast flocks of flamingos and herons. The area is well-known as the first stop of the migratory path of birds heading from North to Central America. If visiting at the right time, you're likely to witness thousands of flamingos painting a pink streak across the landscape. A truly magnificent sight especially with the coconut trees lining the shore of the beachhes nearby. Once you return to Merida, you’ll have some free time to relax. Perhaps take a swim in the hotel pool or embark on one last walk around the town.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Playa del Carmen
Location: Merida, Chichen Itza, Piste, Yokdzonot, Playa del Carmen
Accommodation: Hacienda Maria Bonita or similar
Accommodation Name: Hacienda Maria Bonita or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning we say farewell to Merida to make the return to Playa, but not without a stop at Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site and possibly the most famous Maya temple site in all of Mexico. Marvel at the temple of Kukulkan standing high over the ruins, then explore the nearby ‘ball court’. Disputes were typically settled here by way of a ball game that only used the elbows, hips and wrists – stone carvings depicting violence suggest that it wasn’t a casual or friendly sport.
After your visit, you will get to know a local family over a special lunch in the town of Piste. Here you will enjoy a pibil feast, a traditional Maya style of cooking that involves wrapping food in banana leaves and barbecuing it underground.
Today you will also get the chance to cool off and swim in one of the many hidden cenotes – natural sinkholes created when underground limestone collapses and exposes the groundwater beneath, which are dotted all over the Yucatan peninsula. It’s believed that the peninsula’s vast network of sinkholes responsible for these cenotes is a result of an asteroid that crashed here over 66 million years ago, the same one also believed to have wiped out the dinosaurs. What makes the cenote we visit so special, apart from the lush greenery that surrounds it, is that it was developed by a group of local Mayan women as a sustainable and communally owned source of employment for people in their local community.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Playa del Carmen
Location: Playa del Carmen
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today marks the final day of your Mexico adventure and you’re free to depart with your family at any time. If you need another day by the beach, consider booking additional accommodation. Alternatively, the airport in Cancun is approximately a 1-hour drive away and we can pre-book a departure transfer for you and your family.
What's Included
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Tulum - Archaeological Site
Entrance and national park fee included, no guide provided.
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Laguna Chabela - Mayan homestead visit
Visit a local Mayan homestead at Laguna Chabela.
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Laguna Chavela - Tortilla making demonstration
Participate in a tortilla making demonstration at Laguna Chavela.
What's Not Included
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Guided tours
Guided tours are not included at archaeological sites.
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Personal expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs and additional activities are not included.
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.
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International flights
International flights to and from Mexico are not included.
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Airport transfers
Airport transfers are not included but can be pre-booked.
Included Activities
- Chichen Itza - Archaeological site (Entrance fee, Guide & Transport)
- Merida - Hacienda Sotuta de Peon half-day tour
- Merida - Celestun Biosphere Reserve tour
- Valladolid - Walking tour & market visit
- Tulum – Coba Archaeological site bike tour
Transport
- Private Mini Bus
Accommodation
- GENERAL ROOMING CONFIGURATIONS:
- Family of two: All family groupings of two will be accommodated in a twin room.
- Family of three: Wherever possible we will put you in a triple room. Please be aware that in some places triple rooms are in short supply. This means that a triple room will often be a twin room with a rollaway bed or mattress on the floor. Where triple rooms aren’t available it will be at your discretion which of your family takes the single room.
- Family of four or more: You will most likely be accommodated in two twin rooms. Where possible, we will accommodate your family in a quadruple room.
- While we do our very best to ensure that family groups are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we sometimes have little to no control over the exact placement of rooms within a hotel. Please be understanding if we are unable to room your family in immediate proximity of one another.
Important Information
- 1. Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
- 2. Minimum age: 5 years old. Please note that anyone aged under 18 must be accompanied by (and share accommodation with) a parent or legal guardian.
- 3. A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 or younger at the time of travel.
Mode of Transport
Travel in comfort with a private mini bus, ensuring a smooth and convenient journey throughout your Mexican adventure. This mode of transport allows for flexibility and ease as you explore the beautiful landscapes and cultural sites of Mexico.Accommodation
Families of two will stay in twin rooms, while families of three may be accommodated in triple rooms, often with a rollaway bed. Larger families will likely have two twin rooms, with the possibility of a quadruple room. Adjoining rooms may be arranged, but not guaranteed.Check out our Q&As
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What type of transportation is used during the tour?
The tour uses a private mini bus for transportation.
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What kind of accommodation can families expect on this tour?
Families of two will be accommodated in a twin room. Families of three will be placed in a triple room where possible, which may sometimes be a twin room with a rollaway bed. Families of four or more will likely be accommodated in two twin rooms, and where possible, in a quadruple room. While efforts are made to room family groups close together, this cannot be guaranteed.
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What activities are included in the visit to Tulum?
The visit to Tulum includes a tour of the archaeological site, which is a well-preserved ancient Maya city located by the Caribbean Sea. The entrance and national park fee are included, but there is no guide provided.
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What can we expect during the visit to a local Maya family at Laguna Chabela?
During the visit to Laguna Chabela, you will meet a local Maya family, tour their farm, learn how they live off the land, and participate in a tortilla-making demonstration. You will also enjoy a traditional home-cooked lunch.
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What is special about the cenote visit on the tour?
The cenote visit offers a chance to swim in a natural sinkhole surrounded by lush greenery. This cenote was developed by local Mayan women as a sustainable and communally owned source of employment for their community.
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What is the significance of Chichen Itza on this tour?
Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and possibly the most famous Maya temple site in Mexico. The tour includes a visit to the temple of Kukulkan and the nearby 'ball court'. The entrance fee is included, but there is no guide provided.
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What unique culinary experience is offered at Chichen Itza?
At Chichen Itza, you will enjoy a home-cooked pibil lunch, which is a traditional Maya style of cooking involving wrapping food in banana leaves and barbecuing it underground.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit for future tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions
Enquire for Extra Savings
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