The Ultimate Adventure in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula

A reasonable level of general fitness and a sense of adventure is required. None of the activities are particularly strenuous, but expect some busy days with a mix of hiking, kayaking, swimming, snorkelling and sightseeing at different points across the itinerary. No prior experience is needed for any of the activities, but you must be able to swim and be comfortable in the water as well as on a bike (in Coba, you can choose to walk instead of cycling if preferred). You'll spend plenty of time at archaeological sites, in the jungle and among tropical foliage, so although you won't be at high altitude or on difficult terrain, the heat and humidity may make the days more tiring than expected. The swimming at various cenotes will be easy and you can choose to be as active as you wish in many spots. There will be some early starts to beat the heat and the crowds, but you'll also have some opportunities to have a lie-in or to relax at the comfortable hotels, by the pool or at the beach.

Marta Marinelli, raised in Italy’s serene Prosecco Hills, dreamt of global adventures, inspired by her father's travel stories. Her passion evolved into a career, backed by a decade of studies including degrees in international tourism and destination management. She’s worked in the adventure travel sector since 2012, living in Italy, the UK, and now sunny Portugal.

Over twenty years, Marta has explored over 55 countries, visiting remote areas like Ghana, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Haiti and Nepal’s Upper Mustang region. As a Senior Adventure Expansion Manager at Much Better Adventures, she focuses on creating life-changing experiences, ranging from multi-activity adventures, challenging treks to ultimate adventures in iconic places. She loves the challenge of finding the best local adventure hosts around the world, collaborating on adventures that offer genuine immersion, pushing beyond the beaten path and working on exclusive itineraries that challenge your comfort zone.

What makes her tick? Enabling people to live adventure-rich lives while positively impacting and empowering local communities around the world, generating sustainable opportunities for both the host, guides, community, and the environment.

The itinerary has been designed to escape the crowds, choosing lesser known (but equally stunning) heritage sites and Mayan temples, which offer a far more intimate experience than places like Chichén Itzá. Your host has also hand picked some hidden cenotes and secluded jungle settings, which normally don't attract large number of visitors. Whilst it's likely you'll find places like Tulum downtown or the Tulum ruins a bit busier, your guide will schedule the activities in order to avoid the crowds as much as possible, and you'll often just be immersed in wild nature. The beach at the end of the trip has been selected as it's rarely visited by tourists, and is a real contrast to the busy, built-up Riviera Maya.

You'll meet various members of different Mayan communities during the trip – which is a fantastic opportunity to learn about local culture, history, and their adaptation to contemporary life. Your local host has been at the forefront of responsible tourism in the region. Their core values of respect, conservation and education have led them to create lasting bonds with the many people and groups who share an interest in protecting the local environment and in the promotion of culture and conservation. They work alongside local families, communities, small businesses, associations and an awesome group of guides; all of whom uphold the same values and make a positive impact in their everyday lives through their example and hard work. This trip has been designed to allow you to experience the authentic side of the Yucatan away from the overcrowded beach resorts – be it in secret cenotes, in the middle of the jungle, or amongst little-known ancient temples.

On the trip you'll spend an evening with Ocho, a spiritual leader who grew up in Mexico. Since he was little he has felt a call to nature, and he left the city to reconnect with his ancestors and Mother Earth. In 2005, he became a guide in the Yucatan region, and created a friendly relationship with the local community of Nuevo Durango. He began to teach classes about Mayan culture, their language, their plants, their animals, cosmology, astronomy, natural medicine, dance, music and silence. His goal is to share all this knowledge to open awareness and perception. Today, he lives in harmony with nature and his path is to depend less on the system. You'll camp near his house, surrounded by jungle, and join him in a special Mayan energy-cleansing ceremony.

On request, your group can choose to arrange a longer traditional Temazcal ceremony, an ancestral shamanic ritual practised by ancient civilisations throughout Central and North America (including the Maya, Aztecs and Toltecs). The ceremony's purpose is therapeutic healing to relieve stress, aches and injuries, skin or respiratory disease. It is often compared to other sweat lodge activities such as a hammam, a sauna and hot water baths. This is guided by a Temazcalero, who accompanies you throughout the experience. Your guide will be able to provide you with further information locally, if you are interested in this option.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Tips are not included in the trip cost. These are entirely at your discretion, but there is an expectation to tip for good service. Your guide will help with advice, however we suggest the below as a guideline per person:

USD $40 per person for the main guide USD $25 per person for your local guides (your leader will collect this in the form of a kitty and distribute it among the various local guides and communities who provide their services during the trip) USD $15 per person for the driver

Of course, you are free to tip more or less, and the amount should be reflective of your perception of service and quality – a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.

Tap water in Mexico is not safe to drink. Water bottles with inbuilt filters are becoming increasingly popular for travellers to use in countries without clean tap water. Please see our guide for advice on the best water filters for adventurers if you wish to bring your own filtration bottle on this trip.

Although the Yucatan Peninsula’s is a year-round destination, the best time to visit is from start of November to May, when the weather tends to be drier, cooler and less humid. This is when this trip is scheduled to operate, avoiding the heavier showers of the tropical rainy season, which usually lasts from June to October.

Between November and May, you'll enjoy plenty of sunshine with daytime temperatures generally reaching between 26°C (79°F) to 33°C (91°F), and down to between 17°C (62°F) and 22°C (72°F) at night. However, it’s important to stress that the weather can be anything but predictable and rain showers are possible also during the dry season – so the best thing is to come prepared for all conditions.

Your main luggage will be stored securely on the bus when you're on the move and you'll have access to it on a daily basis. During the activities, you'll only need to carry a personal day rucksack with your essential items.

We recommend checking out the country specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

If it’s just a case of drizzling rain you can wear a rain jacket and carry on, although occasionally you may have to wait for it to stop and seek shelter along the route. In case of adverse conditions, your guide may choose to alter the duration or order of your activities with your safety in mind.

No. You'll need to have a larger bag suitable for all your belongings which will be transported for you, and then a small daysack to carry personal items during each day of hiking.

Our recommended travel insurance provider is Campbell Irvine.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all of our adventures and you are required to provide your policy information before departing.

Your insurance should include adequate protection for overseas medical treatment, evacuation/repatriation, your baggage and equipment and the specific activities involved on your adventure. We also strongly recommend it includes cancellation and curtailment insurance, should you be unable to join your trip for specific reasons such as illness.

We fully endorse Campbell Irvine as their insurance offers all of the above, so get in touch with them or call on 020 7938 1734 to get your insurance sorted. We suggest that you book travel insurance as soon as you book your adventure, just to cover you for any last-minute life changes. We know you’re an active lot and injuries do happen!

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy (18+) as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. Children can be accommodated on some private departures.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Interested in a more exclusive experience? Opt for a 'Private Group' through the dates and prices tab to book this adventure for just you and your chosen companions.

Our team of Adventure Hunters create exclusive adventures with highly vetted, specialist hosts. We only work with independent, local in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. See here for more info about the local teams we partner with.