Mexico Dreaming: Tulum to Holbox

Flashpackers, welcome to Mexico! Be sure to secure a window seat for your flight into Cancún, for majestic views over the jungle or turquoise Riviera Maya coast. Touching down at the airport, a private transfer awaits to whisk you to Tulum – a journey of around two hours, so sit back, relax and enjoy the tropical ride. Arriving at your boutique hotel, halfway between buzzing downtown and its powder-white beaches, there’ll be time to freshen up before your welcome meeting. Get to know your Pack Leader and group over some traditional Yucatán cuisine and raise a glass of margarita to eight days of adventure to come. Salud!

Rise and shine – there are some unforgettable experiences on the agenda today. First up, you’ll travel along the coast to beautiful Akumal Bay. Protected by a reef, the shallow lagoon here is famed for its resident green turtles. You’ll have the chance to don a snorkel and swim alongside these graceful creatures as they feed on the abundant seagrass – a magical encounter. After lunch, you’re off to one of the most instagrammed spots in Mexico: Tulum. Perched in a lush green jungle atop the limestone cliffs of the cobalt Caribbean, this dramatically sited ancient fortress dates back to the 13th century. Explore the pre-Columbian temples and stone palaces within the compact ramparts before descending to stunning El Castillo beach – don’t forget your swimwear. 

There are more wildlife encounters in store this morning at the Punta Laguna spider monkey sanctuary. Owned and run by the Najil Tucha community, this private jungle reserve supports 35 Mayan families. Keep your eyes peeled for aardvarks, deer and crocodiles – and of course spider monkeys – as you stroll through the forest with your guide. Tonight you’ll be sleeping in suspended tree-tents at the mouth of a private cenote. You’ll be invited to take part in a special Mayan blessing with a shaman, using flowers, native plants and incense, before sharing dinner with the local villagers. Later, there’ll be time for a candlelit cenote swim. Softly illuminated for just you and your group, it’s an experience like no other. 

This morning you’ll be hiking through the jungle to explore some larger cenotes. Dotted across the Yucatán Peninsula, these spectacular limestone sinkholes are steeped in Mayan legend – representing both a life-giving source of water and the gateway to the world of the dead. Test your nerve as you rappel 40 feet down inside a cavern, sunlight streaking in from above. Spend some time floating on inner tubes and swimming in the crystalline water before a thrilling zipline ride over a nearby lagoon. Once you’ve dried off, it’s time to get back on the road. You’re headed for Valladolid, a tranquil bohemian town filled with pastel stucco and elegant colonnades. Be sure to get an early night as you’ll be up at dawn tomorrow. 

Rising early to beat the crowds and the heat, you’ll travel to Chichén Itzá, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Your group will be amongst the first to enter and you’ll explore this once vast and powerful city with an archaeologist guide. Don’t miss the Temple of Kukulkan (El Castillo), with its serpentine design, the El Caracol observatory or the ball court where Mayan rituals were held. Mind blown, you’ll journey to Mérida for a unique Flash Pack activity: a whistle-stop tour of the city in a fleet of VW Beetles. Affectionately known as vochos, these iconic cars are a firm Mexican favourite. Follow this up with a tequila tasting, from water-white blanca with grass and pepper notes, to the richer, aged reposado and añejo with hints of smoke, spice and caramel.

After your busy day yesterday, you’ll slow the pace down today. Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before travelling by minibus to the sleepy fishing village of Celestún. The biosphere reserve here is home to an abundance of waterfowl including a vast colony of flamingos. Together with your group, you’ll take a gentle boat ride through the mangrove-lined estuary out onto the lagoon to witness the vibrant pink birds flocking in their thousands, feeding in the shallow waters and possibly taking flight in a dramatic display of colour. Then, you’ll transfer to a nearby beach resort for an afternoon of R&R on the sand. This is a holiday after all. 

Pack your bags, you’re off to Holbox: an unspoilt car-free island off the tip of the Yucatán Peninsula. It’s a half-day journey from Mérida, but you’ll stop off en route at the fascinating Hoctún Cemetery to see the colourfully decorated mausoleums that celebrate the dead. It’s a short ferry hop across the bath-warm turquoise sea to this idyllic island. On arrival, you’ll make your way along the sandy streets past colourful Caribbean buildings to your boutique seafront hotel. The afternoon is yours to do exactly as you please – perhaps exploring the island by golf cart, visiting vibrant Holbox Town or chilling out by the pool. Finish the day in the perfect way: sipping sunset cocktails on your private beach. 

It’s your final full day, but the fun isn’t over yet. Today, you’re off on a boat trip to Cabo Catoche, a semi-uninhabited island off the northern tip of Holbox. Lined with coraline white sand and surrounded by clear emerald water, this was the site of the first European landing in 1517 and the oldest Christian church in the Americas. The crew will show you how to fish using ancient string techniques, then you’ll head to a ‘deep zone’ for swimming and snorkelling amongst the tropical fish and corals. Landing on a secluded beach, the day’s catch will be prepared into a delicious ceviche feast. Then you’ll journey through the mangroves back to your hotel in time for your farewell dinner. 

All too soon, your trip has come to an end. A Flash Pack group transfer is included to take you back to the airport in Cancún. If you’re not ready to leave, why not book some additional nights and stay a little longer? Alternatively, extend your adventure by combining your trip with one of our other Mexico tours, or maybe Costa Rica. Our travel experts are just a phone call away.