mayan dream tours

Mayan Dreams Tours

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

MAYAN DREAMS TOURS (Cancun) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

Mayan Dreams Tours

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Mayan Dreams Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

MAYAN EXPEDITIONS IV 5 DAYS | 4 NIGHTS TRIP

Quick Details

• Tags Ages: Multi-Day Trips
• Hour Glass Duration: 5 days | 4 nights
• User Ages: Ages 3+
• Users Capacity: Up to 10 guests

Info General Information:

• Guaranteed departures every day booking minimum 2 people .
• The hotels for this tour are three-star.
• Take cash, many are not accepted Bank Cards locations.
• Take the necessary, during our tour we will have several stops.
• Do not forget your camera and charger (110V power).

Mayan Expeditions IV

One of the most complete tours in Mexico, we will learn about the Mayan Culture, the historical cities of the Peninsula, and the natural beauty of this region. A journey like no other..!!

• Chevron down Included
• A/C Car or Van TRANSPORTATION
• 4 Hotel nights
• EXCLUSIVE BILINGUAL Tour Guide
• All admissions to the sites
• Water on board
• Boat ride to see the pink flamingoes
• PERSONALIZED Service
• Highway tolls
• Chevron down Not Included
• Tips and personal expenses
• Chevron down What To Bring
• Comfortable clothes and shoes
• Hat and sunglasses
• Sunscreen -Extra clothes for the overnight stays -Extra cash

• Chevron down Day 1

Depart from Cancun to Merida; on the way we will visit VALLADOLID as partIncensory holder known as Ox Puluu Ku, They were replaced every 20 years and buried in the temples of our day; this is the second largest city in the state of Yucatan founded in 1543. 22 kms. to the north an interesting visit to EK BALAM will be done; this is one of the lastest mayan cities to be discovered; its name means the -Jaguar Star- the city displays monumental architecture, walls, steles and so-called hieroglyphic serpents and statues skillfully carved from blocks of stone. Continue to MERIDA. Overnight.

• Chevron down Day 2

Tour to CELESTUN to admire the pink flamingos such as one of the largest varieties of birds around the world; a small boat will be used in this experience, and time to swim will be provided. Return to Merida. Overnight.

• Chevron down Day 3

Depart to Uxmal, on the way the route of churches will be visited; MANI, the place where Mayan idols and books were destroyed in times of the conquest. TICUL city of clay and leather workers. Light & Sound Show at UXMAL (optional). Overnight.

• Chevron down Day 4

Visit UXMAL and KABAH early in the morning. The priestess seems to worship the images of snakes. These two cities together were part of the “Puuc Region” characterized by the prominence of “Chaac”, the rain god, who is venerated, conjured, and evoked through the magical repetition of this image. We will head towers IZAMAL to visit this quaint colonial city where time seems stopped. The city´s convent has the second largest atrium in the world after the one at St. Peters in the Vatican. Ride to CHICHEN ITZA to enjoy the Light and Sound Show (optional). Overnight.

• Chevron down Day 5

CHICHEN ITZA: The “Mouth of the well of the Itzaes” with its impressive constructions; the splendid Castle or Pyramid of Kukulcan is a great example of the advanced civilization that lived there, the ball court, the observatory, and the sacred well will be breathtaking. Then ride back to Cancun and final drop off.

Mayan Dreams 4 Days | 3 Nights Trip

Explore with a complete four day expedition to the enigmatic Mayan ruins of Tulum, Coba, Uxmal, Kabah, Chichen Itza and two important colonial cities, Merida and Valladolid, and more! Book online.

Mayan Expeditions II 3 Days | 2 Nights Trip

A journey of three days by the enigmatic Mayan Ruins of Tulum, Coba, Uxmal, Kabah, Chichen Itza, and 2 beautiful Colonial cities like Merida and Valladolid.

Mayan Expeditions III 4 Days | 3 Nights Trip

Explore five of the most important Mayan ruins and two beautiful colonial cities in this amazing trip. This Mayan ruins tour takes you and your family all around Yucatan to discover the people, the culture, and the delicious food. Book online!

Mayan Dreams Tours

• See all photos

Similar Experiences

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Mayan Dreams Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

+52 998 8870808

Artisans of Extraordinary Travel Since 1997

The marvelous mayan world: discover, explore, live.

Mayan Destinations  takes you by the hand for journeys through the magical world of the Maya past and present. We’ve handcrafted Yucatan tours from introductory programs to more adventurous and in depth experiences guided by experts in anthropology, archaeology, mysticism, wellness, photography and more.

Join us for extraordinary experiences beyond

your average Mayan ruins tours!

Why Travel With Us?

Do you know how many unique places are waiting to be discovered?

A look at the contemporary maya, from its natural environment and its… roots.

Immerse yourself in the lives of local indigenous families, visit popular markets to delight your senses with the bright colors and delicious aromas of the local produce and art. Learn about the traditions and customs of this fascinating culture in an experience that goes beyond your typical Mayan ruins tours.

Experience the grandeur of the Mayan World

Do you want to join a group.

Guaranteed departures from 2 passengers, with fixed departure dates.

Do you want to travel at your own pace and in your own language?

Explore the mayan world with our made to measure, custom yucatan circuits, highlighted.

Mayan Route & Living Culture

Did you know that the ancient and enigmatic Maya civilization that spread over much of southeastern Mexico and Central America is still considered a “living culture”? Take out your passport, and join us to visit some of their greatest attractions in the Peninsula of Yucatán, the Petén region, and all the way to the Guatemalan highlands. During 9 days, we will spend time in spectacular archaeological zones with different architectural styles; in several World Heritage Sites; in areas of incomparable natural beauty; in beautiful colonial cities that witnessed events of great historical importance; and in towns with fascinating displays of both the fusion and the great contrasts between the ancient Maya culture and the traditions that were adopted as a result of the Spanish conquest. Would you like to know more about this circuit? 

promotion of the week

Mayan Escape - 1 day Tour

If you found a way to visit two impressive archaeological sites and some of the essential attractions of the Peninsula of Yucatán in a single day, would you sign up immediately? This unparalleled region is renowned for its remarkable natural beauty; its beautiful colonial cities with great historical significance; and the strong presence of the enigmatic Maya civilization, with its incredible technological advances, massive material and cultural wealth, and even one of the New Seven Wonders of the Modern World. You can even cool off in the crystalline waters of a  cenote ! Would you like to know more about this circuit?

Creating Memorable Stories

• Maya Culture

The Dream World of the Maya

During those first few moments of conscience upon waking up, we're able to recall our dreams. At this time, we depart the dream realm where we have been traveling throughout the night.

If we truly sleep the amount of hours needed, this means we spend almost one third of our lives in "dreamland."  This place is where we connect freely and completely, explore new places, or even receive visits. Occasionally, we're even able to resolve unfinished business, come up with creative ideas, or find solutions.  

For today's Maya, (Quichés, Tzeltales, Tzotziles, Tojolabales, Ixiles, Mames, Yucatecan Maya, and other groups) dreaming is an important state in which the mind and body are separated. This is considered an opportunity for the spirit to travel and do everything that's impossible for it to achieve when awake. In fact, the Tzotzil Maya see dreams as a way to “live a full life” and “stay alive.” They believe that dreams are a means of “seeing with the soul” what we can’t fully comprehend with our body and mind.

It is traditional in Maya towns to ask if you dreamt during the night. It’s important not only to remember and analyze dreams, but bring them up in conversation. Encouraging children to dream and talk about their dreams is a way of leading them towards living a full life. Nightmares may signify a need to heal, cleanse, or pull away from bad energy. Dreams can bring news that a Pixán (Maya soul or spirit) sees coming.

  Recommendation: Sueño y éxtasis: visión chamánica de los náhuas y los mayas, Mercedes de la Garza, 2012. 

Author: Valentina Álvarez

I’m a biologist with a doctorate in Mesoamerican studies, focused on Maya cultures. I love writing, learning and sharing.

¡Receive the latest articles and much more from the best of Yucatán in your email!

Related articles.

History of the Independence of Yucatan

Temozón, where the famous smoked meats were born

The Mystic World of Recados (Yucatecan Seasonings)

Tours Preferidos

• Crucero Capitain Hook
• Tour ATV y Tirolesas
• Xcaret Plus Tour

Tipos de Tours

• Tours Destacados
• Tours en Cancún
• Tours con Descuento

• Interior Hotel Aquamarina Beach Cancún.Km 3.5, Blvd. Kukulcan, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Q.R.
• +52 998 340 1848
• [email protected]

©2023 Mayan Dreams Tours. Todos los Derechos Reservados

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

The Maya Train Will Get You to All of Yucatán’s Best Spots. But Not Yet.

In December, the train began running on its first route through Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. On a five-day journey a few months later, the author encountered enthusiasm, and scheduling hiccups.

By Elisabeth Malkin

Elisabeth Malkin has been visiting the Yucatán Peninsula for three decades.

I stepped off the platform at the gleaming new Maxcanú train station, eager to see the magnificent Maya archaeological site of Uxmal. All I needed was a taxi to take me there, a trip of about 30 miles away.

There are no taxis, said the stationmaster, as we stood on the polished limestone floors of the high-ceilinged station, which was cool and breezy despite the brilliant late-morning sun outside. And I was the third person in two weeks to get off at Maxcanú expecting to reach Uxmal, he said.

I was midway through a five-day trip to explore the brand-new Maya Train and several of its destinations in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico . Designed to run 965 miles (1,554 kilometers) around a loop of 34 stations when completed, the train will whisk passengers in cool comfort through colonial cities, archaeological sites, splashy resorts and tropical forests.

Now I was stunned. Wrangling a taxi has never been a problem in Mexico. But the drivers gathered in the main square of Maxcanú offered only beat-up vans that hopscotch through small towns, where I might or might not find a taxi to Uxmal. The next van was leaving in 45 minutes.

Yucatán’s layers of history have long held me spellbound. During earlier car trips, I have clambered up deserted Maya temples and palaces, stepped into the cool naves of massive 16th-century churches and visited restored haciendas, testaments of the ostentation — and hardship — of the peninsula’s 19th-century plantation economy. Traveling by train, I thought, would allow me to steep myself in more of that history.

But as I found in Maxcanú, a train won’t necessarily get you to where you want to go.

During my February trip, I traveled on the only route then available, an east-west leg that opened in December and runs from Cancún to Mérida, and then south through the port city of Campeche to the Maya site of Palenque (a short route between Cancún and Playa del Carmen opened last month, with three trains a day). I encountered scheduling confusion, unfinished stations and a dearth of trains — just two operating daily each way between Cancún and Campeche, and only one to Palenque. Overnight sleepers and special dining trains seem years away.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador considers the Maya Train his showcase development project, and wants to inaugurate the rest of the train before he leaves office on October 1. Based on my experience, that goal seems elusive.

A $29-billion route through the jungle

I started my journey in Cancún, where in the pre-dawn gloom the station hovered like a glowing spaceship. An attendant scanned the ticket I had bought online and a half-dozen more pointed me toward my tourist-class car, which was about a quarter full. I planned to go to Campeche, about 300 miles away, stopping once each day. At 120 kilometers (about 75 miles) an hour, the train covers the route in about six hours, the same as a car. (When construction is complete, the train’s speed should increase to 160 kilometers an hour.)

The car’s wide windows looked out at a wall of low jungle. The blue-green seats were comfortable and there was ample space between the rows. I bought a very good cappuccino at the snack bar, but declined the plastic-wrapped sandwiches. The rest of the merchandise was fruit cups, milk boxes and junk food.

The train will ultimately cost much more than the $29 billion budgeted so far, and it’s not the first time ambitious planners have alighted on the region. Cancún was once a tiny fishing village, selected half a century ago as a tourist hub. Last year 10 million international tourists flew into its airport, more than the airports of Mexico City, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta combined.

But uncontrolled growth has stressed the Caribbean coast’s fragile environment. The Maya Train, scientists warn , will push those problems south, threatening the area’s water supply, its unique system of underground limestone caves and its vast nature reserves.

Mr. López Obrador has charged ahead, handing the train over to the military , and arguing that it will spread Cancún’s wealth and attract new visitors. Mexico received more than 42 million overseas tourists last year and they spent almost $31 billion .

Local governments see an opportunity. “The train will allow people to disperse throughout the peninsula,” said Michelle Fridman, the tourism secretary for Yucatán state, which promotes dozens of attractions far beyond highlights like Mérida and Chichén Itzá .

Now that the train is operating, transport companies will begin to connect stations with lesser-known sites nearby, she said.

It’s fair to ask whether the train is the most effective way to develop the peninsula’s tourism. Tour companies already run trips to many sites from major cities, which are well served by buses. Driving a rental car through most of the area is considered safe , according to U.S. State Department travel guidance .

Route of Mexico’s Maya Train

Canceled trip.

It took two hours (and one time-zone change) to reach Valladolid, a colonial city of handsome streets and ancient churches, where I bought the rest of my tickets at the station. A tourist-class ticket from Cancún to Valladolid costs 472 pesos (around $28) for foreigners and 355 pesos (around $21) for Mexicans. First class, with wider seats, costs 755.50 pesos and 566.50 pesos, and discounts are available for older travelers and residents of the five states along the train’s route. (A first-class bus from downtown Cancún to Valladolid costs between 222 and 344 pesos, depending on the time of day, and takes half an hour longer.)

It was impossible to run the new Maya Train tracks into dense city centers and the Valladolid station, like the rest, was outside the urban core. A waiting bus took disembarking passengers downtown, a 15-minute ride for 35 pesos.

That day I toured Ek Balam , the site of a ninth-century Maya kingdom that is dominated by a 100-foot palace distinguished by a facade of carvings depicting winged warriors, stylized animal features and geometric patterns bordered by giant fangs. Admission to the site includes entry to the X-Canché cenote, one of thousands of limestone sinkholes that were sacred to the Maya.

Later that afternoon, I was wandering through the Museum of Ethnic Clothing, a private collection of traditional dress, embroidery and hats, when a WhatsApp message from the ticket office blinked on my phone. My train scheduled for the following day was canceled.

I decided to deal with the problem in the morning and enjoy the city. As I wandered past the antique shops and boutique hotels of the elegant Calzada de los Frailes, it was clear that Valladolid’s tourism, and the infrastructure to handle it, was well established. The Maya Train is simply an alternative way to reach a city that tourists discovered years ago.

‘We’re on the Tren Maya!’

In the morning, I found that my train had not been canceled, but the station for which I had a ticket, Tixkokob, was closed. I got off instead one stop earlier at Izamal, known for its ocher streets and the giant Franciscan convent of San Antonio de Padua, built atop the ruins of a pyramid.

During the 90-minute ride, I heard widespread enthusiasm among fellow travelers who expressed a willingness to give the train time to work out the kinks. “We’re an experiment,” said Oliva Escobedo Ochoa, 64, who was vacationing from her home in central Mexico.

Leticia Iliassich, 57, who is Mexican, was traveling with her Croatian husband along with relatives from Mexico and Croatia. They had initially been scheduled on an earlier train to Mérida that had been canceled. “We knew that it was a new project,” she said. “We don’t mind.”

The group had already sent a video to friends declaring, “We’re on the Tren Maya!”

At the Izamal station I hitched a 15-minute ride into the town center with a man who had asked me to take his photo alongside the train and his father. From there I negotiated a taxi to Hacienda San Lorenzo Aké, a working hacienda that still turns the fiber from an agave plant called henequén into coarse rope. Global demand for henequén, known as Yucatán’s “green gold,” brought fantastic wealth to the region in the mid-19th century, speckling the peninsula with more than 1,000 haciendas. ( Many are now sumptuous hotels.)

Where geometry, nature and the divine merge

It was during my third day that I found myself stuck in Maxcanú, after a 90-minute train ride from Izamal. The stationmaster, an army captain, offered me a ride to Uxmal, just as he had to the stranded tourists before me.

Eying Uxmal’s 4 p.m. final ticket sale, I accepted.

My situation made it clear just how distant the Maya Train’s promises are for tourists seeking to explore more of Yucatán. In time, that will change, said Ms. Fridman, the tourism secretary. “The idea is to have more hotels along the train line,” she said. “That will happen little by little.”

But Uxmal , among the most stunning of the Maya sites, made up for the inconvenience. Uxmal’s grand buildings are faced with intricate decorative masks as well as friezes in which geometry, nature and the divine merge. New plaques at each structure offer detailed information in English and Spanish, part of the government’s investment in improving displays at Maya sites for the train project.

Most tourists either take day trips by car or bus to Uxmal from Mérida or stay at one of three nearby hotels. As I finished dinner at my hotel, the dining room began to fill up: 47 Polish tourists had arrived.

Panama hats and a cramped van

My plan for the day was to go by taxi to Bécal, a town where Panama hats are woven in limestone caves to keep the fibers soft, and then pick up the afternoon train in nearby Calkiní for the port city of Campeche.

But I spent so much time watching the hat-making demonstration and then fitting my new hat and buying gifts that we set off with little time to reach the station. To my chagrin, I missed the train, the last one of the day.

On Calkiní’s central square, I found a van that was leaving for Campeche. Cost: 65 pesos. Time: about 1 hour and 20 minutes, similar to what I would have spent on the train. Of course, I was trapped in a cramped seat and had to listen to the driver’s choice of sentimental ballads, but I was dropped off in downtown Campeche, close to my hotel.

The next day, I toured the Museum of Maya Archaeology , an expertly curated collection that included haunting jade funeral masks, glyphs and delicate ceramic figures.

José Madrigal, 45, an engineer from Fremont, Calif., was trying to make Maya pottery interesting for his twin sons. The boys had just turned 5 and their birthday present had been a ride on the Maya Train. “They love trains,” Mr. Madrigal said. Then the family moved on, keeping up a brisk clip through the museum. They had another train to catch.

Should you take the train?

Yes, if you are traveling between larger stations. The train also offers a way to get to Palenque, which is harder to reach and has roads with security concerns. Travelers can stow bicycles on board.

To see train times, check the destinations on the website . You cannot buy tickets online more than a week in advance. But when you finally board, the ride is smooth — and the coffee is excellent.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

LIVING DREAMS MEXICO

LIVE THE TOUR OF YOUR DREAMS

Mayan cooking class.

Hanal Pixan – Mayan Day of the Dead

Starting 1 of December we will convert it to Chef Lucy’s Cooking Class

Join us for a day of culinary and cultural immersion. Visit the Tres Reyes Mayan community ready to roll up your sleeves learning to prepare a classic Mayan dish as featured on the Netflix Series Chef’s Table.

Start by swimming in a beautiful cenote right in the middle of the jungle (swimming not mandatory). At the same location, continue to explore a second cenote with a fascinating view of a karstic landscape.

After an immersion in the magical world of the sacred waters of the Mayas, already purified in flesh and spirit, proceed to Doña Lucy’s family home where you will make tortillas and a variety of Mayan delicacies.

While your meal slowly simmers in a ground oven, participate in a traditional Mayan blessing given by the community’s shaman. After this incredible experience, prepare yourself to enjoy the delicious fruits of your labor of love. Bon Appetit.

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT

We are here to help.

• (213) 984 1040 USA​
• +52 998 168 5422 MEXICO​
• Riviera Maya, Mexico
• [email protected]
• Copyright © 2023 Living Dreams Mexico

LOVE IS LOVE!!

Have you ever dreamed of a place where you didn’t need any tags? Where you could hold hands with your loved one anywhere you go, feeling not just comfortable but welcomed, not just tolerated but free. An area where you didn’t need to find “a flag” to feel safe, to be yourself and express it the way you are back at home. Well, you can stop dreaming because this magical place it’s in the Riviera Maya and by the hands of Living Dreams Mexico you will find your ideal host!!

This incredible region including Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum and its surrounding areas has always been known for its openness to diversity, whether it is different nationalities, cultural backgrounds or sexual orientation and gender expression.

Many travelers do not know how advanced is Mexico regarding the rights of the LGBTQ community, for example: In June 2015, the Mexican Supreme Court ruled that same-sex marriage bans are unconstitutional, so now it is legal in all 32 states, with the same rights as any straight couple, including adoption! Granted some rural areas of Mexico are still struggling to be more accepting, however, if we could go back in time, you would realize that to most of our ancient cultures, like the Maya, a different sexual orientation was perfectly accepted, in many cases celebrated and considered sacred!!

Immerse yourself into this amazing facts, ruins, cenotes, culture, snorkeling while staying in the Region and allow us to prove to you why we are the number one tour operator for private expeditions in all the Riviera Maya, basically let us show you that LOVEISLOVE.

In LIVING DREAMS MEXICO we have always valued and respected diversity, our own team is the proof of it!! Let us be the experts to make your dreams with your loved one and family come true!!!

Under book you will find an option for PROMO-CODE. Type LOVEISLOVE to receive unique amenities for your Dream Day!!