Maya Underworld Explorer
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
From USD 65.00
Office phone number: +52 01 55 4162 9185
Maya Underworld Explorer
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Descend into the ancient Maya underworld! On this Playa del Carmen tour, you’ll explore astonishing ancient underground rivers and caves, see otherworldly stalactites and stalagmites, swim in crystal-clear cenotes, and walk through the jungle! You’ll also learn about local history and culture, finishing off with a traditional Maya ceremony.
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Highlights
- Go underground and explore the amazing labyrinths that hide beneath Playa del Carmen
- Swim through turquoise-coloured cenotes
- See stalactites and stalagmites and learn about these ancient formations
- Visit a protected area that is home to endangered jaguars
- Learn about ancient Maya traditions and how they honoured the Xibalba, or the underworld
Local Impact: How you will help the local community by joining this tour:
- By taking this tour, a USD $1 donation is made to "El Comité de Protección y Conservación del Jaguar, a conservation committee that works to protect jaguars.
- On this tour you visit a cenote that is only available to three tour companies as a way to avoid deterioration and over-tourism in this sacred cave.
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Schedule details
- Duration: 5 hours
- Meeting point:
El Sangha-Rito. Address: MZA 58 LTE 5, Avenida C.T.M 5, Zazil-ha, Luis Donaldo Colosio, 77720 Playa del Carmen, Q.R.
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 8.00 AM
- Ending point:
El Sangha-Rito
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation, helmet and lamp rental, water shoes, park admission, one snack and one bottle of water.
Exclusions: Wetsuit/swimsuit, additional food and drinks, travel insurance, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Your adventure begins in the traditional setting of El Sangha-Rito. A place where you can grab some coffee or a snack to fuel up for the day. If you do fancy a coffee before the tour, please ensure you get here early because once all your fellow tour participants have arrived we´ll depart for the jungle, where the fun starts…
After driving for a couple of minutes on the highway, we'll get off the beaten track and make our way past the entrances to cave systems, onwards into the jungle. Channel your inner Indiana Jones and imagine the treasure that awaits us as we ride through the jungle to our cave of choice.
Upon arrival at the cave, we will ensure that everyone is equipped with all the right equipment necessary for our trek. At the cave entrance, your guide will talk about the type of cave we’ll be visiting and about how it was formed. A few health and safety guidelines will follow, including how the signal system works to get in and out of the cave.
Do not worry if you have never been caving before, your guide will be on hand to support you. While we will be underground for about 2 to 3 hours, the caves are fairly large and they aren't tight or closed-in. Even travellers with claustrophobia have happily taken part in all the activities without any problems. You won't be expected to swim underwater to reach any of the cave entrances, so you can leave the SCUBA gear at home and relax.
Once we are all ready for the adventure, we will get into the Xibalba (meaning ‘underworld’ in Mayan mythology). Once inside the vast cave, you’ll see stalactites, stalagmites, limestone columns and astonishing sinkholes. It’s like some beautiful alien world, it really is quite spectacular. Your guide, who has expert knowledge of these caves, will teach you about all the different types of incredible limestone formations.
Walking along beautiful subterranean streams and swimming across turquoise cenotes, we will reach passageways in the limestone that open into large caves along the AXL system. By the end of your caving experience, you will feel like a real ‘goonie’ (or explorer)!
After the facts, science, and myths of the cave, we will head back to our starting point. Back on dry land, there will be facilities to dry yourself off.
We will have time to relax, enjoy the fresh jungle air and sunlight, and have a snack. Don’t forget to ask your local expert guide for more tips on what else to see, do and eat while you’re in town.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, transportation, helmet and lamp rental, water shoes, park admission, one snack and one bottle of water.
Exclusions: Wetsuit/swimsuit, additional food and drinks, travel insurance, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Dress standard: Please bring a swimsuit (or wear one under your clothes), extra clothing to change into, and a towel.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventures tour, you will be placed in a small group of 12 people maximum.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the starting point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour for the price indicated above. Children younger than 6 are permitted at no extra cost, but please make sure you inform our guides of this before you take the tour.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +52 01 55 4162 9185
Email address: info@playadelcarmenurbanadventures.com
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