Gulf of Mexico between Isla Mujeres and the Yucatan mainland
Purpose
"Waldorf Yucatan Adventure" explores Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. These adventures were designed by Waldorf Spanish Teacher, Alan Archibald, to provide enriching "8th Grade Trips" and to help Waldorf Schools foster excellence in Spanish language instruction, while deepening appreciation of Mexican history, art, sociology, politics, religion, archeology and culture.
With the help of Yucatecan assistants, Sr. Enrique Puc, and Yucatecan civil rights lawyer, Sra. Minerva Benites Castillo, Yucatan Adventure is alert to the demands of safe exploration, simultaneously immersing travelers in local life with little of the "touristy" mediation that results in "spectatorship" rather than participation.
Waldorf Yucatan Adventure orchestrates exhilarating experience by revealing Yucatecan life "where the rubber meets the road."
Guide, Alan Archibald, accompanies participants throughout their journey.
The following itinerary is easily adjusted to accommodate your needs.
Itinerary
Day 1 Yucatan Adventure founder Alan Archibald meets travelers at the Cancún airport. We immediately travel to Isla Mujeres, an extraordinarily tranquil island visible from the northeast corner of the peninsula. Once settled into our hotel near the northern tip of the island, we will enjoy a delicious meal, followed by beach play in the crystalline waters of Playa Norte, a 300 yard saunter from our lodging.
Day 2 We will travel by panga (motorized small craft) to Isla Contoy Nature Preserve, a ninety journey punctuated by an additional hour of snorkeling at a vibrant coral reef midway to the island. (All travelers will be fitted with life vests for safe exploration of these turquoise waters where - most often - one can "touch bottom.") En route to Isla Contoy, our panga will troll for "catch of the day," insuring an abundant supply of fresh fish for our palapa beach feast. On my last trip to Isla Contoy, we enjoyed close views of dolphin and tuna diving around our boat. When we arrive at Contoy's small, clean harbor, our crew begins preparation of our feast while we explore the island and its beaches. There are no permanent human inhabitants on Isla Contoy, but there is plenty of bird life and lots of huge, wild iguanas that can nearly be touched. Swimming in the white sand harbor - where a small coral reef presents additional snorkeling opportunity - five foot long manta rays swim in knee-deep water eager to be petted.
Day 3 We travel to Valladolid, arriving in time for lunch. We will lodge at Hotel San Clemente with its splendid courtyard swimming pool. A hundred yards from San Clemente is a splendid patio restaurant where we will dine. "El Mesón del Marqués" is the restaurant/inn that hosted Jimmy Carter when he visited this lovely colonial town 20 years ago. Directly across the street from El Mesón, Mayan women sell a variety of hand-woven goods - including hamacas and brilliantly embroidered "huipiles," the native Yucatecan dress. Throughout our travels, native Mayans will teach us common Mayan phrases. After lunch, we visit Cenote Zaci. (Since all Yucatan rivers flow below a mantle of limestone that covers the peninsula, the traditional source of fresh water has been the cenote, a fresh water sink-hole.) Cenote Zaci is a fairly large cenote - about fifty yards across, with a partial dome overhead. Divers plunge from the lip of this dome to the water 100 feet below. We will visit a small but superb museum that provides quick insight into traditional Mayan life, and the viscious "Caste Wars" that inflamed Valladolid during the 19th century. Whenever we walk about, I'm constantly alert for opportunities to participate in unfolding local life. Such opportunities enable us to deepen our understanding of local communities.
Day 4 After breakfast, we will tour the ruins of Chichen Itza or Ek Balaam whose central pyramid is the highest in the Yucatan..Ek Balaam is not on the main tourist trail and is still undergoing initial excavation. Although Ek Balaam lacks the restored symetrical polish of Chichén Itzá, it enables us to envision the original state in which these massive mounds of stone were discovered by 19th century explorers, and how suddenly - and recently! - this Great Civilization collapsed. Hopefully, a visit to Ek Balaam will enable us to rub shoulders with archeologists plying their trade. After lunch we will swim at Cenote Dzitnup, a rich stalagmite/stalactite sink-hole nearly covered by a limestone dome. At high noon, the incandescent waters of Dzitnup exhibit a stunning hue of blue.
Day 5 We travel to Mérida, the capitol of Yucatan state. Our lodging in Mérida - Luz en Yucatan - was the colonial convent whose nuns served Santa Lucia Church. We will enjoy a hearty lunch followed by exploration of the park-like zócalo (main square) whose cathedral - completed in 1541 - was one of the first catedrales built in Latin America. Balcony dinner at La Bella Epoca, a memorable "old world" restaurant overlooking the cobbled streets and horse drawn carriages (calesas) of Merida's colonial district. After dinner, explore Merida's main square where music, dance and street theater abound. Before retiring, enjoy a dip in Luz en Yucatan's garden pool.
Day 6 Visit El Aguacate hammock factory en route to San Crisanto, one of the Yucatan's few remaining traditional fishing villages. Swimming. Cultural "exchange" with local troup of traditional Mexican dancers. Participate in service project.
Day 7 Following breakfast, we return to the Yucatan's east coast where - after eating and swimming along the pristine coast of Cancún's Zona Hotelera - we prepare ourselves for early A.M. departure.
Day 8 Early rising and return to the United States/Canada.
Note: Other itineraries are available.
New Options for Waldorf Adventures
1.) Journey to the Yucatan's west coast and visit Celestun, a nature preserve with one of the world's largest flamingo breeding grounds..
2.) Enjoy an all day beach fiesta and palapa seafood smorgasbord, Progreso, Yucatan.
3.) Visit Chicxulub, where an epochal meteor struck 65, 000,000 years ago. The impact resulted in a 200 mile wide crater and put an end to the Age of Dinosaurs.
4.) Explore the caves of Homun and swim in Cenote Telchaquillo.
5.) Tour the Botanical Garden at Mani's Centro de Investigacion de Yucatan which focuses on medicinal plants.
5.) Visit a small town dedicated to pre-Colombian hammock weaving. Eat traditional Mayan cuisine in an artesan's home. Learn Mayan phrases.
6.) In Merida, play soccer with a local "team."
7.) Service Project in Mayan community.
Cost
For groups of 12 or more, the cost of this 8 day itinerary is $925.00 per person, excluding airfare. The $925.00 sum covers all "land costs" including hotels, three delectable meals daily, excursion costs, entry fees, instructional costs and taxi, bus and ferry tickets.
Exito Travel - www.exitotravel.com - provides inexpensive flight packages from the United States. Please ask to speak with Ms. Jane Letham at 800-655-4053 ext 8506. Continental Airline -- www.Continental.com -- offers fares that are often hard to beat.
Waldorf Yucatan Adventure does not provide health (or evacuation) insurance. We encourage prospective travelers to investigate this matter in order to make appropriate decisions. (I myself have a $59.00 travel insurance policy through American Express: 1-800-297-2900. Exito Travel recommends travel insurance from Travelex which can be contacted at 1-800-228-9792, or, at their website - www.travelex-insurance.com)
For more information about the services provided by Spanish Pronto - the umbrella organization for Waldorf Yucatan Adventure (including press reviews and an on-line copy of founder/facilitator Alan Archibald's résumé) please visit www.SpanishPronto.homestead.com
Waldorf Yucatan Adventure looks forward to serving you.
Alan Archibald
225 West Margaret Lane
Hillsborough, NC 27278
Photos by fellow traveler Arthur W. Clark
