Mexico is a rich land with thousands of years of history, and hundreds of different cultures whose traditions are still alive. The unparalleled landscape of the Yucatan peninsula is such an important part of Mexico's culture and history. Here, its natural and geological resources continue to be a draw for tourists who want Latin American flavor in addition to vibrant natural surroundings.
Ancient Mayan culture is still an important part of present-day life; beyond the tourism, Mayan history is embedded in a landscape, people, the culture and the cuisine.
We invite your group to come and ground, immerse in a new culture, and recenter yourself with a variety of services provided. For your group, you can choose your own Cultural Immersion options, and combine them with those from our Holistic Healing program. Together, we will customize your own specialized retreat, which will give you the opportunity to choose activities based on the needs of your specific group.
Food is an essential part of Latin American communities. Eating is viewed as so much more than obtaining substance for the body. Rather, it is a cultural and social event. Meals are a space where people commune and share and where deep social bonds are fermented. Learn how to cook traditional Mexican and / or Mayan cuisine, such as: Chilaquiles, Pozole, Tostadas, Chiles en Nogada, Etole, Enchiladas, Tamala, Poc Chuc and hand-patted tortillas.
Mayans have been weaving hammocks for over four thousand years. Hammocks are suspended beds, composed of vibrant colors. Additionally, there are various different styles of weaving hammocks, each offering the hammock a different look and feel. For this workshop, we will bring hammock makers to teach your group how to make traditional hammocks. Participants will learn how to make one of their own and with continued practice, they will be able to create their own hammock.
Mexican embroidery says so much about the culture. It is bright, beautiful, skillful and unique, just like the people and culture of Latin America. Mexican textiles are some of the most famous embroidery work in the world, and their embroidery has a distinctive style. Traditional motifs include: abstract designs, spirals, crosses, animals, foliage and flowers. The colors, shapes and textiles have a specific symbolic value as well. Local women will teach individuals different styles of stitch work. Individuals will participate as well, learning old and skilled techniques. Participants will learn various embroidery styles and make their own embroidery pieces.
Learning another language is one of the best activities for the brain. It builds new connections and makes old ones more flexible. Learning a language isn't just about memorizing the vocabulary, it is also about understanding a different world view-- the mind of a people and a culture, for a language contains the history, social-emotional character of a culture. Classes can be taught in English or French covering basic /conversational Spanish. There can also be French and Dutch interpreters and teachers present as well.
This large colonial city is considered one of the safest in Mexico, and there is so much to explore. Mérida is also considered the culinary and cultural capital of the Yucatán. The rich cultural and architectural heritage can be explored in its numerous museums, monuments, churches, colonial mansions, governmental buildings and beautiful parks and plazas.
Situated between Playa del Carmen and Cancun, somehow this small, seaside town has evaded commercialism. The entire pueblo is situated around a small plaza, where there are churches, unique boutiques and eateries. Just across the street are beautiful white-sand beaches, where locals have fought to preserve an off-shore reef system, offering amazing swimming and snorkeling.
This beautiful colonial town offers the flavor of Mexico with a European feel. The local cuisine is worth the trip itself but while there, we can arrange a visit for your group to the Iglesia y Ex-Convento San Bernardino de Siena, a 16th century Franciscan church, or the folk art museum Casa de los Venados and Museum of Traditional Mexican clothing of Museo de Ropa Étnica de México. The avenue of the Iglesia San Bernardino de Siena also offers unique boutiques and eateries, where your group can explore the art and different flavors of the Yucatan.
A town created for tourism, Tulum is a European enclave with its numerous unique boutiques, restaurants, and beautiful beaches. The city of Tulum offers the Tulum Archaeological Zone, yoga studios, fresh fruit bars and vegan/vegetarian restaurants, but on the beach road of Tulum one encounters a cool vibe with numerous temazcales, cacao ceremonies, dance classes, unique eateries and artisan shops.
Also known as the Lake of Seven Colors, this breathtaking lake is located in the quaint pueblo Bacalar. On the west side of the lake, there are restaurants and hotels. The lake itself offers many different activities: snorkeling, kayaking, canoeing, medicinal clay bathes and boat tours.
Considered one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Chichén Itzá is one of the most impressive Mayan sights in the Yucatan. One of the most famous pyramids in the world, Temple of Kukulcan, dominates the site towering 24 meters (79 feet) high. On the spring and autumn equinoxes the setting sun reveals two gigantic serpents descending the north staircase. Architecturally, the Temple of Kukulcán is a must see. Other impressive structures on site are the Great Ball Court, Lower Temple of the Jaguar, Walls of Skulls, Platform of Venus and the Platform of Eagles and Jaguars. Marked throughout the ruin, your group can buy specialized souvenirs. Walking Tours with informative guides can be arranged.
It is thought that this unique ruin was settled as early as 100 B.C., and it is tucked away deep in the Mayan jungle. Cobá has a complex network of sacheobs, white roads constructed by the ancient Mayans, that connect this ruin to other major ancient Mayan cities. The largest of these roads is 100 kilometers (or 62 miles) in length. Because it is such a large site, bikes and triciclo drivers are available. Cobá has the second largest pyramid and impressive ball courts among other interesting sites.
This ruin is considered one of the most beautiful. Tulum Archaeological Zone (TAZ) sits atop a large cliff overlooking and turquoise Caribbean. TAZ is believed to be one of a series of Mayan forts and trading ports, so most of the buildings located on the site are administrative. Some of the other structures are: House of the Cenote, Temple of the Wind, Temple of the Descending God, El Castillo (The Castle), Temple of the Frescos and the Great Palace. There is also public beach access from the site, so after a day of sightseeing, a swim in the Caribbean is an option as well.
Sian Ka'an is Mayan for “where the sky is born,” which is poetically accurate with 1.3 million acres of coastal and mangrove forests and wetlands. This humble reserve offers some of the best fly fishing in the world, but it also offers snorkeling and kayaking as well as bird and nature watching. The reserve protects a variety of wildlife: toucans, parrots, frigate birds, herons, egrets, monkeys, foxes, crocodiles, and boa constrictors, manatees and jaguars.
Located right across the street of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve yet on the Caribbean side, Muyil archeological ruin, also known as Chunyaxché, is the oldest Mayan site dating back to 300 B.C. It is believed that Muyil was a small seaport city with its 6 main structures, the most impressive being the Castillo, which overlooks the Caribbean.
Considered one of the most memorable sites of the Yucatan, Uxmal contains some of the best Puuc-style architecture. The Pyramid of the Magician is the first impressive pyramid one encounters entering the site, followed by the sophisticated Nunnery Quadrangle, Governor's Palace, and the Great Pyramid. Walking tours with informative Guides can be arranged.
For thousands of years, water has seeped through the Yucatan's porous limestone surface, creating huge underground rivers and water pools. In fact, the Yucatan has no above-ground rivers; their entire river system is below ground containing some of the world's purest fresh water. Around 66 million years ago, a large asteroid impact created a large opening in the earth's surface, revealing hundreds of cenotes in the Yucatan peninsula.