Discover two very different chapters of the Maya world in a single day, away from the big bus tours and with a certified federal guide who brings their history to life. We start at Lara & Luca in Playa del Carmen and head south to Tulum, the only major Maya city built directly on the Caribbean coast. Instead of the long, hot walk from the parking area, you ride a golf cart to the entrance and explore the walled city perched on limestone cliffs, with turquoise water below and time to enjoy some of the most striking ocean views of any Maya site. Then we travel inland to Cobá, a city from an entirely different era, once connected to distant communities by a network of ancient stone roads. A bike-taxi or bicycle takes you through the jungle to Nohoch Mul, one of the tallest pyramids in the Yucatán Peninsula, where you can climb to the summit for sweeping views over an unbroken sea of jungle canopy. On the way back, you visit the Cobá Group with its ancient ballgame court and the pyramid known as La Iglesia. To cool off, we take you to an open-air cenote of clear green water, away from the well-known tourist spots and not marked on local maps. It is not private, but it is usually quiet, giving you a relaxed swim surrounded by jungle. Life jackets and restrooms are available. We finish back in Playa del Carmen with lunch at Lara & Luca, a comfortable, air-conditioned restaurant known for food well above what you’d expect from a typical tour stop: a full 3-course menu with dessert and coffee on weekdays, or a main course with a drink on weekends and holidays. Choose the option that suits you best: join a small group of up to 13 travelers or book a private tour for your group only.
