One Week Adventure in Yucatan Peninsula

If you've got your own mask and snorkel (and fins, too) bring them for this trip; you can always get rentals, but you're better off with gear that fits well.

Day 1: The Lower Riviera Maya

For this itinerary, I recommend staying in the lower Riviera Maya in or near Playa del Carmen or Tulum. That puts you close to most of the places you'll be visiting. The drive from the airport to this part of the coast is at most 2 hours.

Day 2: Xel-Ha & the Ruins of Tulum

Spend a day snorkeling, swimming, and frolicking in Xel-Ha's natural lagoons and open-sea aquarium. You can stay here the entire day or combine this with a trip to see the mystical ruins in Tulum (which you should do in the morning, when the air is cooler).

Day 3: Hidden Worlds & Aktun Chen

Between Akumal and Tulum are two attractions, each interesting in its own way. At Hidden Worlds, you can snorkel in cenotes and subterranean rivers. Wet suits and snorkel gear are provided if you don't bring your own. Aktun Chen is a cavern that you can hike through and see lots of rock formations. The small zoo houses local species such as spider monkeys and tropical birds.

Day 4: Alltournative

Consider spending today with Alltournative, an adventure tour agency based in Playa del Carmen. Its day trips combine adventure with nature and interactions with contemporary Maya in one of their own villages. The tour company will pick you up at almost any hotel in the Riviera Maya.

Day 5: Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve

Explore the largest wildlife preserve in the Yucatán; snorkel down canals built by the Maya, visit the large, pristine lagoon at the center of the park, and observe various forms of wildlife as you get an up-close-and-personal view of the peninsula's natural habitat.

Day 6: Chichén Itzá

Go for a morning snorkel trip with one of the local dive shops, and then drive to Chichén Itzá in the afternoon. Check into a hotel, and in the evening you can enjoy the sound-and-light show at the ruins. Return the next morning to get a closer look in daylight.

Day 7: Cenote Dzitnup, Ek Balam & Ría Lagartos Nature Reserve

After seeing the ruins, head east on the old federal highway until you get to Cenote Dzitnup, shortly before the town of Valladolid. You'll find a dark cenote with a beautiful pool of water illuminated by a column of sunlight that penetrates the roof. Nearby is a second cenote. After a quick dip, continue into Valladolid for lunch. After you're nourished, head north on Hwy. 295 to the turnoff for the ruins of Ek Balam, a remarkable pre-Columbian archaeological site. Then continue north, past the town of Tizimín, until you get to the coastal village of Río Lagartos. Check in to one of the economical hotels fronting the water and arrange for an early morning boat tour of the wildlife sanctuary.

Day 8: Cancún

After your visit with pink flamingos, it's time to get back to Cancún and civilization.