Having visited Cancun several times in the past, we decided it was time to venture away from the resort and go on an adventurous excursion. We had previously visited ruins and swam with dolphins in Cozumel, so we decided to try something different. We signed up for a three-in-one excursion with Aventuras Mayas: ATV rides through the jungle, ziplining and snorkeling in the Cenotes. We were a bit hesitant about sacrificing a day away from our beautiful resort and actually considered cancelling this trip. Without question, we are so grateful we did not.
We were picked up at 7am at our resort by a comfortable air conditioned van and were driven 45 minutes to a jungle in Riviera Maya. The enthusiasm, humor and professionalism of our driver, guides and all of the staff members at Aventuras Mayas were truly exceptional.
Upon arriving in the jungle we were thoroughly instructed about safety procedures for the day and then were given snorkeling gear and life vests for our first adventure. We trekked through the lush jungle trails until we arrived at an underground cave, a cenote. The crystal clear water in the closed cenote was painfully frigid to say the least, but the beauty and mysterious aura being surrounded by the majestic stalactites and stalagmites, more than made up for the icy waters. The tranquility we experienced snorkeling in a place that has never been touched by sunlight was like something out of a dream. From hundreds of bats hanging above, to the catfish below, it was an surreal and magical experience.
Bats in the Underground Cenotes
Our next adventure was riding ATV’s through the jungle. Our guide, Gancho, led the way as we sped down twisty, muddy, rocky roads that caused us to be jolted and lifted air born from our seats several times.
My Kids–Ryan, Brooke in front and Adam driving our ATV behind!
At one point, our guide led us down a trail to an amazingly beautiful tropical oasis where we were able to zipline into a cenote. This was an unexpected surprise that we still talk about today.
After the exhilarating ATV rides and swim, it was time to zipline. There were 3 ziplines to be exact–high, higher and highest! Climbing to the top of the towers was exhausting, but the sight from the highest one had us overlooking the canopy of the rainforest, with vast treetop views of parrots and macaws soaring below us. Brooke volunteered to go first and before I could even check her harness, she was flying above the jungle canopy screaming how awesome this was the entire time. Me, I volunteered to go last. Being afraid of heights, this was the biggest challenge for me. I’m not going to lie–I closed my eyes from the moment jumped off at the edge of the platform, until the arrival at the second zip in the circuit. And once you completed one zipline there wasn’t any time to really catch your breath or reflect because you had to climb immediately to the next tower, which in hindsight was probably for the best. If you’ve never ziplined, this is definitely the place to experience it. It’s very safe, a total rush and the views are spectacular!
The day concluded with a lovely buffet lunch of nachos and salsa, a well-stocked salad bar and delicious grilled chicken.
Words truly cannot describe the joy we experienced creating these adventurous memories that will remain with us forever. If you are visiting Riviera Maya, an excursion with Aventuras Mayas is a must!
Pedis-n-Passports 