Chichén Itzá
The most famous of the Mayan ruin sites in the Yucatán. is major archeological site East of Mérida. Famous for “El Castillo” ruin, pictured in most Spanish textbooks. Included is a walking tour is to visit the monastery and church made famous during the colonial times as the head of the Catholic church in Yucatan. The Pope visited this city in 1986 and attracted hundreds of thousands of people. The entire city of Izamal is painted egg-yolk yellow—the holy color for the Mayan people. Includes transportation and bilingual guide. 2. Izamal Holy City: The First Named “Magical Cities” of México is the small town of Izamal. Late morning arrival in time for exploration before a nice lunch in the most authentic Yucatecan restaurant. Students explore the Mayan ruins located within the town either before or after lunch. 3 . Uxmal is major archeological site South of The State of Yucatán in the Puuc region. Recommended for a weekday afternoon--students leave classes a few minutes early for a prompt 1:00PM departure from Merida. Arrival at the Uxmal Mayan ruin site is at 3:00PM. Students have two hours to explore the ruins which close for the day at 5:00PM. Students enjoy a buffet dinner at a near-by hotel (with optional Swimming in hotel’s pool) and return to the ruin site in the late evening for the Light & Sound show which covers a Mayan Legend as well as historical information. Return to Merida is around 10:00PM. Tour includes transportation in air-conditioned motor coach, bilingual guide, buffet dinner, and Light & Sound show. High School Culture Trip Page 3 of 5 Trips and Cultural Excursions Recommended for either a Saturday or a Sunday. Full day excursion with 9:00AM departure and evening return (5:30PM). Includes transportation in airconditioned motor coach, bilingual guide, visits to the major Mayan ruin site of "Chichén Itzá," and lunch at hotel with time for swimming if desired.
Izamal Holy City
The First Named “Magical Cities” of México is the small town of Izamal. Late morning arrival in time for exploration before a nice lunch in the most authentic Yucatecan restaurant. Students explore the Mayan ruins located within the town either before or after lunch.
Included is a walking tour is to visit the monastery and church made famous during the colonial times as the head of the Catholic church in Yucatan. The Pope visited this city in 1986 and attracted hundreds of thousands of people. The entire city of Izamal is painted egg-yolk yellow—the holy color for the Mayan people. Includes transportation and bilingual guide. 2. Izamal Holy City: The First Named “Magical Cities” of México is the small town of Izamal. Late morning arrival in time for exploration before a nice lunch in the most authentic Yucatecan restaurant. Students explore the Mayan ruins located within the town either before or after lunch.
Uxmal
Uxmal is major archeological site South of The State of Yucatán in the Puuc region. Recommended for a weekday afternoon--students leave classes a few minutes early for a prompt 1:00PM departure from Merida. Arrival at the Uxmal Mayan ruin site is at 3:00PM. Students have two hours to explore the ruins which close for the day at 5:00PM. Students enjoy a buffet dinner at a near-by hotel (with optional Swimming in hotel’s pool) and return to the ruin site in the late evening for the Light & Sound show which covers a Mayan Legend as well as historical information. Return to Merida is around 10:00PM. Tour includes transportation in air-conditioned motor coach, bilingual guide, buffet dinner, and Light & Sound show.
Celestún
Celestún Beach and Wildlife Reserve Full day trip recommended for Saturday or Sunday. 8:45AM departure Westward from Mérida toward the gulf beach shore town of Celestún. Upon arrival to Celestún, students take a boating tour to bird sanctuary and flamingos and cruise through natural mangroves where they will see a fresh water spring amidst brackish saltwater. Lunch at the beach and time for swimming in the refreshing waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Tour includes transportation in air conditioned motor coach or van, bilingual guide, boat ride through wildlife reserve, and lunch at the beach. 5:30PM return to Merida.
Loltún
Loltún Caves Departure at 1:00 PM. Students will enjoy a guided hike through the underground caverns of Loltún. This is the first settlement of the Maya People in the Yucatan Peninsula. Four to Six Thousand year old carvings and paintings can be observed in the walls of the caves as well as astonishing natural rock formations. Transportation in air conditioned motor coach or van and bilingual guide. –Box lunch provided by host families
Cuzama
Cuzuma Three Cenotes IMPORTANT: Cenotes are very deep—swim at your own risk._This adventure excursion departs the Institute of Modern Spanish at 1:00PM for a 2:30PM arrival at Cuzuma. Along the way to Cuzuma, there are several photo opportunities as we pass through small villages with haciendas and churches. Upon arrival to the remote village of Cuzuma, students take a seven kilometer rail trip into the jungle via horse-drawn platform buggies. There are stops at three cenotes: Chelentun (Laying Doan Rock), Chansinic’che (tree with small ants), and Bolonchoojol (nine drops of water). This excursion is rather “rustic” with limited availability for changing clothes—please leave the institute prepared to swim. NOTE: There is no meal included on this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you ask your host family to prepare a sandwich for you to take along. Please let them know one day prior.
Tixcocob
Tixcocob Hammock Tour Students depart from the Institute of Modern Spanish at 1:00PM. Upon arrival to Tixcocob, the students visit a local cenote (sink hole), and have time to swim and eat a sack lunch (supplied by host family). A walking tour of the Main Square and church follows. Students are invited into the home of a local family where the family explains how hammocks are made. Students learn how the economy of the family and village are maintained through this industry. The students help the family prepare an evening meal of "Salbutes"--typical Yucatecan tacos. Transportation, evening meal, and refreshments included.
Dzibilchaltún
Dzibilchaltún an archeological site and Museum of the Mayan Pueblo are located just North of Mérida. Tour includes optional swimming in a cenote. Progreso is a small, but extremely diverse Gulf port town just North of Mérida. It is a major trans-Gulf port for commercial trade with the USA. The tour includes time for lunch and swimming in the Gulf of Mexico. This tour can be done together or in two separate days. Host families provide lunch boxes but students have the option to eat in a restaurant.
IMS Tour Overview (IMS) staff assists students with travel arrangements to cultural locations by making reservations on behalf of the student with a local travel agent/excursion operator. These include excursions to the Mayan ruins– Chichén Itzá, Uxmal, Uxmal/Kabah, Ruta Puuc—, to a Wildlife Reserve and Beach town—Celestún, to some cultural villages, and to “sink holes” for swimming. The excursion operator that IMS routinely uses for these excursions provides excellent service at economical rates. Average full day excursions price is US$39.00 with the exception of the Celestún excursion and the Ruta Puuc/Loltún excursion. There is no additional cost for reserving these excursions through IMS. IMS accepts PayPal, Credit/Debit Card or Mexican peso cash payment and gives an excursion ticket to the student. Students meet up with the excursion operator at a hotel in walking distance of the student’s home or will have a taxi paid by the excursion operator to tour departure point . You will be provided with the details when reserving an excursion. Actual price of the excursion and entrance fees may vary slightly due to the fluctuation of the Mexican peso. While the excursion ticket can be paid with PayPal, Credit/Debit Card or Mexican peso cash, entrance fees can be paid via Card, but due to the possibility of faulty signal at the location we recommend paying with cash.