Private Coba, Tulum and Temazcal Combo Tour from Playa de Carmen

You day begins with a pickup from your Playa del Carmen hotel at 9am, where you'll board a comfortable, air-conditioned minivan and drive approximately 90 minutes to Coba: an ancient Mayan urban center surrounded by rain forest, lakes, and cenotes (naturally formed, underground swimming pools). Walk under the shade of tall trees and observe exotic birds and animals on your way to some of the most impressive Mayan ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula. Climb the tallest pyramid on the peninsula, Nohoch Mul (“large mound” in the Mayan language) to be rewarded with sweeping panoramic views of the area.

Board the minivan for a short drive to Tulum, the archaeological site considered to be the most beautiful icon of the Mayan culture in the Mexican Caribbean. Enjoy spectacular views of the ruins on the white-sand beaches. Enjoy a buffet lunch of Mexican dishes typical of the region before participating in a Temazcal ceremony: a Mayan ritual that's considered by locals to be a source of health and energy. Head to the "hot stone house," the lodge where the temazcal ceremony takes place. Listen to an introductory talk from the temazcalero guide, who will answer questions, then participate in a salute around the fire. After a small cleaning ceremony with copal (resin) and aromatic herbs, enter the temazcal and feel the heat of the volcanic rocks as their red light glows in the darkness. Breathe in the aromas of herbs and copal as your body is purified of physical and energetic toxins. Be guided through four intervals of increasing and decreasing heat by the temazcalero using aromatic herbs, mud, honey, aloe vera, and refreshing teas. Enjoy the ceremony's curative powers as you listen to live singing accompanied by musical instruments.

After the session in the temazcal (during which you can leave the room or ask the shaman to increase/reduce the heat at any time), refresh by taking a cold bath. Then kick back in a hammock and have a light snack of fresh, seasonal fruit and natural beverages. Because of its interactive character, the length of the temazcal session can vary, though it generally lasts about 90 minutes. Leave feeling refreshed, renewed, and filled with positive energy. The tour concludes with a drop off back at your hotel in Playa del Carmen.