Four of us ventured out with our guide Alex on this trip from Playa del Carmen. He met us at the agreed time, at our rented condo in a late model, clean and comfortable 4WD SUV. He was in great spirits, handed us cold water, and off we went. After 45 minutes on the highway, chatting about what it was like growing up in different towns in Mexico, we turned onto an unpaved jungle road and made our way to "the underground river."
This was the first amazing and otherworldly experience of the day. We climbed down some stairs, entered through a small hole in a rocky wall, and descended more stairs into a cave! We put on nice clean masks and snorkels that simply couldn't fog up, grabbed a submersible flashlight on a tether, and we all jumped into crystal clear, cool but not cold, water.
Alex was like a dolphin in the water. He guided us with a quiet confidence in and around the cenote, on and under the water in a way that set us at ease and allowed us to enjoy a truly unique experience. He asked permission to take photos, which we happily granted, and the next day we received many many fascinating pictures to look at and share. Swimming in the underground river, over, under, and around stalagmites and stalactites is unforgettable.
After we dried off, we headed to the Temazcal ceremony. Alex was greeted like a family member by the folks there. We saw a typical Mayan home and were shown how to make tortillas, which each of us then tried to do, with more or less success.
Next came the Temazcal ceremony. I'll not take much space describing that. Let me say it's impressive, it's spiritually moving, it's intense and otherworldly. Take the description in MyQuest's listing seriously. The ceremony, involving much heat and humidity in near total darkness, is probably not for those who are faint of heart, pregnant, or who have heart or lung conditions! Alex was an excellent interpreter, as the ceremony was conducted in a Mayan dialect.
When we cooled off and received the blessing from the shaman, Hummingbird, we were then treated to a meal consisting of traditional Mayan fare: a fall-off-the-bone braised chicken breast with potatoes and beans with handmade fresh tortillas, which we consumed con mucho gusto. We then rode back to our condo in quiet comfort.
Alex is a rock star; he's great fun to be with, shares his knowledge and experience with glee, and made all of us feel welcome and cared for. If you know what Temazcal is like, you know that's important. If you don't know, just know you're in really good hands.
O5834XCkarenm
01 Sep 2022
I have taken many excursions in my life but this one changed my life!!!!
1. Jony and JP were so personable we felt like we knew them forever!
2. In one of the amazing Cenotes JP pulled me though it literally....it is so good to know their are people out there that truly care!
3. Temazcal experience is something you need to do on your own to explain the true experience out Shaman Collibri transformed my soul I am so blessed and grateful to her forever.
4. The Mayan meal was prepared with love you can truly tell!
5. Again I thank Jony and JP if you take this amazing life changing tour you won't regret any minute of it remember you need to have an open mind and heart to get the true meaning!
Lastly the only reason I did not include the pictures of my ceremony is because it was Private to me and that is how I would like to keep it!
V6703VQnancyc
14 Jul 2022
This was an incredible experience. From swimming in our beautiful cenote to meeting the Mayan community and having our Shaman baptize us and bring us into a sweat lodge (Temezcal) -- a once in a lifetime experience! Alex (tour guide) and Manuel (Driver) were so friendly and helpful. From explaining the history, to translating, to taking photos. Such a great time