Climb to the top of a temple and experience acoustics unlike anything you’ve ever heard in North America. Mosiah 2:7

Walk through the jungles that an ancient people walked through.

Step into a cave as large as a gymnasium, but which remains almost invisible from the outside; a cave that could secretly house many people or store hundreds of sacred records. Ether 13:13-22, Mormon 1:3, 4; 2:17

See the remnants of a unique road system (sac-be) not unlike the roads which would have connected huge cities thousands of years ago. Alma 17:1

See large stones (stelae) with engravings on them telling the stories of former inhabitants. Omni 1:20,21

See the ruins of huge cities populated by thousands of people which were suddenly abandoned or destroyed - tradition dictates, by civil war.

See the hauntingly familiar remains of sacred edifices and symbols of a people who believed in the same things we believe in.

And Do It All in the company of other Latter-day Saints from Alberta, like yourself.  

Our Tour Guide

Our tour guide is a Latter-day Saint from Cancun who has been conducting LDS tours for over twenty years, Helaman Petlacalco.

Helaman is strong and active in the Church and has a strong testimony of the restored gospel. It is impossible not to catch the fire of his passion. He is an honorable man, in whom we have much confidence. He is fluent in English and French as well as Spanish. He also speaks Italian and German. We will also be with a couple of his brothers on this trip. Equally excellent men.

Archaeological Sites we will be visiting:

Tours are arranged on a Tour Day - Off Day Basis for your Relaxation

1^st Day: We will visit the ancient jungle city of Coba, which was once populated by an estimated 100,00 people. Climbing the 120 stairs to the top of the Grand Pyramid at Cobá is well worth the effort. Standing here one can see over the jungle canopy for miles, unexcavated temple mounds peeking above the trees. As many as fifty sacbes (ancient roads) led into this huge Mayan city center, one of them over 62 miles long -- the longest in the Mayan world. We will have lunch in Coba town, then travel to the ancient walled coastal Temple site of Tulum. Tulum is the most visited archaeological site in the Yucatan, and is the only one right on the coast, with the beautiful Caribbean as the backdrop. It is full of images familiar to many latter-day saints: the Descending God, the Feathered Serpent, the All-Seeing Eye, and many other treasures.

2^nd Day: Most of our day will be spent in Chitchen Itza, viewing parts of it that most tour groups rarely have time to visit. Chichen Itza is the most famous of all Yucatan Mayan ruins. It is also the most reconstructed site. Many places in this ancient city are of particular interest to Latter-day Saints, like the Temple of the Bearded God, the huge ball court, the Temple of “His Face Shone Like the Sun”, the Observatory, a carving of a horse and rider, and baptismal fonts.  We will eat lunch in Chitchen Itza town, and will end our day with a trip to a huge Cenote – underground fresh water lake/river. If you enjoy swimming, bring your swim suit. Its pretty neat.

3^rd Day: Our last tour day we visit Ek Balaam, home to remarkably well-preserved Mayan ruins with unbelievably intact carvings, the best we have seen. Ek Balaam is the newest site opened to the public, and being a little off the beaten tract is rarely visited. In fact, often times we are the only tour group at the site. Half way up the main temple, and definitely worth the climb, is a remarkable painting of dark skinned men and light skinned men. The site has many other images and buildings of particular interest to Latter-day Saints. We will stop in the Mayan city of Valladolid for lunch and to visit a museum and some spectacular murals, which are by themselves worth the drive. We will also be making a stop at a modern Mayan Church in Tulum town.

A Paradise of unimaginable beauty

Play, Shop & Feel some Mexican Culture                      

Playa del Carmen is a quaint Mexican village grown up. It provides that rare combination of simplicity (in the form of a town that can be crossed on foot), and variety. It is this cosmopolitan counterculture that makes Playa fun. Shopping on Playa’s 5^th Avenue is a fun experience. Bartering, we are told, is Mexico’s favorite sport, and they take it very seriously. Don’t expect to pay the same price for anything two days in a row. Shopping is an adventure all on its own.

Enjoy extraordinary comfort and convenience

In the ancient language of the Mayan, Akumal translates as “the place of turtles”. Here you will be surrounded by nature. Spend your day walking the 1 km white sand beach, relaxing by the pool or join in some of the daily activities. We will be staying at the Akumal Beach Resort, about 1/2 an hour north of Tulum and about a half hour south of the Mexican town of Playa del Carmen.

This resort has 3 restaurants, snack bar, pool, 2 tennis courts, and several other recreational facilities available

Our accommodation will be in the ’superior ocean front’ rooms with air conditioning, ceiling fan, satellite TV, bathroom with shower and hairdryer, telephone, balcony or patio, and an in-room safe. The hotel has internet service, and a full internet café is available very close by.

‘All Inclusive’ includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus snacks, daily activities and nightly entertainment, as well as non-motorized water sports such as snorkeling and kayaking.

We will be traveling to the tour sites in a modern air-conditioned vehicle, and accompanied everywhere on tour days by an English speaking LDS tour guide.

The cost? (at this point - estimated only)

The cost will be confirmed in July. Once confirmed prices become available, we will let everyone know, and you will have 1 week to cancel or confirm your plans.

Based on previous years' experience, it is estimated that the cost will be around $2500.00 per person (based on double occupancy – 1 week)
and includes:

*Airfare there and back, from Edmonton  

* All taxes are included - no surprises

*Transportation to and from our Hotel Resort on the Mayan Riviera ( aprox. 1 ½ hours from Cancun.)

*All Inclusive Accommodations at the Akumal Beach Resort in a ‘superior ocean front’ room (all meals while on resort, continuous snack bar, all water sports, use of all resort facilities, nightly entertainment etc)

*Transportation in modern air-conditioned vehicle to and from all Archaeological sites, Entrance fees to all sites, meals in restaurants while on tour days, and private English speaking LDS tour guide accompanying us to all sites. The schedule is completely ours, and not dependent on anything other than our own convenience.

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