Magical Yucatán
Closed
Overview
“The privilege of having this breathtaking cenote to yourself is truly indescribable.” –Susan A.
“It was a great trip. Great people, great photographs and a magical part of the universe!” –Sean S.
“What a trip! Thanks again to Justin, Jack, Alfredo and Sara!” –Eric B.
“Reflecting back to last week’s journey, besides the great organization and support provided by Justin and the guidance and enthusiasm we all appreciate from Jack, my recollections are of many enjoyable conversations shared over some of the best dining experiences I have ever had. And as a ‘fotografo gringo,’ the opportunity to talk to and share thoughts and laughs with Sara and Alfredo added dimension and context to as Sean rightly stated ‘a magical part of the universe.’ My thanks to all.” –David C.
“A smooth and wonderful trip with many new experiences and a chance to hang out with some really great people leaves me with a wonderful sense of joy.” –Barry A.
This is a journey into a world of magical color and serenity, designed to balance ample photographic productivity with a slower pace of life and pure relaxation. Nature’s beauty combines with cultural significance to create a truly unforgettable experience. For this special workshop, instructor Justin Black is making the most of his own personal friendships with locals who are deeply familiar with the truly special and under-appreciated beauty of the Mexican state of Yucatán, just a short flight from the USA. It also happens to be Mexico’s safest region.
Justin will lead a small group of six passionate photographers on a photo workshop celebrating the mysterious beauty of crystal-blue cenotes – the most spectacular in all of Yucatán, including an entirely private one owned by personal friends – the fascinating cultural history and architecture of ancient Mayán sites and quaint and colorful colonial Spanish towns, contemporary Mayan culture (yes, they’re still here with us), and stunning tropical flora and fauna, including colorful tropical birdlife. We will also of course have many opportunities to enjoy the wonderful Yucatecán cuisine.
The Mexican state of Yucatán is a world apart from the bustling tourist center of Cancún and the Mayan Riviera in the adjacent state of Quintana Roo. Yucatán is a welcoming, safe, and enchanting place, rich with history and distinctly authentic local culture, overflowing with haunting beauty. Tropical forest conceals beneath its roots a porous limestone bedrock through which water has dissolved myriad caves, sinkholes, and underground rivers, following fractures created by the asteroid impact at Chicxulub Crater that wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.
When these caves and sinkholes open to the outside world and offer access to groundwater, they are known as cenotes. The inspiration for countless Mayan legends, these crystal-clear pools and grottoes will be a primary focus of this expedition, along with elegant colonial towns full of rustic charm, Mayan villages, and the abundant wildlife of the coastal Biosphere Reserve at Ria Lagartos.
We have arranged for our good friends and expert Yucatán explorers Alfredo Medina and Sara Fuentes to be our guides. Since 1992, Alfredo and Sara have lived on the Yucatán Peninsula where they own a printing business and a beautiful and historic boutique hotel. Alfredo is an accomplished photographer who spent years exploring and photographing across the Yucatán for his beautiful book Cenotes: Imprints of Water and Light in the Jungle, published in 2008. Alfredo also co-photographed the book Birds of the Yucatán Peninsula (1997). Alfredo and Sara serve as trustees for the non-profit conservation organization Amigos de Sian Ka’an, promoting conservation action on the Yucatan Peninsula. On behalf of the International League of Conservation Photographers, Justin Black and Jack Dykinga collaborated with Alfredo and Sara in October 2009 on a conservation photo assignment in the Yucatan for Amigos de Sian Ka’an, and again in 2012 on one of Visionary Wild’s very first workshops. Alfredo and Sara have since become dear friends, and they are always charming and a pleasure to travel with.
Join us for this photographic adventure!
Itinerary
Oct 9: Arrive at Cancún Airport (CUN), and after exiting customs meet your transfer driver for the 1.5-hour drive to Valladolid. Check into our excellent accommodations at Hotel Posada San Juan, in the heart of the town, and relax before meeting the group for our welcome meeting and orientation session (along with a good margarita or a glass of wine), followed by dinner courtesy of Posada San Juan’s chef.
Oct 10: After breakfast, we will enjoy an early morning guided visit to Kulubá Mayan archaeological site (including a palace inhabited between 600-1050CE), followed by an extended visit to Cenote Chenxunan, our own private cenote, and one of the most beautiful in the Yucatán. Here we will have the chance to photograph the cenote as landscape, descend into the cenote via a newly installed wooden staircase, swim, snorkel, do underwater photography (for those suitably equipped), or photograph birds around the cenote and in the surrounding tropical forest. An elegant lunch will be served at the cenote. After returning to Valladolid, we will have some personal time, which you can use as you like: take a walk with Justin to do some street photography, process images, take a nap, have a swim in the pool, etc. Dinner will be at El Idilio, a local restaurant specializing in artesanal beer and modern Yucatecan cuisine.
Oct 11: We depart after an early breakfast for an excursion to Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, located on the north coast of Yucatán Peninsula. Here, we will have two boats and local guides at our disposal to explore this remarkable and ecologically diverse wetland ecosystem known for its abundant birdlife, and pristine natural beauty. It is home to over 380 species of birds, making it one of the most important bird habitats in North America. Among the notable avian residents and visitors are flamingos, herons, egrets, ospreys, cormorants, and numerous species of migratory birds. It is also home to diverse flora and fauna including saltwater crocodiles, turtles, and iguanas, as well as numerous fish species that inhabit the estuarine and coastal waters. The surrounding mangroves are essential for marine life and provide a nursery for various species. Lunch will be served at Ria Lagartos. Dinner will be served upon our return to Posada San Juan.
Oct 12: This morning, we will have the very special opportunity to be guided by a noted Mayan archaeologist on a visit to the ancient Mayan city of Ek Balam (occupied from about 650-1050CE), which was buried in the jungle until excavation began in the late 20th Century. We are applying for a permit to gain pre-dawn access so we can photograph at sunrise, well before the site opens to the public. For lunch, we have been invited to be the guests of a Mayan family at nearby NahBalam village. Back in Valladolid, we will hold our first group image review and constructive critique session, followed by dinner at one of Valladolid’s finer restaurants.
Oct 13: Our morning excursion will take us to the Mayan village of Uayma, home to a beautifully decorated colonial Spanish church, and rich opportunities for street photography. Then we proceed to the charming historic colonial town of Espita for more street photography. Lunch will be served at Casa Kacaya Hotel at Espita. In the afternoon, we will visit a beautiful cenote near Espita. Dinner will be at one of Valladolid’s finer restaurants.
Oct 14: We will fill the day with photography and exploration of two of the most photogenic cenotes in the area, with lunch at one of our favorite local restaurants, Jardín de la Tía. Dinner will be back in Valladolid at one of the finer restaurants in town.
Oct 15: On our last full day, we will focus on street photography in Valladolid, including a visit to the public market and various historic districts. After lunch, we will gather for a final group image review. We will lead an evening stroll for those who wish to go out for a bit before dinner for a final street photography session. Our final celebratory dinner will be served at Posada San Juan.
Oct 16: After breakfast, we will provide a transfer in two vans from Posada San Juan to Cancún International Airport (CUN). Flights can be scheduled any time after noon.
Instructors
Justin Black
- JUSTIN BLACK is a photographer, writer, editor, expedition leader, photo workshops instructor, a Fellow of the International League of Conservation Writers (ILCW), a former executive director of the International ...
Gallery
Pricing
Click here to review our payment, cancellation and refund policies; as well as terms and conditions for participation.
Please review our terms and conditions even if you have participated in previous Visionary Wild trips so that you are aware of current policies.
INCLUDED:
- Upscale accommodation for all seven nights at Posada San Juan in Valladolid, Mexico
- All meals and beverages (including wine, beer, margaritas, etc. with dinner)
- All in-tour photographic instruction, land transportation, and guide services by leader team of one professional photographers, and our Mexican guides
- Private excursion by boat at Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve
- Snorkeling gear at cenotes
- Professional local drivers
- Permits for special access to ancient Mayan sites and cenotes
NOT INCLUDED:
- International and domestic air travel and domestic transportation within your home country, or any other travel services required to arrive at the tour commencement location, along with all associated taxes, levies and insurances
- Immigration, duty, passport and visa fees where applicable
- Travel insurance and emergency medical and evacuation insurance – recommended
- Personal items including gifts or other purchases
- Scuba gear and support at cenotes (though this can be arranged at additional cost).
- Any paid communications, alcoholic beverages other than those offered to the group at dinners, hotel room service, or minibar charges
- Any additional costs to extend your stay, such as hotel nights and meals, beyond the dates and meals specified in the itinerary
- Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and camp staff (we recommend that each guest budget US$200, or the equivalent in Mexican pesos)
- Optional activities not explicitly listed as included in the itinerary
Highlights
- One of the world’s least-known but most spectacular landscape features: Hidden in the forests of the Yucatán Peninsula are thousands of cenotes – deep blue, crystal clear sink holes naturally dissolved into the limestone bedrock – that the Mayan people considered entrances to the underworld. We will take you to the most beautiful cenotes in the world.
- Mayan culture, from ancient sites to present-day villages.
- Colonial Spanish architecture, churches, and markets
- Superb street photography opportunities
- Full-day boat excursion through Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve
- Birdlife: Turquoise-Browed Motmots, Golden Orioles, Yucatán Amazon parrots, Keel-Billed Toucans, American Flamingos, and more.
- Small group limited to six participants
- Attentive and effective instruction and support throughout by Justin Black
- Local support by our first-rate team of experienced guides and drivers: My dear friends Alfredo Medina and Sara Fuentes are wonderful hosts who are extremely knowledgeable about the history, culture, and ecology of the Yucatán, and they literally wrote the book on exploration of the Yucatán’s magical cenotes: Cenotes: Imprints of Water and Light in the Jungle. When we visit an incredible Mayan city hidden by the jungle until the 1990s, we will also be joined by an extremely knowledgeable Mayan archaeologist who participated for more than a decade in project to uncover and preserve the site.
- Creativity and visualization: learn to find new and unexpected compositions
- Advanced field techniques for landscape, street, and wildlife photography
- Breaking through creative block and making great photographs in visually overwhelming situations
- Superb accommodations at Posada San Juan, rated the #1 boutique hotel in Yucatán State
- Transportation: We will have a 15-seat Mercedes Sprinter van and professional driver at our disposal, with plenty of extra room for gear.
- All-inclusive from Cancún, Mexico
Accommodations
Travel
Expectations
1. Natural Wonders: Cenotes are natural sinkholes that have formed over thousands of years, creating crystalline pools of freshwater. These enchanting bodies of water are surrounded by lush jungle foliage and intriguing rock formations. The clear, emerald-green to deep blue waters are a mesmerizing sight, and the cenotes themselves are a testament to the fascinating geological history of the Yucatán Peninsula.
2. Spiritual Significance: Holding great importance in ancient Mayan culture, cenotes were considered sacred portals to the underworld, or Xibalba, where offerings were made to appease the gods. A spiritual aura permeates these sites, adding a layer of mysticism to your visit.
3. Refreshing Oasis: The moment you dip into these cool, crystal-clear waters, you’ll feel a sense of rejuvenation and tranquility. It’s a stark contrast to the tropical climate, making the cenotes an oasis of relief and relaxation.
4. Biodiversity: The cenotes are not just beautiful bodies of water; they are also home to unique ecosystems. Underwater, you’ll discover a world of stalactites and stalagmites, as well as a few species of small fish. The surrounding jungle is filled with diverse flora and fauna, including colorful tropical birds.
5. Adventure Opportunities: Cenotes offer a range of activities for all types of adventurers. Enjoy the option to snorkel in the crystal-clear waters to observe the underwater formations and fish, or try scuba diving for a more immersive experience. Some cenotes have zip-lines or platforms for cliff jumping, providing an adrenaline rush against the serene backdrop of the cenote.
6. Tranquil Escape: One of the most enchanting aspects of cenotes is their serenity. These secluded, hidden gems are often far from the hustle and bustle of tourist hubs, providing a peaceful escape into nature. The only sounds you’ll hear are the rustling leaves, chirping birds, and the gentle lapping of water against the cenote’s edges.
In summary, a visit to the cenotes on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is a magical and serene experience that combines natural beauty, cultural significance, and the soothing embrace of nature. It’s a journey that offers not only a respite from the heat but also a deep connection to the rich history and spirituality of the region.
Magical Yucatán
Closed
