Mayapan Ruins

I took my first cruise with my family in 2012 with some friends and their family to celebrate our sons 13th birthday. I was hooked from the first moment I stepped on the ship. My wife and I and have since cruised 70+ days on Carnival Cruise Lines and have visited nearly every port they sail to in the Caribbean. We have traveled to Cozumel, Progreso, Belize, Roatan, San Juan, St. Kitts, St Maarten, Grand Turk, Grand Cayman, Amber Cove, Nassau, Half Moon Cay.

My favorite ports are Cozumel and Progreso. These are not only the obvious reason, the beautiful beaches but the culture, the people on the island are so friendly in Cozumel. While I enjoy a day at an all-inclusive day resort a couple of my favorite excursions have been running the amazing race on the island. It included visiting a local museum and diving for a clue on a shipwreck, running through the streets of downtown while visiting local merchants all while ending the afternoon at an authentic Mexican restaurant for an amazing lunch with the other teams before being taken back to the ship. One of my recent trips included swimming with whale sharks and getting up close and personal with stingrays.

 My other favorite port and I feel often the most overlooked is Progreso. We have visited the Yucatan peninsula and visited Progreso 5 times in the last few years. The culture in the Yucatan is very strong and if you are lucky enough to have the courage to get off the ship (as many people choose to stay on) and head down the path less traveled there is a whole world of wonder that is just waiting to be experienced. I was like most of my fellow cruisers on our first visit and chose to go with the popular vote and travel via motor coach to the famous Uxmal ruins. They were breathtaking and the guides explaining the history behind the ruins were so informative. I craved to know more about the indigenous Mayan people and their culture. I researched extensively and found a reputable tour company who would take me into the villages where the Mayans still survived with only basic necessities. These trips included visiting the Mayapan ruins, haciendas, cenotes where only locals visit and had lunch prepared by and with a Mayan family in their home. I had the opportunity to go inside their home, made only of cinder blocks. They sleep in hammocks and grow all of their own food. Our kids played a game of kickball with their children. The language was a barrier but the smiles on the faces of everyone was priceless.

I would love the opportunity to provide you with an unforgettable, heartwarming experience on your next vacation. If you want to do a beginner scuba excursion and dive the Great Barrier Reef, zip line over the rain forest or tube through a cave. I have the personal experience and want to share my knowledge with you so you can get the most of out your vacation. Everyone deserves a trip away.