We went on a multiday, long-distance cruise for the first time on Carnival Breeze to Cozumel and Progreso, Mexico. The entire cruise experience was fantastic but our favorite part of the five-day cruise was our excursion through @yucatancenote. They have many exciting excursion options but the one we picked was the Above & Below Adventure it is their signature excursion as it offers a terrific view into what makes the Yucatan area unique.
We got to visit Mayapan ruins (you can still climb the pyramids and explore all of the structures), which was an informative, historical, and fun experience. We also enjoyed an authentic lunch prepared with fresh, and in-season ingredients (many grown in their backyard) by a Maya family at their home. The family that hosted us was extremely friendly and welcoming and it was such an eye-opening, cultural and immersive experience that we will cherish and remember forever.
.However, the single most memorable activity of the excursion and the entire cruise trip was going to a jungle and swimming in a cenote. A cenote is a regional term associated with the Yucatan Peninsula which refers to a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater. The tour organized life jackets and gave excellent instructions/support to make us feel comfortable going inside a cave that had the bluest, and clear water I have ever seen with a depth reaching 100 feet! Swimming, snorkeling, cliff jumping, and rope swinging were all activities available to do. Our entire family had an amazing time and it’s something we would do again!
We have been fortunate to have had good tour guides/operators in many places we have visited, however, the folks @yucatancenote were outstanding. Rene was our main guide, he was extremely friendly and knowledgeable about everything he showed us on tour. If you visit Progreso as part of a cruise or separate from it, we could not give a higher recommendation to book a tour with them. Please check out their website at https://www.yucatancenote.com/ as they have many packages and tours. You can also visit their Instagram and Facebook accounts.