Crossing in the Mayan area, Muyil

portada Muyil
The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, which in Mayan means “place where the sky is born” is the community center in Muyil, a settlement named like that since colonial times, due to one of the lagoons that are located near the site and where there is also an archaeological zone. The buildings are in the Petén architectural style, which was of great importance in trade since it had a strategic location on the trade route through the Caribbean Sea and the region’s canals.
Canales de Muyil
Muyil is located near Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and one hour and fifteen minutes from Cancun. Access to it is on Federal Highway 307. Once you arrive at the placeyou can do various activities that we will tell you a little about below.

Most important building of Muyil 

THE CASTLE : This pyramid of five bodies is the most important structure of the enclosure. It has a height of 17 meters. In the upper part of the pyramid, you can see a temple, where several objects made of jadeite and snail were found, most of them offerings destined for deities or high hierarchs.

zona arqueológica Muyil

The Entrance Square: Religious ceremonies and important civil events were held in this square. Archaeologists suppose that it was also a residence place due to the type of low-rise buildings found there, in which a lot of diversification of architecture and natural color adorns it can be appreciated. 

The Pink Palace

This Palace, also named Temple 8 and structure 9R1is the center of the civic-religious sphere of Muyil. It was built during the Postclassical period when demographics grew in the ancient Mayan city. Wall paintings and ceramic pieces were found in this structure and in its surroundings.

There are few communities authorized to carry out tourist activities,  even the localities are designated with ideal destinations for a better experience with a small group.

palacio rosa de Muyil

The trip is designed to live unique and unforgettable experiences which can be enjoyed in the company of loved ones discovering places full of life, traditions, Mayan customs, cultural exchanges and gastronomy.

In Muyil you can enjoy an experience guided by a local specialist from Community Tours Sian Ka’an , in which you will have the opportunity to observe the great variety of animal species, such as monkeys, jaguars, crocodiles, manatees and peccaries, everything depends on the chosen route, however, at no time will you stop witnessing the sighting of birds.

Vista horizonte zona Muyil

Muyil has the sighting of more than 300 species of birds, among which you can find endemic birds and with a little luck, you will observe migratory birds that are worth mentioning on are few occasions that come to appear in plain sight, such as the American storks, white and dark ibis, tiger heron or tricolor.

Currently, during the stay in Muyil, excursions are made to different authorized areas, some of them are guided tours of community museums, hiking, biking, a little history on chewing gum, recognition of archeological areas of the preclassical period with civic-religious structures, platforms, among others. The objective is to acquire a wider knowledge of the place, as well as of the Mayan communities that inhabited it and still inhabit it today.

Zonas de recorrido Muyil

Complement the visit to the archaeological zone of Muyil with a tour of the Siaan Ka’an reserve. It is an experience worth living during your vacation in Quintana Roo.

In Muyil, a preservation strategy was initiated, with the aim of reducing its visitor capacity, safeguarding the heritage resources of rural religions and conserving natural areas. By establishing this type og strategy, the life cycle of the natural territory can be extended, as well as the wildlife that inhabits it. This was possible thanks to the collaboration of sustainable tourism companies with the community.

Connection of the lagoon and the sea in Muyil

Muyil is recognized for its lagoon system full of clean and clear water. Inside the channels, you will have a boat ride surrounded by red mangroves and orchidstours on the turquoise waters of the Muyil lagoon that through channels reach the Caribbean Sea, and where you will witness the marine shows that are usually occasional like sightings of dolphins or even turtles.

The Muyil and Chunyaxche lagoons are ideal for kayaking and snorkeling, always accompanied by people specialized in each of the water activities.

actividad acuática zona de Muyil

The Old Canal of Sian Ka’an has the most relaxing activity within the crystal clear currents “The Float” is ideal after hiking through the lush jungle and sailing through the crystal clear lagoons. The activity consists of jumping into the water and floating next to the fish, while experiencing a sensation of freedom and aquatic relaxation, forgetting about your routine.

Curious note: Did you know that the channels and lagoons of Sian Ka’an, are a site declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Canales agua cristalina zona de Muyil

You will be able to share with the tenants their traditional meals prepared by hand, and made with recipes from the ancient Mayans, which it is worth mentioning that they consider sacred. Among its traditional dishes are; Chilmole (paste made with chilies and spices), Pipián (green mole made with herbs and green leaves), Papadzul (consists of corn tortillas soaked in seed sauce and stuffed with boiled egg, bathed in tomato sauce and habanero chili and onion), as well as panuchos, salbutes, tamales, empanadas, and garnachasas well as one or another typical local drink such as Xtabentún, which is made with honey fermented by bees that feed on the anise flower and xtabentún.

 

More than 1500 travelers, 5 stars in Tripadvisor

tripadvisor travelers choice 2020
5/5

(4.8)

0

travelers

Victoria O.

September, 2022
Two Weeks in Mexico
Seamless transfers, excellent hotels particularly in Mexico city and Puebla, combined with various cultural and food tours. Particular highlights were the cultural/food tours in Mexico city and Puebla (also including the anthropology museum in Mexico city), and the rural tours in Oaxaca where we visited textile workshops, mescal producers and participated in a cooking class using traditional equipment. Also, although we didn't need it, the on call remote assistance was reassuring. I would definitely recommend Rutopia.
Tripadvisor Review of Rutopia

Kris S.

April, 2022
Enjoyed using Rutopia
Enjoyed using Rutopia (Marisol and Melina) to plan my trip to Mexico. Marisol helped me figure out the best options fand booked everything. Melina was my in country support. Rutopia (the company through Kim Kim) is great and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to take the burden out of vacation planning. My son and I truly enjoyed the trip knowing everything was taken care of and we just had to have fun. Thanks!
Kimkim Review of Rutopia

Melissa W.

July, 2022
Adventures in the Yucatán!
Such an amazing time in the Yucatán! Between floating in the mangroves to visiting Chichén Itzá to spending a whole day on the beach in El Cuyo, I couldn’t have planned a better trip without their help. Thank you so much for an unforgettable birthday vacation!! Simply amazing! Don’t think twice about having them help you plan your next vacation!
Tripadvisor Review of Rutopia

Cat839

April, 2022
Great experience with this agency, totally recommend!
Great experience with this agency. Our tour in Mexico was perfect and organised with great passion and precision. Special thanks to Mel (our direct contact during the trip) for being super responsive and to Jorge Barbosa (our tour guide in Mexico City). Totally recommend this tour operator!
Tripadvisor Review of Rutopia
Actividad Tourguiado e1631819697403

Sue G

June, 2022
Mayan Site Tour in Yucatan Penninsula Mexico
Rutopia did an outstanding job with the arrangement and execution of a 9 day tour of Mayan sites in the Yucatan peninsula. We provided Rutopia with the general parameters of the trip we wanted and they suggested an itinerary. After our approval, they set up the hotels, transportation within Mexico, and site tours. The hotels were good quality, and all of the drivers and tour guides showed up on time. We were very impressed with the quality of the tour guides and learned a lot on the trip. Jorge handled setting up the itinerary, and Melina handled the execution of the trip and was readily available via WhatsApp throughout the trip for any questions or issues. Melina was particularly helpful in changing our transportation arrangements to the airport at the last minute per our request. I would recommend Rutopia and would use them again for future trips.
Kimkim Review of Rutopia
Actividad ciclismo 1 e1631820273800

Varadarajan

July, 2022
Fantastic Will do it again
My wife and I had a fantastic holiday in Mexico thanks to Marisol, Ana, Teresa and their colleagues & partners. The entire itinerary and arrangements were put together in less than 4 days. What we really liked about Marisol & her team was that they were only a message or a phone call away for any query/suggestion, etc. The trip was bespoke to the extent that Rutopia had kept in mind about our interests, food habits & executed bookings, tours. They were also very flexible in catering to last minute changes/requests. The team took upon them to ensure that our entire trip was comfortable & safe by taking care of even small stuff that one normally finds out post getting to a place. We would definitely like to use their services again!!
Tripadvisor Review of Rutopia

Elena R.

April, 2022
A literally perfect trip to the Yucatan peninsula
Tom and I knew we wanted to go to Mexico. We knew we wanted a little bit of culture, some wildlife, and maybe a splash in the ocean. That's it. With the vague and minimal information we gave them, Rutopia was able to put together a perfect trip for us. We had a flawless itinerary. It's so clear that Rutopia really cares about the communities (animals and humans) in Mexico. Everything we did and everywhere we stayed felt like they were helping us experience Mexico as authentically and respectfully as possible. It's almost impossible to pick a highlight, but top of the list has to be the day we shared with Enrique, a Mayan host who was unbelievably generous with us. He shared the community gardens, including history and background about the families that live in Nuevo Durango and other nearby communities. He showed us the neighborhood cenotes, Punta Laguna, Uma Nojoch Keej (a wildlife reserve), and more. We picked and prepared the plants as Enrique and his wife Blanca showed us the best way to cook them (and rescued us when we were pricked by the nopales!). We saw howler monkeys and spider monkeys in the wild which was very cool. That had to be the very best day, but every day was amazing. Sian Ka'an reserve was lovely, the Mayan ruins were spectacular, the snorkeling in Puerto Morelos was fabulous, the bicycle cenote tour was jaw'droppingly gorgeous. I'm waxing superlative but it really all was like a dream. Beyond the activities, the scheduling and pace was perfect for us. We felt like we really made the most of our six days, but with enough downtime to explore and enjoy at our leisure. From picking up our car at the airport to finding our accommodation, the logistics were very smooth at every interaction. Special shoutout to Melina who pretty much instantly helped us when we had any questions about the trip. We've never used a travel planning service like this before. But after this trip, we'll never go back to the old way!
Tripadvisor Review of Rutopia
Rentadeequipo binoculares e1631821834875

David

July, 2022
Journey to Mexico City, Cholula and Cuetzalan
We had a wonderful time. We started out in Mexico City with a 2 day tour filled with museums, food, and beautiful sights. We then went on to Cholula to experience the culture in a smaller town, see a local market, and eat traditional food. We finished the tour in a small town called Cuetzalan, where most people speak an indigenous language. All of our guides were great. Thank you for a memorable vacation!
Tripadvisor Review of Rutopia

DaniEla

March, 2022
Just wonderful!
We had an amazing trip excellent organized by Jorge and supervised by Melina from Rutopia. We spent 10 days in Mexico, starting in Ciudad de Mexico where we visited the amazing Teotihuacan and then we flew to Yucatan for the amazing sites of Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Ek Balam, Tulum, Merida, Valladolid and the great Island Holbox. The trip was perfectly organized, the hotels were very good, and the guides were carefully chosen. We highly recommend Rutopia and especially Jorge!
Leer menos
Tripadvisor Review of Rutopia
lagos de montebello chiapas e1631823254542

Bikø J

November, 2021
Chiapas, Neri and her family
I traveled to Chiapas for an ecotourism experience with Rutopia and I liked it very much, the team responds very quickly to all questions and accompany the traveler throughout the experience, I missed my flight and they were very flexible to accommodate the entire itinerary, My destination was the lakes of Tziscao, where I was received by Neri with his family in very nice cabins next to a lake with incredible views and a magnificent tranquility, with them you make experiences of beekeeping and coffee and tours to nearby lakes, Montebello is a must! 100% recommended.
Tripadvisor Review of Rutopia
Actividad Snorkelling e1631887428111

Alexhcros1500

March, 2021
Super local agency
We have worked with Rutopia for several tours in Mexico in the Yucatán and Chiapas and we have never been disappointed. Authentic experiences, with locals, in magical places and off the beaten tourist track. Our contact Marisol was always super available and responsive, understanding and anticipating our desires. And she speaks very good French. I highly recommend Rutopia!
Tripadvisor Review of Rutopia
Actividad Espeleísmo e1631888268978

Mikel D

April, 2021
The best moment lived in Mexico
We were traveling as a group of friends with nothing organized. We like to improvise and be able to find alternative plans to the conventional tourist routes. We arrived in Puerto Escondido - Mexico's paradise - and started looking for options. A Mexican friend recommended us to contact Rutopia and we did. We explained our way of traveling - which they quickly understood - and in a few hours they came to us with a perfect selection of activities. We chose one of them and the next day we found ourselves galloping through beautiful hills, crossing a small lagoon in canoes, bathing on an unspoiled beach at sunset and sipping freshly picked coconuts with some mezcal. We had dinner in the only hut on the beach, eating fish that had been caught that day from the lagoon. Then we went to see the luminescence of the placton with paddle canoes until we were surprised by one of the biggest and reddest moons I have ever seen in my life. We ended up sleeping in bamboo huts a few meters from the waves. There were no more than 5 huts on the miles of beach that we could see. And at ALL times with an exquisite treatment - sympathy, kindness and attention. This is just one of the plans we booked with Rutopia, which definitely changed the course of our trip. Without a doubt, I would repeat this experience in any place I would like to visit in Mexico. Viva Mexico!
Tripadvisor Review of Rutopia
Rentadeequipo casco e1631889602503

Claudia A

September, 2020
Super organization, great accommodations and nice team
The trip was perfectly organized, we were always exclusive or in very small groups and had freedom to do our own activities. All accommodations were fantastic and sustainable, the food almost always local and very good, we could always fill our Rutopia water bottles and travel as plastic free as possible. We were met at the airport and had assistance getting a rental car. After that, we traveled independently but had our fixed dates and reservations with Rutopia. It was the perfect mix!
Tripadvisor Review of Rutopia
Actividad apicultura 1 e1631890086205

pascalrichard0304

March, 2020
Circuit in Yucatan
Discovering wonderful and surprising sites, Mayan communities with an unforgettable welcome, breathtaking landscapes, a very pleasant climate in the middle of March...and smiling people! A big thank you to Rutopia and his team for the elaboration of this ideal circuit, alternating nature, city life, simplicity and comfort. Thanks to Mélina for the follow-up during our trip. We don't speak Spanish well enough, and we appreciated having a French-speaking contact person who could be reached if necessary. We still have a lot to discover and hope to come back very soon, and with Rutopia without hesitation!
Tripadvisor Review of Rutopia
Actividad avistamientodeaves 1 e1631890836453

Sabrina N

March, 2020
Perfect
For those who don't like to manage logistics like hotels, rental cars, activities. And above all, to have someone who speaks fluent French that we can reach at any time for the unexpected... You are in the right place! Thank you to Chloe for the preparation of our trip, to Melina our Ariadne's thread and Teresa for her welcome and help at the arrival and departure. A big thank you to Enrique and Blanca from Nuevo-Durango for their welcome, their smiles, their family, a lot of emotions at the time to leave you. Thanks to Mémo for your teaching of Mexican customs (Sian Ka'an) The Yucatan is a magnificent region. And the population is very pleasant. Only downside Holbox... Too much dust, too much smell of fuel oil, too much tourist. I will keep in memory these wonderful moments!
Tripadvisor Review of Rutopia

Keep exploring