Escape to sunny Mexico for a Backroads adventure that combines plenty of activity and beach time with a window into the soul of the Yucatán. Here the past and present mix openly, providing a canvas for exploration like few others. Become immersed in the rich and varied history of the Maya with visits to numerous archaeological gems, including Chichén Itzá. Explore hidden caves and sleepy Maya villages. Plunge into crystalline jungle cenotes and snorkel in the azure Caribbean. Throughout our trip, we're embraced by the comforts of charming tropical hideaways and a seaside haven.

TROPICAL CHARMS: Premiere Inns

Hacienda Temozón (2 nights): The exquisitely furnished rooms at this majestic residence allow you to experience the grandeur and affluence of the colonial past. Its grounds include spacious gardens, a spectacular swimming pool and a 17th-century church.

Hotel Hacienda Chichén (1 night): This one-time manor house of a 16th-century ranch features private casitas set in tropical gardens and a glimpse of Chichén Itzá ruins from the pool.

Fairmont Mayakoba (2 nights): Lauded by Condé Nast Traveler, this splendid resort sprawls amid mangrove forest, canals and beach, and offers every luxury, including a 37,000-square-foot spa and five swimming pools.

Daily Mileage Options & Cumulative Elevation Gain

Day 1

• Level 1 2 Route Options Available
• Biking 10, 16 miles
• 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
• Walking Tour 45 minutes

Day 2

• Levels 1 to 3 4 Route Options Available
• Biking 9, 15, 33 miles
• 0 - 500 feet elevation gain
• Cave Walk 1.5 hours  

Day 3

• Levels 1 to 2  3 Route Options Available
• Biking 9, 16, 28 miles
• 0 - 500 feet elevation gain

Day 4

• Level 1  2 Route Options Available
• Walking Tour 2 hours
• Biking 8 miles 
• 0 - 500 feet elevation gain

Day 5

• Sea Kayaking and Snorkeling 2 hours
• Optional activities

Day 6

• Conclusionof Trip

On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with no significant gain or loss in elevation. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary to facilitate our activities and mileage is kept moderate to enable you to spend more time exploring on your own.

Trips For All Abilities

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next-and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Activity Level	Average Time	Average Distance
		Biking	Walking & Hiking
Level 1	2-3 hours	10-20 mile	2-5 miles
Level 2	2-4 hours	21-30 miles	5-7 miles
Level 3	3-5 hours	31-40 miles	7-9 miles
Level 4	4-6 hours	41-55 miles	9-11 miles
Level 5	5-7+ hours	56-75+ miles	11-13+ miles

2008 DATES

FAMILY TRIPS

• 12/25-30Price: $3998 pp dbl. occ., (+ $820 for sgl. occ.)
  
  The trip you have selected is different from the one displayed. Here's how:
  Hotel Change: We will be staying at the Fairmont Mayakoba on Days 4 and 5.

2009 DATES

FAMILY TRIPS

• 3/22-27Price: $3798 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1150 for sgl. occ.)
• 4/5-10Price: $3898 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1150 for sgl. occ.)
• 12/20-25Price: $4298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1150 for sgl. occ.)
• 12/22-27Price: $4298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1150 for sgl. occ.)
• 12/24-29Price: $4298 pp dbl. occ., (+ $1150 for sgl. occ.)

Reserve early for the best available price. Prices may change during the course of the year--if they do change, the best prices are available earlier. Once you book your trip, your price is guaranteed.

Recommended Kids Ages

Minimum Ages:

Recommended minimum age for the trip: 6 years

Minimum age restriction to ride own bike: 6 years

No burleys available on this trip

General Info on Minimum Ages:

We strongly encourage families to join our Family Trips, designed with kid- and adult-friendly features. Please note that we have a minimum age requirement of 1 year for all Inn trips and 2 years for all Camping trips. Other than that, we do not restrict trips to a minimum age except in the rare case of a hotel age restriction. We do, however, recommend minimum ages based on the following criteria:

• 12+ cultural appreciation, difficulty of activities and route
• 9+ difficulty of activities and route
• 6+ several long adult dinners; parent may not be able to pull a Burley and/or there may be multiple activity restrictions
• 3+ riding is on bike paths, making it great for young kids; Burley and Piccolos are available; there are few or no activity restrictions; and no long dinners (or we offer alternatives)

Please note that a trip may feature an activity with an older age requirement than the minimum age recommendation for the trip. Younger kids are still welcome on the trip and while they will not be able to participate in the activity, the leaders will suggest an alternate activity. For safety reasons, children under 7 may not ride their own bikes and are required to ride on a Piccolo or in a Burley. For certain destinations, children must be 9 or older to ride their own bikes.

Guest Trip Reviews

Our family learned and experienced a lot on this trip. The activities were varied and the leaders flexible in working the schedule around the weather and the group's interests. The Hacienda Temózon and the first night dinner on the grounds was a memorable highlight, as was the lunch and swimming at the private hacienda. The zip-line and cenote swimming were both experiences we could not have had anywhere else. The Mayan pyramids were awe inspiring. The cave tour and guide were fascinating. In fact, every day had a special one-of-a-kind highlight that left us with special memories.

Jane Irwin - Wilmette, IL