Guests of Grand Velas Riviera Maya looking to immerse themselves in the surrounding culture and landscape of the Riviera Maya can do so through a variety of microadventures and photo excursions, from Merida tours to fashion safari photo shoots and more.
Chichen Itza Microadventure
As the most famous Mayan ruins, Chichen Itza is the largest pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people sometime between 750 and 900 A.D. The Chichen Itza tour features a private tour guide to explore the complex followed by a three-course lunch menu of regional favorites and topped off with a swim in a cenote.
Starts at $3,960 per person based on double occupancy.
Uxmal and Merida Microadventure
One of the most important archaeological sites of Mayan culture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Uxmal represents the pinnacle of late Mayan art and architecture in its design, layout and ornamentation. On this tour, a private guide will show guests around the site, including the towering Pyramid of the Magician and the Governor’s Palace, which is more than 12,000-sq.-ft. in total. Afterwards, guests will be whisked off to Merida for a lunch and a city tour complete with a carriage ride down the Paseo de Montejo (Montejo Avenue) for a glimpse at the elaborate homes lining the street.
Starts at $4,545 per person based on double occupancy.
Photo Safaris
Three photo safaris, both for beginner and experienced photographers, are offered in partnership with Bushman Photography that feature a mix of cultural, wildlife, landscape, portrait and architectural photography. The Zen Wild Safari will highlight the resort and its jungle, such as ceiba and chaka trees, cenotes and mangroves. During the Zen Fashion Safari, a model will accompany to the same locations and will allow guests to learn how professional photographers execute lifestyle photo shoots. The third option takes guests off property through the rich biodiversity and ecosystems of the Yucatan Peninsula and includes locations like the Mayan ruins of Coba, age-old caverns within a cenote, a native Mayan village and Punta Lagoon which is home to a sanctuary for spider monkeys.
A Canon DSLR Reflex camera with two lenses is supplied for each guest to use during the workshop while a memory card captures the shots to take home.
Starts at $601 per person based on double occupancy.
For more information, visit: rivieramaya.grandvelas.com