After searching the internet for weeks looking for the perfect place to take my four grown daughters on our first family vacation, I was growing extremely frustrated. Just when I thought I couldn’t look at another website, there it was… the Yucatan jungle! This was perfect! It would be a vacation that my daughters would never forget. They were expecting a hotel with room service on the beaches of Cancun. They were about to get the surprise of their life and I couldn’t wait to get there.
The owner of the bed and breakfast met us at the airport. We packed his small Nissan pathfinder full with luggage and squeezed 5 women plus our host, Lou, into the car. The girls were extremely excited to get to the “hotel”. They chattered constantly during the 2 hour ride from Cancun to Tulum. As we left the town of Tulum and started towards the jungle area where we were staying, the chattering slowly halted. I quietly looked around the vehicle as we drove deeper into the jungle and I began to see anxiety and apprehension creep onto the faces of my daughters. I was secretly laughing inside. I could barely keep myself composed.
As Lou turned the Nissan down a small, unpaved road and drove through the jungle a thick silence fell upon us in the pathfinder. The fear was a palpable thing. The girls were frozen in their seats. As we slowly drove into the oasis where the B&B was nestled in palms, ferns and other beautiful tropical plants, the sighs of relief that came from the girls caused me to laugh out loud. I knew instantly that my master plan to give them a vacation that they would never forget had gotten underway with a bang.
Our hosts escorted us to our rooms at La Selva Mariposa and made to feel welcome. We were given a private tour. Animals and tropical birds roamed freely. The next four days were filled with sightseeing adventures and Caribbean beach fun. We visited the magnificent Tulum Ruins and booked a day with Edventure tours where we snorkeled, zip lined and swam with the sea turtles.
Evenings were filled with relaxing massages and waterfalls outside our room. Dinner awaited us just up the street at the local vendors. The people were friendly and made us feel welcome in every way. We sat outside and chatted in our broken Spanglish while the food cooked near us on the grill.
The Yucatan Jungle in Mexico was an unforgettable experience. Not only did we have fun but we learned much history about the country and about how the Mayan people live and work. We left the Yucatan with a newfound respect for the jungle and the ways of a culture different from our own.
The Yucatan is an unforgettable and relaxing experience. My quest to give my daughters an unforgettable experience surpassed my expectations in every way. Viva la Mexico!