Yucatan Revealed Circuit Tour

An immersive Maya and Book of Mormon experience

This tour was created for LDS travelers staying in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya, Cozumel or Tulum who would like to learn a great deal more about the spectacular Maya ruins of the Yucatan Peninsula. This five-day journey through the peninsula takes you to the most interesting sites for LDS travelers due to their close connection with the events described in the Book of Mormon.

Day 1

LDS BOUNTIFUL TOUR KINICH-NA & DZIBANCHE
Considered by a great number of LDS researchers as the well-known Bountiful City, Dzibanche is one the most relevant places in the Book of Mormon, around which events of great importance took place. The city was founded a few years before 200 B.C.

Dzibanche forms part of a group of Maya cities found in southern Quintana Roo that are crucial for understanding the development of the Maya culture in the region. It is an enormous settlement known for its rivalry with the great city of Calakmul in terms of size and religious-political power.

It is made up of a three-tiered acropolis, which was the most important in the area due to its religious origin. Kinich Na, a temple located just outside the great city of Dzibanche, has a unique, imposing, and at the same time simple architecture.

Dzibanche is not a very well-known site, nor is it one that is often visited since it is nestled deep within the jungles of the southernmost part of the Yucatan Peninsula along the Mexican border with Belize. Despite that, the professional guides from LDS Tours Cancun by Mormon Encounter have carried out studies of the area and have analyzed the different theories that have existed to date. They know the importance of the information they possess, and they are ready to share it with all their beloved brothers who visit the area.

Day 2

KOHUNLICH AND BECAN
The archeological site called Kohunlich is relatively extensive, covering some 21 acres and surrounded by dense tropical forest. Traces of buildings and the remains of a water canal and reservoir system lead to the conjecture that Kohunlich was an important city in its day. This site holds nearly 200 hillocks, or mounds of vegetation-covered earth covering and concealing ruins, many of them still unexcavated.

Available archeological information allows us to theorize that Kohunlich received its first inhabitants around the year A.D. 200, even though the majority of the most important structures were built between A.D. 250 and 600. It is also thought that Kohunlich represented an important trade link between the cities dotting the Yucatan Peninsula and various Maya cities found in Central America.

Building A-1, or the Temple of the Figureheads, is one of the most frequently visited because it houses stucco-molded figureheads that still retain the original red paint that once covered the entire temple. This building was likely constructed between A.D. 250 and 300, and the figureheads are thought to be interesting symbols of Kinich Ahau, the “God who shines like the sun.”

The original name of the site is unknown, but the word Kohunlich, as it is called today, is not of Mayan origin; rather the name comes from a phonetic transcription of its original name given in English, Cohoon Ridge.

Day 3

TULUM & COBA DAY TOUR PLUS CENOTE
This is just a magnificent tour! We start our day at your hotel lobby by 7:30 a.m., then make our way to the Maya ruins of Coba, where the incredible remains of the ancient Maya civilization provide us incredible details that correlate them with the Book of Mormon.

There are temples to climb, bikes to ride through the jungle, a lot of fun to be had, and overall an incredible amount of knowledge to receive, all of which make for a remarkable experience.

Afterward, we stop lunch, which is the most delicious part of our tours. If requested, we also can take you to swim at an incredible Maya underground cenote or sinkhole, where your family can spend a great time jumping into its crystal clear waters and swimming in what was considered the Maya underworld.

To finish our day, we move toward Tulum, an ancient Maya city and ceremonial center that has an impressive number of symbols, icons, and historical details that, seen from the point of view of our archaeology experts, make this day the highlight of your trip!

Day 4

UXMAL AND KABAH A TOUR
Today we visit the beautiful Maya ruins of Uxmal, a place as lovely as it is exceptional. Its name means “constructed three times.” The oval-shaped buildings give the site a unique style, and its Puuc-style decoration provides valuable information on religious symbolism, its uses, and customs. Our professional guides share their extensive knowledge of the area and its history with you.

We also visit the stately ruins of Kabah, which in the Mayan language means “the Lord of the strong and mighty hand.” It is a place that was first inhabited in the third century B.C., even though the majority of what is visible in Kabah today was built between the seventh and 11th centuries A.D. The Maya tradition to build on top of what has already been constructed carries us back to a past that is closely related to many of the main events that occur in the Book of Mormon.

We invite you to explore the best religious archeology found in Uxmal and Kabah, brought to life by the main experts on the Book of Mormon archaeology of the Yucatan Peninsula.

Day 5

CHICHEN ITZA + EK BALAM AND CENOTE
Named one of the seven new wonders of the modern world, Chichen Itza is an enigmatic city where the veil of the apostasy still covers the vestiges that have been found on the site.

Only our specialized guides can show you the secrets and mysteries surrounding this city in ruins that was occupied from A.D. 450 to 1200. It is one of the most telling testimonies of the spiritual fall of a once just and noble people, at the same time that it is one of the best sites to display the visible splendor of what is today called the Maya culture.

We also visit the Maya city of Ek Balam, which was occupied from the year 300 B.C. Located just 30 kilometers from the colonial city of Valladolid, it is one of the few ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula that originated during the Pre-Classic period. Find out about its history, tombs, temples, and famous rulers from the perspective of an LDS guide who is sure to awaken your interest in the study of the Book of Mormon and its relation to Mesoamerica.

Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to experience the Maya world during your visit to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or the Riviera Maya.