Private tour in Merida Ralf H
5.0
(15) reviews
8 hours
1
8 hours
1
Ralf H.
5.0
Guide rating
79
Reviews
Tours delivered
6 hrs
Avg. response time
My tours are about bringing you into up-close and personal contact with all that makes the Yucatan so special. I try to avoid the cookie-cutter itineraries, usual-suspect attractions and anything - yawn - cliché. The unusual, the heart-wrenching, the melancholy and the joyful. Spontaneity and serendipity are our travel companions. I love to create memorable outings that are win-win-win. For you, for the people we meet, and yes, for me also! A Canadian Yucatecan (my Yucatecan wife and two daughters say I'm more Yucatecan than they are) who has lived in the Yucatan for almost 40 years. I am passionate about the area's colonial history, its' people, language and food. It is my special talent to act as the bridge between my guests from abroad and locals; from talented artisans to lovely ladies that will teach you how to properly make a corn tortilla by hand to enjoying a home-cooked meal in a small village. The experience will be one you won't soon forget. Thirty-plus-year Resident of the Yucatan Published Author - Yucatecan Spanish Dictionary BCIT Hotel Mgmt Program Serial Entrepreneur Tours at archaeological sites will be done by a professional guide hired on site for that purpose. A driver with a federal tourism drivers license will accompany us in a vehicle that has been properly plated for tourism as per local law.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Ralf H.
Uxmal is, according to everyone polled that has visited both, a far better experience overall than the more well-known Chichen Itza. Why? No vendors. No crowds. No over-commercialization. So far. The ruins are well-preserved and much restored, there is that 'lost city in the jungle' feel and there are no crowds or vendors. An easy hours drive (approx) from Merida, the route there is full of great activities that can be taken advantage of: from colonial-era haciendas, to gorgeous cenotes, to world-famous artisans and of course our favorite: street food and fruit stands.
Ralf Hollmann was THE best! He was so knowledgeable of the culture and geography and the locals. He even wrote a Yucatecan dictionary. Uxmal was amazing. The cenote was amazing. And the lunch with Chaya Leaf empanadas was amazing. While tour was amazing, the icing on the cake was Ralf and his intimate knowledge the area. Highly recommend this tour.
We were on a cruise. Rather than taking the cruise tour bus we decided to try-out TBL's. So glad we did! Ralf was great! Very knowledgeable. Great lunch! John
We greatly enjoyed our trip to Uxmal with Ralf. We looked forward to seeing him again after our first great day out at Chichen Itza! Again, he found ways to surprise and delight our 6yo, from picking out candy treats at a local market, to arranging a ride on a bicycle taxi, to iguana spotting. The guide he hired, Gladys, was wonderful! He always watched out for our hydration on hot days, and even served us fresh mangos after Uxmal. Ralf made the experience seamless. Hope we can book Ralf again someday!
Great Tour! Avoided the crowds and kept the kids happy!
Ralf made our tour very special by arranging a lunch with a Mayan family at their home. He selected an excellent guide for the tour of Uxmal and showed a deep knowledge of the history and culture of the Yucatan. It was a great introduction to the following days that we spent with him in different areas.
Beyond fantastic! Ralf tailored our experience perfectly to allow each of is to get the maximum benefit from the day, whether it was pointing out special photo ops, accommodating our varied walking speeds and abilities, quickly picking up on our individual priorities, or sharing unexpected vistas and foods. It would be hard to pick a single highlight, bit our lunch with a Maya family will be a memory we cherish. (Our driver was a delight too!)
After picking you up in Merida, we drive for about 30 minutes or so to the Hacienda Yaxcopoil where we stop for a leg stretch and some photos of this magnificent former plantation. We will not take the tour of the hacienda so as not to use up time we need to get to Uxmal. - Then it's on to Muna where we can make a stop at an artisans shop if you like. A peek of the landscape from the peak of the Muna hills is amazing and we can, on a sunny day, spot the pyramid of the magician off in the distance. - We continue to Uxmal where you will spend about an hour; more if you are loving it. - On the return to Merida we make a stop at a cenote for a refreshing dip in a beautiful cenote run by a local Mayan cooperative - A delicious Yucatecan lunch at a pretty hacienda next door to the cenote and then it's back home to your hotel or rental in Merida.
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
We will be traveling in a late model, insured and air conditioned vehicle. We can arrange for booster and baby seats if you have small travelers - we do not charge extra for those.
Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide:
English
SpanishWho is this private tour in Merida best suited for?
What should I bring or wear?
Can this private tour in Merida be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?
How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?
Where does the tour start and end?
Is transportation included?
How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?
What languages is this tour offered in?
What's included in this private tour, and what should I budget for separately?
Is this a private tour? What is the maximum group size and the starting price?
AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide
8 hours
1
8 hours
1
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
How it works