Uncover the mysterious legacy of the Maya while on a nine-hour trip that takes you from the well-preserved ruins of Tulum and its El Castillo castle to the Casa Tortuga cenote for swimming in the cool waters of a sacred Mayan sinkhole. The discovery begins on foot as you see what remains of the 13th-century archaeological site of Tulum, once a central hub for the turquoise and jade trade. Admire mural paintings covering the Temple of the Frescoes and learn about the Mayan spiritual traditions at the Temple of the Descending God. Follow the 16-foot-thick city walls to the El Castillo centerpiece, a stucco castle poised on a limestone bluff overlooking a white-sand Caribbean shoreline. Hear tales of the sailors who eyed the beacon and the folklore surrounding Kukulcan, god of winds. You'll then venture nearby to Casa Tortuga, one of the many underground cenote sinkholes on the Yucatan Peninsula. Among the dense jungle foliage, you can take a refreshing swim in the cool, clear waters.