Mexico Program - Sample Itinerary

Puerto Morelos, Mexico

July 29 – August 8
12-Day Program: Friday – Tuesday

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Due to the Service Schedule, any long trips must be taken outside of the Service Program. Travel to Tulum or other day trips will be taken apart from the jungle journey. Amizade also needs to honor the Mayan cultural formalities of opening and closing ceremonies for this summer school program.

Friday, July 29

• Group arrives in the morning, afternoon or evening.
• Amizade – Program orientation.

Saturday, July 30

• All Day Field Trip to the Jungle: Leave at 9:30. First stop is a visit a typical Mayan family ranch.
• Then to Boca del Puma Cenote, Central Vallarta. Guided bicycle tour, learn about local history, trees, wildlife. Snorkel in the cenote. View jungle from observation tower. Picnic lunch.
• Group discussion after lunch, then return to Puerto Morelos late afternoon.
• EVENING ACTIVITY: Free time.

Sunday, July 31

• Service Project: 8:30 AM – 1PM Project orientation and planning session with Amizade and local volunteers. Program registration.
• Afternoon Activity: Free time.
• Evening Cultural Activity: 7 pm. Film and discussion at the Casa de la Cultura.

Monday, August 1

• Service: Project: 8:30 AM – 1PM First day of summer school activities. Inauguration, opening ceremony. In attendance: Mayor’s office, Botanical Garden, Amizade Site Coordinator, Representative from Marine Park District, and others.
• Afternoon Activity: Snorkel the reef. (Weather permitting.)
• Early Evening Activity: Free time.

Tuesday, August 2

• Service: Project: 8:30 AM – 1PM. Summer school: Contact with Nature – Learning about nature where I live.
• Afternoon Activity: Group discussion over lunch. Free time.
• Evening Activity: 7 or 8 PM. Attend a class at the Casa de la Cultura.

Wednesday, August 3

• Servcie: Project: 8:30 AM – 1PM. Summer school: Field trip to Botanical Garden and planting seeds or tree.
• Afternoon Activity: Group discussion over lunch. Free time.
• Evening Cultural Activity: Speaker to be arranged.

Thursday, August 4

• Service: Project: 8:30 AM – 1PM. Summer school: Learning about the reef.
• Afternoon Activity: Free time. Catch a bus to Cancun for the afternoon.
• Evening Cultural Activity: Speaker to be arranged.

Friday, August 5

• Service: Project: 8:30 AM – 1PM. Summer school: Reef Park, field trip to beach.
• Afternoon Activity: Group discussion over lunch. Free time.
• Early Evening Cultural Activity: Visit Artisan’s Collective and see restored mangrove area.

Saturday, August 6

• Service: Project: 8:30 AM – 1PM. Summer school: Mayan Culture – Do I know my Mayan heritage?
• Afternoon Activity: Visit Crococun Reptile Zoo or save until departure day if there is time.
• Evening Activity: Free time.

Sunday, August 7

• Service: 8:30 AM – 1PM. Closing day ceremony morning. Participants present their projects. Festivities and Food
• Afternoon Activity: Group discussion.
• Evening Activity: End of service dinner. See a film at Casa de la Cultura.

Monday, August 8

• Service: Reflection on the week’s activities
• All Day Activity: Free time. Visit ruins at Tulum (1.5 hours via public transportation), stop at Playa del Carmen.

Tuesday, August 9

• Full day field trip

Wednesday, August 10

• Full day field trip

Thursday, August 11

• Group departs, morning, afternoon, or evening.
• An activity may be scheduled depending on departure time.