After breakfast, you will check out and travel south to the more tropical areas found in the state of Veracruz. Along the way, your guide will make a small detour to show you an interesting outdoor fish market where you will meet the fishermen and get to view their “catch of the day.” Continuing south, you will arrive in a tiny rural seaside village where you can enjoy a barefoot lunch at an outdoor sandy beach palapa-style restaurant with the shimmering Gulf of México waters as your backdrop. Later, your group will hop on a local boat only steps from your table to view this tropical paradise from the sea. During the ride, you will view magnificent rocky cliffs, a huge cave once used by pirates, and an island filled with hundreds and hundreds of tropical birds. Then it is just a short scenic drive to another slightly larger seaside village. It is there you will overnight in a small local hotel. The evening is free to enjoy the beach, swim, have a drink or two, and relax. FYI - no cell phone service will be found here; only tranquility. (B,L)

After breakfast, you will check out and drive through the dense tropical rain forest where at times, you can actually smell the highly oxygenated air created from the immense amount of plant life and trees. Your first stop will be at a small town located next to a lake which empties into the Gulf of México. There you will embark in a boat which will take you to see the gnarled mangrove trees found in the backwaters of this lake. Be on the lookout to view all the tropical birds. If you are lucky, you may see a flock of colorful parrots flying overhead. Later, you will continue your drive through the green countryside to another bigger town called Catemaco. This town is nestled next to the 4th largest freshwater lake in all of México. After checking into a small local hotel, your guide will lead you on a walking tour of Catemaco. (B,L)

The day of exploration begins after a leisurely breakfast with a scenic trip around the lake with stops along the way to view interesting sites. After a short hike on trails carved into the jungle forest, your travel group will stop by some small waterfalls to enjoy a swim and also a picnic lunch. Later, everyone will return to Catemaco for a relaxing evening. (B,L)

After a leisurely breakfast, everyone will travel to a an ecological nature reserve where a local guide will lead you on a short walking tour. This place has been used as a site for two movies; The Medicine Man (Sean Connery) and Apocalypto (directed by Mel Gibson). Then get ready to get dirty. With your swim suit on, you will apply a special type of mud all over your entire body. After it dries you will enter a natural mineral spring pool and use minty fresh patchouli leaves to wash off. Aaah, it's so refreshing! Then a boat will be waiting to take your group on a lake tour to visit a couple of islands that are home to families of howler and spider monkeys. Afterwards, lunch today will be served up with a great view of the lake. Later, everyone will return to Catemaco to relax at your hotel or explore on your own. (B,L)

After breakfast, everyone will check out and travel to visit the a cigar manufacturing company. Here you will see how many local people are employed to cut, shape, and package the different kinds of cigars which are then ready for markets in México and abroad. After the cigar tour, you will head over to see the waterfall Mel Gibson used in the final scenes of his movie, Apocalypto. We call it, the “Niagara Falls” of Veracruz. You will have a ringside view of the falls as you enjoy your lunch at an outdoor restaurant. As you continue on your way back to the city of Veracruz, you guide will take you to the town of Santiago Tuxtla where you can see an original Olmec stone head. Upon arrival in Veracruz, you will check into your hotel and later, your guide will take you on a stroll through the downtown area. A farewell dinner will take place at one of the outdoor restaurants in the central plaza. (BL,D)