First Look: The New Geluxe Collection From G Adventures

The author traveled as a guest of G Adventures. All opinions are the author’s own and G Adventures had no input in this article.

I never would have guessed that my trip through the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico would have me wearing a life vest like a diaper, eating the best tortillas I’ve ever had, floating in a practically empty cenote, or staring at a crocodile from a kayak. But all of those things happened during my 8-day trip in April 2024.

I was previewing the brand-new Geluxe Collection from G Adventures, a line of small group tours that debuted at the end of May 2024. These new itineraries and style of travel were developed to fill a hole in the market: premium active travel with a focus on local communities and culture.

So, what can you expect from the new Geluxe Collection? Let’s dive in (and, yes, I’ll explain the life vest diaper situation).

What Is the Geluxe Collection?

Geluxe is a new brand from G Adventures, a company that’s been leading small group tours since 1990. The first Geluxe trips debuted in late May of 2024, while the most recently announced itineraries to places like Patagonia, the Galápagos Islands, Iceland, Ireland, Portugal, and Tanzania will begin in October 2024. In total, Geluxe offers 45 itineraries across 26 countries.

While the Geluxe brand is new, these tours are still very much in line with other G Adventures trips.

“Geluxe is unique because, while the hotels are upgraded and the transportation comfortable, the backbone of these adventures is still around community tourism and G Adventures’ commitment to keeping tourism dollars in the places we visit,” said Samantha Couture, director of product for G Adventures.

Tourism That Benefits Local Communities

Geluxe has a strong focus on locally owned hotels and services, including transportation and restaurants, to ensure the local community benefits from tourism dollars. This core value was evident on our first full day of the trip. After our group explored Chichén Itzá, we stopped at a home restaurant run by a local couple instead of the big buffet restaurants that most tour groups frequent.

Our hosts both used to work as chefs at big resorts on the Riviera Maya, but now, with tour groups like G Adventures stopping in for meals, they are able to build their own business from home. We feasted on authentic Mexican dishes, including beans and rice, homemade tortillas, and guacamole, all served with a refreshing hibiscus tea called agua de jamaica. It was one of my favorite meals of the whole trip.

Active but Comfortable

Geluxe trips are active but not strenuous. While the focus is on moving your body throughout the day, there’s always a good meal and a comfy bed waiting for you each evening.

On my tour, Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula: Mayan Ruins & Cenotes, we rode bikes between cenotes, kayaked through the Ría Celestun Biosphere Reserve, explored Mayan ruins on foot, and floated down a natural lazy river in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

A Slightly Older Crowd Than Other G Adventures Trips

While the only age requirement for a Geluxe trip is 18 and up, these new itineraries are attracting a mostly over-40 crowd.

“Geluxe is for adults who want to stay active when they travel and join a group of like-minded travelers,” Couture told me.

This is great news for the growing demographic of over-40 female travelers, whether traveling with friends, a spouse, or solo.

Hot Tip:

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Great for Solo Travelers

Geluxe tours are perfect for solo travelers who want to get out and explore off the beaten path but still want the safety of a group tour.

“Solo travelers will enjoy things like included arrival transfers that make it easy to get straight to the hotel hassle-free,” Couture said.

I’m not usually a solo traveler, so this trip was my first real solo travel experience. Though my traveling companions started as strangers, we left as friends. I felt safe during the whole trip, too. We always had our chief experience officer (CEO) with us, as well as bilingual guides and drivers throughout the trip.

OMG Stay and OMG Day

Geluxe tours immerse travelers in the destination, culture, food, and people of the region they are visiting. One of the things that makes Geluxe unique compared to other G Adventures tours is the OMG Stay and OMG Day.

While accommodations on Geluxe tours are upgraded, it’s not about extravagant hotels. The OMG Stay is a unique accommodation that offers travelers access to the people, nature, animals, and cultural preservation of an area.

“The OMG Stay is memorable because of the people you meet and the local traditions you take part in,” Couture said.

The OMG Day offers a choice of activities (there’s usually a historical or cultural option and an active option) to give travelers a more personalized experience. On my itinerary, the OMG Day options included a visit to the Mayan ruins of Uxmal or kayaking in the Celestún Biosphere.

Bottom Line:

G Adventures has been leading small group tours for over 30 years. Geluxe is the newest brand from G Adventures. Debuting in late May 2024, these upgraded tours are geared toward travelers over 40 and are especially good for solo female travelers.

Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula: Mayan Ruins & Cenotes

When asked how G Adventures designs an itinerary for Geluxe, Couture said that the story comes first.

“What is the story we’re trying to tell about this area, this part of the world that is not being told or that is being told not as often as it should be, and how do we tell that story?” she said.

So, what was the story behind my trip? It was about the history of the Maya people and their culture, exploring the Yucatán beyond the Riviera Maya, and experiencing authentic Mexican cuisine.

My Experience on a Geluxe Tour

After flying into Cancún International Airport (CUN), I was transferred to the Thompson Playa del Carmen Main House, where I indulged in an enormous bowl of guacamole before meeting my group for dinner. I was a little nervous to meet a new group of people, but I was equally excited.

Our first full day was spent exploring the ruins of Chichén Itzá on a guided tour, where I learned that clapping your hands at the base of the structure mimics the quetzal bird.

After lunch, we checked into Le Muuch, a boutique hotel in the charming town of Valladolid, where we were greeted with passion fruit cocktails and the most charming courtyard swimming pool.

On our way to dinner, we took an evening walk through town, admiring the candy-colored buildings and carts selling local treats like in-season mangos and marquesitas, a dessert crepe filled with cajeta (a type of dulce de leche), condensed milk, jam, chocolate, or cheese.

The next day, we headed to Hacienda Sotuta de Peón (our OMG Stay), about 40 minutes outside of Mérida, Mexico. First up was an interactive cooking demonstration of cochinita pibil, a traditional Yucatán, slow-cooked pork dish.

We also sampled freshly made tortillas that were so good I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat the store-bought version again.

Our day continued with a tour of the hacienda, which dates back to 1858. The property was once a working factory for henequen (also called agave or sisal). I wasn’t expecting to be so interested in how rope gets made from plant fibers, but our guide was so enthusiastic and charming that I was totally enthralled by the process.

Our day ended with a ride through the henequen fields and a stop at Hacienda Sotuta de Peón’s private cenote (spoiler alert: it was magical).

The next day was one of my favorites of the whole trip. We set out early (to beat the crowds) for the Santa Bárbara cenotes. Once we arrived, we hopped on bicycles to visit 3 different cenotes, which we had mostly to ourselves (thanks to that early start time). As I floated in the cool water, looking up at the motmot birds flying above me, I was thankful for such a unique and surreal experience.

For the OMG Day, I chose kayaking in the Celestún Biosphere. In a 2-person kayak, my partner and I paddled through mangroves, home to pink flamingoes between September and March. While I was hoping to catch a glimpse of a flamingo that hadn’t departed yet, instead, I saw a crocodile resting on the banks of the river (an OMG moment, for sure).

My favorite experience on this Geluxe trip was in the Sian Kaʼan Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After a short boat ride to a canal, our guide instructed us to take off our life jackets and to step into them like diapers. We all looked at each other, confused and unsure if we’d heard correctly, but we were assured this was the best way to float. And it was.

I entered the water, life vest diaper on, and floated effortlessly down a natural lazy river flanked by mangroves. The water was cool and crystal clear, and we had this natural wonder all to ourselves. Between giggles (a bunch of adults wearing life vest diapers is pretty funny) we listened to stories our guide told about the Maya people. It was perfect.

Our last nights were spent at Nômade Tulum (one of the best boutique hotels in Tulum). After a week of exploring the Yucatán Peninsula from Playa del Carmen to Valladolid to Mérida to Tulum, a relaxing evening on the beach was a welcome non-active activity. We ended our trip with our feet in the sand and smiles on our faces.

Final Thoughts

My Geluxe tour through the Yucatán Peninsula was filled with firsts. My first cenote swim, my first solo trip, and my first life-vest-as-a-diaper experience. I appreciated that G Adventures did all of the planning, and I could just go along for the ride. The food I ate, the experiences I had, and the people I met all made for an unforgettable trip.

This was my ninth trip to Mexico, but it was really the first time I got to experience what the country and its people are like outside of a luxury resort.