I have been on six excursions with Al Mena as my guide. I can’t say enough about how great he is. His knowledge of the history and culture of the region is beyond compare. He has a true love for nature and Mayan people, which added SO much meaning to the trips. He helped me with every stage of each adventure...from planning the trip, to avoiding the crowds and tourist traps, to shopping in a local fruit market. Being a female traveler can occasionally be frightening, but never once was a nervous or afraid when I was touring with Al. I had never thought of myself as an adventurous traveler-but with him helping me along, I even amazed myself. Hiking through the jungle to see monkeys, canoeing across a lagoon, snorkeling with the sea turtles and even zip-lining!! Yes, this grandma zip-lined for the first time ever over a lagoon in the jungle. Not only that, but biked to the ruins at Coba, then climbed to the top of Nohoch Mul, the tallest temple in the Yucatan. I never would have tried ANY of this without Al’s guidance and encouragement. His sheer joy in what he does is infectious…you can’t help but have fun when you are with him on a trip.