Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions Page. 

Some of our most frequently asked questions, both from cruisers and in general.

Where are you located?

We are located in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. You are looking at our online office and we have a pick-up address for our cruise ship guests arriving in Progreso at Calle 27 and 82, in Progreso, Yucatan, Mexico.

How can I book a tour?

All tours are arranged through email conversations where we design an itinerary specific to your tastes and around the things you want to experience and see. Then we provide you with a quote. Once you accept the quote, we send you a PayPal request for a deposit and mark you on the calendar. The balance is then payable in cash in USD, CDN or MXP on the day of your trip, directly to a Lawson’s host on the morning of your tour or to your guide/driver when you meet him.

We do not book tours or discuss itinerary planning over the telephone. Not because we can't walk and chew gum at the same time (we can) but because it is better for all to have the details in an email to go back and check. Did we really promise that lady from Louisiana a red balloon bouquet upon arrival? I don’t remember! Let’s go back and have a look at the emails.

Can I join others to save costs?

In the past the answer has always been no. That all our tours are private. There are plenty of other tour companies offering tours of all shapes and sizes for those who don't mind sharing their tour with others and need to watch their pocketbooks. What we are doing is giving you an up close and personal experience on your visit to the Yucatan, based on what YOU want to do. You won't be waiting on others, waiting on the vehicle, waiting on the driver or stuck with a fixed itinerary or schedule.

We are flexible and move as quickly or slowly as YOU and your group want.

That said, we do offer shared “Everyone Welcome” tours with a minimum of six participants, from time to time.

What is the cancellation policy or are deposits refundable if something happens?

All deposits are fully refundable, less the PayPal fee of about 5% in the case of bookings made 2-3 months before arrival. We ask that you let us know 48 hours before your excursion date to reassign vehicles, drivers and guides. No-show situations result in the deposit being applied to those expenses and is non-refundable. This also applies for cruisers arriving in Progreso; if the ship changes port due to a pesky hurricane or a random engine fire, your deposit is returned to you. If you don't show up and haven't canceled 48 hours prior, the deposit is not refunded as we need to cover the cost of the vehicle and driver that we have set aside for you and your group. There is no refund in the case of last-minute mind-changing (see previous question)

What are the payment options? 

PayPal is used for deposits and cash is accepted for the balance on the day. Alternatively, you can pre-pay the entire tour via PayPal if you don't want to carry cash with you. We also accept Visa and MasterCard, but we do need to know beforehand in order to have the often-finicky credit card terminal charged and ready to be where you are. Please let us know in advance if you want to pay a balance this way.

Cruise Ship tours - driving times to attractions - How long does it take?

For cruise ship passengers with limited time, all destinations offered are tested and are doable within the time you are in port. We have found that most ships passengers have about 6 hours of actual time in port to explore, what with the getting off and getting back on the ship.

Driving times from Progreso to major attractions:

• Chichen Itza - 2 - 2.5 hours each way (not recommended - too much time driving)

• Celestun - 2 - 2.5 hours each way (not recommended - too much time driving)

• Uxmal - 90 minutes each way

• Mayapan - 90 minutes each way

• Dzibilchaltun - 20-30 minutes each way

• Merida - 30-40 minutes each way

Cruise Ship tours - pick up in Progreso. Where do we meet?

The Carnival ships dock at the end of a very long pier - the longest in the world actually, at 4 miles or so. You can see it from satellite photos of the earth, that’s how long it is!

And while it was true that in the past companies not affiliated with Carnival could not pick up passengers ship-side, this is NO LONGER the case. We can now pick you up ship-side and will be waiting for you with a sign that has your name on it. We also drop you off there, so you don’t have to waste time waiting for a shuttle either coming or going.

The earlier you get off the more time you have for your excursion. Remember, once you are off the ship and through the maze of vendors and stores, you will find the shuttle where we also are waiting for you. Look for your name, jump on board the van and get your tour going!

Our drivers are uniformed and will always have a sign with your name on it; look for them! You can see some of their faces on the Our People page.

Important - A cell phone turned on if you are having problems can help save your tour and avoid you losing your deposit because of a no-show penalty. Just let us know what the number is, turn it on if you are having problems and we will call YOU so you don't have the expense of making an international call. Tip: Turn off data settings to avoid excessive charges while roaming.

Cruiseship tours - Combining destinations ie. can I visit Merida on the way back from Uxmal?

A common question cruisers have is if they can combine a visit to Uxmal or Mayapan with a stop in Merida. Since we do make other stops along the way to Uxmal or Mayapan, and Merida is a city of almost a million and the traffic can be heavy, especially in the colonial center where the streets were made for carriages, not modern vehicles including buses and trucks. it is generally not a good idea as we will be rushing and you will spend more time in the vehicle.

Cruiseship tours - Will I starve on one of your tours? Do I bring a snack from the ship?

No, you won't starve and no, a snack is not necessary. One of the things that characterizes our tours is that we always stop here and there for fruit, snacks and anything interesting we find on the way. You will NEVER go hungry! There is also a cooler on board with refreshments on ice.

Speaking of the cooler, what is included?

While many tours either offer a cooler with ice for you to put your refreshments or perhaps one bottle of water or soda per person, we stock our coolers with plenty of goodies for everyone. The default option is water of course, with at least 1.5 bottles of water per person. But we take requests! And while it is not happy hour or open bar, we can provide you with just about anything from beer, sodas and iced teas to natural fruit waters and even a bottle of wine. Champagne, tequila jello shots and other hard liquor can be provided for an additional fee, depending on what you have chosen. A bottle of Veuve Cliquot will be more than a bottle of Chardonnay obviously, but it can be done.

Special requests?

Sure! What do you have in mind? A specific vehicle? A stretch limo vehicle like a pink Hummer or a stretch Mini-Cooper? Specific drinks or snacks? Boys or girls night out for a bachelor or bachelorette party at a strip club? Restaurant reservations?

Let us know and we will make it happen.