Join us for 6 nights, and 7 days in the historic and beautiful Yucatan Peninsula. Molly Roberts (see bio below) brings her wealth of knowledge and years of experience in photography to this workshop as your instructor. Also, Molly’s love of Mayan tradition and history adds a special facet to this experience.
January 22, 2025
HOME BASE: Valladolid, Yucatan
A driver will pick you up at Tulum International Airport for the 2-hour ride through the countryside and the jungles of the Yucatan to Valladolid.
Nowadays Valladolid is a tranquil city, nicknamed the Sultan of the East due to its stunning colonial and Moorish-style architecture.
Valladolid serves as an excellent base to explore nearby Chichen Itza, Ek Balam and the many cenotes in the area – all of which we will do! Besides this, the town itself is also very pretty and easily walkable – making it a fantastic home base for a Yucatan photo excursion.
For the next 7 days our home will be the Zentik Project Hotel.
At Hotel Zentik, where nature and art merge in a unique environment, we invite you to live unique experiences. Relax in one of our 12 Mayan cabins, surrounded by vegetation and art. We are a living gallery with work from more than 15 national and international artists. We hope you will immerse yourself in the fascinating life of our melipona bees, feed our adorable turtles in the nursery, relax with yoga sessions, and enjoy a delicious afternoon tea. And last, but certainly not least, 6 meters underground our underground saltwater cave awaits you to provide therapeutic benefits. -Hotel Zentik
Breakfast will be served each day from 6:30-10:30.
Molly will give a presentation of her work late afternoon followed by a welcome dinner at the hotel.
What is thalassotherapy?
Thalassotherapy is a therapy that takes advantage of the properties of salt water, which is especially beneficial when kept at temperatures between 34 and 36º C, close to body temperature. This heat facilitates osmosis, allowing the skin to absorb the beneficial elements of the water, such as iodine and sodium.
The benefits of thalassotherapy are multiple and significant for both the body and the mind. Bathing in hot water pools activates blood circulation, relaxes muscles, stimulates the nervous system and can reduce pain in the body, both generally and in specific areas.
January 23, 2025
Valladolid
Our first day will be spent getting to know the city we’ll call home. After breakfast at the hotel we’ll uber to the following locations for shoots:
Casa de los Venados is home to the largest-ever private collection of Mexican folk and contemporary art. And it’s open for guided tours by appointment. Over 3,000 pieces, mostly wood and clay and all museum quality, are placed throughout the giant home, not far from Valladolid’s main square. A nice opportunity for still lifes, and architecture
The photo opps are endless in marketplaces. And there’s no better place to learn about your new location than the local market. This is where you’ll find the true people of the region selling their wares – fresh fruits and vegetables, honey from the famous Mayan bees, hand-made clothing, and more. Great for people-watching, and street photography.
3. Templo de San Bernadino
The Templo de San Bernardino and the adjacent Convento de Sisal are about 700m southwest of the plaza. They were constructed between 1552 and 1560 to serve the dual functions of fortress and church. The church’s charming decoration includes beautiful rose-colored walls, arches, some recently uncovered 16th-century frescoes and a small image of the Virgin on the altar. These are about the only original items remaining; the grand wooden retablo (altarpiece) dates from the 19th century.
4. Museo de Ropa Etnica de Mexico
For the sartorialist in all of us, this museum reflects historical and modern day attire of Mayan culture.
5. Cenote Zaci
And, at the end of a long day of adventures what’s better than a cenote right in the heart of the city?
January 24, 2025
Let’s Hit the Road!
Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, and Cenote Secreto Maya
January 25, 2025
Upon arriving at Rio Lagartos, a quaint fishing village nestled along the coast, travelers are greeted by the stunning natural beauty of the area. Here, they embark on a boat tour of the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its diverse wildlife and pristine mangrove forests. Along the tranquil waters, visitors have the opportunity to spot an array of bird species, including flamingos, herons, and egrets, as well as elusive crocodiles basking in the sun along the banks of the river.
After exploring Rio Lagartos, the tour continues to Las Coloradas, a mesmerizing natural wonder known for its vibrant pink salt lakes. As travelers approach the lakeshores, they are greeted by the surreal sight of crystalline waters tinted with hues of pink, creating a truly unforgettable spectacle. Here, visitors have the opportunity to learn about the salt extraction process and witness firsthand the intricate patterns formed by crystallized salt deposits.
Throughout the tour, participants are treated to opportunities for photography, swimming, and leisurely exploration, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the region.
January 26, 2025
The Ancient Mayan City of Coba +
This Mayan site is still largely unexcavated making it a true wonder in the Yucatan. Visitors can enjoy shaded walkways that are the original sacbe (white roads), three settlements that show the architecture and vast area of this once large city, 2 ball courts and climb the highest Mayan pyramid in the Yucatan, Nohoch Mul.
2. Cenote Multum-Ha
Near Coba, Multum-Ha Cenote is considered as one of the most beautiful underground cenotes in Coba due to 18 meters underground that make it a paradise for travelers who love nature and great adventures.
Located in a plantation of Blue Agave (Tequilana Weber) is La Destilería, where the MAYAPÁN agave distillate is made in an artisanal way, with the techniques used more than 400 years ago by the Mexicans who began the manufacture of tequila. We offer a tour that includes a walk through the Agave plantation where the process of harvesting the pineapples is shown; and a visit to the interior of the La Destilería facilities, where the visitor can observe step by step the process that is followed to obtain the final MAYAPÁN product.
January 27, 2025
Take a day. Somewhere you want to go back to? We can help with that. Hang around the salt cave, above-ground pool, or with the bees and turtles at Zentik? Maybe another look at downtown Valladolid. BUT, save time to edit your photos as the Group Review lead by Molly begins at 4. Followed by the farewell 🙁 dinner. It always goes by so fast!! And an early night in anticipation of a big day of travel tomorrow.
January 28th, 2025
Early breakfast at the Zentik before heading off to Tulum and our flights!
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Molly Roberts
Molly Roberts is a documentary photographer, visuals editor and curator residing in Baltimore, Maryland.
Roberts’ 35+ year career includes creating visuals and managing contributing photographers at The Washington Post Magazine, USA Weekend, Smithsonian Magazine and National Geographic Magazine. She is the recipient of multiple awards for her magazine work including, the NPPA award for Best Use of Photography in a Magazine, finalist for National Magazine Award, special recognition for photography features by Communication Art, American Photography, and Society of Publication Design.
In 2019 she was awarded a John S. and James L. Knight Foundation fellowship to study and teach photography and multimedia at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where she received a masters degree in Visual Communication in 2021 focusing on the creative process and the history of the medium.
She has curated exhibits for PhotoWorks, Art Works Projects, University of Texas; Corpus Christi, Women Photojournalists of Washington, SXSE Gallery and Gallery 1448. She works on book projects for independent photographers and National Geographic Books. She has also participated in panels discussions and presentations about the current state of the photographic medium and the future of publishing at Ohio University School of Visual Communication, the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, Northern Short Course and the Corcoran/GW school of Fine Arts,
Roberts leads workshops in photo editing for long term visual projects and photo books. She teaches photography, photojournalism and photo-editing, recently at Ohio University and Loyola University. Roberts is a regular reviewer and mentor at La Luz Workshops, Palm Springs Photo Festival, Social Documentary Network, and Review Santa Fe as well as the annual Women Photojournalists of Washington portfolio review and Seminar, of which she is a co-director and member of the Board of Directors. She is co-host of the weekly podcast 10fps.net a podcast about photojournalism by photojournalists, but for everyone produced by Loyola University in Baltimore.
Molly fell in love with photography at age 17 and her love for the medium has been most enduring. “As a teenager, I stumbled upon the work of Robert Frank and Diane Arbus in the Harvard Square bookstore and time stood still. I decided it was the most revolutionary art form I’d ever experienced and I wanted it in my life. Since then I studied photography at UMD with John Gossage and along the way with many other generous mentors and creative souls. I have worked as a photographer for newspapers, magazines and books. I have edited books, magazines and special issues. I’ve judged photo contests and given lectures. Mostly, I’ve just enjoyed a life made richer by photography, a medium that is wonderfully suited to explore and make sense of the world and the issues that surround us.”
Past collaborations with SXSE Gallery and Magazine include the exhibitions,The Women’s Show, Picturing Self and Others, and Southern Landscapes. Workshops with SXSE include, Photo Editing for Long Term projects, and the Yucatan Peninsula, Merida, Mexico workshop.
Molly lives in Baltimore, in an artists community where her studio is a sanctuary of photobooks which she is happy to share with her fellow creatives and the gallery associated with the community is a never ending source of inspiration and lively collaboration.
Included In the Fee:
Double room accommodations for 6 nights at Project Zenkit Hotel in Tulum Mexico. Includes entrance to the saline cave.
Breakfast daily at the hotel
Ubers around Valladolid on January 23rd
Private tour guides, entrance fees, and vans for Chichen Itza, Ek Balam and Cenote Secreta Maya
Private tour guides, entrance fees, boats, and vans for Ria Lagartos and Las Colorados
Private tour guides, entrance fees, and vans for Tulum and Gran Cenote
Airport Transfers from Tulum International Airport to Valladolid and returns
Lunch at Chichen Itza
Welcome dinner on January 22nd
Farewell dinner on January 27th
Instruction and Group review by and with Molly Roberts
Not Included in the Fee:
Airfare from your home to Tulum International Airport
Lunches, dinners, snacks, during your stay.
Single room. See below for single supplement rate
Travel Insurance (We strongly suggest you purchase travel insurance for last-minute change of plans. I have use Allianz many times with no problems. )
Bottled water. We suggest bringing a refillable water bottle we can fill at the hotel before leaving in the mornings. The tour companies will have cool bottled water onboard the vans, also.
Alcoholic beverages
Fee:
Double room: $4200
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(Single Supplement: $1182)
Single Room: $5382
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Questions? Please just send me an email – nancy@sxsemagazine.com.
Nancy McCrary is the publisher and editor-in-chief of South x Southeast photomagazine,(sxsemagazine.com), an online magazine featuring fine art photography from emerging and established artists. She is the director of South x Southeast Workshops (sxseworkshops.com), and the gallerist at South x Southeast Gallery, online (sxsegallery.com). Prior to SxSE she worked in a range of positions with other niche magazines such as Contents, Pop Star, Georgia Music Magazine and, her personal favorite, Advertising Director with International Tattoo Art for 14 good years. During the years of 2004-2012 Ms. McCrary was co-director of SlowExposures, a photography festival and juried exhibition celebrating the rural South. She, and a menagerie of dogs and cats, live on her 4th generation family farm in rural Georgia where she shoots only photos.
