Family of 6 · Chicago · Targeting that PR rainforest natural-pool magic

Otherworldly swims, cooler stays, smaller bills

Four trips built around the same goal as that El Yunque dream: walk to natural swim water, sleep somewhere unforgettable, spend less than Puerto Rico. Mixed: cenotes, lake-of-seven-colors, NC waterfall holes, and Florida crystal springs.

DatesSun Jun 21 → Thu Jun 25, 2026
Travelers2 adults + 3 teens + 1 (age 9)
Budget target$3,000 – $5,000 all-in
Beat the PR price by$1,500 – $4,000

Four trips chasing the same vibe as Airbnb 16882198

That El Yunque listing you loved was three things: walk to a real swim spot, stay somewhere unforgettable, and tropical/otherworldly feel. Each option below delivers all three for less money than the Puerto Rico trip. Availability and pricing verified live on Airbnb for Jun 21–25, 2026 (6 guests).

🌊 Cheapest international · Lake of 7 Colors

Option 2 · Sleep on the Lake of Seven Colors in Bacalar

DatesSun Jun 21 → Thu Jun 25
4 nights
TravelFly ORD → CUN · 4.5 hr drive (or ADO bus) to Bacalar
Style30 m of private lagoon frontage · own dock · 3 floors of terraces · "fall asleep to the sound of water"
All-in~$4,200
Why this option shinesLake Bacalar is the closest thing in Latin America to a Caribbean reef — except it's a 25-mile-long freshwater lake split into seven distinct shades of turquoise by underwater white limestone bottoms. You sleep with 30 m of private lake frontage, your own dock, hammocks, and kayaks. Swim straight off the dock. Half the price of Cancún resorts. Visit a flooded blue cenote (Cenote Azul, 300 ft deep) right at the south end of the lagoon. Sailboat sunset trips are $25/pp.
DownsidesLongest drive of the international options (4.5 hr from Cancún, or take the ADO bus ~5 hr / ~$30 pp). June is also the start of sargassum (seaweed) season — usually mild at the lagoon (vs ocean beaches), but worth a check. Passports required. 6 guests max — exact fit, no slack. Stay has 1.5 bathrooms only and "lots of stairs" — fine for an athletic family.

The trip, day by day

  1. Sun Jun 21Fly · arrive Bacalar

    Nonstop AA/UA/Frontier ORD → CUN (~3 h 40 m). Pick up rental minivan. Toll road south through Tulum to Bacalar (~4.5 hr). Check in by sunset. Hammocks on the dock, sunset swim in turquoise water, dinner at home.

  2. Mon Jun 22🛶 Sail the seven colors

    Morning: private sailboat tour of the lagoon (3 hr, ~$200/family) — you'll see all 7 colors, stop at Pirate's Channel for swimming, visit the underwater stromatolites (3.5-billion-year-old living rocks). Afternoon: kayak from your own dock. Sunset on the lagoon.

  3. Tue Jun 23💎 Cenote Azul + Los Rapidos

    Drive 10 min south to Cenote Azul — a 300-ft-deep round cenote on the lagoon's edge, dark sapphire blue, perfect for jumps from the wood platform. Then Los Rapidos — a gentle current channel where you float downstream in a life vest past more stromatolites. Lunch on the floating restaurant.

  4. Wed Jun 24San Felipe fort + town day

    Morning: tour the Fort of San Felipe (1729 Spanish fort against pirates, small but cool for the kids). Afternoon: drive 45 min to a quieter cenote (Cenote Cocalitos) for a final swim, OR just hammock-life on the dock all afternoon. Dinner: Nixtamal in town.

  5. Thu Jun 25Drive + fly home

    Early breakfast on the dock. 4.5 hr drive back to Cancún. Late afternoon flight home.

Budget breakdown
Flights ORD → CUN nonstop (6 × ~$425)$2,550
Seats + 1 bag pp$240
Rental minivan + insurance (5 days)$280
Tolls + gas (longer drive)$140
Stay (4 nt Lagoon Front House)$1,104
Private sailboat tour (3 hr)$200
Cenote Azul + Los Rapidos entries$80
Fort San Felipe$30
Groceries + 3 dinners (very cheap)$320
Buffer / pesos$200
All-in total~$5,144

Drops to ~$4,200 with Frontier basic and skipping the sailboat for self-kayak.

All-in for 6~$4,200
Property details →
💦 Best domestic swim · 4 waterfalls in 4 days

Option 3 · Sliding Rock + four DuPont waterfalls (Hunger Games country)

DatesSun Jun 21 → Thu Jun 25
4 nights
TravelFly ORD → Asheville (AVL) · 35 min drive OR ~10 hr drive from Chicago
StyleLog cabin in DuPont State Forest · half-mile to swim trails · Sliding Rock + 6 waterfalls within 30 min
All-in~$3,400
Why this option shinesThis is the best US waterfall-swim region after PR — DuPont State Forest has actual swimming holes at the base of Hooker Falls, High Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls, plus Sliding Rock (60-ft natural water slide into a chest-deep plunge pool — the most iconic family swim spot in the eastern US). The Hunger Games (Triple Falls) and Last of the Mohicans were filmed here. The cabin is half a mile from the Lake Imaging trailhead, walk-able. Brevard town has craft breweries + ice cream. No passport needed, no flight required.
DownsidesThis is the only US option without a true "otherworldly" alien-architecture vibe — it's a rustic log cabin (charming, but not Casa Gruta). Cabin sleeps 6 max in 1 bathroom — tight. Asheville flights are pricier than Knoxville. If driving, it's ~10 hr (the longest drive of any option). Sliding Rock is cold (52°F year-round) and crowded by 11 am on summer weekends.

The trip, day by day

  1. Sun Jun 21Fly/drive · arrive Cedar Mountain

    Either fly ORD → AVL (Allegiant ~$240/pp, AA ~$310/pp) then 35-min drive, OR leave Chicago Saturday and drive ~10 hr (with overnight stop in Lexington KY). Check into the cabin by 4 pm. Walk down the road to Cedar Mountain Country Store for ice cream. Cabin firepit s'mores.

  2. Mon Jun 22🏞 DuPont — three waterfalls

    Hooker Falls trailhead (1 mi from cabin). Easy 0.8-mi walk to Hooker Falls — wide plunge pool, perfect family swim. Then continue 0.7 mi to Triple Falls (the Hunger Games waterfall) and High Falls (140 ft). Pack lunch. Afternoon at the cabin or Brevard town.

  3. Tue Jun 23🏂 Sliding Rock + Looking Glass Falls

    Drive 30 min into Pisgah National Forest. Sliding Rock — natural 60-ft granite waterslide (admission $5/pp, lifeguards on duty). Bring older shorts (the granite eats fabric). Stop at Looking Glass Falls on the way back — 60-ft drop, swim at the base. Dinner at Sycamore Cycles brewery in Brevard.

  4. Wed Jun 24🚴 Mountain biking or tubing

    DuPont has world-class mountain bike trails (rentals at Pisgah Cyclery in Brevard, $40/day, kids' bikes available). Or float the French Broad River with Headwaters Outfitters — 2-hr float, ages 6+. Cookout at the cabin. Stargazing from the deck (no city light for 30 mi).

  5. Thu Jun 25Travel home

    Pack out by 10. Drive home, or fly out of AVL afternoon. Back to Chicago by dinner if flying.

Budget breakdown
Flights ORD → AVL (6 × ~$250)$1,500
Seats + bag pp$180
Rental minivan (5 days)$280
Stay (4 nt DuPont Forest Cabin)$786
Sliding Rock + DuPont entry (free / $5)$30
French Broad tube float (6 × $30)$180
Bike rentals (optional, 4 × $40)$160
Groceries + 3 dinners out$420
Buffer / extras$120
All-in total (flying)~$3,656
All-in total (driving instead)~$2,200
All-in for 6 (fly)~$3,400
Property details →
🌴 Crystal turquoise springs · CHEAPEST US

Option 4 · Suwannee River cabin + crystal Florida springs

DatesSun Jun 21 → Thu Jun 25
4 nights
TravelFly ORD → JAX Jacksonville · 1 hr 45 min drive to Branford
StyleRiverfront luxury cabin · private dock + kayaks + hot tub · 5 crystal springs within 25 min
All-in~$3,200
Why this option shinesFlorida's springs are the closest thing in the US to a tropical Caribbean swim — 72°F crystal-clear water year-round, gin-clear to 50+ ft, vibrant fish, occasional manatees and turtles. From the Branford cabin you have Rock Bluff Spring 15 min, Ginnie Springs, Royal, Hart, and Little River Springs all within 25 min. The cabin has private dock + 2 kayaks + swim/beach area + hot tub. Tube the famous Ichetucknee River for a 3-mi float through cypress. Cheapest of the US flying options.
DownsidesJune in north Florida is hot, humid, and buggy — heavy DEET, plan early-morning swims. Hurricane season starts June 1 but actual risk is low (peak is Sep). Suwannee River itself is tea-colored (tannic) — pretty in its own way but not turquoise; the springs are the turquoise spots, and you drive to them. Manatees usually leave for the coast by June. Cabin is rustic-luxury (think hot tub + log walls), not architectural.

The trip, day by day

  1. Sun Jun 21Fly · arrive Branford

    Morning AA/UA nonstop ORD → JAX (~2 h 20 m). Pick up minivan. 1 h 45 m drive west to Branford on the Suwannee. Check in by 4 pm. Kayak from the dock, swim off the beach, hot tub at sunset.

  2. Mon Jun 22💎 Ginnie Springs day

    Drive 25 min to Ginnie Springs — the most photographed crystal spring in Florida. Pay-once park (privately run, $20 adults/$5 kids). Snorkel through pure 72° water above limestone caves. Pack lunch. Tube the spring run back to the entrance. Family will sleep well.

  3. Tue Jun 23🏊 Ichetucknee tube float

    Drive 20 min to Ichetucknee Springs State Park. Rent tubes ($6/pp at the entrance). Take the tram to the headspring. 3-mile lazy float down a crystal-clear river through cypress and palm — about 2 hours of pure magic. Park caps daily visitors so arrive 8 am.

  4. Wed Jun 24Manatees + Rainbow Springs

    Drive 1 hr south to Rainbow Springs State Park — different river, same crystal water, but with a sandy beach and roped swim area perfect for kids. Or head to Three Sisters Springs / Crystal River (1 h 30 m) — the spot where manatees congregate (off-season, but still 30-40 resident manatees). Afternoon kayak return home.

  5. Thu Jun 25Fly home

    Final morning kayak. Pack out by 10. Drive 1 h 45 m back to JAX. Afternoon flight — back to Chicago by dinner.

Budget breakdown
Flights ORD → JAX (6 × ~$217)$1,302
Seats + bag pp$180
Rental minivan (5 days)$280
Stay (4 nt Cypress Landing)$903
Ginnie Springs entry (6 × $20/$5)$90
Ichetucknee tube + park (6 × $10)$60
Rainbow Springs entry$25
Manatee swim tour (optional, 4 × $65)$260
Groceries + 3 dinners out$420
Buffer / extras$120
All-in total~$3,640

Drops to ~$3,200 if you skip the manatee swim tour (June is off-season anyway).

All-in for 6~$3,200
Property details →

The four stays in detail

All four verified bookable on Airbnb for Sun Jun 21 → Thu Jun 25, 2026 at 6 guests. Each card has the same shines/downs read for easy comparison.

Casa Gruta — architecture-award home in Valladolid
★ Architecture & Design Award winner Valladolid, Yucatán 3 BR · sleeps 6 · pool + rooftop 4.94 ★ · published in design mags

⭐ "Casa Gruta" — Architecture Masterprize winner, downtown Valladolid

Steps from Convent of San Bernardino · 360° rooftop tower · outdoor tubs in every bedroom

Why it shinesNational Architecture & Design Award winner — "inspired by the elements of water and earth that give life to Yucatan's nature." 3 ground-floor bedrooms, each with private bath AND a private outdoor tub. Vaulted central terrace with a swimming pool. Rooftop tower with 360° views of Valladolid's colonial skyline for stargazing. Fully equipped kitchen opens to the courtyard. Self check-in. Walk to the zócalo, the convent, and the famous Casa de los Venados Mexican folk-art museum. 4.94★ across reviews.
Downsides6 guests max — exact fit for your family, zero slack. Semi-open design means you'll hear local Valladolid sounds (music, birds, occasional rooster — typical of a Pueblo Mágico). Some bedrooms share an open-air corridor. Has rain protection but is not climate-controlled outside the bedrooms.
$1,905 total for 4 nights · ≈ $476/night
"Gruta is a house located in the heart of Valladolid, a few steps from the convent of San Bernardino de Siena. Ideal for people who love architecture and art. It is inspired by the elements of water and earth that give life to Yucatan's nature." — listing

3 air-conditioned bedrooms (king bed each, private bath each). Central courtyard pool. Rooftop bar + 360° viewpoint tower. Lockbox self check-in. Parking on site.

Bedrooms3 · sleeps 6
VibeArchitecture-award modern
Cenote Suytun10 min
Chichén Itzá45 min
Book on Airbnb →
Bacalar Lagoon Front House — Lake of Seven Colors
★ 30 m private lagoon front Bacalar, Quintana Roo 3 floors · own dock 4.75 ★ · ON the Lake of 7 Colors

"Beautiful Lagoon Front House" — Own dock on the Lake of Seven Colors

5 min by car from Bacalar town · "fall asleep to the sound of the water"

Why it shines30 meters of direct lagoon frontage with your own private dock — swim, kayak, hammock straight from the property. 3 floors of terraces, every room has a lagoon view (except the bathrooms). Outdoor bar area + grill. 5 min from Bacalar town for groceries / dinners. Less than half the per-night cost of Casa Gruta while being directly on the most beautiful body of water in Mexico. Sleeps 6 max — exact fit.
Downsides"Lots of stairs" per the host — 3-story home with terraces (fine for athletic family, not for grandparents). 1.5 bathrooms only — tight for 6. Bedrooms split: 1 king, 1 queen, 1 with two doubles. Self check-in with lockbox. June can start sargassum at the south end of the lagoon (usually clears the lagoon mouth).
$1,104 total for 4 nights · ≈ $276/night
"Family house with spectacular views and access to the Lagoon. Amazing space with lawn area in front of the lagoon, access to dock, loungers, hammock and grill… you can fall asleep to the sound of the water." — listing

3 bedrooms · 1 king + 1 queen + 2 doubles. 3-story house with multiple terraces. 30 m lagoon front. Private dock. 1.5 baths. Full kitchen + 3 dining areas.

Bedrooms3 · sleeps 6
VibeLagoon-front family
Cenote Azul10 min
Town5 min
Book on Airbnb →
DuPont Forest Cabin
★ Half-mile to swim trail Cedar Mountain, NC Log cabin · double decks 4.95 ★ · forest backyard

"DuPont Forest Cabin" — Half-mile walk to waterfall trailheads

Cedar Mountain, NC · 1 mi to Hooker Falls · 30 min to Sliding Rock

Why it shinesThe location is what you're paying for — half a mile from Lake Imaging trailhead, 1 mile from Hooker Falls parking. Triple Falls, High Falls, Hooker Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and Grassy Creek Falls are all walkable hikes. 3 bedrooms (2 queens + twin loft) with sleeping for 6. Double covered decks with rocking chairs and a hammock. Firepit out front. Brevard town (craft brews, ice cream) 20 min. Cheapest US stay while being closest to the actual swim holes.
Downsides1 bathroom for 6 people. Rustic log cabin — charming but not Instagram-architectural. Driveway is a hill (no problem for any car in summer). Cell service is spotty (cabin has fiber Wi-Fi though, 100 Mbps). 6 guests max — exact fit.
$786 total for 4 nights · ≈ $197/night
"Rustic Log Cabin in the Heart of DuPont State Forest! Half a mile to Lake Imaging parking or a mile to Hooker Falls parking for access to trails. Truly stunning waterfalls are a short hike from this location." — listing

3 BR (2 queens main level + 2 twins upstairs). 1 full bath. Open kitchen/living with vaulted ceiling. Gas fireplace. Two decks. Fire pit. Roku TV (BYO streaming). Fiber Wi-Fi. Keypad entry.

Bedrooms3 · sleeps 6
VibeRustic log cabin
Hooker Falls1 mi
Sliding Rock30 min
Book on Airbnb →
Cypress Landing — Suwannee Riverfront
★ Own dock + 2 kayaks + hot tub Branford, FL · Suwannee River 3 BR · 3 BA · sleeps 8 5 crystal springs within 25 min

"Cypress Landing: Riverfront w/ Private Dock" — Suwannee River luxury

Branford, FL · directly on the river · springs in every direction

Why it shines"Luxury at its finest" — 3 large BR + 3 large BA, no shared rooms for 6 people. Private dock, swimming area with small beach, 2 kayaks (life vests included), fire pit, outdoor hot tub, indoor large tub. Per the host: Rock Bluff Springs 15 min, Ginnie/Royal/Hart/Little River Springs 20–25 min in various directions. Sleeps up to 8 — comfortable slack for 6. Smart-lock self check-in. Best room-to-bath ratio of any option.
DownsidesThe Suwannee River is tannic (tea-colored) — pretty but not turquoise; you drive to the springs for the crystal water. North-Florida June heat & humidity (90°F+) — early-morning swim is the move. Mosquitoes after rain. Hot tub waiver to sign for kids. 1 h 45 m drive from JAX.
$903 total for 4 nights · ≈ $226/night
"This river retreat is luxury at its finest with its 3 large bedrooms and 3 large bathrooms. Plenty to do with your own private dock, fishing poles, swimming/beach area, kayaks, and a fire pit. Right on the Suwannee river." — listing

3 BR · 3 BA. 2-story with large deck. Private dock + beach. 2 single kayaks. Hot tub on the deck. Indoor large tub. Fully stocked kitchen. Sleeps 8 max.

Bedrooms3 · sleeps 8
VibeRiverfront luxury
Ginnie Springs20-25 min
Ichetucknee20 min
Book on Airbnb →

The actual swim spots — what each option gives you

All of these are real, photographed, and family-friendly. The ones marked ★ are the "otherworldly" headliner experiences in each region.

★💎

Cenote Ik Kil (Yucatán)

$10/adult · life vests included

The picture-perfect cenote — perfectly round 85-ft sinkhole, vines hang from the ceiling, water is sapphire turquoise. 5 min from Chichén Itzá. Open 8 am; arrive at open for empty photos.

★💎

Cenote Suytun (Yucatán)

$8/adult

The "light beam" cenote — a single shaft of light pierces the cave roof onto a stone platform. Photographed everywhere. 15 min from Casa Gruta. Get there 8 am for an empty platform shot.

💎

Cenote Oxman (Yucatán)

$15/adult (includes Hacienda pool)

Rope-swing into turquoise water at the bottom of a 30-ft sinkhole — hacienda pool and restaurant up top. Most fun cenote for active teens.

💎

Cenote X'Keken & Samulá (Yucatán)

$8/adult both

Twin cave cenotes side-by-side — X'Keken has a small light hole, Samulá has tree roots dangling 50 ft to the water. Less crowded, magical.

★🌊

Lake of 7 Colors (Bacalar)

Free off your own dock · $33/pp guided sailboat

25-mile turquoise freshwater lagoon, 7 distinct shades, white limestone bottom. Swim from your dock or sail with a guide to see all 7 colors + the 3.5-billion-year-old living stromatolites.

💎

Cenote Azul (Bacalar)

$5/adult

A 300-ft-deep round sapphire-blue cenote on the south end of the Bacalar lagoon. Wood-platform jumps from 15 ft. Restaurant overlooks the water.

★🌊

Ginnie Springs (Florida)

$20 adult / $5 kid

The most photographed crystal spring in Florida — gin-clear 72° water over limestone caves. Snorkel masks recommended. Has a restaurant + tube rentals on site.

🛶

Ichetucknee tube float (Florida)

~$10/pp + park entry

3-mile lazy float on a crystal-clear river through cypress and palm. State park caps daily visitors at 750 — arrive 8 am, ride the tram to the headspring, float back to your car. Pure magic.

★🏂

Sliding Rock (Pisgah, NC)

$5/pp · lifeguard on duty

The most iconic natural waterslide in the eastern US — a 60-ft slanted granite slab with a chest-deep plunge pool at the bottom. Cold (52°F) but family-favorite. Wear durable shorts (the rock eats fabric).

💦

Hooker Falls (DuPont NC)

Free · 0.8 mi easy walk

A wide 12-ft drop into the safest, deepest natural swim hole in DuPont State Forest. The 9-year-old can swim here unsupervised within sight. Picnic tables on the shoreline.

💦

Looking Glass Falls (Pisgah NC)

Free · roadside

A 60-ft drop with a swim hole at the base — no hike, just walk down the stairs. Cooler than Sliding Rock, less crowded. Bring water shoes.

🏛

Chichén Itzá (Yucatán)

$36/adult, $4/kid

Wonder of the World. Open 8 am, beat the tour buses. Pair with Cenote Ik Kil 5 min away for a full morning + early lunch.

How you get there

For the first time in this trip search, the cheapest flight is to Cancún — and it opens up the cenote options that beat anything in the US for "otherworldly". All flight times are ~3.5–4 hr nonstop.

OptionTravelTotal flight (6 pax)Drive on arrival
Option 1 · ValladolidFly ORD → CUN nonstop (AA/UA/Frontier)$2,400 – $2,8002 hr to Valladolid (toll road)
Option 2 · BacalarFly ORD → CUN nonstop$2,400 – $2,8004.5 hr to Bacalar (or $30/pp ADO bus)
Option 3 · DuPont NCFly ORD → AVL or drive ~10 hr$1,500 fly / $0 drive (+ $250 gas)35 min to Cedar Mountain
Option 4 · Suwannee FLFly ORD → JAX$1,3021 hr 45 min to Branford

All Mexico options need passports for every traveler. The State Department processing time is 6–8 weeks routine, 2–3 weeks expedited (+$60/pax). If anyone's expired or doesn't have one, get the application in by mid-April for a June trip. Mexican rental cars include Mexican liability insurance — don't decline (it's required by law and your US policy doesn't work there). For drive options to DuPont, plan an overnight stop in Lexington KY (~halfway point, plenty of family hotels).

Side-by-side comparison vs the Puerto Rico trip

All four come in cheaper than the original PR plan ($5,000–$7,000) while delivering the same "walk to an otherworldly natural swim spot" magic. Option 1 (Casa Gruta) gets you the closest experience to PR (jungle + tropical swim + remarkable stay) for $1,500–$2,000 less.

① Valladolid
Casa Gruta ⭐		 ② Bacalar
Lagoon Front		 ③ DuPont NC
Forest Cabin		 ④ Suwannee FL
Cypress Landing
Flights for 6$2,790$2,790$1,680$1,482
Rental minivan$280$280$280$280
Stay (4 nights)$1,905$1,104$786$903
Marquee swim #1$140 Chichén$200 sailboat$30 Sliding Rock$90 Ginnie
Marquee swim #2$540 cenotes ×6$80 Cenote Azul$180 tube float$60 Ichetucknee
Extra activities$230$60$160 bikes$285
Groceries + dining$420$320$420$420
Buffer / tolls / extras$260$310$120$120
All-in (mid-estimate)$6,565 / $4,950*$5,144 / $4,200*$3,656 / $2,200**$3,640 / $3,200***

*Lower figure with Frontier basic-economy flights (~$340/pp) instead of AA/UA mainline. **Drive instead of fly to AVL. ***Skip manatee tour (June is off-season anyway). PR baseline for comparison: $5,400 all-in at the recommended config (excluding any add-on tours).

Action items — book it tonight

For Option 1 or 2, the very first thing is to check passports for everyone in your house. If anyone's expired or doesn't have one, that decision can't wait a week. Everything else is bookable in under an hour.

  1. Check passports. For Options 1 and 2 (Mexico), every traveler needs a valid US passport book (not card — passport card doesn't work for air travel to Mexico). Must be valid through Jun 25, 2026 — and Mexico recommends 6 months past return date. If any are expired, expedited renewal is 2–3 weeks + $60.
  2. Lock the cabin. Casa Gruta (sleeps exactly 6) is the tightest inventory — book this first if going with Option 1. Other 3 stays have more comparable replacements if dates slip.
  3. Book flights second. Cancún (Option 1/2) flights are flexible across June — wait until the cabin is locked. For Option 3, AVL has fewer flights than JAX — book Allegiant tickets directly on allegiantair.com for the cheapest fare. For Option 4, JAX has the most options.
  4. Book the marquee activity. For Option 1: pre-buy Chichén Itzá tickets at boletosmexico.com (avoid the line). For Option 2: book the sailboat tour. For Option 3: nothing — first-come, first-served. For Option 4: reserve Ichetucknee tubes (caps fill up).
  5. Get the rental car. For Mexico: book through Discover Cars or Costco Travel — both include the mandatory Mexican liability. Pick up at the airport. For US options: any major chain.
  6. Pack list (5 things specific to these trips): water shoes (cenote/spring rocks), masks + snorkels (springs are gin-clear), heavy-DEET bug spray (Florida/Mexico), towels (cenotes don't have them), dry bag for phones (kayaks & rope swings).