Archaeology. Adventure. Travel.
Mērakíva Travel
Travel that puts you inside history, not in front of it.
Our Trips Are For
Adventurers
You don't want to look at ruins from behind a rope. You want to climb them. Crawl through them. Understand what happened inside them. And yeah, break a sweat getting there.
The Curious
You read the plaque and immediately want to know more. Not dates and names. The real story. Why they built it, what went wrong, what it felt like to live here. Our trip leaders are archaeologists, and they make travel genuinely fun.
The Connectors
You're not collecting passport stamps. You travel because something shifts when you stand in a place that's been here for three thousand years, surrounded by people you just met, and you can't quite find the words. That's what we design for.
Why We Exist
Travel Should Change How You See the World
Most tours show you the surface. A guide reads from a script. You take a photo. You leave.
We do something different. Merakiva was started by an archaeologist who spent a decade excavating ancient cities and realized the stories in these places are too wild to stay behind museum glass. The Maya engineered pressurized aqueducts in the jungle a thousand years before European plumbing. Ancient Mesopotamians weaponized river floods. A Roman theater in Tunisia is still standing because nobody bothered to tear it down for 2,000 years.
Those are things you should see in person, in the actual place, with someone who can explain why they matter. That’s what Adventure Archaeology is. Not sightseeing with a textbook. Active, physical travel that puts you closer to the past than you thought you could get.
Go Beyond Sightseeing
Adventures designed for discovery. Expeditions crafted by archaeologists. Experiences that stay with you.
Adventure Archaeology
What Makes Us Different
On every trip, you’re with someone who actually knows the site. Not from a guidebook. From years of fieldwork, research, and time spent in places like this. They’ll tell you things the plaques don’t.
But this isn’t a classroom. This isn’t passive. Your vacation is an adventure.
You might ride trains through jungle, swim in underground rivers, hike at sunrise. The archaeology makes the adventure deeper. The adventure makes the archaeology stick.
Our Adventures
What we Offer
Group
Expeditions
Join a small group of fellow travelers on an archaeologist-led adventurers. We handle every detail — you show up ready to explore.
Travel
Planning
Not ready for a group trip? We'll design something just for you. Hotels a local would pick, sites the guidebooks skip, and restaurants you won't find on TripAdvisor.
Walking
Tours
When we're not abroad, catch us on the streets of Philly. Our locally famous walking tours are a completely different vibe — but the same passion for great storytelling.
Testimonials
What They Say
Fantastic and fun tour!! Marshal was amazing, he had so much interesting trivia, shared details usually overlooked, and recommended what was the best foods to experience.
Tony
Portland, OR
We couldn't be more grateful to Merakiva Travel for planning the honeymoon of our dreams! Every detail was perfectly thought out, making our two-week journey through Italy completely seamless.
Archer & Dillon
Philadelphia, PA
So interesting -- I loved the experience. I learned so much but also really enjoyed just looking at the stars, enjoying the beautiful evening. Everything about it was first rate!
LuAnne
Phoenix, AZ
Featured Destination
Mexico
Yucatan
Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is one of the most archaeologically dense places on earth. Massive pyramid cities still half-buried in jungle. Underground rivers that the Maya considered entrances to the underworld. And now, a brand-new railway connecting it all for the first time.
Our Tren Maya expedition follows the full route. You’ll ride the train, climb pyramids like Calakmul (taller than Chichen Itza, with a fraction of the crowds), swim cenotes, and explore sites like Palenque where ancient engineering still surprises modern scientists.
Upcoming Trips
- Mexico
- 11 Days, 10 Nights
- Fall 2026
Explore the Yucatán Peninsula by train, van, and foot — from Caribbean canals and underground rivers to the remote jungle cities of Calakmul and Palenque.
Explore
Group Trip Destinations
01
Roman theaters, Islamic palaces, prehistoric dolmens older than the Egyptian pyramids. Southern Spain layers 6,000 years of history in a landscape you can walk across in a day. Plus the food.
02
Unexpected? Iraq’s Kurdistan is a safe haven with thousands of historical sites and a vibrant culture. Explore its plains and towering mountains with an experienced archaeologist and local guide.
03
Roman ruins rivaling anything in Italy, Saharan landscapes, and a Mediterranean crossroads where Phoenician, Roman, and Arab worlds collide.
01
Experience Spain’s vibrant blend of old and new, where modern cityscapes meet medieval castles. Wander through historic neighborhoods, connect with traditional art forms, and indulge in flavors that have shaped a nation.
02
Unexpected? Iraq’s Kurdistan is a safe haven with thousands of historical sites and a vibrant culture. Explore its plains and towering mountains with an experienced archaeologist and local guide.
03
Tunisia offers a fascinating blend of Mediterranean coastline, Saharan dunes, and ancient Roman ruins, all within a compact North African setting. Its historic medinas, particularly in Tunis and Sousse, showcase centuries of Arab-Islamic architecture and bustling traditional markets.
From The
Blog
What type of Solo Traveler are you? (Quiz)
Solo travel isn’t just a way to see the world—it’s a journey of self-discovery, an opportunity to challenge yourself, and a chance to experience destinations
The 10 Best Countries for Solo Travelers in the World (2025)
A guide about the 10 most solo-traveler friendly countries — from hand-on experience and extensive research.
7 Surprising Things About Visiting Riyadh in 2025: An Honest Travel Guide
After spending a week in Riyadh, I was surprised by these 7 things. Saudi Arabia was long inaccessible but it’s changing… quickly.
