Tour Instinct is a premium, family-owned boutique transportation and tour operator based in the Mexican Caribbean/Riviera Maya. We specialize in private, high-touch ground logistics and tailor-made excursions designed specifically for families, small groups, and mindful travelers who value safety, punctuality, and authentic local connection.
With a deliberately limited capacity, we do not chase mass tourism. Instead, we focus on delivering a warm, seamless, and deeply personalized "host-to-guest" experience from the moment our valuable visitors step off the plane until their final departure.
Our Identity
In ancient times, travel was not merely a change of physical location; it was a sacred journey (still relevant nowadays for some cultures like the Wixaritari). Our glyph/emblem uses this design to connect modern adventure with those ancestral and universal principles. Its complex and profound geometric and symbolic background seeks to connect in the best possible way with the concepts of tours, travel, and exploration, transforming the simple act of moving into an experience of personal transformation. This geometry seeks to align itself archetypally with the worldview of different eras and cultures (time-space) that share the same universal principles of sacred geometry and the flows of energy, frequency, and vibration (Toroids, Mandalas, duality, the Tonalamatl, the quincunx, the chakana or Andean cross, Tsikuri, the Maltese cross, the four cardinal directions, the compass rose, the four main elements, the vesica piscis, the witch's knot, among others…) based on the mathematical division of space, radial symmetry, and the ordering of the cosmos from a central point. There are also visual elements such as the light/color spectrum that we link to human and psychological diversity.
In our beginnings, we started by analyzing the dynamics of human instincts through self-knowledge and personal development with the goal of structuring a complete map of personality, and we gradually adapted the design, giving it a sense of transcendence and centrality. The inclusion of all these elements was intended to elevate our glyph/emblem from a simple psychometric graphic to a powerful cosmological and spiritual map of human integration. At Tour Instinct, we firmly believe that the true explorer doesn't just seek new maps, but new eyes. When you travel with your instincts awakened, every path becomes a mandala of possibilities and every destination a mirror of your soul. In our organization, we strive to position ourselves not as an imposing entity, but as a facilitator or guide who accompanies individuals in finding their own inner answers. Is Instinct in you?
The first visual element, "O"
The center, the portal, the inner vision, the eye of God, the integrating axis, the central void, the vortex, or the axis mundi. Every chakana has a round-shaped hole at its center that represents the line of life, the unmanifest, and infinity, placing white light as the origin and the point where the energies of heaven, earth, and the four cardinal points intersect.
The intricated Villarceau circles around the circular hole generate an optical effect of fluidity, rotation, or dynamism that unites the colors and intertwines the wavelengths, thus emulating the Fibonacci sequence. This aims to conceptualize the human being not as a closed circuit, but as a continuous channel where the energy of instincts enters, is processed, and transcends to the next cycle. The message we wish to convey is this: self-realization consists of gathering all our scattered parts to reunite ourselves at the center of the sphere (the original pure light).
The Spectrum of Light and the Integration of Being
The contrasting use of black and white symbolizes consciousness and unconsciousness (the duality of light and shadow), inviting the integration of both the visible and hidden aspects of instincts. The continuous arrangement of colors on the surface of revolution of the horn-shaped torus simulates the visible light spectrum generated by the decomposition of white light through a prism:
White light as origin: In physics, white light contains all colors simultaneously. Spiritually and in psychometry, white light represents pure potential or the “Higher Self” before manifesting in a specific personality.
Refraction (Diversity of the psyche): The outward expansion of the colors is intended to illustrate how this pure energy fragments into different wavelengths. In the course of life, each person eventually becomes progressively and continuously "specialized" or excels in certain aspects of the spectrum, giving rise to their talents, particular traits, the frequency of their emotions, the scale of their consciousness, and their behavior.
The concept of "Ollin" (Cyclical Movement) and Dynamic Interconnection: In the philosophy of the Tonalamatl (the Mexica Book of Destiny and the Count of Days), time and life are governed by the concept of "Ollin" (Movement). Our identity seeks to embody this idea: Exploring and traveling is not just moving in a straight line, but advancing in harmony with the cyclical movement of the universe and our own instinct. In this sacred book that orders time, space, and the directions of the universe, coincidences are not the only belief; rather, movement (Ollin) and the signs along the way are the only ones that are valued.
The link: The design evokes the act of mapping, traversing Anáhuac (a territorial extension that stretches from pole to pole between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans) and letting oneself be guided by the directions of nature, remembering that each cardinal point offers a different landscape, culture and teaching.
Immersion in the Natural Elements
The chromatic transition (like a musical scale) representing Fire, Earth, Water, and Air is no coincidence for a tourism company.
In ecotourism: The best tours are based on direct interaction with these elements: swimming in rivers, lakes, or seas (Water), hiking in mountains or jungles (Earth), feeling the wind at a viewpoint or flying on a zip line (Air), and connecting with the warmth of the sun or nighttime bonfires (Fire).
The Connection: We promise that the exploration will not be merely visual, but a complete sensory experience where the traveler will merge with the forces of nature.
“Instinct” as the Traveler's Guide
The Question: Is Instinct in You?
In Adventure: Instinct is the biological and spiritual force that drove early humans to explore the horizon and migrate. It is the intuition that tells you which path to take and invites you to venture into the unknown.
The link: The kaleidoscope pattern or toroidal flow (Mandala) emulates an eye or inner vision and suggests that exploration requires turning off the rational mind, activating the wild instinct and connecting with the ancestral wisdom of the environment being visited.
The Journey as the Search for the “Center” (the Essential Self or pure consciousness)
In our glyph/emblem, all the lines originate and converge on the surface of revolution of the horned torus (the quincunx, fifth direction, or fifth sun).
In exploration: Traveling involves leaving one's comfort zone (the periphery) to discover new places. However, the true purpose of exploration is often to find oneself.
The connection: The center of our glyph/emblem represents the traveler's ultimate destination: that state of balance, self-discovery, and enlightenment achieved by living a memorable experience.
Integration: The quincunx tells us that a person should not live trapped at the extremes of his/her personality (only in the fire of action or only in the air of thought). Mental health is achieved when the individual integrates the four directions and positions him/herself in a balanced way at the center of the sphere.
In the worldview of ancient cultures (such as the Maya, Aztec, and Inca), the universe was not understood as an empty space but as an ordered plane supported by four outer corners (guardians of the world's ends), and consequently divided into four cosmic or sacred directions, each with an energy, an entity, sacred trees, and a special color that balance the earthly plane.
Tlahuiztlampa (East): The direction of light, associated with red.
Mictlampa (North): The direction of the ancestors, associated with black or yellow.
Cihuatlampa (West): The direction of warrior women.
Huitztlampa (South): The direction of abundance, associated with green or deep blue.
*Taken from the Tonalámatl (originating from the Nahua cultures, prominently used by the Toltecs, Mexica (Aztecs), and other peoples…)
The Maltese or Pattée Cross Structure (Féjérváry-Mayer Codex)
This cross, whose internal lines are segments of circles, is wide at its ends and tapers towards the center without touching (like a kind of asymptote). It is painted with the exact same geometric structure as the interior of our glyph/emblem. In this type of codex, the arms of the cross represent the four cardinal directions or symmetrical orientations delimited by their large black and white arms that expand towards the corners in the shape of an "X." These arms act as quadrants that divide and/or connect different dimensions of behavior and perception, representing the structure, order, and analytical framework of our organization.
Scientific or Methodical Basis: While the colors provide fluidity, the axes provide precision and evaluation quadrants: They project the existence of a formal matrix (like Cartesian axes for psychological evaluation) to assess where the individual is positioned.
The Four Directions and the Four Elements (The Manifest World): Although our glyph/emblem uses a modern color wheel, the radial distribution symbolizes the diversity of personality traits, motivations, and energies that make up the individual, and the tones are grouped in a way that evokes the vibration of the elements of nature. Our worldview aligns with these four main quadrants or symmetrical orientations:
Quadrant / Direction
Associated Element
Correspondence with our Glyph/Emblem
Personality Attribute
North
Air
Upper Zone (Bright Yellow)
Thought, ideas, intellectual vision, and clarity.
South
Water
Lower Zone (Deep Blue)
Emotions, intuition, fluidity, and the unconscious.
East
Fire
Right Zone (Red and Orange)
Rising sun, action, vital energy, primal impulse, and transformation.
West
Earth
Left Zone (Green)
Concretion, roots, physical health, structure, vegetation, and material stability.
Our image arranges its gradient precisely according to this ancestral logic: it groups the warm colors (reds/yellows) at one end, transitions through the greens/earth tones, and culminates in deep blues in the opposite quadrant, achieving a modern pictographic cosmogram. The four extremes of the color spectrum are the polarities of personality (the rational versus the emotional, the active versus the stable).
The Chakana: The Ladder of Human Evolution
Also known as the Andean Cross, it is a stepped cross that synthesizes the Inca worldview. Its geometric structure is directly integrated into the anatomy of our glyph/emblem through its three levels of reality and its characteristic central void.
The Three Worlds (The Levels of the Sphere)
The chakana divides existence into three planes, which are reflected in the dynamism of the light spectrum and instincts:Uku Pacha (The Underworld / The Unconscious): Represented by the deep blue and purple areas at the base of our glyph/emblem. It is the realm of primal instincts, blind survival impulses, and ancestral memories.
Kay Pacha (The World Here / The Present): Represented by the middle band of the sphere and the colors of action (green and orange). It is the plane of everyday personality, where we interact with the environment with mindfulness, social groups, and the material world.
Hanan Pacha (The Upper World / The Superconscious): Represented by the bright yellow in the upper north of our glyph/emblem. It is the plane of higher intellect, vision, enlightenment, and connection with the subtler light spectrum.
Color Psychology and Personality Traits
Radially arranged colors segment different facets of human temperament, ranging from the most active to the most rational traits:
Red: Represents strength, passion, assertiveness, and basic drive. Personalities with this dominant color tend to be competitive, energetic, action-oriented, and highly determined for leadership or survival.
Orange: Symbolizes sociability, enthusiasm, and creativity. It defines optimistic, communicative, proactive individuals who easily connect with others and have a strong sense of adventure.
Yellow: Evokes intellect, logic, optimism, and clarity. It is associated with analytical, curious minds, great mental agility, a focus on innovation, continuous learning, and logical problem-solving.
Green: Conveys balance, growth, stability, and empathy. It represents peaceful, reliable personality traits, oriented toward care, interpersonal harmony, and with great resilience and adaptability.
Blue: Denotes serenity, loyalty, structure, and depth. It often represents analytical, reserved, introspective, and objective personalities who deeply value truth, planning, and institutional and personal security.
Purple/Magenta: Communicates intuition, transformation, spirituality, and individuality. It is associated with artistic traits, unconventional visions, inner wisdom, and people with a sensitivity to the abstract or intangible.
Finally, the colors of our glyph/emblem from left to right (green, white, and red) somehow align with those of our identity as contemporary Mexica s. Coincidence or Destiny? Perhaps your journey was already written… your destiny is calling you. Are you ready to answer?
Bibliographic References
- Cosmovisión Mexica y Códice Féjérváry-Mayer
- Dehouve, D. (2018) ‘El quincunce mexica: Un modelo espacial, temporal y ritual’, Estudios de Cultura Náhuatl, 55, pp. 15-42.
- Johansson K., P. (2004) ‘El sentido y los sentidos de la imagen en los códices nahuas’, Estudios de Cultura Náhuatl, 35, pp. 75-103.
- León-Portilla, M. (2006) La filosofía náhuatl estudiada en sus fuentes. México: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).
- Cosmovisión Inca y la Chakana
- Lajo, J. (2006) Qhapaq Ñan: La ruta de la sabiduría inka. Lima: Amaro Runa Ediciones.
- Urton, G. (2014) At the Crossroads of the Earth and the Sky: An Andean Cosmology. Austin: University of Texas Press.
- Geometría Sagrada y Conceptos Físico-Matemáticos
- Lawlor, R. (1982) Sacred Geometry: Philosophy and Practice. Londres: Thames & Hudson.
- Schneider, M. S. (1995) A Beginner’s Guide to Constructing the Universe: The Mathematical Archetypes of Nature, Art, and Science. Nueva York: HarperPerennial.
- Psicología del Color y Modelos de Personalidad
- Heller, E. (2004) Psicología del color: Cómo actúan los colores sobre los sentimientos y la razón. Barcelona: Editorial Gustavo Gili.
- Insights Discovery (2020) Insights Discovery Insights Base Product Description. Dundee: Insights Learning and Development Ltd.
- Jung, C. G. (1971) Tipos psicológicos. Buenos Aires: Editorial Sudamericana.
Brand Manifesto Reference
- Tour Instinct (s.f.) Our Identity: Brand Philoshofy, worldview and the meaning of our glyph. Available at: About Us – Tour Instinct (June 12th, 2026).
References for the Personality Map
- Eysenck, H. J. y Eysenck, S. B. G. (2013) Mindwatching: Why We Behave the Way We Do. Londres: Routledge. (Aporta el marco de evaluación de personalidad basado en ejes cartesianos y polaridades biológicas).
- Insights Discovery (2020) Insights Discovery Insights Base Product Description. Dundee: Insights Learning and Development Ltd. (Valida el uso exacto del código radial de colores para segmentar rasgos psicológicos).
- Jung, C. G. (1971) Tipos psicológicos. Buenos Aires: Editorial Sudamericana. (La base teórica original que divide la psique en polaridades: racional frente a emocional y activo frente a estable).