The Yucatan Peninsula is one of the most visited places in the world. It combines part of the rich history and some of the most important scenic beauties of Mexico.

On the eastern coast of Yucatan is the Mayan Riviera. An extension of coastline that runs from Puerto Morelos to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, is an area of resorts, hotels and restaurants located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Beach, gastronomy and history are the personal brands of this place, as beautiful as they are magical.

Chichen Itza

 

Between the cities of Mérida and Valladolid is the ancient city of Chichen Itza, which 1000 years ago was the religious center of Yucatan and one of the most important seats of the Mayan culture.

By the time we went, it was no longer allowed to climb the steps of the Pyramid of Kukulcan, although before it was possible. There was a crowd of people, trying to connect with the past and the Mayan culture.

 

During the spring and autumn equinoxes a shocking phenomenon occurs. The city is filled with visitors to contemplate the shadow of the stairs on the pyramid that looks like a snake that descends and that symbolizes the descent of Kukulcán (Quetzacoatl) returning to Earth.

This is possible thanks to the precise orientation of the temple, which fills those who contemplate it with amazement. It is a proof of the architectural, astronomical and mathematical mastery of the Mayans.

Playa del Carmen

 

It is a small town in the Riviera Maya, practically born for tourism.

The number of all-budget accommodation offerings (from modest to maximum luxury) allows the visitor to turn it into a base of operations to explore the rest of the Riviera.

From here, ferries depart to the Island of Cozumel, which sadly did not give us time to visit and which is a privileged place for those looking for paradisiacal beaches, scuba diving and diving experiences for its world-famous corals and to learn more about the magnificent Mayan culture.

There is the so-called 5th Avenue of Playa del Carmen, which is the nervous center of the city, full of restaurants, hotels, bars, tour operators and all necessary services for the tourist. It is also residential area, and there are many houses of rich and famous of the show business, business and international jet set.

Cenotes

 

Cenotes are caves whose roofs have collapsed, exposing freshwater groundwater and constituting a unique ecosystem.

These are underground cave systems, much of them underwater, that extend hundreds of kilometers below the Yucatan Peninsula.

Those of Yucatan were used by the ancient Maya for rituals and, according to some, to hide treasures. Even one of the oldest humans in America, a 13,600-year-old woman, has been found in one of those freshwater wells.

There are cenotes throughout the Yucatan Peninsula and in Valladolid we visited the Cenote de San Lorenzo de Oxmán, in the Hacienda San Lorenzo.This cenote is very close to the beach and it is mandatory, if you have been on it, that you take a shower before entering the water of the cenote so as not to alter the salinity or contaminate the crystal clear waters.

 

Coba

 

The ancient Mayan city of Coba, located about 40 kms inland in Quintana Roo, presents one of the most impressive ruins in the entire Mayan world.

Unlike Chichen Itza, its pyramid is open to the public to climb its 130 steps and reach the top, from where you get a magnificent view of the surrounding jungle and up to the coast.

Also impressive are the Ball Game Building (where the losing team was sacrificed) and the set of paintings. These structures allow you to guess the great metropolis that was once Coba. And yet only a small part of the city has been cleared of jungle and restored.

At its peak, Coba dominated a vast region of the peninsula and is known to trade with cities in Central America and central Mexico, such as Teotihuacán.

One only has to see the ruins on display to realize how powerful that ancient civilization is.

Tulum

 

Tulum was a Mayan coastal city that served as a port for Coba.

The view of the pyramid The Castle of Tulum on a promontory facing the Caribbean is a really impressive scene and here one reaffirms, in case there were any doubts, the level of civilization and power that the Mayan Culture reached.

Unlike other Mayan cities, Tulum was not abandoned before the arrival of the Spaniards. In fact, it seems that he survived some 70 years after the Conquest. However it is believed that it was the diseases brought by the Europeans that caused the destruction of the social life of the city and led to its eventual abandonment.

While meditating on these themes by seeing the magnificent ruins, one can take a bath in one of the nearby and paradisiacal beaches.

Holbox Island

It is ok! This small island of 42 kms long by 1 and a half wide is not properly in the Riviera Maya, but if you arrive in the state of Quintana Roo, you should schedule a visit to this paradise.

The island is separated from the mainland by a shallow lagoon where an impressive number of flamingos and pelicans make life.

The show from April to October of the incredible number of flamingoes forming a pink carpet all over the lagoon is something you won’t forget.

And if you are of the most extreme, for that same period you can enjoy the swim with… not dolphins, not sharks, but with Whale Sharks! These creatures, the largest known fish are as colossal (up to 19 meters) as harmless and you can hire a tour operator to take you diving along with these majestic creatures.

Cancun and Isla Mujeres

 

Two places without waste that you can not miss. Just off the coast of Mexico, and only 20 minutes by ferry from Cancun, is the serene Isla de las Mujeres.

Isla Mujeres is a beautiful and peaceful paradise much more relaxed and quiet than Cancun, but that does not mean that there is not much to do, rather you can fill your day with water sports, shopping, exploring and making new friends.

Known for beautiful white sand beaches, calm crystal clear turquoise waters and the friendliest locals in the Mexican Caribbean. Isla’s diversity, from fishermen, artists and musicians to divers, chefs and expats, make up a community like no other. With the beauty of the Caribbean, the heritage of the Mayans and the carefree charm of the people, Isla Mujeres has become a haven for people from all over the world.

Conclusions

There are three things to highlight in this beautiful area: beaches, gastronomy and Mayan presence.

The beaches, usually located within Biosphere Reserves and protected areas, have an unusual turquoise blue that reveals the proximity of corals.

Mexican cuisine, one of the most developed, varied and rich in the world, are another plus. Virtually any small bar or restaurant on the beach will present you with real delights. And at affordable prices.

And, of course, the Mayan culture. That still lingers in his descendants, but that had its boom centuries ago and whose sites are preserved today with zeal by the Mexican government and as UNESCO heritage sites.

Ah, of course! We cannot forget the proverbial kindness of the Mexican people in general and the Yucatecan people in particular. They will make your visit to the Yucatan Peninsula an exciting, vital and unforgettable experience.

Tell me what other places would you recommend visiting in that region?