A visit to Mexico's Yucatn peninsula is like stepping into another world. In this region exists such a multitude of environments, historical legacies, ancient cities, and populations of wildlife that the imagination simply reels. Planning a vacation here, while an excellent idea, is hardly an easy task - unless you have several lifetimes available to see and do everything that the Yucatn has to offer! For those with a slightly more realistic time-frame in mind, this guide will hopefully provide an outline of some of the Yucatn's most irresistible opportunities for vacation adventure.
History lovers will be delighted to know that the Yucatn peninsula was the center of Mayan civilization. For more than a millennium, these amazing builders, farmers, warriors, and astronomers looked out over their Mesoamerican kingdom from atop massive pyramids like the El Castillo at Chichn Itz.
If you only have the chance to visit one city of the Maya, Chichn Itz is an excellent choice. It's sheer size, long history, and unusual diversity allow visitors to sample a large cross-section of Mayan culture and history. A wide variety of structures are present at the site, including ball courts, giant pyramids, many temples, an even one of the earliest astronomical observatories. Guided tours of the site are available, and ongoing restorations aim to preserve this historical treasure for many generations to come; any visit to the region should at least consider making a stop at this one-of-a-kind example of human achievement.
Those who feel at home in nature will be very comfortable in the Yucatn. Considered by many to be one of earth's last true wildernesses. Acres and acres of lush, unspoiled tropical jungle coat the limestone plains which are ringed by majestic coastal mountains; in those same crystalline seas swims an amazing abundance of sea life, matched in diversity only by the plants and animals that inhabit the inland jungles. Vacationers with some trekking experience may want a solo hike, but many companies offer multi-day jungle treks if you'd rather go with some company. One of the best options for seeing rare and unusual species is to visit one of the bioreserves like Sian Ka'an, which act as a sanctuary and buffer between the natural world and the relentless advance of human development.
Just considering birds alone, the diversity of species that can be seen in the Yucatn is staggering, clocking in at over 300 species. One example, the blue-crowned motmot, sports a bright turquoise head and radiant green back feathers; it is notoriously rare, but often makes its nests near wells and cenotes in the Yucatn. Equally resplendent is the quetzal, a bird revered by the Mayans and Aztecs, and which actually shared the name of an Aztec God. The Yucatn Jay, the quetzal, and the motmot are just few examples of amazing tropical birds which are unusual to glimpse anywhere but the Yucatn.
Caves and Cenotes
A cenote is a sinkhole, formed naturally when collected water or pressure wears down and collapses the roof of an underground cave structure. The depression now open to the sky often fills with rain or ground water; these formations were important to ancient peoples like the Maya, because above-ground sources of potable water like rivers and streams are quite rare in the Yucatn. Cenotes may be interconnected where they open down into the same underground cave system, and today many nature walks and cave-tubing tours will take you down into a cenote, and give you the opportunity to swim, float, or even dive in their clear fresh water, exploring the caves used hundreds of years ago by this land's oldest inhabitants.
Pleasure and Relaxation at Yaxkin
After all this hiking and trekking around, you might feel the need for a trip to a spa, and there again the Yucatn has got you covered. Yaxkin Spa is one of the National Geographic Society's top selections for eco-spas and wellness centers in North America, and has grown famous for mingling ancient Mayan healing traditions with modern convenience and comfort. At Yaxkin, you'll receive the ancient elemental blessings of Water, Fire, Earth, and Air, leaving your body and soul refreshed and reinvigorated " ready, in other words, for a new day full of extraordinary adventures in the Yucatn.
History lovers will be delighted to know that the Yucatn peninsula was the center of Mayan civilization. For more than a millennium, these amazing builders, farmers, warriors, and astronomers looked out over their Mesoamerican kingdom from atop massive pyramids like the El Castillo at Chichn Itz.
If you only have the chance to visit one city of the Maya, Chichn Itz is an excellent choice. It's sheer size, long history, and unusual diversity allow visitors to sample a large cross-section of Mayan culture and history. A wide variety of structures are present at the site, including ball courts, giant pyramids, many temples, an even one of the earliest astronomical observatories. Guided tours of the site are available, and ongoing restorations aim to preserve this historical treasure for many generations to come; any visit to the region should at least consider making a stop at this one-of-a-kind example of human achievement.
Those who feel at home in nature will be very comfortable in the Yucatn. Considered by many to be one of earth's last true wildernesses. Acres and acres of lush, unspoiled tropical jungle coat the limestone plains which are ringed by majestic coastal mountains; in those same crystalline seas swims an amazing abundance of sea life, matched in diversity only by the plants and animals that inhabit the inland jungles. Vacationers with some trekking experience may want a solo hike, but many companies offer multi-day jungle treks if you'd rather go with some company. One of the best options for seeing rare and unusual species is to visit one of the bioreserves like Sian Ka'an, which act as a sanctuary and buffer between the natural world and the relentless advance of human development.
Just considering birds alone, the diversity of species that can be seen in the Yucatn is staggering, clocking in at over 300 species. One example, the blue-crowned motmot, sports a bright turquoise head and radiant green back feathers; it is notoriously rare, but often makes its nests near wells and cenotes in the Yucatn. Equally resplendent is the quetzal, a bird revered by the Mayans and Aztecs, and which actually shared the name of an Aztec God. The Yucatn Jay, the quetzal, and the motmot are just few examples of amazing tropical birds which are unusual to glimpse anywhere but the Yucatn.
Caves and Cenotes
A cenote is a sinkhole, formed naturally when collected water or pressure wears down and collapses the roof of an underground cave structure. The depression now open to the sky often fills with rain or ground water; these formations were important to ancient peoples like the Maya, because above-ground sources of potable water like rivers and streams are quite rare in the Yucatn. Cenotes may be interconnected where they open down into the same underground cave system, and today many nature walks and cave-tubing tours will take you down into a cenote, and give you the opportunity to swim, float, or even dive in their clear fresh water, exploring the caves used hundreds of years ago by this land's oldest inhabitants.
Pleasure and Relaxation at Yaxkin
After all this hiking and trekking around, you might feel the need for a trip to a spa, and there again the Yucatn has got you covered. Yaxkin Spa is one of the National Geographic Society's top selections for eco-spas and wellness centers in North America, and has grown famous for mingling ancient Mayan healing traditions with modern convenience and comfort. At Yaxkin, you'll receive the ancient elemental blessings of Water, Fire, Earth, and Air, leaving your body and soul refreshed and reinvigorated " ready, in other words, for a new day full of extraordinary adventures in the Yucatn.
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More information on Yucatan Travel: Birding Sian Ka'an Reserve and Whale Sharks from Cancun. Both are in the Yucatan Peninsula.
