Beyond her beautiful beaches, Yucatan boasts an impressive cultural and historical heritage as the
repository of treasures of Maya civilization, such as Chichén Itza and Uxmal. Journey back in time
to appreciate the greatness of these ancient cities clawed back from the jungle and discover the
beauty of the colourful colonial cities of Izamal, Vallaloid and Merida.
Isla Mujeres and Playa del Carmen were my favourite hot spots at the mexican riviera de Maya.
The adventure starts with a visit to Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve on the northern coast of
the Yucatan Peninsula, home to the largest flocks of pink flamingos in Mexico, in addition to the
almost 400 bird species that have been identified here. After that bathing in a refreshing cenote nearby a beautiful hacienda and traditional lunch cochinita pibil.
Enjoy my morning breakfast before departing to Chichen itza, one of the most important
archaeological sites of the Maya. Learn about the Maya and this ancient city reclaimed from the
jungle. Behold the Temple of Kukulkan, popularly known as El Castillo (‘the Castle’), built both as a
representation of the mystical Maya calendar and to reflect the optical illusion of a serpent
slithering up and down the pyramid during the spring and autumn equinoxes. Admire the Great Ball
Court, the haunting Skull Platform where the heads of human sacrifice victims and prisoners of
war were impaled, and the Sacred Cenote, where sacrifice victims were dumped. Other extremely
well-preserved areas include the Temple of the Warriors, the Ossuary, the Nunnery and adjacent
Church, and the large observatory known as the Snail. Next, we make our way to the Maya town
of Izamal, which combines remnants of its pre-Hispanic past, the colonial period and the present.
Visit the Convent of St Anthony of Padua, which stands on a former Maya pyramid. After lunch (not
included), continue to the ‘White City’ of Merida, the capital of Yucatan, to enjoy a tour of the
historical downtown. See the 19th-century villas and palaces that line the Paseo de Montejo, and
continue to the splendid Plaza Grande, home to the cathedral and the 16th-century Casa de los
Montejo. Also visit the Government Palace and City Hall, before enjoying some free time to
discover the city on my own.
A new morning exploring the ruins of another former Maya city
clawed back from the vegetation. Arrive at Uxmal and enjoy a guided tour of this UNESCO-listed
World Heritage Site that rises into view above the jungle canopy. Unlike other Maya cities, Uxmal
was devoured by the rainforest after the Spaniards had arrived. The most famous structure is the
35-metre-tall Pyramid of the Magician, towering over the remarkably well-preserved Nunnery
Quadrangle with its ornately carved interior and exterior walls. Across the central plaza, just
beyond the ballgame court, is the Governor’s Palace. At the southern end of the main complex is
the Great Pyramid, of which only one side has been excavated with the other three still unclaimed
from the bush. After this, visit Cocoa Museum where the plant and its importance for the ancient
Mayans will be explained and a shamanic cocoa ceremony performed.
