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The Yucatan Peninsula - Overview
Merida, the area's main urban center, offers architecture, art and amenities for the visitors looking for more than just beach hours. Enjoy an afternoon walk through the city and take in some anthropological exhibits to prepare for the important Mayan archaeological sites nearby. Catch a sunset over the sea and ruins of Tulum if you're after setting. Isolated beaches around these Mayan ruins can be reached by boat for those seeking solitude, while socialites can stake towel space at the popular beaches of Cancun or Cozumel. Spring break crowds keep the beaches of Cancun, on the Yucatan Peninsula's northeast shore, lively. Whether your thing is water sports, people-watching or a day of partying, Cancun covers the bases. Venture out to an eco-park for an alternative to beach volleyball before hopping a ferry over to the island of Cozumel or relaxing in slower-paced Playa del Carmen, 42 miles down the coast. Cave divers can wind through subterranean rivers leading to secret sinkholes around Playa del Carmen, while visitors hoping to avoid crowds generally will find these sandy shores more spacious. Even if this area is your base of operations, don't miss a daytrip over for some snorkeling in Cozumel. The bright blue waters around the island of Cozumel beckon divers and snorkellers, alive with fish and colorful marine creatures. Explore the Mayan ruins that emerge crumbling from island jungle or ramble the island's ecological park for protected beaches and lagoons. Costa Maya stretches along the southeast coast within easy reach of sand, sea and ancient ruins. Snorkel or dive shipwrecks and bright coral systems or watch for crocodiles from the safety of an airboat in Rio Huach National Park before heading out to explore the historic lines of Mayan temples tangled in jungle finery. Whether you're after ghosts of the Mayan past or a bit of a warm future on the beach, the Yucatan Peninsula will educate and entertain. |
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Jutting into the Gulf of Mexico and washed in Caribbean surf, the thumb of land called the Yucatan Peninsula is a favorite destination for escapists and serious anthropologists alike. Ancient stone structures emerge from the jungle around Chichen Itza and Uxmal, marking the passage of ancient Mayan civilization. Warm sea water still surges up onto sandy shores along the eastern part of the Peninsula, unruffled by Spring Break visitors specifically or the march of time generally.