The Yucatán

The Yucatán peninsula is an amazing area home to three Mexican states: Quintana Roo, Yucatan, and Campeche. The peninsula is quite flat and home to an arid jungle ecosystem on the interior and lush tropical beaches along the coast. It is the ancestral home of the Mayan peoples and many of their culture and traditions continue alongside contemporary Mexican culture. Many of the place names in the region are Mayan rather than Spanish in origin - “x” is widely used and pronounced like “sh” in English.

Culture - Cities

Mérida — is the capital of the State of the Yucatan with a population of 900k. It is an old colonial city with a deep history of financial and political power in the region. Now it is home to many charming restaurants, shops, and bars. It is one of the safest cities in all of North & South America.

Cancún & Tulum — are two of the most famous tourist destinations in Riviera Maya. Tulum is known for its new world ethos and luxury experiences. Cancun is known for its party scene and all-inclusive beach resorts. While Tulum is almost exclusively oriented around tourism, Cancun is a major city of about a million people. Petty crime can strike the careless tourist, but more serious crimes are rare.

Valladolid & Campeche — are smaller cities on the peninsula. Valladolid is a charming colonial town that is a great base for exploring cenotes and Mayan ruins. It hosts a lovely square a great cenote in the middle of the town. Campeche does not have much tourism, but can be a lovely visit especially if you’re looking to soak in normal Mexican life.

Playa del Carmen, Holbox, & Celestún — are smaller coastal towns and provide good opportunities to experience shoes-off beach life.

History - Mayan Archaeology

Mayan culture and influence permeates the Yucatan. There are towns in the southern interior that host residents that speak exclusively Maya. The whole region is littered with Mayan ruins and it’s believed that any hill witnessed in the flat landscape is a ruin waiting to be uncovered.

Chichén Itzá — is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the most famous archaeological site in the region. It boasts some of the best-preserved ruins in the area. While numerous vendors and crowds can dull the experience a bit, there are many day tours that will take you to the site and nearby cenotes. It’s lovingly restored pyramid is iconic and a famous Mayan symbol.

Ek Balam & Calakmul — are two other major Mayan sites that are less trafficked. Ek Balam is known for its well-preserved stucco facades with beautiful bas-relief carvings. Calakmul is a partially excavated site with the largest Mayan pyramid, unlike most sites - you can climb the pyramid and are rewarded with a view of the Yucatan unlike you’ll see anywhere else. Be aware that Calakmul is very remote and takes you into sparsely populated areas of the jungle highlands and you’ll need to plan ahead. You’ll share the space with monkeys, tarantulas, and jaguars.

Nature - Cenotes & Jungle

A cenote is a sinkhole that either exposes an aquifer or have filled with rainwater over the eons. They provide a source of fresh water and many can be swum in as a way to cool off during the hot days. The geology of the Yucatan peninsula make it home to over 10,000 cenotes. It is a nearly unique geographic feature of the region and not to be missed.

The forest & jungles of the Yucatan are arid regions that can host a plethora of bird and animal life. Coati are a relative of the raccoon that often gets mistaken for a monkey and are prevalent in the region. True monkeys are not common around the populated areas and to guarantee a sighting, you’ll need to travel into the southern end of the peninsula where the elevation and rainfall increase.

Nature - Beach, Sea, & Scuba

The Yucatan peninsula sits at the gateway of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. The beaches are some of the most beautiful in the world and the water is warm and clear. From most coastal towns and islands there are numerous opportunities for boating & fishing.

Cozumel & Isla Mujeres — islands — Cozumel is a large sparsely populated island about a 45 minute ferry ride from Playa del Carmen. It is well-known as one of the best destinations for scuba diving in the Caribbean. Isla Mujeres is a smaller island served by ferry from Cancun, it’s a sandbar island and serves as a casual retreat. It’s most well known as serving as the launch point for whale shark diving, but unfortunately we will not be there for the whale shark season.

Bull shark diving — our wedding falls during the bull shark diving season. Female bull sharks swim into the mangrove swamps to give birth and then hang out in the clear shallows to recuperate. Due to the nature of their visit and the clear water these sharks present little risk to swimmers and divers. It provides one of the best opportunities to safely experience an apex predator in its natural habitat. Dive operations in Playa del Carmen and Cancun specialize in this type of diving during the season.

Luxury - Riviera Maya

For those who prefer to be pampered, Riviera Maya lies on the eastern shore of the peninsula and is home to enumerable all-inclusive resorts for all tastes. Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum are known for their nightlife & host some of the wildest parties in all of Mexico. Additionally, there is a collection of theme parks under the Xcaret brand that offer water parks, ropes courses, ATV adventures, and many more.

Due to the concentration of tourism in these towns, they can serve as great home bases for tours that lead into inland adventures such as Mayan ruins and cenotes.