 From
beautiful colonial cities to modern
day Mayan villages, the Yucatán
Peninsula has a multitude of cities
and towns to explore along the way.
Unlike the Aztecs of central Mexico
or the Incas of Peru, the Mayans
are a living culture, speaking Mayan
among themselves and following centuries-old
customs. As you explore the villages
of the area, you can see women embroider
elaborate floral borders on huipile
blouses. You will pass clutches
of sleepy towns lined with rectangular
homes that have scant furniture
and no beds -- only hammocks hung
between the narrow walls.
 Colonial
cities such as Mérida and
Valladolid, have beautiful
architecture and will bring you
back in time to the Spanish colonial
days of this area. Mérida is the
capital of the state of Yucatán,
and a good base for exploring the
region.
Even coastal ports such as
Progreso to the north and
Celestún to the west hold treasures
— flocks of vibrant pink flamingos
or piers that seem to extend endlessly.
Rustic haciendas and convents
from the 1600s and 1700s dot the
outlying areas to the east. So do
caverns of stalactites and stalagmites
and cenotes — underground
sinkholes formed from the porous
limestone of the region.
 Look
for timeless villages in the small
Yucatecan towns along the Convent
Route of l7th century churches
south of Mérida or the Ruta de
Puuc near Uxmal, about 90 minutes
south of Mérida.
If you decide to take a side-trip
from Cancun to explore the Yucatán
Peninsula, don't miss the numerous
haciendas from the 1600s
and 1700s that are strewn throughout
the Yucatán. These haciendas were
once home to sprawling ranching
operations, but today stand empty
and often hidden deep in the jungle.
There are a few of these haciendas
that have been rescued from dilapidation
and tastefully transformed into
luxury, exclusive hotels. We have
online reservations for some haciendas
here.
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