Mexico – what to do on the Yucatan Peninsula?

Mexico is more than six times the size of Poland! So is there any point in going just for a week or two? It is, but provided that you focus on one part of the country and plan more than one visit to the country. We did our own thing and limited our movement locally to the Yucatan peninsula only.

Now that we have returned, we can write that a week is too short even for the Yucatan peninsula itself! Fact, we didn’t spend every day touring the area, but even if we did, I have a feeling that the insufficiency would still remain. Two weeks would be a more optimal length of stay, as it already gives you significantly more days to fill.

Maybe we would have seen more if we had organized a tour by car, rather than being stationed in one hotel. Maybe yes, maybe no. There’s nothing to speculate about. Our trip was to be split 50/50 rest and sightseeing, and that was the plan we made.

We have prepared for you a list of interesting places on the Yucatán Peninsula that deserve your attention. Some are archaeological sites, some are amusement parks, and some are opportunities for active recreation. Unfortunately, we weren’t everywhere, but we talked to whoever we needed to, did some reading, and here’s the list! :)

Chichén Itzá

It is undoubtedly the most important point on the Yucatan tourist map. Keep in mind, however, that Chichén Itzá is not just one pyramid, but an entire city, and it takes several hours to explore its ruins.

You can find more about the site in a dedicated post here.

Valladolid – Magic City

Typical colonial towns, only some 45 kilometers from Chichén Itzá. It is considered one of the oldest colonial cities in Latin America.

The buildings immediately put us in mind of Cuban towns, with a square/plaza(Parque La Mestiza) and a church(Iglesia de San Gervasio) in the central part of town. Low buildings, houses with courtyards, narrow streets, dingy walls and bars on the windows. On the street, many people are trying to make money for themselves by selling various trinkets and just waiting for the next bus to pull up.

Why Magic City? Since 2012, Valladolid has been included in Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos(Magic Cities) program, promoting cities with exceptionally rich history, cultural heritage and overall, so highly recommended. You can find a list of all of Mexico’s Magic Towns at this link.

We were scheduled to visit the village as part of a trip to Chichén Itzá. We regret that we did not have more free time on the site (raptly about 40 minutes), but on the other hand, the day was filled with attractions anyway, so we do not know if we would have had the strength to wander around the city for several hours.

Izamal

Another city on the list of Magic Towns is Izamal, called the City of Three Cultures because it combines elements of the pre-Columbian, colonial and modern periods, which are intertwined within the yellow buildings. Well, perhaps instead of the name Magical, the name Yellow should be used, since it is the color that dominates the entire city. It is also called the City of Hills, which, however, refers not to the natural terrain, but to the ruins of the pyramids on which the buildings of the current city were placed, making the area appear hilly.

This colonial city was founded in the mid-16th century, on the ruins of a Mayan city. Currently, the population exceeds 15,000. The main and must-see is the Convento de San Antonio de Padua Franciscan Church and Monastery (which is yellow, of course), built on the ruins of a Mayan pyramid.

Within the city, you can also go to the Kinich Kakmó pyramid – the third tallest in Yucatán (34 meters high).

Cenotes

As part of many tours, in addition, coaches stop at cenotes. There are so many of them on the peninsula (even several thousand!) that almost where you don’t go, you can be sure there are natural pools somewhere in the area. Some operators organize full-day trips to cenotes, and some include them as an additional highlight.

What are cenotes? These are natural karst wells in the rocks that are characteristic of the Yucatan Peninsula. They were a source of water and settlements and cities were built around them (although, as you already know, they were also used for sacrifices). According to Mayan beliefs, they were a link between the world of humans and the world of gods and demons. Some cenotes may be completely uncovered, once the rocks forming the vault have collapsed, and some still have a partial “canopy”. There are also some that can be accessed through tunnels in the rocks.

Today, many of them are tourist attractions, souvenir stalls are set up around the entrance, and various cultural attractions await on the way to the cenote itself. You can bathe in the cenote at your own risk, although the water is rather cold. Depending on the location, you can find cenotes with additional platforms to soak just your feet, and some even offer swimming vests, changing rooms and toilets. Fortunately, there remain many cenotes that are not surrounded by additional folklore.

Uxmal

This is another place where we can admire the ruins of a Mayan city that was supposed to have been home to some 25,000 people. Reigning over the trees, the five-tiered pyramid of the Sorcerer is not much lower than the one in Coba (it is 38 meters high), and there are as many as 5 temples in its structure! It is unusual because the base is shaped more like an oval than a square or rectangle, and the angles of each level are rounded as well. Superbly preserved, distinguished from other pyramids.

Other buildings in the Uxmal area include the platform-built, 100-meter-long Royal Palace (of the Governor) with its unique stone mosaics, the House of the Monks with 74 chambers, the House of the Turtles, the House of the Birds, and the Pelota playing field. The buildings are in the style of the so-called “”old” buildings. Puuc (Mayan architectural style).

Tulum

Tulum is home to the ruins of a walled city. The city is picturesquely located by the shore, on 12-meter high cliffs. Its origins probably date back to the 4th century AD, and in its best days it was inhabited by thousands of people.

An entry full of practical information and interesting facts about this remarkable place can be found at this link.

Xcaret amusement park

The so-called. An eco-archaeological amusement park, where, in harmony with nature, the natural riches of the region have been used to prepare a place to learn about culture, history, spending time outdoors and…. entertainment of course.

If we had to choose one amusement park it would be Xcaret. Visitors will be treated to both water-based and cultural attractions, including Mexico’s largest show full of music, dance, color and culture. This is the most popular amusement park in Mexico, so you can expect crowds.

There are extremely azure rivers and natural pools, waterfalls, caves all surrounded by trees. Here you can snorkel, swim with the current of the rivers, learn about Mayan culture through a visit to an arranged village, visit archaeological sites, take a boat ride on the river, interact with animals, all surrounded by natural forest, making you feel like you are in the jungle. This place allows you to learn about the history and culture of the region, you can see traditional buildings, take part in workshops or even look at the Folklore Museum. There are also restaurants in the park and it is worth spending a day here. WHOLE, because in the evening there is the aforementioned “Xcaret Mexico Espectacular” show, which is one of the biggest attractions in the region. 300 artists are taking part in an extraordinary two-hour journey full of color and sound, telling the story of Mexico.

There is a tall tower in the park that offers a 360-degree panoramic view. It’s also a good idea to get an idea of the various performances and shows at the beginning, as they take place at specific times, so you need to plan your stay in the park to see what interests you most.

Other amusement parks

Xel-Há

Another well-known amusement park is Xel-Há – like the aforementioned Xcaret, it showcases the natural assets of the peninsula. Although it’s an amusement park, you’ll feel like you’re in a pristine forest here, which abounds with water attractions and more, such as a natural pool, great for snorkeling, playgrounds, grottos and caves that you can swim into, go downstream by yourself or on pontoons. What’s great is that the park leaves a lot of freedom and you can commune with nature all the time.

A point visible from afar is the tall lighthouse, which is a vantage point, and the best way to get out is through a long slide that winds around the lighthouse ;)

Xplor fuego

Something for people who like adrenaline. The park offers such activities as zip-lining, rafting, amphibious rides and swimming in underwater rivers.

Xenses

A slightly quieter, educational amusement park, allowing you to explore the world through your senses. Interesting experiences, optical illusions, fooling the brain, the opportunity to touch and understand how the world works.

Sian Ka’an

It is a National Park, home to animals such as crocodiles, dolphins, sea turtles, tapirs and more than 300 species of birds. Organized excursions allow you to take boats through the waters within the park, and then you can swim or snorkel among the coral reefs.

Xoximilco

Mexican Fiesta! It’s not a park, but it’s an activity, as you spend the evening on colorful, lighted boats enjoying local specialties, drinks, all while listening to live Mexican music.

Coba

This is another place where you can admire the remains of a Mayan city, and not just any Mayan city, as the tallest pyramid in Yucatán is located here. Nohoch Mul, as it is referred to, is over 40 meters high and not only is it the tallest, but you can also climb it! Of course, it’s not easy, as the stairs are steep and narrow, but for those willing, there’s even a special cord attached that you can hold on to while climbing.

At the top, views of forests stretching to the horizon await.

Coba is overgrown and surrounded by jungle, thus many ruins are hidden and even inaccessible. There is still archaeological work going on here, but it is estimated that 50,000 people lived here!

Merida

The capital of the state of Yucatán, with a population of nearly 900,000. Founded in 1542, it is one of the oldest cities in the Americas. Noteworthy is the historic part of the city, built of white limestone – this is called the White City.

Within the city, recommended points of interest include: Casa de Montejo Museum, Monumento a’la Patria, St. Peter’s Cathedral. There are also a number of other buildings, including the St. Ildefonso Palace and the Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno).

Some people treat Merida mainly as a base camp to the small town of Progreso, where you can hunt for flamingos with your lens.

Cancun

There are direct flights to Cancun from Poland (charters), so if you are going to spend the next few days on the Yucatan peninsula it is worth looking for air connections just to Cancun.

It is considered the most luxurious resort in all of Mexico. It is dominated by sizable luxury hotels above beautiful sandy beaches. Anyway, that was the purpose of building this resort – it was to be a place of rest, comparable to Acapulco. There are currently more than 24,000 hotel rooms in over 140 hotels here
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As for monuments and archaeological parks, the recommended ones are: El Rey, El Meco (archaeological parks) and the Yamil Lu’um ruins hidden between hotels.

Cruise to the nearby islands of Contoy and Mujeres

It is unbelievable that there is an uninhabited island in close proximity to Cancun! Small, as its area is slightly more than 3 square kilometers, full of unspoiled beaches, overgrown with exotic vegetation, the island tempts especially those who want a break from the crowd, noise and commercialism. We are talking about Contoy Island(Isla Contoy) and the National Park established here, which includes both the island and the surrounding waters. You can get here in fast boats, but due to the protection of the area, there are restrictions on the number of visitors per day.

Its opposite is the Island of Women, or Isla Mujeres, where, although you’ll still find beautiful paradise beaches, there are already buildings here, including hotels and restaurants. The island is named after buried female figurines found by the Spanish.

Not far from the island is a noteworthy, unusual museum – MUSA (Museo Subacuatico de Arte). It is an underwater museum with more than 500 sculptures set on the bottom. They can be admired from a glass-bottom boat, snorkeling or scuba diving.

Akumal

Akumal is a small town with a bay, some 100 kilometers from Cancun. The main attraction here is the nice beach and the opportunity to watch sea turtles, which are happy to swim in the grassy waters just offshore, and lay their eggs on the beach in summer.

Cozumel Island

Called Swallow Island, it is Mexico’s third largest island. The island has charming beaches, Mayan ruins, and the Chankanaab amusement park. The site is ideal for diving and snorkeling enthusiasts, one of the most popular choices for admiring the Great Mesoamerican Barrier Reef (we encourage you to read more about this second largest coral reef, after Australia’s).

Summary

There are an incredible number of sites and attractions on the Yucatán Peninsula that will satisfy even the most demanding travelers ;)

Above all, we have here an amazing piece of history that we can learn by exploring the ruins and remains of ancient civilizations. The proximity of coral reefs and numerous cenotes will make diving enthusiasts happy, and, moreover, the incredible wealth of flora and fauna will appeal to all those who enjoy communing with nature.

Here we have historic cities from both pre-Columbian and colonial times. And finally, you will find amusement parks that showcase the region’s history, culture and natural resources in an attractive way.

Finally, still a map with all the above points marked:

Do you know of any other interesting places on the Yucatan peninsula? Be sure to let us know in the comments! :) …and here you will find all the posts about Mexico.