Here’s our monthly gallery showcasing some of the region’s many natural and historical attractions. How many have you visited? Which ones would you like to explore on future visits to Royal Resorts?
Rio Secreto
Go underground this winter with an amazing guided tour through one of the Riviera Maya’s most spectacular cave systems, Rio Secreto. Located just to the south of Playa del Carmen in a jungle reserve, this chain of caverns contains mirror-like pools and forests of stalactites and stalagmites. If you’d like to see more on the surface, walking and biking tours are also available through the reserve, which is home to coatimundi, deer, ocelot and the elusive jaguar (additional charges apply).
Sian Ka’an
Explore one of Mexico’s largest biosphere reserves, a vast patchwork of tropical jungle, lagoons, mangroves and wetlands, Caribbean beaches with the Mesoamerican Reef offshore. The Maya named it “where the sky begins” and the vistas of water do seem to stretch up into the heavens.
With so many ecosystems, Sian Ka’an is a haven for wildlife such as the jaguar, spider and howler monkeys, tapir, deer, manatee, crocodiles and especially for birds – over 350 species have been registered. On a boat ride from the archaeological site of Muyil through the lagoons and wetlands to Boca Paila beach you are sure to notch up plenty of sightings. Other Sian Ka’an tour options include learning about traditional chicle harvesting in Muyil village and visits to Punta Allen on the shores of Asunción Bay where bird watching, diving, snorkeling and fishing trips are available.
Cozumel
Hop on the ferry from Playa del Carmen to explore Mexico’s largest inhabited island, Cozumel. “The island of swallows” in Maya is famous for being a dive paradise and it has a chain of over 30 magnificent coral reefs that are a haven for marine life of all colors, shapes and sizes.
Yet if you can tear yourself away from the glories of the underwater world, Cozumel has many more charms. Relax on one of the palm-lined beaches on the leeward coast and revel in the views of mirror-like turquoise waters and a spectacular sunset over the mainland. Be sure to drive around the island to see more rugged beaches on the windward coast (not suitable for swimming). Take a boat trip to see thousands of starfish on the sea floor and visit Punta Sur nature reserve, home to engaging endemic dwarf raccoons and coatimundi, egrets, ibis, spoonbills, and even flamingos.
Discover the island’s Maya heritage at San Gervasio and Cedral and don’t miss the capital San Miguel . Spend the day shopping and visit Cozumel Museum for a glimpse of a history of ancient Maya goddesses, priests and traders and Caribbean pirates, before tucking into some fresh seafood.
Valladolid
This colonial town and Pueblo Mágico in eastern Yucatan is a treasure trove of history and traditions. Discover its many charms and peaceful ambiance on a fun day trip.
Stroll through the main square past the 17th century San Servacio Cathedral and the Town Hall. Shop for crafts in the stores around the plaza and along the Calzada de los Frailes, a restored pedestrian-only street leading to the San Bernardino Convent. There will be time to visit some of the city’s small museums or the bustling market, explore the town’s different barrios or neighborhoods, each one with a colonial church, and sample some of the traditional cuisine.
Finish the day with a cooling swim in one of the crystal-clear cenotes in the surrounding area.
Explore the Yucatan
Thomas More Travel can help you arrange trips to these spots and to all the natural and historical wonders in the Mexican Caribbean and Yucatan. Visit the website or the travel desk in the lobby of your resort.
