Have you thought about what you would like to do during your next vacation? How about a spot of sightseeing and visits to places you have never seen before? The Yucatan Peninsula has countless natural wonders and historical sites awaiting discovery and Thomas More Travel offers tours and adventures for every interest. Here are some ideas to get you started.
The Mystery of Coba
The whisper of the wind in the trees, the flash as a colorful bird takes flight and a glimpse of ancient temples, the Mayan city of Coba has an air of mystery that appeals to the adventurer in all of us.
One of the largest Mayan cities discovered to date, Coba is at the same time one of the least studied. A regional capital and trade center, it reached its peak during the Mayan Classic period, A.D. 250-900 and was still inhabited at the time of the Spanish Conquest. After its decline, the jungle engulfed the abandoned temples and palaces and archaeologists estimate that only around 10 per cent of the buildings have been released from its grip.
The most famous building at Coba is Nohoch Mul, a 42-meter-high pyramid that is the tallest in the northern Yucatán. Other buildings of note are the Coba group, the oldest at the site, La Iglesia, another 24-meter-high pyramid crowned by a temple, the Ball Court, Las Pinturas, Xaibe or the Crossroads Pyramid and the Macanxoc group which has nine circular altars and eight stelae.
Coba is also famous for the sacbes or Mayan causeways that radiate from the heart of the city. To date, 45 of these roads have been detected, including the longest sacbe in the Maya World, which links the city with Yaxuna, near Chichen Itza, a distance of 101 kilometers.
As you stroll or cycle along the jungle paths between the clusters of buildings at Coba, keep a look out for wildlife such as parrots, agouti, (shy, deer-like foragers that are the size of a large terrier), families of coatimundis (agile dog-like animals related to the raccoon that have distinctive white snouts and long tails) and shimmering blue morph butterflies.
Don’t stop there, if you have already visited Tulum or Chichen Itza, why not plan a trip to Ek Balam or Uxmal and the Puuc Route sites (like Chichen Itza, Uxmal has World Heritage status) in the state of Yucatan. You could even organize a private tour and venture south to Kohunlich, Oxtankah and Dzibanche in southern Quintana Roo and Calakmul in southern Campeche, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Explore the Underwater World
There’s a whole new world below the surface! Take the plunge and discover the underwater world of the Caribbean and come face to face with the countless colorful creatures that inhabit the reefs. Learn how to snorkel or dive during your vacation and you’ll soon be ready to explore the Mesoamerican Reef, the second longest reef system in the world.
Start your underwater odyssey on the Puerto Morelos Reef and then explore other reefs in the area such as those offshore from Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, Paamul and Akumal. Then venture to the island of Cozumel, a world-famous scuba paradise with magnificent reefs offering dive sites for snorkelers and novice, intermediate and expert divers.
Spend some time admiring the sunken statues in Cancun’s Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA), the largest of its kind in the world. Other underwater highlights not to be missed during the year are encounters with sea turtles or the gentle giants of the deep, the whale sharks and manta rays that gather during the summer to feed on plankton in the warm waters to the east of Holbox, Contoy and Isla Mujeres. From January to March, experienced divers can also swim with sailfish, the ocean’s fastest predators.
Time Travel
Plan a day or two-day trip to one of the Yucatan’s colonial towns or cities for a glimpse of history and rich traditions.
Heading the list is Merida, state capital of the Yucatan, and a leading cultural center. Merida is proudly celebrating its 473rd anniversary this year and the colonial barrios or neighborhoods clustered around the main square constitute the second largest historic city center in Mexico.
Not to be outdone, the smaller towns of Valladolid and Izamal, both classed as Pueblos Magicos (Magical Towns) by the Mexican Tourism Board, also have 16th-century churches, sprawling former monasteries or conventos and restored mansions to captivate visitors.
South of Merida, the Ruta de Conventos or Convent Route is a chain of traditional Mayan villages each one with its own colonial church or monastery to visit. They include Acanceh, Mani and Oxtankah and many visitors combine this circuit with a visit to a hacienda, Loltun Caves, Uxmal and the archaeological sites along the Puuc Route.
Further afield, a one-and-a-half-hour-drive from Merida the colonial port of Campeche is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its impressive fortresses were built to protect the local population from pirate attacks.
In central Quintana Roo, the district capital Felipe Carrillo Puerto and the Mayan villages of Tihosuco, Tepich, Saban and Sacalaca are full of history. Tihosuco is the site of the Caste War Museum and can be visited as part of one of the new Maya Ka’an eco and community tours.
La Vie en Rose
Take an eco trip to see the flamingos in the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve. Not only will you be treated to a vision in pink, as you watch thousands of flamingos feeding in the coastal lagoons or taking flight, you’ll also see herons, kingfishers, crocodiles, raccoons and more.
Don’t stop there, plan a visit to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve south of Tulum, it’s one of the largest reserves in Mexico and a wonderland of jungle, wetlands, beaches and coral reefs teeming with wildlife. Other area reserves to visit if you are interested in nature include the island bird sanctuary of Contoy, the coastal lagoons and wetlands of Celestun (west coast of Yucatan), Yum Balam (accessible from Holbox) and the jungle biosphere reserve of Calakmul in southern Campeche.
Nearer home, 10 to 15 minutes north of Coba, is the community-run reserve of Punta Laguna. This pristine area of jungle on the shores of a lagoon is home to spider and howler monkeys, toucans, parrots and turquoise-browed motmots. Ocelots, pumas and jaguars are also said to roam in the remoter parts of the reserve.
Something New
Discover Bacalar, the spectacular Lagoon of Seven Colors, go bird watching or kayaking in Sian Ka’an or visit one of the Mayan communities in Maya Ka’an. Arrange a private tour to the historic city of Valladolid and combine it with a look at some of the area’s most spectacular cenotes. Swim with the whale sharks in the summer; visit the island of Holbox or even sign up for a Mexican cooking class. The Mexican Caribbean and the Yucatan are full of things to do, so start exploring.
Amazing Tour Experiences with Thomas More Travel
Book online at www.thomasmoretravel.com and visit the Thomas More Travel desk at your resort for more sightseeing ideas.
