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?

 

Cancun Underwater Art Museum

A jungle tour through Nichupte Lagoon and the mangrove channels leads to Punta Nizuc and the coral reef. In addition to marine life, it is also the location of one of the galleries of the Cancun Underwater Art Museum or MUSA. This iconic underwater art museum has more than 500 life-size sculptures in four galleries in different parts of the Cancun-Isla Mujeres National Park.

The brainchild of British artist Jason deCaires-Taylor, who has gone on to create sunken museums in other parts of the world, MUSA has a message of art and conservation as the sculptures are colonized by corals and sponges over time and become a refuge for fish and other marine life. An attraction for divers and snorkelers, the galleries take the pressure off local reefs, giving them a respite and a chance to recover.

Playa del Carmen

Whether it’s an afternoon on the beach, shopping, drinks and dinner or the annual Jazz Festival at Playa Mamitas on November 24 and 25, this lively beach town and Riviera Maya capital is always worth a visit. La Quinta, Playa’s 5^th Avenue, comes alive at dusk, the candles are lit, and lights twinkle in the trees. Musicians strike up and the enticing aromas of world cuisine waft through the air.

Rio Secreto

Take a day to go underground and discover the Riviera Maya’s amazing caves. Hidden in the jungle just south of Playa del Carmen, Rio Secreto is the place for a guided tour of ancient caverns full of stalactites, stalagmites and still pools. Above ground, the jungle reserve is rich in wildlife, including deer, ocelot and the elusive jaguar, and nature walks and bike trails are available.

Valladolid

An easy one-and-a-half-hour drive from Cancun, the colonial town of Valladolid is the perfect spot to spend the day learning about the history and traditions of the Yucatan. Stroll through the center visiting San Servacio Cathedral on the main square, colonial churches, restored casonas (houses) and museums in the town’s different barrios or neighborhoods. Shop for crafts and sample the local cuisine, watch chocolate being made using artisanal methods, visit cenotes, and even a distillery on the outskirts of town making a tequila-like liquor from the blue agave.

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.