Yucatan Overview

While Quintana Roo has surpassed the Yucatán State as the economic center of the region, Yucatán still takes the cake in terms of historical and cultural richness. At the forefront of this abundance is Chichén Itzá , the most heavily-touristed Mayan ruin in the peninsula, and for good reason. It is here that the brilliance and creativity of the Maya is best displayed. The jam-packed streets of Mérida, the state’s capital, remind you that the Yucatán is a modern state keeping up with the hustle and bustle of the twentieth century. Still, Mérida is anything but devoid of historical significance. Named after the city by the same name in Extremadura, Spain, the city represents an amalgamation of Mayan and Spanish colonial culture. The Spanish built the city on the site of the Mayan city of T’hó; they reused some of the city’s ruins to build Mérida.

Big cities are not all the Yucatán has to offer. The small fishing village of Celestún , is a must-see. Chill on its estuary Isla de Pájaros with thousands of flamingos. In Izamal, visit the enormous ochre Convento de San Antonio de Padua. If you’re looking for some Mayan ruins, but want to avoid the crowds of Chichén Itzá, pay a visit to La Ruta Puuc. Uxmal, a breathtaking site in the midst of jungle, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is the perfect place to discover the rich history of the local Maya

• Museums

 Museo Regional De Antropología E Historia. Mérida’s most impressive museum is housed in the Palacio Cantón, a magnificent Beaux Art mansion. The collection includes Mayan head-flattening devices ...more

• Transportation

Visitors from Mérida or Campeche take Mex. 180 to Mex. 184, which run east and form the northern border of much of Puuc; together with Mex. 261, these routes frame most of the ruins. The sites Oxkintok ...more

• Sights In La Ruta Puuc

Located 23km southeast of Uxmal, Kabah is bisected by Mex. 261 and is reachable by any 2nd-class bus between Mérida and Campeche; travel is easiest by the Ruta Puuc bus. Buses will only stop by request ...more