Telchac Port

Located approximately 65 kilometers north east of the city of Mérida and 30 minutes from Progreso, Telchac Port is a port town in the Yucatan Peninsula. Its location makes it just far enough away from the denser population areas so that it keeps a special, slow, laid-back atmosphere.

This place has many convenient services, including the five star Reef Yucatan, private beach homes for rent, stores that offer groceries, vegetables and fruit, a bakery and several seafood restaurants, a small market and clinic, pay phones, a tortilla place, a harbor that has a gas pump, a hardware store, fried fish stands and much more. Although there are no banks here, you can find a town plaza shaded by beautiful trees and a park with a children's play area. One of the most attractive places to visit is the Mayan temples of Xcambo, three miles inland and a lighthouse on the small seaside walkway. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this place features quite good restaurants. For delicious seafood lunches it is worth visiting Bella Mar restaurant, about one mile east of the village. The ceviche, fried fish, shrimp cocktails, and fish filet are all superb.

During July and August, the main plaza is particularly dedicated to folklore as the fair is in town with stands offering foods, knick-knacks and mechanical rides. There are many family homes for rent during the off-season months, which goes from September to June. The Patron Saint of Telchac is San Diego de Alcala and the festivities take place in November. To get to Telchac Port by car, you should go towards Progreso and go east when you reach the beach. Or you can go to Motul, and head north to the beach from there.

Telchac Port is widely known for being small, slow and quiet, a place where you will find its inhabitants very friendly and polite. Being such a small village, you will feel at home quickly. The beaches are wide, sandy and perfect for walking. They are not packed with fishing boats, lots of tourists; break water sticks every twenty feet and all-pervasive houses like in other places. Swimming is good all year round. The water is safe, clean and with no rocks, currents or ebb tides around. This destination is for those people looking for a private and calm place to enjoy a pleasant stay.

A recommended place to stay in while visiting Telchac Port is Las Tunas, a comfortable home owned by the creators of the leading tourist guide of the state of Yucatan "Yucatan Today". This home in nestled amongst some 400 coconut trees and sits on a large, large beach front property on the Gulf of Mexico. It is separated from other homes – here they have no wall-to-wall neighbors. Set off the beach tourists will have a magnificent view of the pool, dune and the Gulf. The home features ceiling fans and AC in the bedrooms, for an additional cost. This is not a stark rental property, this is a home with sofas, chairs and beds that will make you feel at ease and comfortable during your stay.

Another option is staying at the Reef Yucatan Hotel. The Reef Yucatan All Inclusive Hotel & Convention Center is located on the virgin beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, in the area of Nuevo Yucatan. Less than 50 minutes to the Merida's International Airport, this is an all-inclusive resort nestled in an ecological area surrounded with pre-Columbian history. This resort has been designed to take care of the needs of both the international and domestic traveler who wishes to spend his or her vacation in a different way, while enjoying the comfort that can be provided by this five star complex. The hotel features five star accommodations consisting of 147 spacious rooms, 1 Junior Suite, and 1 Suite; all decorated in rich Mexican textures and floorings with a Yucatan Peninsula influence, enhanced by the exterior simulating a Mayan Village.

The resort has guest rooms for 1 to 4 people. The rooms feature king size or two queen beds in all rooms, balconies or terraces, ocean, pool, and garden view, air conditioned, satellite TV, and telephone. Services include all meals and snacks, unlimited domestic drinks, cocktails, wine, beer and liquors; recreational activities such as kayaking, ping pong, pool and tennis courts; nightly entertainment, and all hotel taxes and gratuities.

Among the resort’s facilities, we can name its 147 air-conditioned guest rooms with private terraces, the beach snack bar and pool, the lovely beachfront palapas, chaise lounge and towel service, tennis court, and a spectacular children's club, including mini-theater, soda fountain, arts and crafts center, secure playground, giant sandbox, wading pool, and TV room. Furthermore, the resort has a game room, a multifunction indoor theater and stage, a convention center with capacity for 600 guests, disco and video bar, a main buffet restaurant serving international cuisine, a snack bar for light fare, a boutique and gift shop, and mini golf, among other facilities.

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Discover the Yucatan's traditional Haciendas

Located in southeastern Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatan Channel. The peninsula, which comprises the Mexican states of Yucatan, Campeche, and Quintana Roo, lies east of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, a northwestern geographic partition that divides the region of Central America and the rest of North America. Apart from its lovely beaches, amazing landscape and picturesque towns, The Yucatan Peninsula is also known for its lovely and traditional haciendas, worth visiting if you have the chance of travelling to the Yucatan.

One of these haciendas is Hacienda Chichen & Yaxkin Spa, in Chichen Itza, The Yucatan's oldest hacienda. Now a four star hotel with rooms in separate cottages, this cozy hacienda has pool, restaurant and new Yaxkin spa. It is quite close to the back entry of Chichen Itza, but the hacienda is charming all by itself.

Another option is staying at Hacienda Xcanatun, in Merida, which is an independently owned and beautifully restored hacienda, now a hotel and gourmet restaurant. Close enough to Merida to go for dinner, but situated in a little town and surrounded by harmony and silent. Among its main facilities and services, the hacienda features a deluxe health spa.

Lovers of these traditional haciendas will also enjoy visiting the Hacienda Yaxcopoil, in Merida. This is a hacienda that has been well conserved but not reconditioned. Stepping inside is like stepping back in time. The place features original furniture and tile floors, and has been the site of many photo shoots. The Casa de Maquinas in the back part is a great example of the kind of machinery that was used back in the day.

Other alternative is Hacienda Ochil. This hacienda is not a hotel, but has many interesting things to offer. It is lovingly renewed by the same architect that restored some of the most outstanding haciendas in the Starwood chain. The hacienda features workshops of local artisans who sell their work, and it also has a "demo" hacienda railway, a little henequen fields, a tiny hacienda museum and a real cenote that you don't have to climb up or down ladders to see. Furthermore, there is a great gift shop and a restaurant that serves authentic Yucatecan food and drinks. A great place to stop for lunch!

If you are travelling to the Yucatan Peninsula, you will also enjoy staying at the Hacienda Temozon. This is a great place to stay in, although rooms are not as secluded as at other Starwood haciendas. The hotel claims to have the best pool in the Yucatan. This is a great place to go for breakfast.

In the case that you are travelling with your beloved one, you will definitely enjoy Hacienda Santa Rosa, which is probably the most romantic hacienda. Quiet, modest and stylish... very much out of the way. It is the perfect place to go and stay for a few days.

In Hacienda Teya your vacation will be really memorable. This hacienda has made quite a business out of hosting events. It features a ballroom to die for, and a chic restaurant that serves authentic Yucatecan food. Besides, it is close to Merida, and features a convenience stop if you are driving towards Cancun. This hacienda is quite famous for its lovely restaurant. Hacienda Teya Restaurant was inaugurated in September, 1995, with the aim of offering its clients genuine, savory Yucatecan dishes, affectionately prepared by patient Mayan hands and served on original stone platters. The restaurant has a seating capacity for almost 300 guests, distributed among 5 different air conditioned rooms.

At Hacienda Uayalceh, an almost-completely-abandoned hacienda that must have been wonderfully attractive in its heyday, one can easily walk around. Located in a small town up the road a bit from Hacienda Temozon, this is one of the few abandoned haciendas in the area.

Options don’t end up here. Chunchucmil has a beautiful chapel, still used by the local Mayan community. It is attached to a magnificent Casa Principal, with gorgeous tiles and frescos still perceptible. The casa Maquina is open for the general public. If you happen to visit it on a weekend morning, you might be able to catch a local soccer or baseball game in front of the Casa Principal. This place is quite fun to take photos.

Last but not least, a hacienda worth mentioning is Hacienda Tekit de Regil. This is one of the most fine-looking and most elegantly repaired haciendas. It is not exactly open to the public. You might be able to talk a local caretaker into letting you inside, but even if you can’t go in, it is worth looking through the gates. The chapel looks like something out of Rome. And the mural painted in the hall in the front of the Casa Principal is a masterpiece.

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Mayapan Ruins

Mayapan is one of the largest Maya sites on the north-west part of the Yucatan peninsula, about 24 miles southeast of the city of Merida. The site is surrounded by many cenotes, and by a fortified wall enclosed more than 4000 buildings.

Mayapan, which means Banner of the Mayas, is deemed as the last great Maya capital, dating back to the start of the Common Era and getting its golden age in the Postclassic period. It is believed that this city once had a population of 12,000 inhabitants. Kukulkan II of Chichen Itza founded Mayapan between 1263 and 1283 AD. After his death, a hostile Cocoom family seized power and used Mayapan as a base to conquer northern Yucatan. They prospered through wars using Tabascan soldiers and intermarrying with other powerful families. The Cocoom ruled for 250 years until 1441-1461 AD when an unknown Uxmal based family named Xiu protested and defeated the Cocoom.

Two main periods have been identified at Mayapan. The earliest corresponds to the Early Postclassic, when Mayapan was a small center perhaps under the influence of Chichen Itza. In the Late Postclassic, from AD 1250 to 1450 after the decline of Chichen Itza, Mayapan rose as the political capital of a Maya kingdom that governed over northern Yucatan.

Mayapan's ancient splendor is still evident in its great buildings. There is a strong effect played by Chichen Itza, as seen in its chief building, a smaller imitation of the Castillo of Kukulcan. The main square was surrounded by government, administrative and religious buildings, as well as the homes of the ruling class. These structures were built over foundations of rows of columns, with temples and oratories, an altar at the back and benches along the sides. Visitors can also see the buildings known as "Observatories" and little sanctuaries illustrative of the ancient cities.

The ruins of Mayapan are renowned for their colorful murals, original stucco work and Chichen Itza-like "sun temple." The site is an active site, with a far-reaching research program that was carried out from 2002 through 2004 where many figurines, pottery, weapons and other artifacts were found. A rare finding on the site was a group of small bells, the use of which is unknown.

The ruins have several well preserved carvings on the site. Lovely birds adorn one of the walls around the temples. An exciting part of the site includes several statues with the heads removed. The decorated murals which are still visible feature the style used in the manuscripts of the post classic period. The murals depict scenes of war and events related to the death cult, indication of the cultural links with races from the high plains of central Mexico.

The architecture at these ruins is patterned after the attractive buildings at Chichen Itza. The large temple at the left is "El Castillo de Kukulcán" and bears a striking similarity to El Castillo at Chichen Itza. This was documented by specialists Catherwood and Stevenson. El Castillo is sixty feet high and one hundred feet square at the base. It features four imposing staircases, each twenty-six feet wide that rise to a path within six feet of the top. These staircases are all in a pretty bad condition; the steps are almost entirely gone, and you can climb up by means of fallen stones. The summit was a simple stone platform, of approximately fifteen feet square. It had no structure upon it, nor are there any vestiges. Mayapan's observatory shares a striking resemblance to that of Chichen Itza's, although not as high off the ground. Demonstrating the decline of Post Classic Mayan civilization, Mayapan was a poorer copy of the Toltec-dominated Chichen-Itza architectural style.

Mayapan was the most important center of the Mayan civilization in the period before the Spanish conquest. This can be known from Mayan Literature and the first Spanish documentation of the region, which assures that it was the chief center of the Mayan civilization in the previous period to the arrival of the Hispanics. It remains uncertain if Mayapan really defeated Chichen-Itza, which continued to be populated even during Mayapan's dominance, but Mayapan itself was abandoned in the mid-15th century.

If you are planning to visit this place, getting to the wonderful Mayapan ruins is not difficult. Mayapan is located in the state of Yucatan, southeast of Merida on Highway 184. It is well marked and the road is in good conditions from Merida, past Mayapan all the way to Mayan Beach Garden. Mayapan is not a day trip from Mayan Beach Garden, but part of "the Mayan Loop", if you find yourself lucky to have the time to drive around the Yucatan Peninsula. If you are driving from Merida to the Costa Maya area, you will pass directly past Mayapan, so it is advisable to plan an hour to visit. Don’t miss the chance of visiting and exploring the ruins of this amazing site!

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The Blue Cenote

A cenote is a subterranean natural pit, or sinkhole, characteristic of the Yucatan Peninsula and some neighboring Caribbean islands, that is molded after the collapse of limestone substratum that leaks groundwater beneath. The term derives from a word used by the low-land Yucatec Maya, "Ts'onot" to refer to any location with accessible groundwater. Located in the northern center of the Yucatán Peninsula, The Sacred Blue Cenote, or Ik Kil Cenote is a cenote that charms tourists with its crystal-clear and healing waters and the natural and amazing flora and fauna that surround it.

Located in the eco-archeological park Ik Kil, in the northeast of Chetumal, and only 3 km from Chichen Itza, the Blue cenote is an idyllic natural wide pool which is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The crystal-clear water that gathers down the cenote is warm and has a pleasant temperature of approximately 77° F. The stalagmites and stalactites formed in the inner part are real natural works of art. You will be astonished by the effect of sunshine in this cenote: the holes in the ceiling allow the sunlight to filter into the subterranean sinkhole, giving the scene a feeling of magic and enchantment. The great numbers of cenotes in Yucatan are a gem that should be seen and protected by everyone.

This cenote is safe for kids of all ages, who may find beautiful tropical fish. The Blue cenote is a perfectly round well-type cenote with exuberant vegetation and waterfalls. This is another ideal place for swimming in the clear blue water. 196 feet wide and about 130 feet deep, it is an open cenote about 85 feet from the surface. A grand stairway leads you down the steps into the water. Entrance is not expensive and the place is open daily from 8 am to 6 pm. There is also an excellent buffet style restaurant here and bungalows for overnight stay.

Natural wonders abound in the state of Yucatan, and some of the most important and unusual beauties are the cenotes, which are estimated to sum up more than 6,000, although only 2,400 are registered. The Mayans named them “dzonot”, a term that the conquering Spaniards then translated as “cenote”. In the 16th century, these underground caves captivated the military commander Geraldo Díaz Alpuche, who described “cenote” as meaning "deep thing". According to a dictionary of Mayan pictograms, dzonot means "abysmal and deep". Cenotes are mystic, mysterious and unique in the world and were once the only resource of freshwater in the vast Yucatan jungle. For this reason and because they represented the gateway to the underworld, the cenotes were considered sacred places.

The cenotes constitute a very important part in the Mayan civilization, as they were the Mayans’ source of freshwater supply and because they had a significant religious meaning. Nowadays, we can enjoy these amazing natural wonders that invite us to know about the great Mayan civilization but also about the stunning Mexican nature. Do not miss the opportunity of visiting the Blue cenote and all its magic, you won’t regret it!

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Dzibanche

Situated in the southern Quintana Roo, close to other Mayan archaeological sites like Kohunlich, Chacchoben, Muyil and Oxkintok in the Costa Maya, Dzibanche is a very important Mayan archaeological site in the Yucatan Peninsula. Its name in Maya means "writing on wood" and was named like that due to the numerous wooden lintels, found in the area, that had inscriptions that made reference to a calendar. This amazing temple is known as the Templo de los Dinteles (Temple of the Lintels), which stands on the uppermost point of the archeological region and stands vigil of the site. It is believed that this ancient city was originally a small village, dedicated to agriculture and farming.

Even though the great urban development of the city is set from 220AD until 800AD, the first settlement in this area began around 200BC. This Mayan site was abandoned around the year 1000. After that, farmers arrived on the site and occupied many structures and plazas during 200 years more. This ancient Mayan city is enclosed by tropical forest, diverse wild vegetation, and a diversity of tropical birds producing all kinds of sounds. Visitors will probably come across some very noisy parrots.

This archaeological zone occupies an extension of about 40 square meters. Only two of the four great architectonic complexes which constitute this Mayan city have been repaired. These are called Dzibanche and Kinichna. In the former structure, visitors will Building VI or Palace of the Lintels, from which its name derived. This structure has an influence of the typical architectonical style of Teotihuacan near Mexico City. From here tourists arrive at the Temple of the Cormorants or Structure 11 and the Temple of the Captives, which features carved humanoid figures in stone and Mayan glyphs.

At the East of the Palace of the Lintels travelers will find a Mayan pyramid, which has a temple on its top with two vaulted chambers. On the Xibalba Plaza, then visitors arrive at Structure 1 or Temple of the Owl. Its chamber functioned as a burial place, where archaeologists discovered the rests of a woman with offerings. Walking about 2km you will get to the Kinichna Group. Here there is a huge citadel of 3 levels and 3 temples upon a large base.

The atmosphere of this site is warm and calm, and it is not overrun by crowds of tourists, which visitors find quite relaxing and convenient. This site is situated at 81km west of Chetumal, the capital city of Quintana Roo State, on Federal Highway 186. Getting to the town of Jesus Gonzalez Ortega, you have to take a deviation to Morocoy town, and you will arrive at the archaeological site 2km ahead on an unpaved road. The most convenient way to get there is to rent a car or hire a local driver. If staying in Riviera Maya, Cancun, Tulum, Playa del Carmen or Isla Mujeres, visitors can take a cruise in Cancun, which will take you to the Costa Maya port. There they can join one of the regular tours to the archaeological zones mentioned before.

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Chinchorro Banks

The Chinchorro Banks are one of the last unspoiled dive destinations this side of the world, and certainly in the Caribbean, the ideal destination to relax and get in touch with nature. Visiting this place is a truly amazing experience. This is a pristine virgin reef with astonishing visibility and a great diversity of fish where you can be sure you will have an unforgettable and unique diving experience. Situated about 20 miles off the coast of Mahahual, 80 km east of the city of Chetumal, Chinchorro is part of the Mesoamerican reef system and covers an area of about 300 sq. miles of which less than one percent is above water.

This is the largest coral island in the Northern Hemisphere, and the only one in Mexican waters. It is approximately 9 miles wide and almost 30 miles long. Here you can find 95 different species of coral and more than 200 different species of fish. The atoll is a continuous reef with six entries to the inner part of the reef. The shallow interior is up to 5 meters deep; in the exterior the dive sites vary from 3 to 40 meters in depth. The reef formation consists of both vertical walls and sloping walls.

As regards water clarity and temperature, visibility ranges from 60 to 200 feet, depending on the wind and sea conditions. Drift dives are done when strong currents are running, but many dives are done on sites with little or no current. During winter, water temperature is cooler, around 70°F, while summer temperatures are around 80°F. A light wetsuit is recommended even if you usually do not wear one. Diving here is an all-day activity with repetitive dives that can diminish body temperature. The best dive spots can be found on the eastern part of the atoll. The reason for this is that this is the place where many Spanish colonial ships and steam ships got stuck on the coral.

Marine life is rich and varied at Chinchorro banks. The reef is home to a spectacular diversity of marine life, and endangered sea turtles are abundant in the inner lagoon. Anemones are also found in great quantities; they are found in bright colors and have tentacles from which tube worms open plankton-trapping “umbrellas” that look like the feathers of exotic birds. Other reef inhabitants include numerous types of shrimp, crab, conch, snail, and worms. Many reef creatures are nocturnal and are rarely active during the day, others, if out, are quite wary. Of the 200 species known until present, the majority are colored tropical fish that tend to swim in schools.

Visiting the Chinchorro Banks is a unique experience not only because the tropical fish, but also the wrecks there. On the windward side of the banks, you can see a wide range of different wrecks from all time periods, everything from tankers and to a sunken German U-boat and XVII-century Spanish galleons. The remnants of at least 18 ships that sank between 1600 and 1800 have been discovered, and the reef has proved to be just as disloyal to modern ships. Chinchorro Banks is the perfect destination for real and intrepid divers. All about this trip is about diving, the experience is truly memorable!

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Kohunlich

Situated on the Yucatan Peninsula, about 66 km west of Chetumal, Kohunlich is a big archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Surrounded by dense sub-tropical rainforest, the site covers about 21 acres of extension, and it contains almost 200 mounts that remain mostly unexcavated. The city was elaborately planned and engineered, with elevated platforms and pyramids, fortresses, courtyards and plazas enclosed by palace platforms, all laid out to channel drainage into a system of cisterns and an huge reservoir to collect rainwater.

Although the site was settled by 200 BC, most of the structures were built in the Early Classic period, from about 250 to 600 AD. A lot of them are nowadays covered with dense vegetation and overgrown by trees. The city seems to have functioned as a regional center and stop along the trade routes through the southern Yucatan from Campeche and Rio Bec area to the west, and the cities along the east-coast and to the south, in the el Petén region of Guatemala and neighboring Belize.

The site is quite famous for the Temple of the Masks, an Early Classic pyramid whose central stairway is flanked by enormous human-like stucco masks. The temple was made around 500 A.D. and is one of the most ancient constructions in the area. After 700 A.D., the temple was covered with a structure that protected the masks and accounts for the marvelous state of their preservation today. You can access the site from the road that approaches the site from the north and leads into an enormous central plaza surrounded by pyramids and temple platforms. To the north you find a massive, raised acropolis, or citadel, with a palace complex around a courtyard to the north-west. Initially, there were eight carved masks bordering its central staircase; today only five of them remain, and three were looted.

With an exciting and rich past inherited from the early Mayans, Chetumal and the area around it, including Kohunlich, is a great place to spend an unforgettable vacation in the beautiful paradise of Quintana Roo, Mexico. This is the perfect destination to indulge yourself and enjoy the stunning views, the warm water, and the cool breeze that flows through the streets, and especially the friendliness of its people, who will make your feel their liveliness and happiness through their various celebrations and traditions, making your trip to Chetumal really pleasant.  If you are planning to visit the amazing archaeological site of Kohunlich, you can stay at the Explorean Kohunlich, a deluxe hotel created to provide the best hospitality services to travelers visiting Chetumal and Kohunlich.

The Explorean Kohunlich offers careful attention and a warm atmosphere that make guests feel at home. Nestled in the Quintana Roo jungle, the hotel is located at 1.6 km from the Mayan ruins of Kohunlich, 60 km from Chetumal the capital city of Quintana Roo, and 70 km from Chetumal’s airport. The Explorean Kohunlich is an intimate and exclusive hotel that combines luxury, comfort and first-rate service with the amazing wildlife that surrounds it.

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