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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Fort of San Felipe in Bacalar

Built in 1733 under the order of Don Antonio de Figueroa y Silva, field marshal of Yucatan, the Fort of San Felipe, in Chetumal, was constructed to protect the population from the recurrent attacks by pirates from the Caribbean and to protect the region from harassment from the traders in Campeche wood. During the second half of the 19th century, in the so-called War of the Castes, the fortress once again became the scene of battles for the ownership of the fortress. After the town was sacked by pirates in 17th century, the fortress was completed in 1730, and therefore can be visited today. The fort been restored and sits looking over Lake Bacalar in the center of town. The fort is built in the form of a four-pointed star and has a moat of 4m of depth. San Felipe has a museum, which contains plaques both in English and Spanish, and there is parking nearby.

As regards the fort, it is surrounded by a wall. From the ramparts, visitors can look across Laguna Bacalar toward the "pirate's channel" which allowed boats to enter the lake from the Caribbean and the Bay of Chetumal. The Fort of San Felipe is almost 280 years old and provides visitors a rich view into the history of Bacalar and the nearby region, from early pre-Hispanic times through the Caste Wars. Situated on the eastern edge of the city's town square, this beautiful stone Fort is surrounded by a deep moat.

The structure includes not only canons and ramparts, but also a wonderful museum with historic artifacts, murals depicting the city’s history, and interactive computer exhibits on the Caste Wars and pirates and their lives. The manifold displays here include quite a few very well-maintained objects from Bacalar's past like models of boats from the 17th century, muskets, cannon balls, canons, sabers, ancient navigational instruments, and a pirate's skeleton, discovered during excavations at the Fort. The Fort is open six days a week from 9:00 am de 7:00 pm, and closed on Mondays. Admission for foreigners costs $60 pesos. In the case of Mexican citizens, adults pay $25 pesos, children, students and teachers $13 pesos, and on Sunday, Residents of Quintana Roo have free admission. Visiting this historical Costa Maya museum is an experience worth living.

The Museum's director, Joseas Montalvo Yama, is a knowledgeable expert and accomplished artist who knows many details about the Fort's history. A Temporary Exhibits Hall is open from 9:00 am until 7:00 pm. The director offers a diversity of art classes as well as workshops for kids and young adults at the fort. You just need to call him to learn what courses are being offered and when the classes are held.

San Felipe fortress is located in the center of town. Built in the 16th century to protect the city against pirates, the fort has been well preserved and inside it contains an awesome museum in which to admire the fort’s rich history. Don’t miss the opportunity of visiting this amazing fortress on your next visit to the paradise of Bacalar!

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Lake Bacalar

Close to Chetumal, the state capital of Quintana Roo and the youngest of all the capitals in Mexico, Bacalar is a beautiful city which offers a unique contact with nature. Surrounded by protected natural areas, marvelous landscapes, and unusual architecture, this city is offers an atmosphere of calm and lavish hospitality. Here you can plan an excursion deep into the jungle, where you can enjoy the intense color of the flora and admire the fauna in its entire splendor. There are also archaeological sites, concealed in thick forests, of outstanding beauty and historical importance, as well as amazing natural lagoons and lakes, like the Lake Bacalar.

Lake Bacalar, also known as the Lagoon of the Seven Colors for the different tones that its water takes, offers an unrivaled landscape. The salt water and fresh water currents mix and together with the capricious sun, generate multiple variations of blue to intense green. The white sandy bottom turns the crystalline water pale turquoise in shallow areas, morphing to vivid turquoise and through a spectrum to deep indigo in the deeper center. Colors shift with the passing of the day, making a mesmerizing backdrop. To add even more attraction to this picture, the striking lagoon is flanked by mangroves.

Deemed as Mexico's second-largest lake, Bacalar is in fact a lagoon, with a series of waterways leading ultimately to the ocean. Fed not by surface overflow but by underground cenotes, it is almost 50km long. Visitors will glimpse the turquoise water long before they reach the town of Bacalar, about two-thirds of the way down, where they must go for swimming or kayaking. This peaceful place is ideal for water sports, mainly diving, since there are many sub-aquatic caves to be explored. Diving around the paradise of Lake Bacalar guarantees an unforgettable experience for those interested in this amazing activity. The extraordinary topography, plant and aquatic life offer a stimulating dive for the beginner as well as the more advanced diver.

This lagoon is, without a doubt, a retirement paradise. With a length of some 50 miles from North to South it seems like a wide crystal-clear river flowing through the jungle. Its majestic waters are enhanced by the deep green tone of the mangroves and reed beds. Besides, this is one of the most interesting places for investing in Mexico. Water front lots and condos are still affordable. Safe and serene, this magnificent lagoon is now becoming the preferred retirement option for American and Canadian senior citizens. Furthermore, young investors are now buying property foreseeing a fast future growth in the whole region.

Located in Chetumal, this is the second largest sweet water lake in Mexico and still the best kept secret. Although its spectacular scenery is still little known by international tourism, this will soon change since developers, retired or semiretired citizens, tourism and local authorities are now realizing the enormous potential of this extraordinarily beautiful area. The scenery guarantees a peaceful stay and therefore some relaxing and memorable vacations. Visit Lake Bacalar in Chetumal and found it out yourself!

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Museum of the Mayan Culture

The state capital of Quintana Roo and the youngest of all the capitals in Mexico, Chetumal is a picturesque city which offers a unique contact with nature. Surrounded by protected natural areas, marvelous landscapes, and unusual architecture, this city offers an atmosphere of calm and lavish hospitality. Here you can plan an excursion deep into the jungle, where you can enjoy the intense color of the flora and admire the fauna in its entire splendor. There are also archaeological sites, concealed in thick forests, of outstanding beauty and historical importance.

This city, said to be the foundation of the mixing of the Maya and Spanish cultures, would be rather empty without a center completely dedicated to the Mayan culture. This is a culture that stands out among other pre-Hispanic cultures for its prodigious scientific advances and the enigmatic disappearance of this people from all the principal Maya cities. With the help of modern science, the museum scientists provide a remarkable collection of handicrafts, mock-ups, studies and reproductions of articles from the era. Everything here is planned to help us better understand the wisdom of the Maya. This museum, deemed as the largest and most comprehensive museum in the state, is completely dedicated to the Mayan culture. It features an important collection of authentic works and reproductions of classical works, and tells the development of Mayan culture, its roots, and the several aspects of their daily life.

For those visitors who know much about the amazing Mayan Culture, the Museum of Mayan Culture is the perfect starting point. This is a modern museum that would fit well in any city, as it features interactive exhibits and models of most Yucatan sites decorated around a jungle theme. It is important not to get confused and think this museum is the Chetumal City museum, just a few blocks away on the same street. While the City Museum is interesting, it is rather small and focuses only on Chetumal.

The museum features many models of Mayan Ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula. If you have the chance of visiting these ruins, it is especially interesting. The museum is entirely dedicated to the complex and amazing world of the Mayan civilization. Through the exhibits you can understand Maya social classes, politics, and customs; Maya architecture; their use of plants for medicinal and domestic purposes; and the Maya calendar. One of the most remarkable displays is the three-story Sacred Ceiba Tree. The Maya used this symbol to comprehend as well as to explain the relationship between the cosmos and Earth. The first floor represents the roots of the tree where the Maya underworld, Xibalba, reigns. The middle floor is the tree trunk, known as Earth, or Middle World, home to humans and all their trappings. The top floor is the leaves and branches and the 13 heavens of the cosmic Otherworld.

The Museum of Mayan Culture, which opens Tuesday to Thursdays from 9-7, Fridays and Saturdays from 9-8, and Sundays from 9-2, is a great opportunity to learn more about this fantastic and unique culture and civilization. Don’t miss the chance to visit it on your next trip to Chetumal!

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Quintana Roonian Institute of Culture

With an exciting and rich past inherited from the early Mayans, Chetumal 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. Among the main attractions on Chetumal, you can visit Kohunlich, Bacalar town, bay and beach, Dzibanche, Chinchorro Bank, the Fort of San Felipe, the Blue Cenote, and the great variety of museums. In this category we find the great Quintana Roonian Institute of Culture, an organization aimed at keeping and promoting Mexican culture.

Located in Yaxchilan Avenue, in Chetumal, Quintana Roo, the Quintana Roonian Institute of Culture is an institute created with the aim of organizing, investigating, and coordinating the different cultural events in the State of Quintana Roo. The institute's purposes are, among others, to investigate, register, defend, conserve, market, and promote culture, to spread knowledge of cultural demonstrations and of National Cultural Heritage of Mexico, to contribute to national development, and to enlist the participation of the community and private sector, and to encourage international integration. It is the organization main function to formulate and execute the policies and strategies of the State in regards to cultural development, cultural conservation, and the diffusion and investigation of affairs related to the Cultural Heritage of Mexico.

The Institute was established to stimulate, preserve and share the values and regional and national traditions expressed in the institute, as well as to promote citizenship participation and guarantee their free access to the different artistic disciplines. This institute has the goal of executing, evaluating, and following cultural measures for the State, coordinating activities that encompass the involvement of different institutions with similar aims. Moreover, this institution takes action in the establishment of programs and financing to cultural activities, giving priority to the creation of financial funds for State’s artists, whose works contribute to the achievement of the Institute’s goals. Besides, it checks the correct functioning of the State arts schools, and proposes the establishment of new ones to foster training and improvement of Quintana Roonian artists. The Quintana Roonian Institute of Culture equity includes all movable and immovable property, resources and subsidies given by the federal or state government, gifts from the social and private sector, etc. The Institute offers many interesting artistic and cultural activities and programs.

Close to the Quintana Roonian Institute of Culture, and in order to safeguard the history of Chetumal for future generations to come, Chetumal’s city museum was founded. Apart from being one of the oldest edifices of Chetumal, this museum gives examples of striking architecture as well as classy interior decor. There are six rooms filled with photographs, furniture, weapons and many other objects related to the rich history of these brave people.

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