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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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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