posted by colin on Sep 4
Merida On The Yucatan Peninsula
The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico offers every traveler exactly what they are looking for; from children to adults, even senior citizens, to couples and singles. Offering the perfect combination of cultural history, beaches, natural beauty, great cuisine and the hospitality of its people.
The Yucatan is no small region, so to help you get started we recommend a trip to Merida, the capital city, where old meets new, and traditional style and modern urban development can all be found. If you are looking for postcard-perfect photo ops, Merida is the ideal departure point for excursions to the main archaeological sites, cities and colonial towns.
In the Yucatan, you can find everything from simple boarding houses to the luxury hotels and restaurants. Our recommendations include the
Mayan Palace Resort and one of the Palace Resorts, which offers all inclusive family as well as adults only resorts along the Yucatan Peninsula. The countless attractions include many archaeological sites, such as Exmal (World Heritage), Chichen Itza (World Heritage and Wonder of the World) Dzibilchaltun, Ek Balam and many others, all relatively close to Merida. In fact, the Yucatan State has more than 2,000 archaeological sites to visit and discover.
For lovers of eco-tourism, this ancient land of the Mayans offers locations where sunlight filters through rocks, illuminating cavernous vaults and cenotes (underwater caves). The Yucatan Peninsula lacks rivers and other surface waters as the ground is limestone and very porous. Rainwater filters straight through penetrating cracks, forming vaults and underground rivers, many of which are interconnected. Adventure lovers will thrill at the opportunity to swim and snorkle the cenotes above and under ground.
Last but not least, visiting the Haciendas of the Yucatan is an incredible experience. According to the Yucatan Tourism Board, some of these haciendas began to process henequen fiber. This was exploited on a grand scale, turning it into a highly profitable business that lasted until the beginning of the 20th century. Today it is interesting to walk around these old haciendas, which have fortunately been salvaged and converted into hotels, restaurants, luxury tourist shops and museums.
Certainly, as a start to exploring the Yucatan Peninsula, Merida offers a lovely place to start.
