Yucatan Destination Guide
The Yucatan Peninsula should figure prominently in any travel bug’s radar. For fans of the outdoors there is a chance to snorkel, swim, golf and go up the pyramids. If you love food, Yucatan is paradise. Its jungles are filled with colourful birds and butterflies. For those who pursue history and architecture there is a platter full of goodies to choose from. While the Mayan Riviera attracts more visitors, Yucatan can hold its own against the competition from the south. The beaches of Yucatan are some of the best in the area.
This land of the hoary Mayas has some of everything, be it quaint villages where time stands still or teeming metropolises. Everywhere you go and in everything you eat you will find traces of the Mayan origins.
Use this Yucatan Destination Guide to give you ideas about what there is to see and do during your travel throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. Our Yucatan tours page is loaded with great tours and activities to help you see the best that the Yucatan has to offer. General information about what there is to do in the rest of Mexico can be found in our Mexico country guide.
Things to see & do in Yucatan
Follow the links below or scroll further down the page for details on some of the many interesting tourist attractions in Yucatan:
Wonderful Chichen Itza
Enjoy one of the new wonders of the world - Chichen Itza. There you will discover the Kukulcan Pyramid located at one hour and half from Mérida and Cancun. In this place, you will observe the magnificent constructions and see the Sacred “Cenote”. Chichen Itza has been a Mayan culture icon. During the spring equinox Kukulkan shines, you can see the presence of this God descending from his pyramid, and observe a game of shades. You cannot miss this spectacle!
This lies 180 km away to the west of Cancun and to reach here it takes 1½ hours by road. Merida is 120 km towards the east. The road journey to Chichen Itza from Merida takes 2 ½ hrs. This fabulous temple complex with its striking pyramid surpasses everything by its grandeur. To avoid the peak time crowds, arrive in time for the opening at 8 am. You can arrive at night and stay right inside at the Hacienda Chichen. Millions of people travel to Chichen Itza from every part of the world to admire these extraordinary buildings that have been left behind by the Mayan rulers as a timeless legacy. Many of these buildings are more than 2000 years old. This complex of buildings includes the Observatory, the Temple of a Thousand Columns and the Pyramid. This Pyramid of Kukulcan is considered to be one of New Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Kukulcan was the supreme God of the Mayas.
Mérida City Tour
Let us show you the Cultural cities of Yucatán, you can take a tour to know interesting places from the XVI Century, places with history, to visit the principal avenues around the main square, such as the Francisco de Montejo’s house, the Cathedral, Las Americas Park, Flag Monument, you also can see the fantastic mansions and architectural constructions crossing the Paseo Montejo.
Uxmal & Kabah
Uxmal and Kabah are located in the Puuc zone. Uxmal is the most representative city with the Puuc style. The principal buildings you can see there are: The Fortuneteller pyramid, Nuns square, Ball Game, and the Turtles’ house. You can visit Kabah too, this site is famous for the palace’s ruins, what has carved in stone the Mayan God Chaac. You will have the opportunity to know this Mayan arch.
Celestun & Flamingos
Celestun is 96 km from Mérida City, is a place you have to visit with its beautiful beaches. First you can take your tour thought the "Ria" where you can observe the birds diversity who live in the zone. You going to see the pink color in the Flamingos, learn about the importance of the mangroves and more. The visit begins with the Petrified Forest, then continue on boat toward the sea and observe the settlement of the Pink Flamingo. Later, enjoy a delicious food next to the beach in a typical restaurant.
For bird watchers winter is the ideal season when you can see tens of thousands of flamingos at a single glance. Flamingos in lesser numbers can be seen in summer, early autumn and early spring. Flamingos nest among mangrove marshes which can approached only by boat. The world famous Biosphere Reserve of Celestun is a favoured haunt of flamingos and other types of pelicans. Early mornings and late evenings resound with the sound of wing beats that leave the place awash in pink and white.
Izamal Magic Town
Valladolid
Sotuta de Peón Live
In Yucatan exist a diversity of activities to do. There you can see magnificent Haciendas where lived the high class people of Mérida in the past. The haciendas will transport you to the green gold epochs. To enjoy the Hacienda kind of life, Sotuta de Peon is the best example. This hacienda works with the Henequen, and shows you the process until have a finished product. Moreover, you can enjoy a swim in the Cenote Dzul-Ha (Water Gentleman).
Cuzama
Mayan Temples & Ruins
Chichen Itza draws most tourists. To beat the crowds arrive early. Since Uxmal and Ek Balam are less frequented you can afford to stroll along leisurely. Though further away from the tourist circuit, the newly renovated Ek Balam merits a visit. Work is still under way there with fine buildings being freshly opened to view. Since cataloguing is yet to begin, seek out a professional guide who can enlighten you about these structures.
The ancient Mayan ruins that dot the Yucatan rival everything that the Peninsula has. These were built during the peak of the Mayan civilisation that prospered between the 4th and the 10th centuries. The Mayan rulers left behind a collection of tiered pyramids and temples deep within jungles and cliffs overlooking the Caribbean.
Colonial Cities
Once called T’ho by the Mayans, Merida, the capital city and the cultural centre was created by a Spaniard named Francisco de Montejo in 1542. The Mayan elements in the city have outlived the Spanish conquest. The impressive Cathedral of Idelfonso has been built on the foundations of an old Mayan temple. Stunning alfresco murals by Fernando Castro Pacheco showing the region’s past decorate the walls of the Government House.
A low crime rate and the city’s fascinating culture have made Merida grow fast. On most nights cultural events are organised here. Nothing can be more relaxing than being at the Santa Lucia Serenade at Santa Lucia Park. Beginning at 9 pm every Thursday, this is a music and food extravaganza.
Worth a visit are Valladolid, which houses the exquisite Church of San Gervasio, and Izamal, known for its brilliant yellow construction. Here too is the monastery with the holy Virgin of Izamal statue.
Cenotes
Yucatan Beaches
Miles of empty beach wait for you at Celestun. It’s unspoilt and enticing and often you are the only human in sight. Celestun takes you back to the days when Mexico had not been discovered by travel companies. Progreso, on the other hand, finds favour with tourists on U.S. cruise boats and travellers from Mexico who come for a taste of the sun and sand.
