Located in southeastern Mexico on the Yucatan Peninsula. Borders the states of Campeche and Quintana Roo. Yucatan has a hot and humid climate. During your stay, you can visit the state capital, Merida, where you can take a stroll down Paseo Montejo, the city’s main avenue, which is lined with beautiful palaces, old buildings and 19th-century mansions. All that and much more makes the so-called White City one of the most visited destinations in the country. In the surrounding areas, you can visit old henequen haciendas, many of which have been converted into luxurious hotels with museums, restaurants and spa services.
You can also visit the town of Valladolid, where you’ll find numerous sinkholes (ponds connected by underground streams), the ideal spots to go swimming or cave diving. There’s also the magical town of Izamal, where you can check out the magnificent Ex-Convent of San Antonio de Padua, which has the largest atrium in the Americas.
In this state you can also visit the interesting Mayan archaeological zones, such as Uxmal, Kabah, Labna, Sayil, Dzibilchaltun and the impressive ceremonial grounds of Chichen Itza, which was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Among the notable sights there are the Observatorio (Observatory), also known as the Caracol, the Juego de Pelota (Ball Court) and the Piramide de Kukulcan (Pyramid of Kukulcan), where you can witness the shadow image of a plumed serpent descend on the pyramid’s stairs every spring equinox.
Yucatan also offers beautiful natural environments, such as Celestun, the natural habitat for hundreds of pink flamingoes, or Ria Lagartos, where you can go kayaking through the mangroves. During you visit, don’t forget to try the Yucatan’s famous regional cuisine.
Chichen Itza
The ancient Mayan capital of Chichen Itza is an archaeological zone in the eastern region of the state of Yucatan. It lies 120 km (74 mi) east of Merida on Highway 180, in the direction of Cancun. The climate is hot and dry, with an average temperature of 34º C (93º F).
This place, declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, will take you back in time to the pre-Hispanic era as you discover the secrets awaiting you in the most important structures. At El Castillo (also known as the of Pyramid of Kukulcan), a natural phenomenon occurs each year during the spring equinox: the sunlight creates a shadow image of a plumed serpent descending down the pyramid’s stairs. This unique experience draws hundreds of tourists from all over the world. Another important structure is the Juego de Pelota, the largest ball court in Mesoamerica. It measures 168 meters (554 feet) in length and 70 meters (231 feet) in width. There’s also the Observatorio (Observatory), or Caracol (Snail), called that because of the interior’s round spiral shape.
At Chichen Itza you can also visit the spectacular Cenote Sagrado, a large sinkhole that measures 60 meters (198 feet) in diameter. Many fantastic treasures have been found at the sinkhole: rings, necklaces, gold and jade objects, as well as the bones of young women that were thrown into the water as an offering to Chaac, the Mayan rain god.
Chichen Itza is an ideal destination, not only for those who enjoy archaeology, but also for those who like history and the charming allure of ancient civilizations.
Merida
The charming and magical city of Merida is located in the state of Yucatan, about 177 km (110 mi) from Campeche and 320 km (198 mi) from Cancun. Thanks to its tropical climate and cool winds that blow in from the nearby coast, temperatures range between 28º and 35º C (82º and 95º F) throughout most of the year.
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