Things to do
NATURE
Pink flamingos and green parrots, red-eyed tree frogs and jet-black jaguars – the Yucatán plays host to kaleidoscopic wildlife. Spot flocks of pink feathers at Reserva de la Biosfera Ría Celestún, not far from Mérida. Mix untamed rainforest with unbelievable archaeology on a trek through temple-dotted Calakmul. Or if you can’t bear to leave the beach, world-renowned snorkelling and diving sites could introduce you to turtles and even whale sharks. After all, you’ll have one of the globe’s biggest coral reefs beneath your flippers.
BEACHES & WATER
Whether it’s under a parasol or underwater, days spent on the Yucatán’s coastline are sheer bliss. But beyond the tiny coves and vast, white-sand wonders, there’s something extra special. Cenotes are freshwater swimming holes where you can dip into sun-dappled water or underground caves as the light dances around the walls. Fringed by jungle vines and rainforest roots, it’s easy to see why the Mayans revered these spellbinding spaces.
LANDMARKS
In the Yucatán, you’ll have your pick of ancient wonders. Chichén Itzá, a soaring pyramid topped with a snake, is the biggest draw. At the twice-yearly equinox, shadows make the serpent appear to slither down the stones. Dzibilchaltún, north of Mérida, may be small but its equinox ‘show’ is just as spectacular – and it has an atmospheric cenote. At Uxmal you can see stone carvings said to depict the Mayan rain god. He’s also celebrated at El Palacio de los Mascarones in Kabah, where hundreds of Chaac masks cover the building’s front.
