Ichkabal is the name of this pre-Columbian site of the ancient Mayans. It is a Mayan word that means “between lows”, which is probably related to the geographical characteristics of the area.

The name Ichkabal was given to it only at the beginning of 1995 when the first researchers arrived at the site with the support of guides from the area.

Ichkabal is the historical epicenter that once led a pre-Hispanic civilization. With roots dating back to the classical period from 1000 BC, Ichkabal stands as the most significant political epicenter of the Mayans in the Yucatan Peninsula.

A lineage of Divine Lords from Kanal, one of the most prominent dynasties of the Mayan civilization, originates here, adding layers of mysticism to this archaeological wonder.

Preclassic Period (c. 2000 BCE – 250 CE)

The earliest evidence of human activity in the Ichkabal area dates back to the Preclassic period. During this time, the Maya people settled in the region and began constructing rudimentary structures and temples.

Early Classic Period (c. 250 CE – 600 CE)

The Ichkabal site experienced significant growth during the Early Classic period. The construction of more elaborate temples and pyramids commenced. The city likely played a role in trade and exchange networks with other Mayan city-states in the region.

Late Classic Period (c. 600 CE – 900 CE)

The Late Classic period marked the height of Ichkabal’s prosperity and influence. The city’s population grew, and its architecture became more sophisticated. Intricate stelae, hieroglyphic inscriptions, and monuments were created during this time.

Terminal Classic Period (c. 900 CE – 1100 CE)

This period saw the decline of many Maya city-states, including Ichkabal. Factors such as warfare, environmental challenges, and political instability may have contributed to the city’s downfall.

Postclassic Period (c. 1100 CE – 1540 CE)

While Ichkabal’s prominence waned during the Terminal Classic period, there is evidence of continued occupation into the Postclassic period. The city may have served as a regional center or outpost during this time.

Spanish Conquest and Abandonment (16th Century)

With the arrival of Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century, many Maya cities, including Ichkabal, were abandoned. The Spanish colonization and the spread of diseases had a devastating impact on the indigenous population.

Modern Rediscovery (20th Century – Present)

Large buildings of Ichkabal were completely covered by the jungle vegetation, an aspect that made its discovery quite complicated for many years. Ichkabal has remained hidden for centuries until its fortuitous discovery in 1995.

Ongoing excavations and research have revealed valuable insights into the history and culture of this ancient Mayan city. After decades of preservation and study, Ichkabal will open its doors to the public in 2024.

The colossal dimensions of Ichkabal are truly astonishing. Its pyramids and architectural structures, which rise up to 40 m in height with pyramidal bases that reach 200 m, far exceed the magnificent buildings of Chichén Itzá.

An impressive set that is considered a tribute to the ingenuity and skill of the ancient Mayans. Three monumental structures and a central plaza of approximately 300 m, adorned with a rectangular lagoon of 80×60 m, make up this majestic setting.

Stones that line the waters of the lagoon, skillfully placed to prevent erosion, have witnessed centuries of Mayan occupation and now share their secrets with modern visitors.

From its architectural majesty to its rich history, Ichkabal is destined to offer unforgettable experiences to travelers seeking to connect with the past and marvel at the greatness of a civilization that transcends the centuries.

The archaeological remains of Ichkabal are located in the south of the Quintana Roo, about 40 km from the Laguna de los Siete Colores. It is also valuable to know that it is located about 9 km from Dzibanché.

The climate here is characterized by warm temperatures and relatively high humidity throughout the year. There are 2 seasons – the dry season (from November to April) and the wet season (from May to October).

• November to April: sunny days and minimal rainfall.
• May to October: frequent rain, but pleasantly warm temperatures.

The dry season is an ideal time for beach lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The sea is calmer during these months, but the dry season is also the peak tourist season, so it may be more crowded and expensive.

During May to June or September to October, the weather is still pleasant, and prices may be lower. Just be aware that there might be some rainfall during these months due to the transition between seasons.

Mahahual until the end of the 20th century has been a fishing village little known. Today it is a popular tourist destination. Mahahual is a quaint tourist resort. Many nice restaurants and shops line the Malecon.

Mahahual is generally a quieter destination compared to bustling tourist hotspots like Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Enjoy a relaxed evening on the beach soaking in the tranquil ambiance of this coastal paradise.

Diving, snorkeling, and sport fishing are the main economic activities here. Tourists, attracted by the calm and tranquility, its spectacular beaches, and the coral reef, will be satisfied with the beauty of the place.

Chinchorro Bank

One of the main attractions of Mahahual is its proximity to the Chinchorro Bank, a coral atoll declared a nature reserve, and the second-largest barrier reef in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia).

This reef is located in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Quintana Roo and has a huge biodiversity that is extremely attractive for diving in. This underwater paradise promises an unforgettable diving experience.

Cruise ship docking

A large cruise ship docking jetty dubbed “Puerto Costa Maya” has been constructed just up the beach. Cruise ships dock and the occupants are disgorged onto the town to drink, shop, swim, and ride jet skis and quad bikes.

When ships are in port, the village is busy with cruise passengers.

In August 2007, Hurricane Dean landed just north of Mahahual. It heavily damaged the cruise ship dock and destroyed much of the small village. The village was rebuilt, cruise ships returned, and many nice hotels opened.

The climate in the Bacalar region is classified as tropical, which means warm temperatures throughout the year. The best time to visit the Bacalar Lagoon region is during the dry season, from November to April.

During this time, you can expect warm and sunny weather with minimal rainfall. The average temperatures range from 25°C to 30°C, making it ideal for outdoor activities and enjoying the lagoon’s beauty.

This period offers pleasant weather, clear skies, and ideal conditions for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and exploring the lagoon’s cenotes. The water is exceptionally clear, showcasing its stunning shades of blue.

The rainy season spans from May to October when the weather is still warm.

This period experiences more frequent rain showers and the potential for tropical storms. While the lush greenery flourishes during this time, the lagoon’s water may be less crystal-clear due to sediment runoff.

From Cancun

• Renta car to get to Bacalar.
• Hire shuttle services or tour to Bacalar.
• You can take a bus to Bacalar.

From Tulum or Bacalar

• From Tulum – take a bus or arrange for transportation (2-3 hour drive) to Bacalar.
• From Chetumal – take a bus or a short taxi ride to reach the Bacalar Lagoon.

Getting around in Bacalar

• Once in Bacalar, you can easily navigate the town on foot or by renting a bicycle.
• Taxis and local transportation are also available for getting around the area.

Remember to plan your transportation in advance, especially during the high tourist season.

Follow the instructions of the ANP staff and specialized guides:

• Use telescopes or binoculars to avoid approaching wild animals.
• Take pictures and never take home “memories” like plants, animals, corals or any other species of the place.
• Do not collect or damage flora and fauna.
• Do not introduce animals or plants outside the region.
• Do not make noise in nesting areas of birds or other species.
• Do not wear brightly colored clothing.
• Do not feed wild animals
• Do not throw objects or liquids in rivers, lagoons or bodies of water.
• Try to take away the garbage generated during the visit, or deposit it somewhere destined for it.
• Use only biodegradable indoor tanning lotion.
• For no reason acquire plants or animals in danger of extinction.
• Use the marked trails.

Puerto Morelos is divided by a highway and a mangrove swamp into three sections. The section west of the highway is known as “Colonia Joaquin Zetina Gazca”. The section east of the highway is called “Colonia Pescadores”. The section on the coast east of the mangrove swamp is “Puerto” or “Antiguo (old) Puerto Morelos”. This original coastal fishing village is now a quiet, mixed-use neighborhood of private homes, hotels, condominiums, restaurants, and tourist shops.

The second part is about 2 km. inland and adjacent to Highway 307, on the western side. The inland portion is mainly single level dwellings for local workers. New residential developments have sprung up in recent years adding to the housing mix. There are now multi-story apartment buildings, and private residential developments between the highway and the mangrove where one can buy lots and build a house of one’s own design.

Classified as tropical wet and dry climate, because its driest month has less than 60 millimetres (2.4 in) of precipitation and also less than 100 − (total annual precipitation [mm]/25), also because each month has a mean average above 18 °C (64 °F).

It has historically been the main port between the mainland of Yucatán and the Island of Cozumel, and an automobile ferry used to run from Puerto Morelos to Cozumel. The town is named after Independence leader José María Morelos.

Resorts are abundant in the Puerto Morelos region along the Riviera Maya and attractions, such as the Crococun Crocodile Zoo, the Botanical Garden, and a host of cenotes are also increasing in number. Recently new smaller inns have been built like Layla Guesthouse which offers an evening program of Talks on local history, marine biology, and healthy living practices.

One hundred meters off shore lies the Puerto Morelos portion of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, designated as a National Marine Park in 1998 due to local environmental activists.

Puerto Morelos has grown rapidly with the development of tourism and as of the 2010 census is the home to 9,188 people.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

SNational Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

The Riviera Maya is famous for its large-scale all-inclusive resorts and a historical tourism base of smaller boutique hotels as well as the many fine-dining restaurants available along Highway 307 and on or near the beaches.

Luxury travel entities have been instrumental in increasing luxury villa rentals and yacht charters in the area however these only represent a small fraction of the total tourism accommodation available.

Government development plans include establishing a number of medium-sized cities of ~200,000 inhabitants within the Riviera Maya with initial planning spanning 20 years. Target areas for urbanization include the towns and villages of Puerto Morelos, the Riviera Maya), Puerto Aventuras, Akumal, Chemuyil, and Tulum.

A major attraction throughout the Riviera Maya are coastal and reef aquatic activities dependent on the coastal water and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System which begins near Cancun and continues along the whole length of the Riviera Maya continuing southward to Guatemala.

This barrier reef system, also known as the Belize Barrier Reef, is the second-longest in the world.

Activities at the most visited locations in Riviera Maya include jet-skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming in cenotes, swimming with dolphins, zip-lining, horse riding, sailing, and guided jungle tours.

Archeology is also a big tourist draw in the area, including the popular archeological sites operated by the Instituto Nacional de Archeological such as Tulum on the coast, and Chichen Itza and Coba located some distance inland.

The self-named eco-parks of Xcaret and Xel-Ha also include some smaller archeological ruins as part of their attractions, but these natural water theme parks operated by private business consortia attract much larger crowds due to the diversity and range of activities provided, such as swimming with captive dolphins.

The mean annual temperature is 24–25 °C.

The climate is dominated by a rainy season from May through November, and within the dry season, there is a period dominated by northerly winds, called El Norte, which usually occurs in the months of January and February.

The maximum mean annual precipitation throughout the Yucatán Peninsula occurs along the coast of the Riviera Maya with 1.5 meters of rainfall with a general decline to the NW with only 400 mm per year or less on the opposite side of the Peninsula.

While the Caribbean coast of the Yucatán experiences a large number of tropical storms and hurricanes, the storm tracks and therefore landfalls of these are divergent to both the north (Cancun) and the south (south of Tulum and down to Belize) striking generally outside the Riviera Maya.

Groundwater and therefore cenote water temperatures are 25 °C year-round.
Coastal waters range from 26 °C in January to 29 °C in August.

The Riviera Maya is completely within the state of Quintana Roo on the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. The terrain is flat and covered by low tropical jungle. The geology is high-purity carbonates down to a depth of 0.5 – 1.5 km below the surface.

Mean annual rainfall is 1.5 m per year and the efficient infiltration results in the complete absence of any surface rivers. As is common in karst, underground river networks have formed by dissolution, and these have been explored and mapped by cave diving through sinkhole collapses locally called cenotes.

The whole of the Yucatán Peninsula is underlain by a density-stratified coastal aquifer system with a lens-shaped freshwater body floating on top of intruding saline water. The formation of caves within this coastal carbonate aquifer is principally associated with carbonate dissolution at the fresh-saline water contact within the aquifer.

By 2008, the Quintana Roo Speleological Society (QRSS) reported more than 700 kilometers of flooded cave passages within the limits of the Riviera Maya including the two longest underwater cave systems in the world Sac Actun and Ox Bel Ha.

These groundwater resources, accessed via the thousands of cenotes throughout the landscape, once supported the Maya civilizations and today remain the only natural sources of potable water in the area.

The Caribbean coastline is a series of crescent-shaped white sand beaches interrupted every 1–10 km by rocky headlands and inlets, called Caletas, through which groundwater discharges into the coastal water. Large sections of the extensive mangrove swamps that lie behind the beaches and headlands are included in the areas scheduled for tourism development.

Most tourists to the Riviera Maya arrive through Cancún International Airport, approximately 50 km north of Playa del Carmen. About 20 km north of Tulum, a new international airport was announced. In March 2011, the bidding for construction contracts was to be concluded.

As of April 2014, all projects related to Tulum Airport are no longer available through official sites. The high-speed trans-peninsula train is now the main project for the area.

The name Akumal means “Place (land) of the Turtle”, due to the fact that sea turtles nest here each year from the end of April to October. These magnificent creatures can frequently be seen swimming in the shallow waters near Akumal.

An important local organization, the Centro Ecologico Akumal, is dedicated to protecting these animals.

The town of Akumal has a rich and fascinating history. Akumal was originally a seaport and trading center of the Maya.

However, in the 16th-century a historic event occurred that had a lasting impact on the area.

In the year 1513, a Spanish galleon shipwrecked off its coast. Seventeen sailors made it to shore and were promptly made slaves by the Maya. Only two of these sailors survived their ordeal, one of these men, Gonzalo Guerrero, married a Mayan princess.

Their union created the first mestizos. Gonzalo so integrated himself with the Mayan people, that he no longer considered himself a Spaniard. Today, a statue of Gonzalo Guerrero greets the visitor at the entrance to the town of Akumal.

Akumal historically is the first tourist destination of the coastal strip of the Yucatan Peninsula bathed by the Caribbean Sea.

It was originally a huge coconut plantation owned by Don Argimiro Argüelles until 1958 when it was discovered by CEDAM (Exploration and Water Sports Club of Mexico), an exclusive diving club. Akumal hosted this group whose interest was the search for underwater treasures.

Pablo Bush Romero, a Mexican businessman, diver, writer, historian, archaeologist, and one of the founders of CEDAM, bought thousands of hectares around Akumal.

The town was officially founded in 1958 as a community for scuba divers by Pablo Bush Romero, a Mexican businessman, diver, writer, historian, and archaeologist. Pablo Bush’s family still owns a portion of Akumal, including the hotel Hotel Club Akumal Caribe.

Long before Cancun was in the Mexican government’s plans in response to the disappearance of Cuba as a pleasure destination for Americans, Romero flew over the shores of the state of Quintana Roo today and chose Akumal Bay as his future place of residence.

In the sixties, before the Cancun project, the Akumal coast was accessible only by sea.

Akumal was considered to be developed as a tourism destination before the start of Cancun but was discarded by a large number of mosquitoes produced in nearby wetlands.

On December 17, 2015, the residents of Akumal blocked the road to Akumal Bay, since repeatedly the Akumal Ecological Center (CEA) has locked one of the accesses that has been used as a street for more than 4 decades, claiming it is private property.

There is currently a dispute over access to Bahia, between local residents and the (CEA). The City of Tulúm indicated that its position is to continue allowing all the people in the town to enter.

Akumal is also home to ONDARTE International Artist Residency.

Akumal Mexico, in the Yucatan Peninsula, has been the sanctuary of the green turtles for hundreds of years.

The sea turtles nest here each year from the end of April to October. The green turtles come ashore to lay their eggs, and they are protected as an endangered species.

These magnificent creatures can frequently be seen swimming in the shallow waters near Akumal. An important local organization, the Centro Ecologico Akumal, is dedicated to protecting these animals.

The coral species and the endangered lionfish are also under Akumal turtles government protection, and the Akumal Ecological Center (CEA) makes every effort in this respect as well.

Akumal is a tourist destination that still retains its natural beauty. Swimming and snorkeling are excellent options in its coves, such as Kantena, Xaac, and Crescent Bay, however the most famous is known as the Yalku Lagoon, which is 2 km north of the town.

In Yalku there is a freshwater eye in its rocky area, and in that environment, a large number of colorful tropical fish live their youth away from predators.

The diving on the Akumal coast has a particularity since the morphology of the corals presents typical formations of caverns and canyons, creating “mountains” and structures inhabited by a great variety of marine fauna, and where it is common to find turtles that permanently swim in these areas of the Mexican Caribbean Sea.

There is a Mayan shrine built on a rock island in the Xaac cove, which is a clear example of how the Maya inhabited this site.

To the west of Highway 307, there are a large complex of caverns or cenotes, in which swimming, snorkeling, and cave diving can be practiced, examples of which are the “blue” cenote and the “Eden” cenote.

To the south 2 km from the coastal town of Akumal, there is the “Akumal Adventures” bay, this bay is protected by a shallow barrier of coral, which forms “gardens” very close to the coast.

By 1985 it began its development through the construction of a hotel, but its growth has been spreading by the construction of houses, villas, and condominiums.

Four kilometers to the south, is the Aktun Chen natural park (in Mayan it means “cave with cenote inside”), of 400 hectares, the visiting area has a serpentarium, and spider monkeys coexist with visitors.

The cave has three galleries with formations of stalactites and stalagmites formed by water and calcium carbonate over five million years, in the main gallery you can see a cenote.

***

However, what makes Akumal charming and fascinating for tourists from around the world, is its spectacular bay with clear waters and underground rivers. Akumal is one of the most peaceful places in the Riviera Maya: one protected shallow bay with a secluded beach and a nearby reef.

Akumal’s shallow bays are a popular destination for scuba divers and for those who enjoy snorkeling. The water is an incredibly brilliant turquoise blue color with fantastic clarity.

The world’s second-largest barrier reef occupies these waters and the abundance of sea life is amazing. There are over 500 species of fish and 4 different species of sea turtles that can be seen here.

For those who prefer fresh water, there are a number of cenotes (sinkholes) that provide entrance to underlying cave systems, offering the cave diver fantastic opportunities for exploring.

Adventures on land include exploring the surrounding jungle where hidden caves can be explored and where exotic flora and fauna can be seen. Deep-sea fishing is an active sport in these waters as well.

The promise of a day’s catch might include Mahi Mahi, Kingfish, Marlin, or Sail Fish.

Sections of the reef and the main feeding ground of the sea turtles are completely closed to the public due to severe overcrowding by humans and the resulting spread of diseases in the turtle population. This is enforced by the federal military.

With the destruction of hurricanes and popularity, the reefs near Akumal have been damaged, but are protected and gorgeous.

Sea life abounds. A snorkeling trip is very worth the time and expense. Snorkeling is free, life vests are suggested but not mandatory, and beaches are public – remember that! There are three options for snorkeling:

1. Go on a tour provided by one of the two great dive shops in town. It is $40 USD per person.

2. Go on an “unofficial” tour. If you stand on the beach with a clueless look on your face, a local may approach you and offer to take you snorkeling on his glass-bottomed boat. It is usually $20 USD per person and includes snorkeling equipment.

The guide will attempt to find the famous sea turtles for you and show you different corals and fish. Make sure you are comfortable swimming with flippers as the guide may swim quickly from site to site. Not always legal business’, hence the deals.

3. Rent or buy your own equipment and swim out alone. The coral reefs are not too far from the shore and can be easily accessed by swimming, especially with the help of a life preserver. Much of the bay is not more than five feet deep. Be very careful to stay away from the “fire reef” marked with buoys and a distinctive red-colored coral. It stings and excessive contact can be fatal.

There are sea turtles living in the bay that visitors will see while snorkeling, and enjoy this incredible experience.

Respect the nature

Since coral dies on human contact, you should avoid touching coral at all costs. It is also illegal to touch the wildlife, such as the sea turtles, so please do not try to ride them or bother them in any way.

• Scuba diving
• Cenote/cave diving
• Sunbathing: enjoy the sunny beaches
• Birdwatching tours
• Deep sea fishing tours
• Sailing tours
• Whale sharks tours

Ecological Center (Centro Ecológico Akumal or CEA) at the end of Akumal bay to learn more about the area’s ecosystems, species, and local environmental events.

Although many tourists come to visit, the beach resort never seems crowded and remains an ideal vacation destination.

One of the finest places to go swimming and snorkeling in addition to the main bay and half moon bay is the Yal ku lagoon about 2km north of the town, where you will find sweet water well among the rocks and many colorful tropical fish.

Not far away from Akumal town to the west you will get to the cenote “Azul” and cenote “Eden” and many more, where you can also enjoy swimming, snorkeling, and cavern diving in a vast cavern area.

Some 4 km to the south you reach the extensive natural park Aktun Chen with spider monkeys, whitetail deer, iguanas, wild pigs, and tropical bird species.

The park also contains a huge cave of three galleries with stalagmite and stalactite formations, and in the main gallery, you will discover a beautiful cenote.

Among other famous cave systems with cenotes, worthwhile visiting is Kantuchi within the same area known as the Maya Zone or Felipe Carrillo Puerto Zone.

The zone called Rio Secreto also contains huge caverns with cenotes everywhere, and all of them are very close to Akumal.

About 6 km south of Akumal you will reach the beautiful beach Xcacel, and within walking distance, you will reach a cenote with clean cool water.

Xcacel is a protected natural reserve, where the green turtles come to the beach during the night during the nesting season, where you will be able to observe them. This is certainly an amazing experience for kids and grown-ups alike.

By bus from Valladolid (via Tulum): $7-$27 (2:15/2:55 hours)
By bus from Tulum: $1-$3 (0:25 min).
By bus from Chetumal (via Felipe Carrillo Puerto): $12-$17 (3:30/4:00 hours).
By bus from Cancun: $4-$6 (1:50/2:10 hours).
By bus from Playa del Carmen: $1-$2 (0:35 min).

“Colectivos” or taxi from Tulum or Playa del Carmen.

Transportation

Unless you plan on just staying in Akumal, you will need a rental car to get around. The closest sights are at least a 20 min drive. However, if you’re not comfortable driving in a foreign country, there are plenty of taxis to take you wherever you need to go.

There are also “colectivos”, a local 15-passenger van service that runs between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. They’re cheap and usually full, but run very frequently.

You can catch the “colectivos” off the main highway. If you are standing on the side of the highway the driver will flash his lights at you if he has room in his van. This is the preferred local way of getting around.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

The evidence is inconclusive concerning a founding date for Xel-Ha, but it was occupied by the 1st Century and active during Classic and Postclassic times, with most of the buildings being rebuilt in the Late Postclassic.

It was probably not fully abandoned until the 19th Century.

A stela with an Early Classic date of 9.6.10.0.0 (AD 564) from Xel-Ha was discovered in 1841 by Stephens and Catherwood.

Xelha was one of several key ports of the Maya city of Coba; others included Tancah and Tulum. It was likely used as a point of intercultural exchange between the Maya and other sea-navigating peoples between the 7th and 12th centuries, and eventually was a beacon to which European colonial navigators were drawn.

The location of Xelha was used as a base by Spanish forces, during the ultimately unsuccessful first expedition (1527–28) led by the conquistador Francisco de Montejo (the Elder).

Montejo, who had obtained a charter from the Spanish Crown in 1526 to pacify the Yucatán Peninsula, crossed over from the island of Cozumel to make landfall at Xelha’s lagoons, a short distance from a local Maya village. He set about establishing what was intended to be the first Spanish settlement on the peninsula, which he named “Salamanca de Xelha” after his birthplace in western Spain, Salamanca. However, the supplies he had brought soon proved inadequate to the task of sustaining the venture. Despite attempts to commandeer and raid neighboring Maya settlements for food, his fledgling settlement lost some fifty men within the first two months to disease and privation. In an action reminiscent of Hernán Cortés, Montejo ordered the scuttling of his ships in the face of growing discontent, forcing them to remain.

Eventually Montejo’s forces stabilised sufficiently for him to mount explorations from his temporary encampment, heading out with some 125 men north towards Ecab near Cape Catoche. The sortie returned several months later after losing half of his men in a battle against the Maya near Ake, and to disease. The 65 conquistadores who had been left behind at Salamanca de Xelha fared no better with many being massacred in Maya raids, leaving Montejo with only about a third of his original complement.

The fortuitous arrival at that point of another of his ships from Santo Domingo with provisions and reinforcements prevented further disaster, and an expedition was sent out to the south towards the Maya township of Chetumal. This also failed to gain any foothold, and within eighteen months of Montejo’s first landfall in Yucatán, the encampment at Salamanca de Xelha and the eastern coast were abandoned.

From Tulum (town), Playa del Carmen or Cancun by bus and taxi.

Xcaret means “small inlet” in Mayan. Its name comes from its situation next to a small inlet that in the past served as a strategic location for navigation and commerce for the Maya.

The original name of the site was p’ole’, from the root p’ol which means “merchandise” or “deal of merchants”, which gives an idea of the economic relevance of the site.

Xcaret has many reserves that are open to the public. According to the research by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), the first buildings of the site can be dated to 200 to 600 A.D., but the majority of them are from the period from 1200 to 1550 A.D.

The constructions of the Late Post-Classical period are situated along the coast; some of them in strategic positions for surveillance.

The site had a wall, but unlike the one in Tulum that was open towards the ocean, the wall at Xcaret defended the site from assaults coming from the sea. The wall may also have served to divide the solid ground of the interior from the swampy ground closer to the coast.

Xcaret was inhabited at the time of the first stage of the Spanish incursion of Alonso Dávila and Francisco de Montejo into the eastern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula (1527 to 1529).

In 1548, Juan Núñez was put in charge of Xcaret. At this time, a Spanish chapel was built. This implies that Xcaret remained an important settlement. The thatched roof of the chapel has disintegrated, but the walls remain standing.
The INAH divides the architectural formations into several different groups.

Some documents suggest that Xcaret was one of the most active and economically significant Maya ports on the East Coast. These documents make mention of marriages between the P’ole rulers and the people of Cozumel.

These marriages were likely for political advances; they imply that Xcaret was politically important.

During archaeological explorations led by archaeologist María José, 135 human remains were found in the chapel.

In another case, DNA found on site was analyzed, and results showed that “the distribution of mtDNA lineages in the Xcaret population contrasts sharply with that found in ancient Maya from Copán, which lack lineages A and B.

On the other hand, our results resemble more closely the frequencies of mtDNA lineages found in contemporary Maya from the Yucatán Peninsula and in other Native American contemporary populations of Mesoamerican origin.”

These findings suggest that the people of Xcaret are more closely related to contemporary Maya peoples than ancient peoples.

The Ecological Park is built in the same area as the archaeological site and has the same name, Xcaret.

The land was originally purchased by a group of Mexican entrepreneurs, led by architect Miguel Quintana Pali. 5 hectares of the land was purchased in 1984.

When he began to clear the land, he started uncovering cenotes, sinkholes formed by collapsed cave ceilings weakened by 3 million years of erosion from underground rivers running through them and flowing into the sea. He saw the potential for tourism and formulated the idea of an Ecological Park open to the public, and soon joined forces with Oscar, Marcos and Carlos Constandse, achieving this goal in December 1990.

At the same time, contact was established with the National Institute of Anthropology and History with the objective of rebuilding the remnants of the Mayan pyramids and buildings that were found in the area. The park’s administration subsidized all the operation and the INAH put in charge a team of specialists.

The nature-based attractions of the park include a river that goes through the Mayan village, a subterranean concrete sluice in which people can swim and snorkel with a life vest.

Near the inlet there are recreational activities at the beach, snorkeling, Sea Trek and Snuba in the nearby reefs, or swimming with dolphins.

The park also has a coral reef aquarium turtle nesting site. Next to the inlet there’s an area for manatees.

The park also has a bird pavilion, butterfly pavilion, bat cave, orchids and bromeliad greenhouse, an island of jaguars, and a deer shelter, among others.

The cultural attractions include an open church, replica of a Mayan village with real artisans at work, a Mexican cemetery, a museum, an equestrian show, Mesoamerican ball game, an open theater with performances of pre-Hispanic dances, Papantla flying men and the Gran Tlachco (theater with a six thousand people capacity) where the Mesoamerican ball game is represented, as well as the meeting of two worlds, the Mayan and the Spanish, and the presentation of several Mexican folklore dances.

Other demonstrations of Mexican traditions include Day of the Dead celebration and the “Travesía Sagrada Maya” (Mayan Sacred Crossing), an annual rite when Mayans would cross the sea from Xcaret and Playa del Carmen to Cozumel to pay homage to the lunar goddess Ix Chel. The modern version is a re-creation of this rite done in late May to early June.

The park also has a Temascal and Spa, has 11 restaurants, dressing rooms, souvenirs and handicrafts stores, as well as an adjacent all-inclusive resort hotel.

• Underground River
• Lagoons
• Natural Inlet
• Paradise River
• White Sand Beaches
• Maya River
• Cove and Ponds
• Coral Reef Aquarium
• Sea Turtles
• Manatee Lagoon
• Bee Farm
• Butterfly Pavilion
• Deer Island
• Ecological Tour
• Puma and Jaguar Island
• Monkey Island
• Mushroom Farm
• Bromelias and Orchids Greenhouse
• Jungle Trail
• Regional Wildlife Enclosure
• Crocodiles
• Tapir House
• Archaeological Sites Scale Models
• Fiesta Charra
• Papantla Flyers
• Archaeological Sites
• Museum of Culture and Anthropology
• Mayan Village
• St. Francisco of Assisi Chapel
• Mexican Corner
• Rotating Scenic Tower
• Snorkeling (Equipment available)
• Xcaret at Night! Spectacular
• Mayan Ball Game

Available at extra cost Tours & Activities

• Swim With Dolphins
• Adrenalina Jet Boat
• Reef Snorkeling Tour
• Sea Trek
• Snuba
• Swim with Sharks
• Xcaret Night Dinner
• Massage & Spa Services

Aviable equipment

• Life Vests
• Lock Bags for Personal Belongings
• Palapa Umbrellas
• Hammocks
• Lounge Chairs
• Inner tubes for Floating
• Showers
• Dressing Rooms
• Snorkeling Equipment
• Lockers and Towels
• Wheelchairs
• Baby Strollers
• Restaurants and Bars
• Photo and Souvenir Shops

Open all days from 8:00 to 22:30

Entrance fee

From $75 to$135 (depends on program)

Playa del Carmen by taxi or bus.

There is also aviable Tour Xcaret, the best luxury transportation service from your hotel. The easiest and safest way to get to Xcaret Park!

Follow the short winding path to the lagoon entrance. Once in the water, you are immediately greeted by hundreds of colorful fish. Wonders can be observed at a depth of no more than 2 m, and there are few or no waves.

Submerged rock formations create a fascinating underwater terrain and the ideal habitat for the exotic marine creatures that you can see perfectly while snorkeling, whether you simply float on the surface or dive underwater.

Several species of tropical fish spend some time in the lagoon before they reach the proper size and maturity, after which, they move out into the immensity of the ocean and start their survival of the fittest.

Damselfish and sergeant majors are small but pugnacious so don’t be surprised if they charge, they do that if they feel threatened. They are normally no longer than seven inches in length so there is nothing to worry about.

Bird watchers will be delighted with the area, which is abundant with various tropical species. Herons are especially prevalent but other water and shore birds are routinely sighted, such as cranes, pelicans, seagulls, and egrets.

In and around the lagoon are several contemporary sculptures by Francisco Zúñiga. They’re not only hidden in the forest and gardens as you walk towards the lagoon, there are also some right out in the middle of the water.

• Open from 9:00 to 17:00 (all days).
• There is a small fee to enter the inlet.
• It is not permitted to use sunblock or to bring any food or drinks.
• Rental equipment is not available, so you’ll have to bring your own.
• If you opt to join a tour group, equipment will be provided for you.

You can go on a tour arranged by a tour desk at your hotel.

Yal-ku inlet is best reached via Akumal, a major development 105 km south of Cancun along the Cancun-Tulum Highway. If you get a good map and rent a car, however, you can go to Yal-Ku Lagoon by yourself.

• From Playa del Carmen by bus and then taxi.
• From Cancun by bus and then taxi.

Xel-Há means “where the water is born”. The park is named after the site of Xelha, an archaeological site of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization, part of which is located within the lands leased to the park.

According to legend, Mayan gods joined together their wisdom, illusions, and love for beauty to create a place that would bring together the best of nature, and that place was called Xel-Há.

Once created, the gods were so pleased with this heavenly place that they decided to permit the entry of all mortals.

To take care of it and the elements that surround it, the gods appointed 3 guardians:

• Huh, the Iguana (guardian of the land)
• Chuc Kay, the Pelican (guardian of the air)
• Kay Op, the Parrotfish (guardian of the water)

Legend says that these guardians still protect and care for the park and everyone who comes to visit.

This Natural Wonder is an unparalleled place of beauty.

Swim and snorkel among tropical fish that have made the inlet of Xel-Há their home. Discover the jungle trails of this paradise by foot, bicycle, or mini train. Admire different species of flora and fauna in their natural habitat.

Enjoy an unforgettable experience in an all-inclusive park. Indulge your taste buds with traditional Mexican dishes in any of the four restaurants or enjoy popular flavored drinks or a refreshing cocktail here at Xel-Há.

The park is centered around the natural inlet and lagoon, which is promoted as one of the main attractions of the park that forms with the flow of the river through rocks mixing salty waters with fresh underground water currents.

The inlet of Xel-Há is a natural aquarium where hundreds of species inhabit.

In the park, there are tropical fish and abundant flora, as well as a turtle reserve, where research is constantly carried out to learn more about marine life and contribute to the ecological maintenance of the area.

A shark fence extends across the lagoon’s entrance, and the public is permitted to swim and snorkel in the lagoon.

Underwater the limestone has been eroded into a myriad of small caves and grottos. The park’s unique geography, with underground rivers flowing into the Caribbean Sea, provides a fascinating underwater ecosystem to discover.

The history of Xel-Ha is closely intertwined with the Mayan civilization, which revered the region’s natural water sources as portals to the underworld. These cenotes were used for both religious ceremonies and as vital water sources.

Due to its privileged location, during pre-Hispanic times Xel-Há served as an inner port, trading center, place of pilgrimage, and shelter for sailors, as well as being a food reserve during bad weather.

The theme park was founded in 1984 and is under the management and marketing of the Mexican-owned Experiencias Xcaret Group. Over the years, Xel-Ha evolved into a modern-day eco-park that celebrates and preserves the area’s ecological richness.

From 2010 to 2015, Experiencias Xcaret was recognized as one of the best Mexican companies.

In early 2014, Xel-ha became the first tourist park in the world to obtain an EarthCheck Gold certification. The park invests in sustainability programs, buys local products, and trains its staff on environmental care and preservation.

Xel-Ha Park offers an array of activities and attractions that cater to nature and adventure seekers. A variety of aquatic-based activities are offered by the theme park, including snorkeling, scuba diving, and swimming with dolphins.

Visitors can also take part in guided tours, and learn about the area’s natural history. Xel-Ha Park’s sandy coves and hammock-laden areas are perfect for relaxation. Xel-Ha Park also offers zip-lining, cliff jumping, and kayaking.

• Lazy River
• Excellent Snorkeling
• Courage Cliff
• Mayan Cave
• Mo’s Flight
• Children’s Playground
• Ixchel’s Rift
• Floating Bridge
• Bay of Caprices
• Natural Inlet
• Mangrove Chaac
• Cenotes
• Rope Swing
• Grotto El Dorado
• Ice Cream
• Mayan Wall
• Nature Trail
• Apiary
• Hammock Island
• Tree Nursery
• Train Ride
• The Beach
• Mayan Cave
• Rope Bridge
• Conscience Path

Available at extra cost:

• Swim With Dolphins
• Sea Trek
• Snuba
• Stingray Encounter
• Zip Bike
• Full Spa Services

Available equipment:

• Snorkeling Equipment
• Towels
• Bicycles
• Lounge Chairs
• Hammocks
• Kayaks
• Inner tubes
• Life Vests
• Lockers
• Bathrooms
• Showers
• Dressing Rooms
• 6 Restaurants & Bars
• ATM Machines
• Baby Strollers
• Wheelchairs
• Public Telephones
• Park Guides

• You can purchase the Xel-Há Tour which includes first-class transportation service.
• If you want to arrive in your own car or a rented one, parking is free.
• Or if you prefer you can arrive by taxi or bus from Cancun and Playa del Carmen.

Return:

• For your return, you can rent a taxi service at special booths in the Park.
• You can buy a bus ticket directly on board when the bus arrives in the parking lot.

Bus schedule:

Playa del Carmen: 5:40 p.m. and 6:05 p.m.
Cancún: 5:45 p.m. and 6:10 p.m.

The times may vary according to the season.

Open from 08:30 to 18:00 all year long.

Entrance fee

• From $80 to $150 (depends on program)
• The park also has some pais additional attractions.

Children:

• Children under 4 years old have free admission (an ID is required).
• Children 5 – 11 years old get half of the adult ticket price.

Children over 1,50 m but under 12 years old must present identification to verify their age.

Cancelation:

• Reservations canceled more than 2 days in advance before the booking date are subject to a 10% administrative fee.
• Reservations are canceled from 2-0 days or in case of a show, reservations are non-refundable.

It is not possible to make the change of date the same day of your visit.

The island is located in the Caribbean Sea along the eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula about 82 km south of Cancún and 19 km from the mainland.

The island is about 48 km long and 16 km wide. With a total area of 477.961 sq km, it is Mexico’s largest Caribbean island, the largest permanently inhabited island, and Mexico’s third-largest island, following Tiburón Island and Isla Ángel de la Guarda.

The majority of the island’s population lives in the town of San Miguel, which is on the island’s western shore.

The municipality, which includes two small areas on the mainland enclaved within the Municipality of Solidaridad with a land area of 10.423 sq km, has a total land area of 647.33 sq km.

The island is covered with mangrove forest which has many endemic animal species. Cozumel is a flat island based on limestone, resulting in a karst topography. The highest natural point on the island is less than 15 m above sea level.

The cenotes are deep water-filled sinkholes formed by water percolating through the soft limestone soil for thousands of years. Cozumel’s cenotes are restricted to qualified cave divers with appropriate credentials.

Cozumel has several endemic species and subspecies of bird including:

• the Cozumel emerald
• the Cozumel great curassow, which is vulnerable
• the Cozumel thrasher, which is near, if not already, extinct
• the Cozumel vireo
• the Cozumel wren

Endemic dwarf mammals are found on the island:

• the Cozumel fox, which is near, if not already, extinct
• the Cozumel Island coati, which is endangered
• the Cozumel Island raccoon, which is critically endangered

Three rodents are larger than their mainland counterpart: Oryzomys couesi, Peromyscus leucopus, and critically endangered Reithrodontomys Spectabilis, the latter of which is also endemic to the island.

Endemic marine life:

• the splendid toadfish

Other native wildlife includes:

• the American crocodile
• the black spiny-tailed iguana
• the blue land crab (Cardisoma Guanhumi)

Cozumel has a tropical savanna climate that closely borders on a tropical monsoon climate.

The dry season is short, from February to April, with an average of about 45 mm of rain per month. The wet season is from September to October being the wettest months when precipitation averages over 240 millimeters.

Thunderstorms can occasionally occur during the wet season. Temperatures tend to remain stable with little variation from month to month though the temperatures are cooler from December to February with the coolest month averaging 22.9 °C.

Owing to its proximity to the sea, the island is fairly humid, with an average humidity of 83%. The wettest recorded month was October 1980 with 792 millimeters of precipitation and the wettest recorded day was June 19, 1975 with 281 millimeters.

The Maya are believed to have first settled Cozumel by the early part of the 1st millennium AD, and older Preclassic Olmec artifacts have been found on the island as well.

The island was sacred to Ix Chel, the Maya Moon Goddess, and the temples here were a place of pilgrimage, especially by women desiring fertility. There are several ruins on the island, most from the post-Classic period.

The largest Maya ruins on the island were near the downtown area and have now been destroyed. Today, the largest remaining ruins are at San Gervasio, located approximately at the center of the island.

The first Spanish expedition to visit Cozumel was led by Juan de Grijalva in 1518. In the following year, Hernán Cortés stopped by the island on his way to Veracruz.

The Grijalva and Cortés expeditions were both received peacefully by the Maya of Cozumel, unlike the expeditions’ experiences on other parts of the mainland.

Even after Cortés destroyed some of the Maya idols on Cozumel and replaced them with an image of the Virgin Mary, the native inhabitants of the island continued to help the Spanish re-supply their ships with food and water so they could continue their voyages. Gerónimo de Aguilar was rescued at this time.

As many as 10,000 Maya lived on the island then, but in 1520, infected crew members of the Pánfilo Narváez expedition brought the smallpox contagion to the island and by 1570 only 186 men and 172 women were left alive on Cozumel.

In the ensuing years, Cozumel was often the target of attacks by pirates, and in 1650 many of the islanders were forcibly relocated to the mainland town of Xcan Boloná to avoid the buccaneers’ predation.

Later, in 1688, most of the rest of the island’s population, as well as many of the settlements along the Quintana Roo coast, were evacuated inland to towns such as Chemax.

In 1848, refugees escaping the tumult of the Caste War of Yucatán settled on the island, and in 1849 the town of San Miguel de Cozumel was officially recognized by the Mexican government.

In 1861, American President Abraham Lincoln ordered his Secretary of State, William Henry Seward, to meet with the Mexican chargé d’affaires Matias Romero to explore the possibility of purchasing the island of Cozumel to relocate freed American slaves offshore.

The idea was summarily dismissed by Mexican President Benito Juarez, but in 1862 Lincoln did manage to establish a short-lived colony of ex-slaves on Île à Vache off the coast of Haiti.

Although the original airport was a World War II relic and was able to handle jet aircraft and international flights, a much larger airport was built in the late 1970s.

Scuba diving is still one of Cozumel’s primary attractions, mainly due to the healthy coral reef marine communities. These coral reefs are protected from the open ocean by the island’s natural geography.

In 1996, the government of Mexico also established the Cozumel Reefs National Marine Park, forbidding anyone from touching or removing any marine life within the park boundaries.

Despite the importance of healthy reefs to Cozumel’s tourist trade, a deepwater pier was built in the 1990s for cruise ships to dock, causing damage to the reefs, and it is now a regular stop on cruises in the Caribbean.

The island was struck directly by two Category 4 hurricanes during the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. In July, Hurricane Emily passed just south of Cozumel, exposing the island to the storm’s intense inner core.

Despite Emily being a powerful storm, it was the larger, stronger, slower-moving Hurricane Wilma that caused the most destruction when it hit the island in October. Wilma’s eye passed directly over Cozumel.

There was some damage to the underwater marine habitat. This included the coral reefs, which suffered particularly at the shallower dive sites, and the fish that inhabit the reefs.

Tourism, diving, and charter fishing comprise the majority of the island’s economy. There are more than 300 restaurants on the island and many hotels, some of which run dive operations, and have swimming pools, private docks, and multiple dining facilities.

Other water activities include para-sailing, kitesurfing, and a tourist submarine.

There are also two dolphinariums. At the cruise ship docks, there are several square blocks of stores selling Cuban cigars, jewelry, T-shirts, tequila, and a large variety of inexpensive souvenirs.

San Miguel is home to many restaurants with a huge variety of different cuisines, along with several discothèques, bars, cinemas, and outdoor stages.

The main plaza is surrounded by shops; in the middle of the plaza is a fixed stage where Cozumeleños and tourists celebrate every Sunday evening with music and dancing.

All food and manufactured supplies are shipped to the island. Water is provided by three different desalination facilities located on the island.

Santa Cruz Festivities and El Cedral Fair

The Festival of Santa Cruz and El Cedral Fair is a historical tradition held in the town of El Cedral, in the south of Cozumel Island at the end of April. This annual event is said to have been started over 150 years ago by Casimiro Cárdenas.

Cárdenas was one of a group that fled to the island from the village of Saban, on the mainland, after an attack during the Caste War of Yucatánin 1848. The attackers killed other villagers, but Cárdenas survived whilst clutching a small wooden cross.

Legend has it that Cárdenas vowed to start an annual festival wherever he settled, to honor the religious power of this crucifix.

Today, the original Holy Cross (Santa Cruz) Festival forms part of the wider Festival of El Cedral, which includes fairs, traditional feasts, rodeos, bullfights, music, and competitions.

The celebrations last about 5 days in all and are held every year at the end of April or the beginning of May.

Cozumel Carnival

The Cozumel Carnival or Carnaval de Cozumel is one of the most important carnival festivities in México. It has been celebrated as a tradition beginning from the late nineteenth century and fills Cozumel’s streets with parades.

It begins the week before Mardi Gras in February. Cozumel’s Carnaval is a tradition that has been passed down through many generations and celebrates a mixture of cultures that escaped the warm embrace of Cozumel.

Dating back to the mid-1800s, Cozumel Carnaval was started by young people dressed in vibrantly colorful costumes known as “Estudiantinas” or “Comparsas”, who expressed themselves in the streets of Cozumel through the art forms of dance, song, and fantasy.

The ferry from Playa del Carmen (0:30-0:40 min) runs each hour from around 7:00 to 23:00.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

SNational Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

In pre-Columbian times the island was sacred to the Maya goddess of childbirth and medicine, Ixchel. When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century they named it “Women’s Island” because of the many images of goddesses.

The first information available about Isla Mujeres is from the period between 564 and 1516 when it was part of the Maya province called Ekab. There were 4 Maya provinces in what is today the State of Quintana Roo.

The Maya also exploited the salt that the island produced in the “salinas” (small interior lagoons). The salt was used not only for the conservation of food and medicine but also as a generally accepted currency for the commerce of goods along the whole Maya region.

Since the 1970s, along with close-by Cancún, there has been substantial tourist development in Isla Mujeres.

Turtle Farm (Tortugranja)

Government-sponsored hatchery for endangered sea turtles. See young turtles in tanks.

Hacienda Mundaca

Located on the road to Garrafon, 3.5 km before Playa Lancheros and Playa Paraíso. It is a 19th-century hacienda built by the pirate Fermin Mundaca. The hacienda includes walls, arches, exotic plants, gardens, bird breeding places, cattle, and an orchard.

A 19th-century slave trader and reputed pirate, Fermín Antonio Mundaca de Marechaja fell in love with a local woman known as La Trigueña (The Brunette). To win her, Mundaca built a two-story mansion complete with gardens and graceful archways.

But while Fermin Mundaca was building the house, La Trigueña married another islander. Brokenhearted, Fermin Mundaca died, and the hacienda fell into disrepair.

Some documents indicate that Mundaca died during a visit to Mérida and was buried there. Others say he died on the island, and indeed there’s a grave in the town cemetery that supposedly contains his remains.

Despite the skull and crossbones on his headstone, there’s no evidence that Mundaca was ever a pirate. Instead, it is said he accumulated his wealth by transporting slaves from Africa to Cuba, where they were forced to work in mines and sugar cane fields.

Today the complex has some walls and foundations, a large central pond, some rusting cannons, and a partially rebuilt house. At the southern end stands a gateway with an impressive stone arch.

The shady grounds make for pleasant strolling, but watch out for the droppings of spiny-tailed iguanas.

North Beach (Playa Norte)

Isla Mujeres has several fine stretches of beach that run along the northern end of the island. It has shallow waters and stunning white sand. The beach is full of fun restaurants and bars as well as several hotels.

This is where the majority of travelers will spend their beach time so it can get crowded during peak season.

The northern end of the island is Playa Norte which has a wide swatch of sand that is lined with palm trees and also a few beachfront restaurants and bars. The soft white sand and level beach area make for an ideal beach volleyball court.

As of November 2016, Playa Norte has been badly eroded with much of the beach missing.

The main volleyball-playing area on Playa Norte in front of Buho’s swing bar is now gone, a victim of changing tides and a diminishing beach which locals attribute to the moving of sand from the surrounding ocean floor to build back Wilma-damaged Cancun’s beaches.

Alas, the big, beautiful pre-Wilma Playa Norte is no longer, though there is hope that it will eventually come back.

Playa Sol

At the northwestern tip of the island and is the neighboring beach to Playa Norte.

Playa Sol is the best location to watch the sunset and is usually a little less crowded than the neighboring beach. Although it is less crowded, the water is not as shallow and clear as Playa Norte.

One other advantage is that drinks are less expensive along Playa Sol.

Ruins of Ixchel Temple

A small Maya goddess Ixchel temple was once located on the southern tip of the island.

A small ruin that was once a lighthouse and temple to Ixchel, goddess of fertility. However, in 1988, Hurricane Gilbert caused extensive damage, leaving most of the foundation but only a very small portion of the temple.

Now there’s a modern art sculpture park in the area as well.

Free after 5 o’clock.

Whale Shark Tours

From mid-May through September hundreds of whale sharks gather in the waters near Isla Mujeres, with peak season in July and August.

Trips can be booked anywhere on the island, but official operators who have agreed to uphold certain standards and implement safety measures to protect the sharks operate mostly out of dive shops and charge a set price.

Tours will generally include breakfast, snorkeling gear, 8-10 people per boat, a 45-60 minute trip out to the whale shark area, and then 3-4 trips in the water with the sharks for 2-15 minutes each time, depending on the number of sharks (more sharks, more time in the water).

The return trip includes lunch, ceviche, and a snorkel at a local reef. All passengers must wear life jackets in the water unless they have their wet suit, a useful tip since it is much easier to swim with the sharks in a wet suit than it is in a bulky life jacket.

Garrafon Park

The southern side of the island lacks a sandy beach.

This side of the island offers snorkeling where fish abound and the crystal-clear water makes for an enjoyable swim. The reef that lies within the protective buoys has been severely damaged by storms and years of careless treatment by snorkelers.

A revamp of the park has created a healthier environment for the coral, and it thrives more with each passing year.

Tour boats from Cancun bring hordes of day-trippers who mostly stay within the park. A useful tip for those staying on the island is that you can snorkel in the waters adjacent to Garrafon Park, and the sea life is still very impressive.

Dolphin Discovery

Located on the northwest side of the island on the Peninsula of Sac Bajo is Dolphin Discovery. It is a small amusement park well known for allowing visitors to interact and swim with dolphins in an enclosed area.

The park has a list of activities ranging from dolphins to other marine mammals. If traveling from Cancun, visitors can take a bus or taxi to Playa Langosta which is located at Boulevard Kukulcan Km. 5.

It is between the Casa Maya Hotel and Vacation Club International. There, Dolphin Discovery representatives can check visitors in and direct them to a ferry which takes 40 minutes to get to the docking area of Dolphin Discovery.

Scuba diving and snorkeling

Scuba diving and snorkeling. around Isla Mujeres is unforgettable.

The Manchones Reef begins just off of Isla’s shore and the Cuevones and Banderas Reefs are close by. The waters are calm and clear – perfect for the beginner as well as the advanced diver.

With 50 accessible sites, Isla Mujeres is a great option and a little unknown with all the hype that Cozumel gets. Those staying in Playa Norte may enjoy snorkeling in the lagoon next to the Avalon Hotel which has a respectable number of fish in an easily-accessible location.

Fishing

One does not need to shell out large sums of money to go sport fishing on Isla. Just talk to the local hotel/guesthouse employee and they can set you up with a local fisherman who will take you out fishing.

Whatever fish you catch, you can take to a local restaurant and they will prepare the fish however you like.

Local transportation on the island of Isla Mujeres consists primarily of taxis golf carts and moped scooters. As of 2005, there were 121 taxis, 500 golf carts, and 1500 moped scooters.

There is also a bus service that runs from the downtown to the different neighborhoods.

For multiple excursions to the south end of the island, the best option is to rent a scooter or golf cart. The roads are all paved and the main road makes a loop the whole way around the island.

Be aware that when driving on the Caribbean side of the island, there are occasional strong gusts of wind that can really take you by surprise on a scooter, as can the many topes, or speed bumps.

The island is also served by Isla Mujeres National Airport.

Ferry boats run from the island and Puerto Juárez or Gran Puerto on the mainland.
Ferry boats run from Cancun to Isla Mujeres and vice-versa during the day.

Ferry from/to Puerto Juarez (30 min) each 30 min.
Ferry via Playa de Tortugas (40 min) every 2 hours.

There are numerous places to eat fresh seafood cooked with local and traditional recipes, and other restaurants offer Mexican, Yucatecan, Italian, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Hebrew, French, Thai, Cuban, and Maya cuisine.

Hotel prices vary from cheap to very expensive at the resorts on the southwest end such as Hotel Villa Rolandi, and Playa Norte.[citation needed] In the north is El Centro (downtown), whose central axis, Hidalgo Street, is the main dining and entertainment area.

Also located on the north end is a famous beach called Playa Norte, which has recovered quickly since Hurricane Wilma hit the area in 2005. Besides these attractions, swimming with dolphins can also be experienced on the Island.

The island of Isla Mujeres is located close to one of many coral reefs such as the one located in Garrafon Park, which is an area popular for its snorkeling and scuba diving.

The Cancún Underwater Museum, created by English sculptor Jason deCaires Taylor, is located off the western coast of Isla Mujeres.

Isla Mujeres is also home to a population of sea turtles. Because of the recent endangerment of sea turtles in the area, a facility was set up on the southern end of the island for their rehabilitation and breeding. This facility is open to the public.

The island’s relative proximity to Cuba has made it one of the favorite stepping stones of Cubans trying to reach the USA in recent years.

The place was inhabited by Mayans for centuries.

The name most likely comes from the Mayan “b’ak halal” (“surrounded by reeds”). The paths around the lagoon were lined with white shells because the inhabitants walked at night when it was cooler and the shells marked the paths.

Bacalar was a city of the Maya civilization in Pre-Columbian times.

• This was the first city in the region which the Spanish succeeded in taking and holding in 1543.
• In 1545 Gaspar Pacheco established the Spanish town here with the name Salamanca de Bacalar.
• The city was invaded and destroyed by pirates in 1642 and then rebuilt only in 1726.
• After the pirate attack, the Fortress de San Felipe Bacalar was built and was completed in 1733.
• In 1848 during the Caste War of Yucatán rebellious Chan Santa Cruz Maya conquered the town.
• The city was retaken by the Mexicans only in 1902.

The Fortress de San Felipe Bacalar, in the center of town, represents one of the bastions used by the Maya before they were overrun by the Spanish, it has a small but modern museum inside, which is worth visiting.

On Sunday night, there may be music and dancing in the city square.

There are plenty of outdoor activities to choose from: guided kayaking trips, snorkeling, horseback riding at the rodeo or trails to Bacalar Lake, bike tours, and jungle walks to explore the lake and its surroundings.

Bacalar Lagoon is one of the palest-blue and jewel-like waters that can exist. Laguna Bacalar is a long and narrow lake. Its length from north to south is about 42 km, and at its widest point, it is less than 2 km.

The main attraction of this area is the Seven Colors Lagoon. The lagoon off the coast is somewhat shallow, except for the sinkholes commonly known as cenotes. It is clearly visible from a kayak or sailboat.

The lake is known for its vibrant blue color and crystal-clear water, thanks in part to its white limestone bottom. Like most bodies of water in the Yucatan Peninsula, the lake is fed by underground rivers or cenotes.

Cenote Azul is only 4 km south of the center of town at the southern tip of Bacalar. Cenote Azul is one of the deepest cenotes in the Yucatan at 90 m. The place is open to the public from 7:00 to 18:00 daily.

“Canal de los Piratas” links the Hondo River with the lagoon, and is known as the Pirates Road.

The Mayan ruins nearby that are worth visiting are:

• Chacchoben
• Dzibanché
• Kohunlich.

They don´t have a lot of people and the jungle surroundings are magnificent.

• Take a bus or “collectivo” from Cancun, via Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
• Traveling from the south, take a bus or “colectivo” from Chetumal.

Origin of the name

The original name of El Meco remains a subject of debate. Some sources suggest that the original name has been lost, and “El Meco” was later assigned by the owner of a coconut plantation that once occupied the area.

Other accounts claim the ancient name was Beel’maan, which means “channel of commerce”. This interpretation highlights the site’s significant role in facilitating trade with nearby settlements, including Isla Mujeres.

Early Habitation and Historical Roots

The initial settlement of El Meco likely began between 250 and 600 CE.

Archaeological evidence from the site’s foundational layers suggests its origins as a modest fishing village. However, around 600 CE, the settlement was abandoned and remained uninhabited for nearly 400 years.

El Meco saw a resurgence during the Postclassic Period (900–1500 CE).

At that time, El Meco became an integral part of the Mayan coastal trade network. Its strategic location fostered connections with Chichén Itzá and later Mayapán, positioning El Meco as an economic and political hub.

Strategic Importance and Economic Growth

By 1200 CE, El Meco had established itself as a significant coastal trading center, benefiting from its proximity to Isla Mujeres. This strategic location enabled it to serve as a control point for commerce along the Yucatán Peninsula.

El Meco became one of the most active ports on the Caribbean coast, alongside others like Xcaret, Xel-Há, Tulum, Tankah, and Muyil.

El Meco’s economic success also influenced its political and religious development. The site housed ceremonial structures, reinforcing its dual role as a center for trade and spirituality.

Abandonment After the Spanish Conquest

The arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century marked the decline of El Meco. Like many other Mayan sites, it was abandoned, leaving behind a legacy preserved in its ruins.

The site has since become a valuable window into the Mayan world, though its association with the location known as Bel’ma’, mentioned by Francisco de Montejo during early Spanish explorations, remains uncertain.

Layout and Significance of the Site

El Meco features several ceremonial structures, altars, and shrines distributed across a series of plazas.

The site is primarily religious, with 14 structures identified during archaeological excavations, all contributing to the area’s sacred significance. Most of these buildings remain in excellent condition, providing a vivid glimpse into the Mayan way of life.

The orientation of these structures towards the coast underlines their ceremonial importance, with the sea playing a central role in Mayan spirituality and daily life.

El Castillo: The Crown Jewel of El Meco

The centerpiece of the site is El Castillo, a five-tiered pyramid that rises 12.5 meters high. It is the tallest Mayan structure on the eastern coast of Yucatan, making it a significant landmark. The pyramid faces the ocean, the only Mayan pyramid of its kind to do so, and was likely used for observing sunsets and performing religious ceremonies.

At the top of El Castillo is a temple, adding to its grandeur and importance as a focal point of pilgrimage in the region. The staircase is adorned with serpent-head sculptures, reminiscent of those found at the famous Temple of Kukulcán in Chichén Itzá, further linking El Meco to other prominent Mayan centers.

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The site is centered around a ceremonial plaza and urban center, with El Castillo serving as the focal point. A small sanctuary for offerings still stands here, adding a layer of sacred history to the surrounding area.

The foundations of small buildings are still visible, allowing visitors to imagine the structure and function of this once-thriving city, with its thatched roofs supported by sturdy wooden beams.

Archaeological Discoveries

Excavations at El Meco have revealed a wealth of historical artifacts, including fragments of ceramics dating back to 400–600 CE. These discoveries provide insight into the site’s ancient inhabitants and their daily lives. However, much remains to be uncovered, particularly the remains of a port facility located across the road, which has yet to be systematically excavated.

Driving from Cancun

Drive to El Meco taking av. Bonampak to av. Portillo Lopez. Turn right into Puerto Juarez, and then turn right when you reach the Port entrance. On your right-hand side is a large sign, albeit covered in vegetation, for El Meco.

Taxi from Cancun

The easiest way to reach El Meco is by taking a taxi. Taxis are readily available outside the ADO bus station and can take you directly to the archaeological site, which is located approximately 8 km from the city center.

Returning to Cancun

You can return to downtown Cancun using combis (public vans) that operate along av. Portillo López. These combis are an affordable and frequent mode of transportation, making them a convenient option for your return trip.

Open daily from 8:00 to 16:30.

• The place is semi-shaded, which is nice when you are not in the sun.
• It is not very accessible, the area is not level enough for a wheelchair.
• Many iguanas are sunbathing and walking around the area.

Muyil archaeological site is located within the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

The archaeological site of Muyil and the surrounding area are protected from large-scale construction or tourism infrastructure. Visitors can explore the ruins and nearby lagoons while following conservation guidelines.

The area is home to diverse wildlife, including jaguars, manatees, crocodiles, and hundreds of bird species. Muyil is one of the ancient Maya sites to visit, especially if you’re interested in history, nature, and eco-tourism.

Best Time to Visit

• Morning (8:00 – 10:00) or late afternoon to avoid crowds and heat.
• December – April is the driest and best season.

Entrance & Fees

• Muyil Ruins Entrance Fee: Around USD 4
• Hours: 8:00 – 17:00 daily
• If you want to explore the canals and lagoons, there is an extra fee.

Visit the Lagoons & Floating Canals

• Walk the wooden boardwalk through Sian Ka’an Reserve to the lagoon viewpoint.
• Take a boat tour on the Muyil and Chunyaxché lagoons, where you can float down ancient Maya canals.
• Spot wildlife like birds, fish, and even manatees!

Muyil is about 20 minutes south of Tulum on Highway 307.

• It is around 170 km from Cancun (about a 2-hour drive).
• Free parking is available near the entrance.

By bus or local shared van (collectivo):

• Take a colectivo (shared van) from Tulum towards Felipe Carrillo Puerto.
• Tell the driver you want to stop at Zona Arqueológica Muyil.
• From the drop-off point, it’s a short walk to the entrance.

Guided tour:

• Many eco-tours include Muyil ruins + a boat trip through the Sian Ka’an lagoons.
• These tours often include transportation, a guide, and sometimes lunch.

Tulum enjoys a privileged location amidst lush tropical forests and pristine beaches. Its coastal setting offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore both ancient ruins and natural wonders in one unforgettable journey.

This Maya site may formerly have been known by the name Zama, meaning City of Dawn, because it faces the sunrise, and Tulum stands on a bluff facing east toward the Caribbean Sea.

The name “Tulum” is derived from the Yucatan Mayan word for fence, wall, or trench.

The walls surrounding the site allowed the Tulum fort to be defended against invasions. The walls served as a defensive barrier, protecting Tulum from potential invaders and safeguarding its inhabitants.

Preclassic Period (300 BCE – 250 CE)

While evidence suggests that Tulum was inhabited as early as 564 CE, the city’s initial construction likely began during the Preclassic period. At this time, Tulum served as a small coastal trading post, facilitating commerce between inland Maya communities and maritime traders.

Classic Period (250 CE – 900 CE)

Tulum experienced significant growth and development during the Classic Period, emerging as a prominent center of trade, religion, and governance. The construction of monumental architecture, including temples, palaces, and administrative buildings, reflects Tulum’s flourishing prosperity during this era. The city’s strategic location along coastal trade routes contributed to its economic importance, attracting merchants from distant lands.

Late Classic Period (600 CE – 900 CE)

By the late Classic period, Tulum reached its zenith as a regional power and cultural hub.

The city’s population expanded, and its influence extended throughout the Maya region. Tulum’s rulers wielded considerable political and religious authority, presiding over a thriving society marked by artistic achievement and intellectual sophistication.

Postclassic Period (900 CE – 1544 CE)

Following the decline of the Classic Maya civilization, Tulum entered a period of transition characterized by political upheaval and social change. While the city continued to be inhabited, its significance waned, and its influence diminished.

By the time Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 16th century, Tulum had already entered a state of decline, its once-mighty structures shrouded in the mists of time.

Colonial Era and Modern Times

Following the Spanish conquest of the Yucatán Peninsula, Tulum was largely abandoned, its ancient ruins gradually reclaimed by the encroaching jungle. It wasn’t until the early 20th century that Tulum garnered renewed attention from archaeologists and explorers, who began to uncover its hidden treasures and unravel the mysteries of its past.

Tulum was first mentioned by Juan Díaz, a member of Juan de Grijalva’s Spanish expedition of 1518, the first Europeans to spot Tulum.

The first detailed description of the ruins was published by John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood in 1843 in the book Incidents of Travel in Yucatan. As they arrived from the sea, Stephens and Catherwood first saw a tall building that impressed them greatly, most likely the great Castillo of the site. They made accurate maps of the site’s walls, and Catherwood made sketches of the Castillo and several other buildings.

Stephens and Catherwood also reported an early classic stele at the site, with an inscribed date of AD 564 (now in the British Museum’s collection). This has been interpreted as meaning that the stele was likely built elsewhere and brought to Tulum to be reused.

Work conducted at Tulum continued with that of Sylvanus Morley and George P. Howe, beginning in 1913. They worked to restore and open the public beaches. The work was continued by the Carnegie Institution from 1916 to 1922, Samuel Lothrop in 1924 who also mapped the site, Miguel Ángel Fernández in the late 1930s and early 1940s, William Sanders in 1956, and then later in the 1970s by Arthur G. Miller.

Today, Tulum stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the ancient Maya civilization, attracting visitors from around the world to marvel at its awe-inspiring architecture and rich cultural heritage.

Spread across approximately 16 hectares, the archaeological area of Tulum encompasses a diverse array of architectural structures. The most iconic feature of the site is its imposing limestone walls, which enclose the city on three sides, offering panoramic views of the turquoise waters below.

Upon entering the archaeological site, visitors are greeted by the Temple of the Frescoes, a two-story structure adorned with intricate stucco decorations and well-preserved murals depicting Maya deities and celestial scenes. Nearby, the Castillo, or Castle, looms large atop a rocky promontory, serving as both a ceremonial center and a navigational beacon for ancient seafarers.

As visitors meander through the maze-like paths of Tulum, they encounter a series of smaller temples, residential complexes, and administrative buildings, each offering glimpses into the daily life and religious practices of the Maya people.

The Temple of the Descending God, with its striking bas-relief carving of a diving figure, and the Temple of the Initial Series, featuring inscriptions commemorating important events in Maya history, are among the site’s most notable attractions.

Beyond its architectural wonders, the ruin area of Tulum also boasts lush greenery and abundant wildlife, providing a serene backdrop for exploration and contemplation. Towering ceiba trees, sacred to the Maya, dot the landscape, while tropical birds flit among the branches, filling the air with their melodious calls.

A large number of cenotes are located in the Tulum area such as Maya Blue, Naharon, Temple of Doom, Tortuga, Vacaha, Grand Cenote, Abejas, Nohoch Kiin, and Carwash cenotes and cave systems.

Tulum was built on the coast, strategically positioned to defend against potential maritime invaders. Its robust defensive walls and elevated location are protected while offering commanding views of the surrounding sea.

Tulum’s location along coastal trade routes made it a vital hub for commerce across Mesoamerica. Tulum served as a gateway for the exchange of goods such as jade, obsidian, and feathers, enriching its culture and economy.

The layout of Tulum’s architectural structures aligns with celestial phenomena, suggesting that the Maya had a sophisticated understanding of astronomy. Key buildings, such as the Temple of the Descending God, may have been oriented to observe celestial events such as solstices and equinoxes.

Tulum was renowned for its salt production, with vast salt flats located nearby. The Maya used innovative techniques, including shallow evaporation ponds and terraced fields, to extract salt from seawater, which was then traded as a valuable commodity.

Despite the collapse of the Classic Maya civilization around the 9th century CE, Tulum continued to be inhabited for centuries afterward. Its residents adapted to changing circumstances, maintaining a semblance of urban life amidst political and environmental challenges.

Tulum is home to some of the best-preserved Maya frescoes found in Mesoamerica.

These intricate wall paintings, located within the Temple of the Frescoes, depict scenes of Maya gods, rulers, and ceremonial rituals, providing valuable insights into ancient Maya art and culture.

Tulum’s proximity to cenotes, natural sinkholes filled with groundwater, played a significant role in its development. These cenotes provided a vital source of freshwater for the city’s inhabitants and served as sacred sites for religious ceremonies and rituals.

Tulum has architecture typical of Maya sites on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula.

This architecture is recognized by a step running around the base of the building which sits on a low substructure. Doorways of this type are usually narrow with columns used as support if the building is big enough.

As the walls flare out there are usually two sets of molding near the top. The room usually contains one or two small windows with an altar at the back wall, roofed by either a beam-and-rubble ceiling or being vaulted.

This type of architecture resembles what can be found in the nearby Chichen Itza, just on a much smaller scale.

Tulum was protected on one side by steep sea cliffs and on the landward side by a wall that averaged about 3–5 meters in height. The wall also was about 8 m (26 ft) thick and 400 m long on the side parallel to the sea.

The part of the wall that ran the site’s width was slightly shorter and only about 170 m on both sides. Constructing this massive wall would have taken enormous energy and time, which shows how important defense was to the Maya when they chose this site.

On the southwest and northwest corners, there are small structures that have been identified as watch towers, showing again how well-defended the city was. There are five narrow gateways in the wall with two each on the north and south sides and one on the west.

Near the northern side of the wall, a small cenote provided the city with fresh water. It is this impressive wall that makes Tulum one of the most well-known fortified sites of the Maya.

There are three major structures of interest at the Tulum site. El Castillo, the Temple of the Frescoes, and the Temple of the Descending God are the three most famous buildings.

Among the more spectacular buildings here is the Temple of the Frescoes which includes a lower gallery and a smaller second-story gallery. The Temple of the Frescoes was used as an observatory for tracking the movements of the sun.

Niched figurines of the Maya “diving god” or Venus deity decorate the facade of the temple. This “diving god” is also depicted in the Temple of the Diving God in the central precinct of the site.

Above the entrance in the western wall a stucco figure of the “diving god” is still preserved, giving the temple its name. A mural can still be seen on the eastern wall that resembles that of a style that originated in highland Mexico, called the Mixteca-Puebla style, though visitors are no longer permitted to enter.

Also in the central precinct is the Castillo, which is 7.5 m tall. The Castillo was built on a previous building that was colonnaded and had a beam and mortar roof. The lintels in the upper rooms have serpent motifs carved into them.

The construction of the Castillo appears to have taken place in stages. A small shrine appears to have been used as a beacon for incoming canoes. This shrine marks a break in the barrier reef that is opposite the site.

Here there is a cove and landing beach in a break in the sea cliffs that would have been perfect for trading canoes coming in. This characteristic of the site may be one of the reasons the Maya founded the city of Tulum exactly here, as Tulum later became a prominent trading port during the late Postclassic.

Both coastal and land routes converged at Tulum.

Several artifacts found in or near the site show contact with areas all over Central Mexico and Central America. Copper artifacts from the Mexican highlands have been found near the site, as have flint artifacts, ceramics, incense burners, and gold objects from all over the Yucatán.

Salt and textiles were among some of the goods brought by traders to Tulum by sea that would be dispersed inland. Typical exported goods included feathers and copper objects that came from inland sources.

These goods could be transported by sea to rivers such as the Río Motagua and the Río Usumacincta/Pasión system, which could be traveled inland, giving seafaring canoes access to both the highlands and the lowlands.

The Río Motagua starts from the highlands of Guatemala and empties into the Caribbean. The Río Pasión/Ucamacincta river system also originates in the Guatemalan highlands and empties into the Gulf of Mexico.

It may have been one of these seafaring canoes that Christopher Columbus first encountered off the shores of the Bay Islands of Honduras. Jade and obsidian appear to be some of the more valuable found here.

The obsidian would have been brought from Ixtepeque in northern Guatemala, which was nearly 700 km away from Tulum. This huge distance, coupled with the density of obsidian found at the site, shows that Tulum was a major center for the trading of obsidian.

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The original name of the settlement is unknown.
Kohunlich’s name comes from the English “Cohune Ridge”.

Attalea cohune, commonly known as the cohune palm (also rain tree, American oil palm, corozo palm, or manaca palm), is a species characteristic of the Petén area.

In 1912, when the site was first visited by the American archaeologist Raymond Merwin, the place was known as Clarksville, referring to the logging camp that was 3 kilometers north of the monumental area of Kohunlich.

The site was settled by 200 BC, but most of the structures were built in the Early Classic period from about 250 to 600 AD. Many of them are still covered with thick vegetation and overgrown by trees.

The city appears to have functioned as a regional center and stop along the trade routes through the southern Yucatán from the 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 best known for its Temple of the Masks, an Early Classic pyramid whose central stairway is flanked by huge humanized stucco masks.

The Temple was built around 500 A.D. and is one of the oldest structures at Kohunlich. After 700 A.D., this temple was covered over with a Terminal Classic construction, which protected the masks and accounts for the marvelous state of their preservation today.

The only standing remains of the later temple are some steps in the lower portion of the stairs.

The road approaches the site from the north and leads into an enormous central plaza ringed by pyramids and temple platforms. To the north is a massive, raised acropolis, or citadel, with a palace complex around a courtyard to the northwest.

Further east is the Temple of the Masks, built in honor of the sun god. Originally there were eight carved masks flanking its central staircase; only five remain, three having been looted.

The region is characterized by warm temperatures and wet and dry seasons.

• The wet season, extending from June to October brings occasional rainfall.
• The dry season from November to May ensures comfortable temperatures.

Visitors can expect temperatures ranging from 21°C to 32°C around the year.

The best time to visit Chacchoben

The ideal time to explore the Chacchoben archaeological site and surrounding areas is during the dry season, from November to May, when the weather conditions are predictable, and the site is easier to traverse.

The months of December to February offer particularly pleasant temperatures, making it an excellent time for a leisurely exploration of the ruins. Avoiding the peak of the wet season will ensure an enjoyable visit.

Chacchoben in the Mayan language means “the place of red corn”.

The first human settlements in the area have been dated to around 1000 BC.

By 360 AD Chacchoben had become the largest community in the region of the lakes and consolidated as the most prestigious ceremonial center boasting Gran Basamento as its most important ritual plaza.

In the 1940s a farm was established near the site, but the ruins were officially reported to the Mexican government in June 1972 by an American archaeologist who made the first maps of the ruins of Chacchoben.

He stumbled upon this site while flying a helicopter, noticed numerous hills in predominately flat lands, and realized there were temples beneath these hills, which were naturally covered over a period of 2,000 years.

The site was excavated and restored in 1994 but remained closed until 2002.

Chacchoben is characterized by large temples and massive platform groups, its structures date from 700 AD. Temple One, soaring above the canopy of the tropical forest, still expresses the glory of ancient sophistication.

Visitors to the site today follow a circular path that includes three excavated and restored pyramids, as well as many walls and stairs. Excavations continue at several mounds that are known to contain more buildings.

Some of the ancient pyramidal structures still show traces of the red paint they were originally coated with, and INAH has installed shaded areas to prevent further degradation of this pigment by exposure to the sun rays.

At the base of the largest pyramid is a large stela with Mayan hieroglyphs.

The surrounding jungle is characterized by an abundance of fauna such as deer, peccaries, armadillos, gray foxes, spider monkeys, and howler monkeys. Deeper in the jungle you can find jaguar, ocelot, puma, and tapir.

Chacchoben is approximately 150 km north of Chetumal.

You can hire a guided tour take a taxi or rent a car for a more flexible and comfortable journey. Follow Highway 186 will take you directly to Chacchoben ruins. The scenic drive allows you to enjoy the beauty of the Yucatan.

Chacchoben is about 300 km southwest of Cancun.

The most common way to reach Chacchoben from Cancun is by taking a bus or driving. The journey typically takes around 4-5 hours by car. Alternatively, guided tours from Cancun to and from Chacchoben are available.

Playa del Carmen is approximately 240 km northeast of Chacchoben.

You can take a bus or arrange for private transportation. Driving is another option, and the journey usually takes around 3 to 4 hours. Guided tours departing from Playa del Carmen, include transportation and guide.

Tulum is about 70 km northwest of Chacchoben.

The drive from Tulum takes approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. You can either rent a car, hire a taxi, or take a bus to get to Chacchoben. Guided tours from Tulum provide an informative way to explore the archaeological site.

The name Dzibanche means “writing on wood” in the Mayan language.

This site takes its name from the sculpted wooden lintels of the Temple of the Lintels.

During the Early Classic period of Mesoamerican chronology, the city may have been the seat of the Kan (“snake”) dynasty that later ruled from Calakmul to the southwest; Dzibanche appears to have been the Kan capital in the 5th and 6th centuries.

The hieroglyphic stairway at Dzibanche contains the earliest known use of the Kan dynasty Emblem glyph, dated to AD 495. Around 580 to 590, the Kan dynasty apparently moved their dynastic seat to Calakmul.

At the end of the Terminal Classic period, Dzibanche was one of the last cities in the Maya area to create a dated hieroglyphic text, in AD 909.

Dzibanche was a large city featuring architecture in the Peten style. Excavations have uncovered a hieroglyphic stairway depicting sculpted representations of bound captives, captured by Yuknoom Ch’een I, a Kan dynasty king of Dzibanche.

One of these captives is named Yax K’ahk’ Jolo’m and, although his place of origin is not mentioned in the accompanying text, the form of his name indicates that he came from a city relatively close to Dzibanche itself.

At least two of the sculpted blocks may date to the 5th century AD.

The most important structures at Dzibanche include the Temple of the Captives, the Temple of the Lintels, and the Temple of the Owl. The K’inichna’ Pyramid is a large temple located outside of the site core.

The Lamay Group is a small outlying architectural group that formed a part of the city.

The Cormoranes Pyramid is the largest pyramid at Dizibanche. It was built during the 5th century AD using the Teotihuacan-influenced talud-tablero style of Maya architecture.

The pyramid is decorated with friezes that were sculpted from stucco and coated with red paint; the friezes feature symbols that are also in the Teotihuacan style. The structure is the funerary pyramid of Sky Witness, one of the kings of the Kan dynasty.

The K’inich Na’ Pyramid (“House of the Sun God”) is a large pyramid approximately 2 kilometers north of the site core. Two royal burials were discovered inside the structure, accompanied by jade offerings.

The K’inich Na’ Pyramid is surrounded by a number of smaller palace-type structures and the group is linked to the site core by a causeway. The group was likely to be the home of an elite lineage group and was placed to extend the city’s region of control over the northern parts of the surrounding bajo.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

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Coba is located around two lagoons. A series of elevated stone and plaster roads radiate from the central site to various smaller sites near and far. These are known by the Maya term sacbe.

Some of these causeways go east, and the longest runs over 100 km westwards to the site of Yaxuna. The site contains several large temple pyramids, the tallest, in what is known as the Nohoch Mul group of structures, some 42 meters in height.

Ixmoja is the tallest pyramid on the Yucatán peninsula.

Coba is estimated to have had some 50,000 inhabitants (and possibly significantly more) at its peak of civilization, and the built-up area extends over some 80 km². The site was occupied by a sizable agricultural population by the 1st century.

The bulk of Coba’s major construction seems to have been made in the middle and late Classic period, about 500 to 900, with most of the dated hieroglyphic inscriptions from the 7th century.

However, Coba remained an important site in the Post-Classic era, and new temples were built and old ones were kept in repair until at least the 14th century, possibly as late as the arrival of the Spanish.

Archaeological evidence indicates that Cobá was first settled between 100 BC and 100 AD. At that time, there was a town with buildings of wood and palm fronts and flat platforms. The only archeological evidence of the time is fragments of pottery.

After 100 AD, the area around Coba evidenced strong population growth, and with it an increase in its social and political status among Maya city states which would ultimately make Coba one of the biggest and most powerful city-states in the northern Yucatán area.

Between 200 and 600 AD, Coba must have dominated a vast area, including the north of the state of Quintana Roo and areas in the east of the state of Yucatán. This power resided in its control of large swaths of farmland, control over trading routes, and—critically for a Mayan city—control over ample water resources.

Among the trading routes, Coba probably controlled ports like Xel Há.

Coba traded extensively with other Mayan communities, particularly the ones further south along the Caribbean coast in what is now Belize and Honduras. It utilized the ports of Xcaret, Xel-Há, Tankah, Muyil, and Tulum.

Coba must have maintained close contact with the large city-states of Guatemala and the south of Campeche like Tikal, Dzibanche or Calakmul. To maintain its influence, Coba must have established military alliances and arranged marriages among its elites.

It is quite noteworthy that Coba shows traces of Teotihuacan architecture, like a platform in the Paintings group that was explored in 1999, which would attest to the existence of contacts with the central Mexican cultures and its powerful city of the early Classic epoch.

Stelae uncovered at Coba are believed to depict that Coba had many female rulers.

After 600 AD, the emergence of powerful city-states of the Puuc culture and the emergence of Chichén Itzá altered the political spectrum in the Yucatán peninsula and began eroding the dominance of Coba.

Beginning around 900 or 1000 AD, Coba must have begun a lengthy power struggle with Chichén Itzá, with the latter dominating at the end as it gained control of key cities such as Yaxuná.

After 1000 AD, Coba lost much of its political weight among city-states, although it maintained some symbolic and religious importance. This allowed it to maintain or recover some status, which is evidenced by the new buildings dating to the time 1200-1500 AD, now built in the typical Eastern coastal style.

However, power centers and trading routes had moved to the coast, forcing cities like Coba into a secondary status, although somewhat more successful than its more ephemeral enemy Chichén Itzá.

The Greatest of the Coba Kings was King Goon. Coba was abandoned at the time the Spanish conquered the peninsula around 1550.

This site was never completely lost, but it was not examined until the 1920s. John Lloyd Stephens mentioned hearing reports of the site in 1841, but it was so distant from any known modern road or village that he decided the difficulty in trying to get there was too daunting.

For much of the rest of the 19th century, the area could not be visited by outsiders due to the Caste War of Yucatán.

Teoberto Maler paid Coba a short visit in 1893 and took at least one photograph, but unfortunately did not publish it at the time and the site remained unknown to the archeological community.

Amateur explorer Dr. Thomas Gann was brought to the site by some local Maya hunters in February 1926. Gann published the first first-hand description of the ruins later the same year.

Gann gave a short description to the archeologists of the Carnegie Institution project at Chichen Itza, which sent out an expedition under J. Eric S. Thompson. Thompson’s initial report of a surprisingly large site with many inscriptions prompted Sylvanus Morley to mount a more thorough examination of the site.

Eric Thompson made several return visits to the site through 1932, in which year he published a detailed description. Much of the site, including its road system was mapped in the mid 1970s (Folan).

Some residences were excavated in the early 1980s (Benevides and Manzanilla).

The site remained little visited due to its remoteness until the first modern road was opened up to Coba in the early 1970s. As a major resort was planned for Cancún, it was realized that clearing and restoring some of the large sites could make it an important tourist attraction.

The Mexican National Institute of Anthropology & History began some archeological excavations in 1972 and consolidated a couple of buildings. At the start of the 1980s, another road to Coba was opened up and paved, and a regular bus service began.

Coba became a tourist destination shortly thereafter, with many visitors visiting the site on day trips from Cancún and the Riviera Maya. Only a small portion of the site has been cleared from the jungle and restored by archaeologists.

The archaeological site of Coba has become very popular. One of the main attractions to visitors of Coba is the Nohoch Mul pyramide which is still open for the public to climb its 130 steps up to the top of the site.

Coba is estimated to have had a population of over 50,000 at its peak. There are many tall stone-carved monuments at the complex, called stelae. Some stelae here depict women, suggesting the city had many female rulers.

Coba’s claim to fame is the largest network of stone causeways in the ancient Mayan world, called sacbe (white roads). Over 50 of these roads have been discovered at the site, with 16 of them open to the public.

The raised stone pathways connect clusters of residential areas to the pyramid and small lakes used as a water supply nearby. There are two well-preserved ball courts on the site too, used for playing ōllamaliztli, a traditional Mayan ballgame.

Coba isn’t as excavated as other sites, so you feel like you’re wandering through a forest, with many structures still covered in trees.

Climbing The Pyramid

The Nohoch Mul or Ixmoja pyramid is part of the Nohoch Mul group of buildings. It was built between 250 and 550 AD, but the temple on top of the pyramid was built much later (between 1250 and 1539 AD).

Nohoch Mul is the largest pyramid located in the Cobá Archaeological Zone. Its name in Mayan means “great mound”. The pyramid is also known as Ixmoja. The pyramid is 42 meters tall and is the heart of the city.

The 120-stone steps are much steeper than they look.

This is why there’s a thick rope in the middle for safety. But the view from the top is worth the climb. A light breeze cools you off from the summit while gazing at the lush jungle landscape stretching out in all directions.

Plus, there aren’t many places where you can climb a Mayan pyramid anymore. As a site gets more popular and tourism increases, authorities eventually restrict climbing to preserve structures and reduce accidents.

Be careful climbing down the pyramid, it’s more difficult than going up!

Speaking of water sources, no visit to Coba would be complete without taking a dip in the refreshing limestone cenotes nearby. Cenotes are underground sinkholes filled with fresh water, found all over the Yucatan.

There are 3 cenotes just a 10-minute drive away from the ruins.

• Cenote Choo-Ha is a shallow water cenote with crystal blue water and many stalagmites hanging from the ceiling.
• Cenote Tamcach-Ha is a deep underground cavern with two fun jumping platforms at 5 and 10 meters high.
• Cenote Multun-Ha is a bit further away in the jungle and boasts a large wooden deck.

These cenotes are the best way to cool off after a hot day exploring the ruins of Coba!

The archaeological site of Coba is located about 90 km east of the Mayan site of Chichen Itza, about 40 km west of the Caribbean Sea, and 44 km northwest of the site of Tulum, with which it is connected by a modern road.

There are a few options for how to get to the site:

• By bus from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum.
• Colectivos (public taxi vans) but, you’ll have to change vans in Tulum.
• Renting a car is the most flexible and allows you to visit also cenotes.

The road is an easy and smooth ride.

The climate of the municipality is warm and subhumid with rains in the summer of higher humidity.

The average annual temperature is 25.8 ° C, the lowest temperatures are recorded in the month of January with 13 ° C, and the maximum is reached in the month of August with 32.9 ° C.

The prevailing winds are those of the southeast.

Annual rainfall is at 1,331.2 millimeters with a rainy season from June to November.

The climate is affected by cyclones or hurricanes, which increase precipitation, especially in the summer.

The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 of each year. In October 2005, Hurricane Wilma passed directly over Playa del Carmen, remaining in the vicinity for two days and causing significant damage and a temporary drop in tourist arrivals.

Fortunately, most of the damage was relatively superficial and repaired within a few weeks of the storm.

Hurricane Wilma arrived from the Caribbean Sea, passing over Cozumel before making landfall in Playa del Carmen. It then moved north along the Mexican coast, hitting Cancún especially hard.

In 1996 its population was 10,000 inhabitants, in 2003 it already had a population of 49,000 inhabitants, mainly due to the immigration of people from different parts of the republic in search of the work demanded by the tourism industry.

According to the 2010 Census, the city has 159,310 residents; this can be translated to 14,285 new residents per year, and 39 new residents per day in the last 7 years.

It is currently stated that for this year 2018, there will be a total of around 500,000 inhabitants.

In pre-Hispanic times Playa del Carmen was called Xaman Há (“Water of the North”) and was a starting point for the Mayans on their pilgrimage to the Ixchel sanctuary in Cozumel.

During the sixteenth century, the Spanish invaded and conquered most of the Mayan sites. However, unlike many others, Playa del Carmen never became a Spanish settlement.

With the arrival of the Spaniards in Mexico, it is recorded that Francisco de Montejo was the one who conquered this region in 1526, founding the town of Salamanca where Xel-Ha is currently located.

Also, a year later, a lieutenant of Montejo, Alonso Dávila, established his camp in Xaman-Ha, which he described as a fishing village. Despite these events, this area remained very little inhabited during the entire period of the colony.

The founding of Playa del Carmen was due to a colonizing chicle company on the eastern coast of Yucatan, which in 1908 obtained from the government of Porfirio Diaz the concession to explore forest resources.

This is when a community of fishermen, coconut producers, and the chewing gum tree was located there.

Until the mid-1980s, Playa del Carmen was a small town with less than 1,500 inhabitants, although in the last two decades, it has changed markedly with the growth of tourism.

Tourism to Playa del Carmen began with the passenger ferry service to Cozumel, an island across the Cozumel Channel and a world-famous scuba diving destination.

Playa del Carmen has recently undergone extremely rapid development with new luxury residential condominium buildings, restaurants, boutiques, and entertainment venues.

Tourist activity in Playa del Carmen centers on Quinta Avenida, or Fifth Avenue, which stretches from Calle 1 Norte to Calle 40.

A pedestrian walkway located just one or two blocks inland from the beach, Fifth Avenue is lined with hundreds of shops, bars, and restaurants. There are many small boutique hotels on and just off Fifth Avenue and on the beach.

Playacar is a residential and tourist development in Playa del Carmen just south of the main urban area. Most of the all-inclusive hotels, the aviary, and the golf course are located in this development.

There are two phases — phase 1 is mostly residential with a few hotels and some stores, while Phase 2 contains the largest all-inclusive resorts as well as the golf course and a significant number of residential properties.

• The telenovela Peregrina takes place in Playa del Carmen.
• The Real Housewives of Vancouver featured Playa del Carmen in two episodes.
• The Amazing Race was shot on location in Playa del Carmen.
• The Celebrity Mole was set in the Playa del Carmen area.
• UK Reality Series Geordie Shore featured Playa del Carmen.

Playa del Carmen is host to several major annual events the largest being The BPM Festival, a world-famous electronic dance music festival which takes place in January each year.

Carnival of Playa del Carmen

It takes place at the end of January, there are shows and parades where they recreate the Mayan culture.

Feast of the Virgin of Carmen

It is celebrated in July and is one of the most important events for the municipality of Solidaridad since it is the patron saint of the town. On this date, the Carmen Fair is also held to commemorate this celebration.

La Guelaguetza

Playa del Carmen and Oaxaca sister cities by the Guelaguetza, in April it is hosted at the Civic Plaza on July 28 at the Expo Guelaguetza in Playa del Carmen, where you can find handicrafts and products from Oaxaca and also enjoy music and dances typical of that region.

Sacred Mayan Journey

It takes place in November, it is a ritual where hundreds of canoeists sail from Xcaret to the sanctuary of the goddess Ixchel, in Cozumel. They travel to hear the message of their deity, to return to Playa del Carmen to transmit it to the Mayan people, who hope to know what the destination holds.

The participants of this recreation feel the spiritual value of the Mayan roots, paddling kilometers to reach their goal. Thousands of tourists witness this spectacular event every year.

Riviera Maya Jazz Festival

The Riviera Maya Jazz Festival is a renowned music event set against the backdrop of the beautiful Riviera Maya region in Mexico.

It features a diverse lineup of jazz artists, blending traditional and contemporary styles, and takes place in open-air stages, creating a unique fusion of music and natural beauty.

The festival offers a platform for both established and emerging musicians to showcase their talents, making it a must-attend event for jazz enthusiasts and those seeking a cultural and musical experience in a tropical paradise.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

The city is situated on the western side of Chetumal Bay, near the mouth of the Río Hondo.

Because of its location on the Caribbean coastline, it is vulnerable to tropical cyclones; Hurricane Janet and Hurricane Dean, both Category 5 storms, made landfall near Chetumal in 1955 and 2007 respectively.

Chetumal, in modern Maya: Chactemàal, means “Place of the Red Wood”.

In Pre-Columbian times, a city called Chactemal (sometimes rendered as “Chetumal” in early European sources), probably today’s Santa Rita in Belize, was the capital of a Maya state of the same name that roughly controlled the southern quarter of modern Quintana Roo and the northeast portion of Belize. This original Chetumal is now believed to have been on the other side of the Río Hondo, in modern Belize, not at the site of modern Chetumal.

During the Spanish conquest of Yucatán, the Maya state of Chetumal fought off several Spanish expeditions before finally being subjugated in the late 16th century.

The 1840s revolt of the indigenous Maya peoples against Mexican rule, known as the Caste War of Yucatán, drove all the Hispanic people from this region; many settled in British Honduras (modern Belize).

The current site of Chetumal was established as a Mexican port town in 1898, originally under the name Payo Obispo. The name was officially changed to Chetumal in 1936.

Two hurricanes in the 1940s leveled the entire town; Chetumal was devastated a third time in 1955 by Hurricane Janet. After this, the town was rebuilt with more solid construction, with concrete blocks replacing wood as the usual material.

The population of Chetumal was small (about 5,000 in 1950) until the construction of highways linking it to the rest of Mexico in the 1960s and 1970s; the city then boomed with substantial migration from other parts of Mexico.

The city has a Museum of Maya Culture as well as a zoo, the Payo Obispo Zoo, which belongs to the children of Quintana Roo.

Chetumal’s economy has been influenced by its proximity to the border with Belize. A goods and services tax-free zone (Corozal Free Zone) established on the Belizean side attracts many visitors to Chetumal and also provides a ready market for Chetumal’s retailers and traders.

A large indoor mall, the Plaza de las Américas, houses a modern movie theater (which belongs to the Mexican chain Cinepolis), various department store chains, fast-food outlets, and a Chedraui supermarket.

The city has a music school which offers lessons of various instruments as well as music theory and history. The school is the main music school of the state and is the home of the Junior symphonic orchestra of the state Quintana Roo (“Orquesta sinfonica juvenil del estado de Quintana Roo”) which is directed by Silvia Alcantara Chavero.

The city houses two theaters. The “Teatro Minerva”, which is an open-air theater and belongs to the state’s music school, and the “Teatro Constituyentes”, which is a private-owned theater.

There is a Country club, which features tennis, football and basketball courts, a gym, a swimming pool, a steam-bath and a lounge for parties.

In the early 1990s, the University of Quintana Roo was established at Chetumal, providing training and advanced tertiary degrees over a range of subjects.

Monuments

Monument to the Flag (Monumento a la Bandera), the first monument built in Chetumal. It consists of a white obelisk that has a clock dial on each of its faces.
Cradles of the Meztizaje (Monumento Cuna del Meztizaje), constructed in the entrance of Chetumal. It has the form of a Mayan pyramid on which are the statues of Gonzalo Guerrero, his wife Zazil Há and the children of both.
Andrés Quintana Roo Memorial, dedicated to Andrés Quintana Roo, whom the state was named after.
Monument to the Fishermen, one of the most recent, located in the Bay of Chetumal.

• Cultural Center of the Fine Arts (Centro Cultural de las Bellas Artes), located in the center of the city. The building is housed in what was the school Belisario Domínguez, which was the first school of Quintana Roo.
• Museum of the Mayan Culture (Museo de la Cultura Maya), considered the largest and most comprehensive museum in the state dedicated to the Mayan culture. It has an important collection of authentic and reproductions of classical works, and tells the development of Mayan culture, its origins, as well as various aspects of their daily life.
• Museum of the City. Tied to the Cultural Center of the Fine Arts, dedicated to the exhibition of photographs, tools and documents that tell the story of the founding of the city.

• Ecological Park (Parque Ecológico)
• Cheese Park
• Biouniverzoo Zoo

Chetumal is a perfect city to stay there for a while exploring the surrounding areas in daily tours on your own or guided ones.

Suggested 1 day tours from Chetumal

• Chacchoben
• Kinichna + Dzibanche
• Kohunlich
• Bacalar
• Xpuhil, Hormiguero, Rio Bec, Chicanna, Balamku
• Calakmul

For more information about all these suggested places to visit and how to get there, use the search form on our website or related tags.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information to the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

SNational Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700

Cancún has a tropical climate, specifically a tropical wet and dry climate, with few temperature differences between seasons, but pronounced rainy and dry seasons.

The city is warm year-round and moderated by onshore trade winds, with an annual mean temperature of 27.1°C. Unlike inland areas of the Yucatán Peninsula, sea breezes restrict high temperatures from reaching 35 °C on most afternoons.

Annual rainfall is around 1,340 millimeters, falling on 115 days per year.

More temperate conditions occur from November to February with occasional refreshing northerly breezes, it is drier and becomes hotter in March and April. It is hottest from May to September, due to its proximity to the Caribbean and Gulf humidity is high year-round, especially during hurricane season (averages close to 70% on rain-free days).

The Hotel Zone juts into the Caribbean Sea, it is surrounded by ocean, therefore, daytime temperatures are around 1-2°C less and wind speeds are higher than at the airport located some distance inland, which is the official meteorological station for Cancún.

Thanks to the Yucatán current continually bringing warm water from further south, the sea temperature is always very warm, with lows of 26 °C in winter and highs of 29°C in summer.

Hurricanes

The tropical storm season lasts from May to December, the rainy season extends into January with peak precipitation in October. February to early May tends to be drier with only occasional scattered showers.

Cancún is located in one of the main Caribbean hurricane impact areas. Although large hurricanes are rare, they have struck near Cancún in recent years, with Hurricane Wilma in 2005 being the largest.

Hurricane Gilbert made a devastating direct hit on Cancún in September 1988 and the tourist hotels needed to be rebuilt.

In both cases, federal, state, and municipal authorities were well prepared to deal with most of the effects on tourists and local residents.

Hurricane Dean in 2007 also made its mark on the city of Cancún.

Hurricane Gilbert – 1988

1988’s Hurricane Gilbert was the second most intense hurricane ever observed in the Atlantic basin. It landed on the Yucatán peninsula after crossing over the island of Cozumel.

In the Cancún region, a loss of $87 million USD due to a decline in tourism was estimated for the months of October, November, and December in 1988.

Hurricane Wilma – 2005

On October 21, 2005, Hurricane Wilma made landfall on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, with strong winds in excess of 240 km/h.

The hurricane’s eye first passed over the island of Cozumel and then made an official landfall near Playa del Carmen in the state of Quintana Roo at around midnight on October 22 EDT with winds near 230 km/h.

Portions of the island of Cozumel experienced the calm eye of Wilma for several hours with some blue skies and sunshine visible at times. The eye slowly drifted northward, with the center passing just to the west of Cancún, Quintana Roo.

Hurricane Dean – 2007

Two years later, in 2007, Hurricane Dean made landfall as a Category 5 storm in Majahual, 310 km to the south of Cancún. Fierce winds at the edge of Dean’s impact cone stripped sand off 12.1 km of beaches from Punta Cancún to Punta Nizuc.

The authorities asked tourism operators to suspend sending tourists to Cancún while Hurricane Dean was approaching but did ask airlines to send empty planes, which were then used to evacuate tourists already there.

Place names

The name Cancún, Cancum, or Cankun first appears on 18th-century maps. The meaning of Cancún is unknown, and it is also unknown whether the name is of Maya origin.

In older English-language documents, the city’s name is sometimes spelled “Cancoon”, an attempt to convey the sound of the name.

If it is of Maya origin, possible translations include “Place/Seat/Throne of the Snake” or “Enchanted Snake”.

As documented in the earliest colonial sources, the island of Cancún was originally known to its Maya inhabitants as Nizuc (in Yucatec Maya meaning either “promontory” or “point of grass”. Snake iconography was prevalent at the pre-Columbian site of Nizuc.

There are two possible translations of Cancún, based on the Mayan pronunciation “kaan kun”.

• The first translation is “nest of snakes”.
• The second version and less accepted is “place of the gold snake”.

Shield

The shield of the municipality of Benito Juárez, which represents the city of Cancún, was designed by the Californian Mexican-American artist Joe Vera. It is divided into three parts:

• Blue color symbolizes the Caribbean Sea
• Yellow is the color of the sand
• Red is the color of the sun with its rays

Prehispanic era

During the Classic and the post-Classic periods, the Maya maintained a commercial network from Laguna de Terminos to Honduras.

For this activity, they established maritime routes whose trajectories crossed the entire coast of the current Mexican state of Quintana Roo. That’s why they built buildings by the sea to carry out commercial exchanges, as well as to monitor and help navigation.

According to archaeological studies, the sites El Meco, Yamil Lu’um, and El Rey were inhabited points until the 16th century. In the Chronicles of the Indies was described a town with the name of Belma, probably it was El Meco.

Background to the construction of the city

The area that now includes Cancun and Isla Mujeres was explored by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba in 1517. The first geographical reference to Cancun or Cancuen Island is found on a map drawn by the cartographer Juan de Dios González in the year 1776.

During the 19th century and in the year 1841, Captain Richard Owen Smith, on a tour of the Caribbean and Central America, indicates in his logbook the existence of pre-Hispanic buildings at the north and south ends of the island.

It follows that the sites in question are El Rey, Yamil Lu’um, and El Meco.

The American John Lloyd Stephens and the British Frederick Catherwood described in 1842, although very briefly, the existence of two buildings located in Punta Kancum. They probably referred to the temples that are located in Yamil Lu’um, in the Hotel Zone.

..In the afternoon we headed towards the mainland, passing through the island of Kancum, which is a strip of land covered with dunes and some stone buildings that are still visible. All this coast is covered with rock reefs with one or another narrow channel, which allows passage to the canoes, to enter to find shelter, but at night it is very dangerous to pretend. We had very good wind, but since the next point was still quite a distance away, the skipper (captain) determined to anchor at four o’clock in the afternoon to the lee of Punta Nizuc..

Alice and Augustus Le Plongeon visited the island in 1877 and 1878.

They mentioned the existence of a site they call Ciudad Nizucte in the far south, possibly the current site of El Rey because in the surroundings of Punta Nizuc, there are no vestiges of other pre-Hispanic settlements have been found.

Then, in 1895, the American William H. Holmes arrived on the island with the Allison V. Armor expedition and mentioned the existence of numerous buildings of identical appearance to those on neighboring islands and on the continent.

He probably referred to the same sites: El Meco, Yamil Lu’um, and El Rey.

20 century

In the years after the Conquest, much of the Maya population died off or left as a result of disease, warfare, piracy, and famines, leaving only small settlements on Isla Mujeres and Cozumel Island.

When the development of the area as a resort was started on January 23, 1970, Isla Cancún had only three residents, caretakers of the coconut plantation of Don José de Jesús Lima Gutiérrez, who lived on Isla Mujeres.

Some 117 people lived in nearby Puerto Juarez, a fishing village and military base.

Due to the reluctance of investors to gamble in an unknown area, the Mexican government had to finance the first nine hotels.

The first hotel financed was the Hyatt Cancún Caribe, but the first hotel built was the Playa Blanca, which later became a Blue Bay hotel. It is now named Temptation Resort. At the time it was an elite destination, famous for its virgin white-sand beaches.

The city began as a tourism project in 1974 as an Integrally Planned Center, a pioneer of FONATUR (National Fund for Tourism Development), formerly known as INFRATUR.

Since then, it has undergone a comprehensive transformation from being a fisherman’s island surrounded by virgin forest and undiscovered shores to being one of the two most well-known Mexican resorts, along with Acapulco.

The World Tourism Organization (WTO), through its foundation UNWTO-Themis, awarded the Best of the Best award “for excellence and good governance” to the Trust for Tourism Promotion of Cancun on February 3, 2007.

This award ensured Cancún the ongoing support of the Department of Education and Knowledge Management of the WTO.

Most ‘Cancunenses’ are from Yucatán and other Mexican states. A growing number are from the rest of the Americas and Europe.

The municipal authorities have struggled to provide public services for the constant influx of people, as well as limiting squatters and irregular developments, which now occupy an estimated ten to fifteen percent of the mainland area on the fringes of the city.

In the 21st century, Cancún had largely avoided the bloodshed associated with the trade of illegal drugs but is known for its retail drug sales to tourists as well as for being a center of money laundering.

The links with Cancún date from the 1990s and early 2000s, when the area was controlled by the Juárez and Gulf drug cartels.

In recent years Los Zetas, a group that broke away from the Gulf Cartel, has taken control of many smuggling routes through the Yucatán, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

The 2010 United Nations Climate Change Conference was held in Cancún from November 29 to December 10 of that year.

Apart from the island tourist zone, the Mexican residential section of the city, the downtown part of which is known as “El Centro,” follows a master plan that consists of “super manzanas” (“superblocks”), giant trapezoids with a central, open, non-residential area cut in by u-shaped residential streets.

These open centers usually have walkways and ‘sidewalks’ around a central garden park, football fields, a library, etc., which make the mainland “Mexican” Cancún bicycle-friendly.

The residential roads of central or ‘Mainland’ Cancún, U-shaped, and cul-de-sacs, insulate housing from the noise and congestion of the main flow of traffic.

Mainland Cancún has a central market that resembles an outlet mall, and colorful buildings on a pedestrian city block.

• Ave. Tulum is the main north-south artery, connecting downtown to the airport, which is some 30 km south of downtown.
• Ave. Tulum is bisected by Ave. Cobá.
• East of Ave. Tulum, Cobá becomes Ave. Kukulcan serves as the primary road through the 7-shaped hotel zone.
• Ave. Tulum ends on the north side at Ave. Paseo José López Portillo which connects to the main highway west to Chichén Itzá and Mérida.
• Another major north-south road is Ave. Bonampak which runs roughly parallel to Ave. Tulum.

The main ferry to Isla Mujeres is located in Puerto Juarez, on Ave. Paseo José López Portillo.

To save on the cost of installing sewer systems and other public services, the design of much of the rest of the city reverted to the grid plan after Hurricane Gilbert in 1988.

The newest upper-middle-class residential areas reflect the original plan but are much less intimate.

Less expensive developments are composed almost entirely of identical one- or two-story small row houses, sometimes built around interior plazas or 4 story apartment blocks.

Until recently, most mainland buildings were four stories or shorter; since 2005, there has been an influx of condominium and luxury retail and office space concentrated along Ave. Bonampak.

Cancún’s Mainland or Downtown area has diverged from the original plan; development is scattered around the city.

The remaining undeveloped beach and lagoon front areas outside the hotel zone are now under varying stages of development, in Punta Sam and Puerto Juarez to the north, continuing along Bonampak and south toward the airport along Boulevard Donaldo Colosio.

One development abutting the hotel zone is Puerto Cancún, also Malecon Cancún is another large development.

Cancun Airport’s old Control Tower Memorial

Despite being a young city, Cancun has a memorial monument of its foundation on a replica of the old Airport Control Tower that resembles its own date of foundation.

The original Control Tower was a provisional wooden structure to satisfy the operative needs of the recently created airport.

Some documents of the city mention that at that time there were no other formal buildings constructed in the city, possibly the first built structure in Cancun’s recent history.

The old airport was located in the same part of the city that today corresponds to Kabah Avenue.

The tower is 15 meters tall, has a staircase of 45 steps, and has a base dimension of 5 x 5 meters. The memorial was first built in 2002, with the donations of Aerocaribe, a local airline, but the structure was damaged after Hurricane Wilma in 2005.

After the claims of the local people asking to rebuild the tower memorial, a new version was built in 2010, which was later abandoned without proper maintenance until Woox Pinturas, another local wood maintenance company, made a donation to restore the structure to its original appearance.

Nightlife in Cancun

It is not possible to have vacation time in Cancún without being caught by its nightlife, which flows in clubs where international DJs and acrobatic performances can be found.

In addition, the fun can go beyond the shore and you can enjoy parties on board a pirate boat or on a trajinera.

Cancun beaches are mainly located along the Kukulkan Boulevard in the Hotel Zone.

If you travel with children, or elderly people, or in the case that you can´t swim very well, we suggest you choose a hotel located between kilometers 3 to 8.5. On those specific beaches, ocean waves are soft as they are located in front of Isla Mujeres which allows the formation of a bay called Bahía de Isla Mujeres.

On the other hand, if you stay downtown, you will be able to find 11 public beaches such as Perlas, Langostas, Tortugas, Delfines, and Chac Mol.

Most of them have been granted the Blue Flag eco-label which certifies coast destinations that have reached top standards in water quality, environmental management, safety, services, and environmental education activities.

Besides having the best beaches in the world, you can enjoy exciting water activities in Cancún such as diving, snorkeling, kayaking, sailing on a Catamaran or speed boat, flyboarding, windsurfing, and paddle boarding in the Caribbean Sea or the Nichupte Lagoon.

There are some small Mayan vestiges of the pre-Columbian Maya civilization in Cancún. El Rey (Las Ruinas del Rey) is located in the Hotel Zone. El Meco, a more substantial site, is found on the mainland just outside the city limits on the road north to Punta Sam.

Close by in the Riviera Maya and the Grand Costa Maya, there are sites such as Cobá and Muyil (Riviera) the small Polé (now Xcaret), and Kohunlich, Kinichná, Dzibanché, Oxtankah, Tulum, and Chacchoben, in the south of the state. Chichén Itzá is in the neighboring state of Yucatán.

When it comes to food, Cancún offers a culinary experience through the fusion of Mexican and international flavors which are masterfully developed by the best chefs in the world.

There are restaurants that have been granted the 5 Diamonds of the American Automobile Association and have been recognized by the Michelin Guide.

Cancún is served by the Cancún International Airport with an added main runway that commenced operation in October 2009. It has many flights to North America, Central America, South America, Asia, and Europe.

It is located in the northeast of the Yucatán Peninsula serving an average of about fifteen million passengers per year. The airport is located around 20 km from the hotel zone, approximately a 20-minute trip by car.

The island of Isla Mujeres is located off the coast and is accessible by ferry from Puerto Juárez.

You can dial 078 from any phone, where you can find free information about tourist attractions, airports, travel agencies, car rental companies, embassies and consulates, fairs and exhibitions, hotels, hospitals, financial services, migratory and other issues.

Or dial the toll-free (in Mexico) number 01-800-006-8839.

You can also request information the email correspondencia@sectur.gob.mx

MORE EMERGENCY NUMBERS:

General Information: 040 (not free)

National Emergency Service: 911

Radio Patrols: 066
Police (Emergency): 060
Civil Protection: +52(55)5683-2222
Anonymous Complaint: 089

Setravi (Transport Mobility): +52(55)5209-9913
Road Emergency: 074

Cruz Roja: 065 o +52(55)5557-5757
Firefighters: 068 o +52(55)5768-3700