{"id":3739,"date":"2018-02-19T17:13:15","date_gmt":"2018-02-19T21:13:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/?p=3739"},"modified":"2018-02-19T17:13:15","modified_gmt":"2018-02-19T21:13:15","slug":"traveling-yucatan-mexicos-secret","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/traveling-yucatan-mexicos-secret","title":{"rendered":"Traveling in the Yucat\u00e1n: Inside Mexico’s best kept secret"},"content":{"rendered":"

My husband and I were looking for a fun winter trip that wouldn\u2019t be too difficult to fit into a week, and the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula in Mexico turned out to be the perfect option: with the warm weather, the lack of jetlag, and the short flight times, plus the fact that neither of us had been, it was ideal. Also, we were super interested in seeing a part of Mexico that is off the beaten path, complete with plenty of ruins from the Mayan civilization. <\/span><\/p>\n

I quickly brushed off my five years\u2019 worth of Spanish education and set up what turned out to be an exciting, but also relaxing, trip. Not fans of resorts or laying out on the beach too much while abroad, we were happy to use Explorica\u2019s <\/span>Yucat\u00e1n Adventure<\/span><\/a> itinerary with a couple of omissions and additions. The itinerary was perfect for us: it skips Canc\u00fan and went straight to what I think are the more fun parts of traveling, but without sacrificing relaxation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Traveling in the Yucat\u00e1n: An inside scoop<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Day 1: Valladolid<\/b><\/p>\n

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My other half poses in front of the Cathedral of “San Servacio o Gervasio\u201d in Valladolid.<\/p><\/div>\n

On day one, we arrived in Canc\u00fan and rented a car. Luckily, on an Explorica tour you only have to worry about getting on your bus and relaxing after your flight, but you do still get to enjoy long drives on the region\u2019s excellent highway system, which was essentially made for tourists. Getting over our initial fear of driving abroad (refreshingly easy in Mexico), we loved these long stretches that included glimpses of small towns on the outskirts. <\/span><\/p>\n

After about a two-hour drive, we arrived in <\/span>Valladolid<\/b><\/a>. A small, cozy town with an easy-to-navigate grid system and pastel-colored architecture, Valladolid is a Spanish colonial town founded in 1543. We took a little walk to the colorful main plaza, complete with fruit and souvenir vendors, and saw the Cathedral of “San Servacio o Gervasio,\u201d which is old, crumbling, and beautiful. Nearby was our first cenote, <\/span>Cenote Zaci<\/b>,* a gorgeous cave pool that\u2019s easy (and free) to view. We were pleasantly surprised to find hammocks at our hotel and slept well for a busy Day 2.<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 2: Valladolid<\/b><\/p>\n

Our trip began in earnest on Day 2 with a trip to the pre- and post-classical Mayan archaeological site <\/span>Ek\u2019 Balam<\/b>. A relatively small site, Ek\u2019 Balam features climbable ruins, which make for a fun adventure. <\/span><\/p>\n

Since we weren\u2019t on an Explorica tour, we didn\u2019t have a guide to lead us through the structures, though luckily for me, my husband is an archaeologist. He pointed out <\/span>Mayan hieroglyphs<\/span><\/a>, with letters that intertwine and act as artwork, along with what looked like a massive hill \u2014 an anomaly in the flat Mexican landscape, the \u201chill\u201d was really an overgrown, not-yet-excavated structure.<\/span><\/p>\n

From there, we drove south past Valladolid to tour sister <\/span>Cenotes<\/b> XKeken<\/b> and <\/span>Dzitnup<\/b>. Both cenotes were gorgeous, featuring turquoise water that was lit by a natural skylight, and little catfish** in the water. The cave pool makes for some scary swimming \u2014 or so I thought \u2014 but it was beautiful, relaxing, and fun. Dzitnup was my personal favorite, as it featured stalactite running down from the ceiling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Returning to Valladolid, we were pleasantly surprised to find that we arrived just in time for a weekly dance festival. We watched some traditional dancing in the main plaza, pet some horses,** and tried free food. If you happen to be there on a Monday night, check it out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 3: M\u00e9rida<\/b><\/p>\n

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Mayap\u00e1n, from the top of a structure.<\/p><\/div>\n

Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1<\/b><\/a> is the quintessential monument: An enormous pyramid is the main feature, and the pre-Columbian site is filled with similarly impressive structures. My favorite part was the ball court, essentially a stadium where Mayans would play a game that might remind you of modern-day basketball. While the site was awesome, we were glad to have visited early in the morning, as it filled up with tourists before long. Hundreds of shopkeepers lined the paths of the site as we left.<\/span><\/p>\n

The nearby <\/span>Ik Kil Cenote<\/b> was an incredible site. It featured railings around the skylight so you could look down directly into the pool. Once inside, you can jump in from a balcony. From there, we went for a walk through the <\/span>Balankanche Caves<\/b>. Once a water source for nearby Mayans, the cave included Mayan artifacts that were left there, with many surrounding a stalactite formation that resembled a tree. Oh, and we saw bats**!<\/span><\/p>\n

Our last stop before traveling to M\u00e9rida was <\/span>Mayap\u00e1n,*<\/b> another Mayan site. This site was much smaller than Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1, but what made it so special was how remote and deserted it was. We were the only people there, and we climbed the ruins and explored them ourselves. It felt as if we had discovered them, and this made it really unique.<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 4: M\u00e9rida<\/b><\/p>\n

We spent most of Day 4 exploring <\/span>M\u00e9rida<\/b>, starting in the beautiful Plaza Grande, a huge square surrounded by government buildings and an incredible 16th-century cathedral. Like Valladolid, the colonial city of M\u00e9rida is on a grid system, so it was very easy to navigate as we made our way to the Paseo de Montejo. Impressive statues along with the beautiful Palacio Cant\u00f3n lined the boulevard. And we didn\u2019t forget to stop at <\/span>Ki\u2019 Xocolatl<\/span><\/a>, a popular chocolate shop in town, and a great place to buy gifts.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Ik Kil Cenote.<\/p><\/div>\n

We now turn to perhaps the highlight of the tour, the <\/span>Chuburn\u00e1 Mangrove<\/b> sunset kayaking tour. This tour was nothing short of gorgeous. My husband and I got in a shared kayak and were led through the mangroves by two local tour guides who explained why the landscape is so important to the Mayan people. We saw baby flamingos** and went through some mangrove corridors that were difficult to navigate. <\/span><\/p>\n

Before heading back to shore, we stopped at a sand dune in the middle of the water, tied up our kayaks, and walked on the dune. From afar, it would have looked like we were walking on water. Sidenote: Even though you\u2019re in a boat, you will get wet on this part of the tour. If you have water shoes, those will be good to have. Otherwise you\u2019ll be barefoot, which is fine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 5: M\u00e9rida<\/b><\/p>\n

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Me, navigating a kayak in the Chuburna Mangrove tour.<\/p><\/div>\n

Uxmal<\/b> was another impressive archaeological site featuring massive palaces and lots of huge iguanas.** The Pyramid of the Magician is your first stop at Uxmal, and you may see people outside clapping. That\u2019s because when you clap at the right spot, a chirp echoes back to you. We walked around and climbed some massive palaces and other ruins before heading to <\/span>Loltun Caves.*<\/b><\/p>\n

An excellent tour guide named Pablo led us through this incredible cave system, which he actually played in when he was little. The caves, he said, are <\/span>sacred to the Mayan people<\/span><\/a>, and were considered entrances into the underworld. They were also strategic for defense and gathering water. Cave paintings, including red hand prints, led us to various parts of the cave system, including beautiful cenotes. When Pablo was young, mammoth bones were strewn about near the entrance to the cenote, and he speculated that animals were led there and pushed into the cenote as a hunting strategy. <\/span><\/p>\n

In probably my favorite interaction with a local the entire trip, my husband and I walked across the street from Loltun, completely parched (we both have an affinity for <\/span>Japanese-style peanuts<\/span><\/a> and didn\u2019t bring enough bottles), and looking for a place to buy water. We found an old woman in a tiny hut surrounded by chickens, featuring an old hammock and an indoor fire, and, strangely, a vending machine. I couldn\u2019t help but applaud the woman\u2019s business model of selling water to dehydrated tourists in the middle of nowhere.<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 6: Playa del Carmen<\/b><\/p>\n

We spent most of the day traveling to <\/span>Playa del Carmen<\/b>, and then I spent the rest of the day being just a little bit sick (Don\u2019t drink the water. That includes ice). We were supposed to go to the beach, but took a nice walk through town instead. It\u2019s an incredibly touristy area, but fun to walk through. The beach was beautiful and there were lots of shops, and the pedestrian-friendly streets made for fun people watching.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Loltun caves.<\/p><\/div>\n

Day 7: Playa del Carmen<\/b><\/p>\n

I was still feeling sick, so we skipped <\/span>Tulum<\/b> (sorry) and went to <\/span>Akumal Bay<\/b> in the afternoon so I could fulfill my life\u2019s goal of seeing a <\/span>sea turtle<\/span><\/a>. We rented snorkels and went for a swim, spotting coral and lots of beautiful fish,** but missing the sea turtles. <\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t worry, though \u2014 since we weren\u2019t on a tour, we were restricted to certain parts of the water. With your tour guide and better timing on their part, you\u2019re far more likely to see our favorite shelled friends on your Explorica trip. In any case, the reef was gorgeous, the water was wonderful, and we had a blast.<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 8: Boston<\/b><\/p>\n

Back home to feed our guinea pigs.<\/span><\/p>\n

The basics of traveling in the Yucat\u00e1n:<\/b><\/h3>\n

Money<\/b>: While US dollars may be accepted in the more touristy areas like Canc\u00fan and Playa del Carmen, the exchange rate for purchases means you\u2019re losing money when you pay with USD. I\u2019d recommend using pesos for the duration of the trip, but especially in less touristy places like Valladolid, where USD are generally not accepted. Try to avoid changing money at the airport, where exchange rates tend to be, well, not as good.<\/span><\/p>\n

Health and safety<\/b>: There was never a time when we felt unsafe in Mexico. Locals were extremely friendly and were very welcoming to tourists. If you\u2019re concerned about State Department warnings about Mexico, note that the advisories are <\/span>state-by-state<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, please be careful not to drink the tap water<\/a>, or anything that is washed with water (like fruits with skins) or ice cubes. Peelable fruits like bananas and oranges are okay. One of our hotels had a water cooler for everyone\u2019s use, but for everywhere else we had to buy bottled water. This also applies to brushing your teeth.<\/span><\/p>\n

One more thing: When snorkeling, be sure to avoid touching coral. Not only is this bad for the coral<\/a>, but it can also be painful (it leaves a mark!).<\/span><\/p>\n

Weather<\/b>: The weather was mild to slightly chilly while we were there (mid-January). Check the forecast online, but it\u2019s pretty consistently beautiful year-round.<\/span><\/p>\n

Language<\/b>: If you have any Spanish education, now is the time to use it! Simple vocabulary<\/a> will get you around fine (asking how much things cost, saying please and thank you, ordering something from a menu), but it\u2019s not completely necessary. Many people speak English, and in general people tried to be accommodating.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*Not on the Explorica <\/span>itinerary<\/span><\/a>. Talk to your Program Consultant about creating a custom tour that includes this activity!<\/span>
\n<\/span>**Faunal sighting!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

My husband and I were looking for a fun winter trip that wouldn\u2019t be too difficult to fit into a week, and the Yucat\u00e1n Peninsula in Mexico turned out to be the perfect option: with the warm weather, the lack of jetlag, and the short flight times, plus the fact that neither of us had Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":38,"featured_media":3740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3739","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-explorica-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3739","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/38"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3739"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3739\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3741,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3739\/revisions\/3741"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3739"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3739"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3739"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}