Out of all the many eco parks in the Yucatan Peninsula, Aktun Chen, 10 miles north of Tulum and only 4 south of Akumal, is on the smaller side—and cheaper side, too. As it features many of the same activities—zip lines, cave-exploring, cenote-swimming—, Aktun Chen is a great place to try out the eco park…
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Here—you quickly learn—time slows down. Only discovered in 2007, the Rio Secreto underground river has been carving out this 8-mile-long cave system for centuries—or even millennia. Though most cave systems in the world are underwater, Rio Secreto is only partially flooded, making it possible to enter and visit the Mayan underworld. The Gods at Rio…
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Xel-Ha is another port settlement from where Mayans sailed to the nearby island of Cozumel to ask Ixchel, the goddess of fertility, for happy marriages and healthy pregnancies. Because this settlement is not directly exposed to the sea, ships launched from the small inlet, thus giving the place its name: Xel-Ha—”water entrance” (or something along…
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While some would describe their experience at some of the sites in the Riviera Maya as “mind-blowing”, that should be taken literally here. Just a few miles south of Playa del Carmen, Xenses park is something of a hybrid between an aquatic park and a science museum. And, as the name implies, it will mess…
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Though very different from Chichen Itza, Chacchoben represents serious competition for the big Mayan celebrity. Not many have heard of it, but it is actually the most popular Mayan ruins south of the Yucatan Peninsula. There has to be a reason, right? Chacchoben was not a small town by any means Chacchoben is one of…
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“El Meco” is one of the smaller archeological sites along the Riviera Maya and doesn’t take much time to visit. It’s a great stop on your way to somewhere else. Because it is the higher structure in the area, it offer a clear image of what life was like when the Mayans ruled. What does…
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Usually, archeological sites don’t have their own museum, but they do at San Miguelito. Located right in Cancun’s hotel zone, San Miguelito is the perfect stop for those who would like to see Mayan ruins, but not venture too far off the beaten path. Curiosities about San Miguelito I know what you’re thinking: San Miguelito…
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Coba is not like any other ancient Mayan city. Rather than a single settlement, it is composed of many. Stone and white roads connect everything to the central—and huge—pyramid. Visiting Coba, you’ll truly see a place like no other. How Coba got to be Coba It is a fact of life nobody can live without…
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There’s a general rule when it comes to motes: if you need one, you’re probably fighting a lot of wars. Becan might seem peaceful at first, but its unusual mote betrays that initial impression. In reality, it had a complicated history with its rival Tikal, in Guatemala. Complicated and violent, as its defensive measures show.…
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Generally speaking, there seem to be two kinds of Mayan ruins along the Yucatan Peninsula. Some, in the middle of cities and towns, are impossible to miss. You can walk right by the others, buried deep in the jungle, without ever knowing there’s a huge settlement behind the tree line. Muyil belongs to this second…
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