The hotels in places like Valladolid are so interesting because many used to be enormous haciendas and mansions. Such is the case of Casa Valladolid Boutique Hotel, a small but fancy hotel a few blocks away from the city’s main plaza. This makes it a perfect location to establish a home base as you visit…
Read more
Though today, Paseo de Montejo is one of the most important avenues in Merida, it used to be the only avenue in Merida and the road where the richest families then chose to build their mansions. One can spend half a day just walking down it and looking at the buildings from the first few…
Read more
Merida is such an iconic city that even its parks are historically significant. In 2010, the Centenario Park and Zoo turned 100 years of existence (making it the two-centenario park, I guess)—though, then it was just a park. The zoo was added later, and today, it houses a variety of animals that you wouldn’t expect.…
Read more
Visiting Puerto Progreso means spending time with and getting to know the nature that surrounds it; that is common and, evidently, an important part of the Yucatan Peninsula. And nowhere can you experience it better than at El Corchito Natural Reserve where, besides seeing the many species of plants and animals that inhabit this area…
Read more
Once a place of prosperity for the henequen business—a plant used to make a coarse, thick cloth for ropes, bags, and other things—at one point, Merida was home to millionaires who built enormous mansions for themselves. Nowadays, these buildings are used for different purposes, from businesses like banks and coffee shops to housing museums. One…
Read more
Evangelism is an essential chapter of Mexican history, which is why the country is full of centuries-old religious buildings, and the San Bernardino de Siena Monastery, in Valladolid, Yucatan, is one of the most important. Still active as a church, it’s also a museum to learn about this place and places such as this; from…
Read more
Contrary to the big hotels and resorts on the beaches of the Riviera Maya, in central towns like Valladolid, they tend to be smaller but—some would say—with a lot more personality. Meson del Marques Hotel, for instance, used to be a mansion of impressive dimensions which was turned into a hotel over 50 years ago.…
Read more
The Yucatan peninsula is chock-full of exotic wildlife which includes species not found in any other regions of the country. Many fall victim to the animal black market or other kinds of animal trafficking for the purposes of entertainment, such as circuses. Fortunately, places like the Vallazoo Zoo, near Valladolid, do all they can to…
Read more
Perhaps one of the reasons the Riviera Maya is so popular is the things to see and do it offers visitors with a wide variety of interests. While some are looking to socialize at the trendiest beaches, bars, and resorts, many others want to learn more about Mexican history and culture. There’s so much to…
Read more
There are a few cenote tours in the town of Cuzama with which you can visit some local cenotes with different characteristics. The Cuzama Cenotes tour begins at Chinkanan, a former henequen hacienda. Here you’ll board a “truck”—a small wagon on rails pulled by a horse—and tour three cenotes along five miles of wilderness. Cuzama…
Read more
