Mexico: Covering 2 million square Kms, Mexico is the 5th largest country in the Americas.

Mexico Trip

January 2009

Cancun

Cancun, Mexico is a top vacation destination in the world. This Mexican resort has much to offer pleasure seekers: warm, sunny weather, water sports galore, Mayan culture, and ongoing entertainment. Add excellent accommodations, gourmet restaurants, and outstanding shopping…it is a great escape from the nine-to-five grind or from the cold north.

It is located in the Yucatan Peninsula in the state of Quintana Roo which is composed of many lagoons, sandbars, mangrove swamps and is edged with coral reefs. Several islands lie off shore including Cozumel and Isla Mujeres (a ferry is available for transport) There are many tours to take into the Mayan ruins: Chicken Itza, Tulum, Coba, or swim in the cenotes, visit Playa del Carmen, XCaret, etc.

There are two separate parts to Cancún: the zona commercial downtown – the shopping and residential centre which is crowded, busy and mostly a place for residents; and the zona hotelera, a string of hotels and tourist amenities around "Cancún island", actually a narrow strip of sandy land connected to the mainland at each end by causeways. It encloses a huge lagoon, so there's water on both sides. The strip has big-name hotels, great restaurants and shopping, and it is walkable, titlehough busses ride the strip day and night. We rented a car for we intended to travel to the Mayan ruins.

CHICHEN ITZA

Chichen is an ancient Mayan city in Mexico’s state of Yucatan. In Mayan, Chichen Itza means mouth of the well of the itzae and refers to the great cenote, a natural well in the complex used for ceremonies (with human sacrifices) to honor their rain god. It was the largest regional capital in the Mayan world between 600 and 1250 AD. It has well-preserved ruins and its own unique architectural style.

The Castle (El Castillo) is the site’s main pyramid; it measures 197 feet on four sides of its base and hails at 70 feet tall. It has 9 stepped platforms that represent the Mayan underworld. These measurements represent the Mayan solar calendar…91 steps on each side = 364, plus the platform top.

The Ball Court measures 555 feet long and 231 feet wide. There are two stone rings set vertically at the top of two parallel walls. Players had to pass a ball through the rings to score and could only use their elbows, hips and knees but not their hands. Games were also associated with rituals. At the games end, one of the players had to be sacrificed to the gods.

The Observatory (El Caracol) is another impressive building. The upper tower has small windows to observe eclipses, solistices, etc.

CENOTES

This Mayan word means cave with water tank. These water wells are created by the erosion of soft, porous limestone. They vary in size, and the water can flow from either inside or outside. The cenote was a source of life for the Mayans. Many still abound in the Yucatan Peninsula. We did not have enough time to swim, as we were on our way (3 hr. drive) to Chichen Itza, but should we return to the Mayan Riviera, a swim would be on the agenda.

COBA

Cobá is one of the most important archaeological sites in the area. Built between two lakes, it was at one time a very large city spread over 80 square kilometers. Its pyramid at 130 feet high is the tallest prehispanic structure in the Yucatan. The Maya prospered here between 400 to 1100 A.D. Nearly 50,000 people lived within Cobá, but despite its size it is not visited as frequently as other major Maya sites. It is rather isolated and off the coast, between the coastal town of Tulum and Valladolid. The ruins were opened to the public in 1973 but only a few of approx. 6,000 structures are restored or uncovered. Most are still buried under centuries of thick jungle growth.

TULUM

This archaeological site is relatively compact (compared with many other Maya sites in the vicinity), and is one of the most famous and best-preserved coastal Maya sites. Its proximity to the modern tourism developments along the Mexican Caribbean made it a popular destination for tourists. Daily tour buses bring a constant stream of visitors to the site. It is approximately three hours south of Cancun and located on a prominent cliff facing the Caribbean Sea. It is surrounded by a defense wall on three sides; the fourth side is guarded by the coast. This location on the cliffs made it extremely inaccessible to invaders. And, the beach made communication by sea possible. The inhabitants of Tulum were divided in three classes: nobility, working class, and farmers. Religion was as important in Tulum society as in other Mayan sites…and witnessed by numerous temples, shrines and titlears.

The Mayans' extraordinary architectural and cultural accomplishments rival those of other great civilizations. They had a precise calendar and written language, plotted the movements of the planets, and mastered pottery and weaving.

PLAYA DEL CARMEN (located on the East Coast in the Mexican Caribbean)

Playa Del Carmen, a small town of 100,000, is considered the heart of the booming Riviera Maya. It is the stopping point for many cruises and offers visitors a multitude of choices: white sand beaches, lush tropical landscapes, swimming, snorkeling, cave diving, zip lines, diving, rappeling, visits to cenotes and archaeological Mayan sites. The main street (parallel to the beach) is a pedestrian’s paradise….many shops, restaurants, cafes…all set against a backdrop of the turquoise Caribbean Sea. It is relaxed, laid-back and peaceful. We drove there and spent an enjoyable day walking the main street, lunching and just enjoying the climate and Playa. It’s about an hour from the Cancun hotel strip. This once sleepy fishing village has retained its small-town charm.

ISLA MUJERES (Island of Women)

Discovered by the Spanish in 1517, this was a refuge for pirates for 200 plus years. Since the pirates were always out working, it became a home for their women. We took a ferry from Cancun (25 minutes) to the island, rented a motor cart (like a golf cart) and drove around the island. We walked up and down the narrow streets filled with shops and restaurants and to the beach…a great way to spend a day in the sun.

Mexico Photo Gallery

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