Yucatan is much more than Cancun
The Yucatan Peninsula, jutting from the eastern edge of Mexico, is a popular tourism gateway to Mexico.
This region has an extensive tourism infrastructure, all spanning outward from Cancún.
Though Cancún has sticky connotations as a party destination for spring breakers — and it has an overpriced, glitzy hotel zone — the city is merely the starting point to one of my favourite regions in Mexico.
The Yucatán is safe from the cartel violence associated with other Mexican states, and has some of the country’s richest history.
The area houses arguably the best preserved Maya ruins, internationally acclaimed dive and snorkeling sites, gorgeous Spanish colonial cities dripping in history, locally run cooperativos offering responsible tourism projects, and densely inhabited animal biosphere reserves.
It’s wonderful. I’ve travelled this area several times, most recently with my two young nephews (10 and 11) for a month-long road-trip.
Much of the land in the Yucatán Peninsula was once the Maya lowlands.
Mayans flourished and established one of their greatest cities, Chichén Itzá, in what is now Yucatán. Because it was relatively isolated from the rest of Mexico until recently, the state developed its own unique culture.
The Maya empire dates back as far as 2400 BC and spanned throughout present-day Guatemala, Honduras, and Southern Mexico.
Throughout the large sweep of land lies a vast network of massive temples and ancient cities; only a small part of the these ruins have been excavated, many still lie under the tangle of forest.
Several famous Maya archaeological sites are within the Yucatán, Riviera Maya, and Chiapas regions, including Chichén Itzá and Tulum.
The Maya history is a major draw for tourism, with the stunning architecture of the temples and reliefs carved into the stone bringing to life a fascinating, violent, and advanced ancient culture that managed to develop the only known pre-Columbian writing system in the Americas.
Present day, the Yucatán’s unique limestone base gives the area one of its most famous draws: the beautiful sinkholes and underwater rivers.
The Maya used these sinkholes, known as cenotes, for sacrificial offerings, but today they dot the entire region and offer travelers the chance to cool off in the crystal-blue waters.
Because of this region’s limestone base, rivers are mostly underground and they connect a large network of caves and swimming spots.
Accommodation: This is a cinch. I used a Lonely Planet guide when my nephews and I were in a pinch. Many links to city guides are also found on AirBnB if you are member. It has a very established presence in this region of Mexico and is an easy way to book nice spots in a good area of town, while getting out of the hotel scene.
I don’t use this as often when I am solo, so it was neat to have a reason to pick some great apartments for my nephews and me.
For backpackers, Hostelworld is perfect for pre-booking hostels; in high season the bigger towns book up fast.
Families should consider Agoda. And if you buy a local SIM (which you should), you can call ahead and directly reserve spots en route.
Transportation: The major roads are wellmaintained and connect most any place you’ll need to go. In the center of the Yucatán, some of the cenotes are a bit further off the path and visiting them means winding through tiny towns and backroads.
Otherwise, large and well-paved highways connect the major cities.
The Ado bus network is extensive and ideal for those on a budget. These buses are large, comfortable, and affordable. Rental cars are easy to come by, though expensive to rent — they tack on huge fees and taxes to the offered price.
Possible Issues: Not many. Though a few regions of Mexico have cartel violence and safety concerns, the Yucatán has a thriving tourism industry and works hard to preserve it. Likewise, small bribes that works elsewhere in Mexico are iffier here. Best to just drive the speed limit and follow the laws.