Travelers Guide to Yucatán

The Yucatan Peninsula

The Peninsula of Yucatan is presently made up of three states; Quintana Roo, Campeche and Yucatan. It was the first part of Mexico discovered by the Spaniards, who accidentally landed on its coast in the year 15ll, when a ship that had sailed from Darien (Panama) for the island of "Española" (Santo Domingo) was stranded by a hurricane in the bays "Las Viboras" (the Vipers) in front of the Islands of Jamaica. From there, pulled by the current, they were taken to the coast of the Peninsula, landing on what is today the estate of Quintana Roo.

These shipwrecked sailors were commanded by Pedro Valdivia and among them were the religious Geronimo de Aguilar and Gonzalo Guerrero, as well as 8 other shipmates who survived the wreck.

Of all of these, only Aguilar and Guerrero were not sacrificed by the native people. The first for his humility and obedience, served as a slave to different Maya chiefs; and the second married a Maya noblewoman, the daughter of the chief of Chectemal (today Chetumal, the capitol of this state) with who he procreated three children who were the first "mestizos" on this continent. Guerrero is known as "the father of the blending of the races in America".

Later and in successive expeditions, following people arrived: Francisco Hernandez of Cordoba in 1517, it was he who put the name of Yucatan on this part of Mexico. He heard the native people say "Malatinaati Katan" when the Spaniards asked them what is the name of this place. The Spaniards thought they heard Yucatan.

Juan de Grijalva in 1518 covered the same places as his predecessor and going farther in, he discovered an abundant river in the state of Tabasco which now carries his name (the Grijalva River which crosses the state capital Villahermosa) and Hernán Cortés in 1519, who was the conquistador of Anahuac or Mexico.

Cyan-Ha Dive Center, Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, México.

Presently, the Peninsula of Yucatan is "The Golden Door" of the entrance to the Maya World, which in our country occupies the states of Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche, Chiapas and Tabasco.

In all of these states, vestiges of this extraordinary pre-hispanic culture are found, which the more one studies it the more impressed one is by its high level of its greatness and mathematic and cultural know ledge, sites like Chichén-Itzá, Uxmal, Cobá, Tulúm, Edzná Chacmul, Palenke (or-Palenque), Bonampak, and Cumal-calco are worthy of being investigated and known by all of those who like culture or adventure because they are impressively beautiful nestled in densely wooded zones.

 They create in those who see them the sensation of being in contact with nature and with the "spirits" who were the builder. In these sites, one feels a "mysterious energy" which is easy to perceive but not to explain. For this reason when these places are visited, it should be with the proper respect and without trying to move anything from the place where it is.

Maria de la Luz Hotel
Valladolid, Yucatan

Institutions from different parts of the world have contributed so that these ancient cities recover the grandeur that they had more than 12 or 15 centuries ago. Many of these cities have been declared "inheritance of humanity" as in the case of Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, and outside of the Yucatan Peninsula but still in the "Maya World", Palenque, in the state of Chiapas, and Tikal, in the neighboring republic of Guatemala.

Presently, the following cities are in the process of restoration: Ek- Balam, Chichén - Itzá, Uxmal and Oxkintoc, in the state of Yucatan, Kohunlich, Tulúm and Cobá in the state of Quintana Roo, and Kalatmul and Edzná, in the state of Campeche.

As we see the humanity still feels that these archeological sites are so important that they deserve to be attended and known by the present and future generations, and for this reason they are given the proper respect.

If you are one of those people who is looking for culture, security and adventure, the Yucatan Peninsula is the ideal site for it is waiting for you to enjoy fully all things pertaining to archeological vestiges. 

Mérida Hotels

Besides the archeological vestiges, there are points of interest that you can find in all the Peninsula, the visitor is offered a multitude of marvelous attractions which are unique on the continent, and, some times in the world.

   So we have in Quintana Roo in front of the Isle of Cozumel, the biggest coral reef of this continent, second in the world only to the reef in Australia. This is the Palancar reef, very beautiful for the marine fauna which is found there and for its extremely transparent water. It has been named "the paradise" by the lovers of the under-sea world who practice skin-diving.

Cancun, the modern and cosmopolitan city is presently "the Mecca" of world tourism and is open to all who want to enjoy a great tourist destination, bask in the sun of its very white, fine sand beaches, and enjoy its warm, clear water of unbelievably different tones of blue. Near there, the entrances of the longest underground rivers in the world are found, they are of great interest and are presently being explored by people prepared in this specialty.

In Yucatan, one can visit the biggest flock of flamingos of the continent. Fowls which when they take flight cover the sun, painting the sky pink. The sites where these fowls are found are Celestún, Uaymutún, and Rio Lagartos. All of these sites are on the coasts bathed with the waters of the Golf of Mexico. In all of them, one can find the best services of hotels, restaurants, telephones, taxi, etc.

Something very interesting and perhaps unique in Mexico and the continent are the Cenotes. These are deposits of sub-terranean water which are intercommunicated by sub-terrain rivers or veins. From pre-hispanic times, they attracted human groups to settle around them. These cenotes were used to provide drinking water or as a part of their religious rites. 

This is the case of the cenotes of Chichén-Itzá known as the "sacred cenote" as well as those of Dzibilchaltún and Sotuta. In the state of Campeche, one can visit the city which preserves a defense system made up of many ramparts and bulwarks forts or stronghold which were constructed in the XVI and XVII centuries as a way to prevent the plundering of the city "preferred" by raiders. 

These constructions are unique in all Mexico and the rest of the continent, only Cartagena in South America has the same systems. Other cities such as Havana, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Bacalar, were not as complete as the system of Campeche, which make it extremely interesting.

Also in this state, is the Island of Jaina to the north, about 60 kms from the capital. Here a Maya cemetery is found in whose tombs, some exquisitely carved pre-hispanic figurines have been found, unique in all Meso-America.

Also, here one can visit the temple and convent of Saint Francis, this most ancient church founded in 1546, in whose patio which belongs to the atrium, it is sustained that the first Mass on the Mexican soil was officiated in 1517 by the friar Alonzo Gonzalez who came in the expedition of Francisco Hernandez de Cordoba.

Besides these attractions unique and exclusive to the Peninsula, there is an ecological factor which complements the works of Man and Nature. The biodiversity of the flora and fauna make it interesting enough so as to be visited for this motive alone, however, there is more.