As Mexico’s safest state, Yucatán has emerged as a top tourist destination with convenient daily flights from Dallas (DFW), Houston (IAH), and Miami (MIA), as well as seasonal flights from Toronto, Canada (YYZ), making it easily accessible for American travelers. If you’re in the West, the most convenient option would be the direct flight from Tijuana, to Baja California (TIJ). Additionally, Yucatán’s close proximity to Cancun, lets you arrive in a short time to the magical town of Valladolid. It’s an ideal starting point for your unforgettable trip.
The Mayan legacy
In the southeast of México, discover a place where you can still look back into the past and have a glimpse of the future at the same time. Immerse yourself in the living legacy of the Mayan culture. See it reflected in the landscapes, people, traditions, language and experiences of Yucatán. It´s emerald sea, its pink lakes and flamingos, its green jungles, its deep blue of its cenotes, its yellow town and its terracotta houses of art and multicolor food, its smiles and lifetime memories will provide you a colorful journey.
Embark on a journey of luxury and wellness as you explore the state. Indulge in the extraordinary option to swim within a private underground pool (cenote), experience a vintage expedition in Uxmal, ride horses and relish exclusive lodging in haciendas that will take you back in time to the henequen era. Take private Yucatecan cooking lessons led by renowed chefs, set in unique and exclusive locations or explore the coast aboard a luxurious yacht. Disconnect yourself and live an absolute peaceful moment in Yucatán. You can practice meditation yoga or enjoying a relaxing massage overlooking a cenote.
There are unique, special, and beautiful places for resting and enjoying your privacy, if you are looking for romantic scenarios. Options for celebrating your wedding, or having a romantic getaway to start of your unforgettable honeymoon experience.
Divided into 6 regions, Yucatan offers extraordinary outdoor experiences and natural wonders every day of the year. It provides different kinds of accommodations all over the state, from Mayan homes to luxury stays:
1. Mérida, southern cultural and culinary capital city
The best starting point for your trip. Built in the ancient Mayan city known as T’ho, it stands out for its wide offer of cultural and artistic attractions, its colonial historic downtown with European architectural influence and an outstanding French style that you can admire in the large houses of Paseo de Montejo, the most important avenue of the city, find interactive museums and beautiful churches along the city and explore it by bicycle, by bus tours, or by walking. Recognized by UNESCO as a ‘creative city of gastronomy,’ Mérida also offers cooking classes and invites you to visit local markets to discover the diversity of the flavors that will conquer your palate.
2. Yucatán Riviera
For sun and beach travelers; find unique scenarios, in which its nature reserves and its colorful waters in emerald green, will envelop you. If you are still thinking about where to spend your vacations, Yucatán would be a good option. As cruise travelers from Galveston arrive at the Progreso Port, it becomes a delightful beachfront destination to enjoy and partake in various water sports activities. Get to know the sea that borders the magical town of Sisal, where you can get into the mangroves by a kayak tour or take a birdwatching flamingos tour in Celestún.
3. Mayan Port
Let’s move to the northeast of the coast. This region brings unique views, with protected natural sites and a great variety of fauna. Eco-tourism travelers will experience wonderful sunrises and sunsets tours in destinations such as Rio Lagartos. Here, tourist gather to spot flamingos, San Felipe and El Cuyo. Complete your trip, with a pinkness experience, half an hour, get to the famous pink lakes “Las Coloradas’” and let your knowledge grow about the process of the salt and the reason of its color by a safari tour, by bicycle or just walking along them.
4. Cenotes and Haciendas
Less than an hour from Mérida, discover the magic of Izamal: the only yellow town in the world! Explore it by an ATVs tour or rent a bike, stop in the greatest archaeological site “Kinich Kakmó”, climb it and then swim into one of our 3 thousand cenotes in the state. Getting lost in a hacienda would be a perfect plan, which during the 19th century where formerly devoted to the production of henequén (sisal, a type of a natural fiber similar to the agave, known locally as ‘green gold’), some of them now have become into luxury hotels and enchanting wedding venues.
5. Mayan World Capital
The middle point between Mérida and Cancun, 2 hours driving get to the magical town of Valladolid, surrounded by cenotes and archaeological sites, a good point to stay if you want to discover this region, only 45 minutes from Chichén Itzá, which you can learn about the Mayan civilization during the morning or even at night with the “Kukulkán Nights” video mapping, that tells the story of the mayan civilization. Another way to get involved in the mayan history is visiting the archaeological site of Ek Balam, one of the fewest you can still climb.
6. Puuc Route and Mayan Villages
For archaeology and adventure lovers, discover Mayan treasures. It’s an ideal tour to stop in every village to interact with the local population. You can discover secrets from the ancient mayan culture, which is currently alive. Enjoy the Puuc Route including the archeological sites of Uxmal, Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak, Labná, Oxkintok and the Loltún caves, covered with grass, trees and dense vegetation. Discover an underground world descending into the caves by different kinds of tours such as rappel, from beginners and experts.
These are some reasons why you should choose Yucatán to visit any time of the year with your family, friends, couple or why not, alone!
Data
- Capital city: Mérida
- Mérida International Airport: Manuel Crescencio Rejón (MID)
- Location: southeast of México
- Land connectivity: 2.5 hrs from Cancún (CUN), 2 hrs from Campeche (CPE)
- Weather: 21ºC / 70ºF to 38ºC / 100ºF
- Progreso (cruise port): Carnival CL, Royal CCL, Disney CL, Ponant and Princess.
- 235 miles of coast (beaches)
- Language: Spanish, Mayann
- 7 magical towns: Izamal, Maní, Valladolid, Sisal, Espita, Tekax and Motul
More information can be found at www.yucatan.travel
