Facing the Gulf of Mexico, Yucatan is a small Mexican state in the broader Yucatan Peninsula. Book a hotel here and you can find some of the country’s most famous holiday destinations, including Merida. Yucatan, however, also has a more mysterious and magical side to it. It was once home to the mighty Maya empire, a huge and advanced society that left its mark in the form of stunning temples and cities dotted along the coastline, most notably at Chichen Itza. It’s also the place where a huge meteorite struck the earth about 65 million years ago. This impact, which some believe led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, also helped create the unique landscape.
Where to Stay in Yucatan
Merida - Book a hotel in the state capital and biggest city in the Yucatan. It’s a place with a rich cultural life, with many music and arts festivals throughout the year.
Valladolid - Find a hotel around this colonial gem that retains much of the original architecture built here by the Spanish. It’s also the nearest city to the Maya remains at Chichen Itza.
Izamal - With its distinct yellow walls, this small city still maintains a strong Maya heritage. There’s also plenty of colonial era architecture to marvel at during your stay in a Izamal hotel.
Chichen Itza - One of the Maya empire’s great cities and the biggest and most recovered Maya site on the peninsula.
How to Make the Most of Your Hotel in Yucatan
Without doubt the main attraction in the Yucatan is the huge number of Maya remains. With sites of immense historical importance such as Chichen Itza and Uxmal, you can discover more about the enigmatic Maya. They thrived here for centuries, enjoying a golden era between 300 and 900 AD before mysteriously vanishing. Their advanced city states and temples still remain here as a testament to their incredible knowledge. The underground water network that sustained the Maya can be seen in the form of large cenotes, or sinkholes, which dot the landscape. A remnant of the meteor strike, sites such as Cuzama and Lol-Tun are natural phenomena well worth investigating. Of course, this being the Gulf of Mexico, there are also some exceptional beaches where you can go to just relax and take it all in.
Check out the cultural events in Merida, which often involve traditional dance and music. There’s also a big carnival here that combines Catholic and Mayan rituals. Learn more about the Maya at historical sites and the numerous museums dedicated to their archeological finds. You can even take part in your very own sacred ceremony with a Mayan priest. Hit a spa and spend the day relaxing or visit a working hacienda and find out how people have lived here over the last few centuries. There’s also a huge amount of local craft and art, usually brightly coloured, which you can find at fairs and markets throughout the region - hammocks are a speciality. The Yucatan is a beguiling and fascinating corner of this incredible country.
