Yucatan Peninsula People & Culture
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Punta Maroma, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
I just got back from this place! wow, what a nice spot. The people in this part of the Mexico were just the friendliest, most sincere people I've ever met, and they just couldn't do enough for us. And although English is widely spoken, some knowledge of Spanish goes a long way.
The ruins were beautiful, and although I had a mild interest in swimming in the cenotes (underwater limestone caves), I HIGHLY recommend one cenote in particular: Dos Ojos (two eyes). And make sure you take/buy an underwater camera with you. The colour of the water as the sun streams through the cave opening and into the water is STUNNING.
We rented a car through the resort where we were staying (70$ US/day) - unlimited mileage, but make sure you can drive a car with standard transmission.
The ruins were beautiful, and although I had a mild interest in swimming in the cenotes (underwater limestone caves), I HIGHLY recommend one cenote in particular: Dos Ojos (two eyes). And make sure you take/buy an underwater camera with you. The colour of the water as the sun streams through the cave opening and into the water is STUNNING.
We rented a car through the resort where we were staying (70$ US/day) - unlimited mileage, but make sure you can drive a car with standard transmission.
Good tip?
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Chichen-Itza, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Hi! If you don't care much for crowds or if it's not imperative for you to take a tour. I suggest that you rent a car and drive to Chichen-Itza. For about 40-60$ a day, you can bank in the Chichen-Itza and the Coba ruins in a day. My friend and I rented a car early in the morning at 7:30, were on en route to Chichen Itza and arrived there at about 10am. The drive was safe and we got to drive through little towns scoping out arts and crafts. When we got to Chichen Itza, the entrance fee was 101 Mx Pesos which is about 10$. There are guides that will give you the tour of the place for about $50. But we didn't really see the point of that. We were able to catch some of what the guides were saying to other groups while we were scoping the different ruins. In reality, the site is so spectacular that you don't really want to pay attention to anyone talking. If you know what I mean. Make sure to leave Chichen Itza by 1:30 if you want to make it to Coba with Ample time to see the Coba Pyramid (the highest in all of the peninsula)and go up on it. Yes, at Coba you can still go on the ruins during your visit. The entrance to Coba was 51 Mx Pesos about 5$. Make sure to rent a bike unless you want to hike in the heat like we did with my friend. Over all, during our whole day we spent $95 for a trip to Chichen Itza and Coba, including gas for two people... a real bargain.
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Isla Mujeres, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
La Isla Mujeres, or the Isle of Women, is a fun little island for a day-trip while you're in Cancun. It's not nearly as crowded or loud as downtown Cancun is. There are also and abundance of hand carved and painted wooden animals, fish, turtles and people which make great, yet inexpensive, gifts.
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Chichen-Itza, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
I've been to Tikal, Copán, Palenque, Yaxchilán, Bonampak... and Chichen Itzá are probably the most impressive mayan ruins you can find. However, expect to find a lot of people, and, unfortunately, tons of them without any interest at all.
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Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
when traveling around Cancun learn to say " I don't speak Spanish" in a language other than English. That way the hundreds of people trying to sell you time shares or side trips will leave you alone.
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Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
steeped in history, look into this place if you are interested in mayan culture. nice sea views too
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Senor, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Senor is tiny village, but there's a small community-based tour operator called Xyaat there, who can organize tours to a close-by lagoon, and do a community-culture tour, where you get to see and learn local arts, handicrafts etc. People are wonderful - ask for Marcos, Santos and Julia - the three of them run the travel agency. As far as I know, the agency has now a cooperation with other small communities in the surroundings (among others, you can go to a bat cave and crawl into a tiny cave, watching snakes eat the bats as they come out). their office is close to the ruins of Tulum.
When I've been there, no accommodation was possible in the village itself, but you can stay in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, about half an hour drive from there.
When I've been there, no accommodation was possible in the village itself, but you can stay in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, about half an hour drive from there.
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Coba, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Coba is a fascinating area of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. I participated in an excursion with the AllTourNative Tours. It was an excellent tour that gave a nice glimpse into the Maya culture. The Maya ruins in Coba are fun to explore in their jungle setting. The ruins are spread out so it feels like there aren't so many tourists. Nohoch Mul (Big Mound) is one of the only Maya pyramids in the Yucutan that tourists are still able to climb.
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Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
If you don't want to see only the Cancún for tourist, you should stay in dontown. The hotel zone is only for people which are not too much interestet in the mexican culture.
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Merida, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
rood is great. They eat alot of pig.. Great soups. Very cultural./ There is a party every weekend downtown (festival like) / Take your sun screen and keep hidrated. It gets really hot and humid
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Isla Mujeres, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
You can arrive to this island easily from Cancun. The hotel's organize one-day trips. I reccomand you to have this trip with mexican people (there are also trips just for strangers). You arrive there with a big boat, with music margarita drinks (in the morning!). There it will be the possibility to take a picture with a small shark and to enjoy in a beautiful beach with a wonderful sea. In the trip is included an abundant mexican lunch
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Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
La Fisheria: Mall Dining
La Fisheria seems like any other restaurant in the hotel zone from the outside - but it's actually in a mall. It's definitely a step above food court dining, but you lose the ambience we expected. They specialize in, you guessed it, seafood. The menu changes often but they feature a few house specialties that are always available. The service was fine, if not a little slow. The drinks were good but not very potent. They had a live singer with a guitar playing popular (if not old) American music and who we mistook for a karaoke singer at one point when a table downstairs decide to join in the song. At various times throughout the evening the waiters come through and place flags from your home country on your table. The food was fine, but nothing to write home about. I think I'd try something else before returning to La Fisheria.
Favorite Dish: I tried the tikin xik, the house specialty. It's fish baked in a Mayan achiote sauce. Very different, pretty good.
Prices: US$11-20
Phone: 998/883-1395
Address: Km 8.5 Paseo Kukulkán
Directions: Located in Plaza Caracol Website: http://www.cancun.com/content/dining/fisheria/
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Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Crazy Atmosphere... No Cover... Nightlife Spot: Carlos n Charlie's Our first night out in Cancun we were just looking for a place to have a drink and dance for a little while. All of the large clubs had very expensive covers so we went into Carlos and Charlie's to have one quick drink and figure out where to go next. The "one quick drink" turned into an entire night of FUN. Yes, it's a tourist trap, but if you're looking for a place to drink and dance WITHOUT paying a cover this is the place to go. The waiters are a fun, friendly, energetic and they come around often with free shots. The music is great and you can dance just about anywhere - especially up on the bar. They also serve food in the dining room adjacent to the bar / dance area if you're hungry. Address: Av. Kukulkan Km 9 Directions: Next to the Hard Rock Cafe... Across the street from Daddy O's.
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Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Alternative to the Big Discos Nightlife Spot: Baja Beach Club We were in search of a fun bar with good music and no cover to have a drink after dinner and stumbled upon the Baja Beach Club. We were lured in with the promise of 2 for 1 drinks and the sounds of music we could dance to... Sadly, we barely finished our first drink before hightailing it out of there. We didn't care that the bar was empty... it was a Monday night in the low season, with that said you would think that with all the free time on their hands they could clean the place up a little. The music was great, the service was good and the drinks were flowing, unfortunately Janelle's trip to the bathroom had us running for the door. No one had cleaned up the mess from the night before and it wasn't pretty. There's just no excuse for that! With all the bars and clubs in Cancun to choose from I don't know that we would return here. Phone: 998-883-1156 Address: Cancun, ROO 77500
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Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Tequila's: Perfect for People Watching After the dud Baja Beach Club we headed across the street toward the open air flea market. Kerry and I had seen a little raised bar overlooking the market the evening before and were intrigued. There's really no space for dancing, although you can make the room if you so desire. They play great music and the waitstaff is pleasant. This is a great little place to have a drink, feel the Caribbean breezes blow and people watch. If you want a little break from the club scene here's the place to go. Address: Blvd Kukulkan Km 9 Directions: "Above" the El Localo Flea Market.
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Isla Mujeres, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
the funnest way to see this island is to rent a golf cart for the day and zip around. dont miss out on el garafon and its zipline and snorkeling!
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Chichen-Itza, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Hi! If you don't care much for crowds or if it's not imperative for you to take a tour. I suggest that you rent a car and drive to Chichen-Itza. For about 40-60$ a day, you can bank in the Chichen-Itza and the Coba ruins in a day. My friend and I rented a car early in the morning at 7:30, were on en route to Chichen Itza and arrived there at about 10am. The drive was safe and we got to drive through little towns scoping out arts and crafts. When we got to Chichen Itza, the entrance fee was 101 Mx Pesos which is about 10$. There are guides that will give you the tour of the place for about $50. But we didn't really see the point of that. We were able to catch some of what the guides were saying to other groups while we were scoping the different ruins. In reality, the site is so spectacular that you don't really want to pay attention to anyone talking. If you know what I mean. Make sure to leave Chichen Itza by 1:30 if you want to make it to Coba with Ample time to see the Coba Pyramid (the highest in all of the peninsula)and go up on it. Yes, at Coba you can still go on the ruins during your visit. The entrance to Coba was 51 Mx Pesos about 5$. Make sure to rent a bike unless you want to hike in the heat like we did with my friend. Over all, during our whole day we spent $95 for a trip to Chichen Itza and Coba, including gas for two people... a real bargain.
Good tip?
(+1)
Isla Mujeres, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
La Isla Mujeres, or the Isle of Women, is a fun little island for a day-trip while you're in Cancun. It's not nearly as crowded or loud as downtown Cancun is. There are also and abundance of hand carved and painted wooden animals, fish, turtles and people which make great, yet inexpensive, gifts.
Good tip?
(0)
Playa del Carmen, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Do go cave snorkeling
Don't go with EDventures...you will get killed on the mexican highway trying to drive to tulum
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Isla Mujeres, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
A great activity on Isla Mujeres is cycling around the island. You can rent bikes on the main boulevard road and the cycling trip takes around 2 hours or so, you can visit the turtle refuge on the other side of the island too. (Make sure it's not a windy day...we had a very tiring bike trip on the way back ;)
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Playa del Carmen, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
One of the best beaches ever !!
Good tip?
(+1)
Isla Mujeres, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
the funnest way to see this island is to rent a golf cart for the day and zip around. dont miss out on el garafon and its zipline and snorkeling!
Good tip?
(+1)
Punta Maroma, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
I just got back from this place! wow, what a nice spot. The people in this part of the Mexico were just the friendliest, most sincere people I've ever met, and they just couldn't do enough for us. And although English is widely spoken, some knowledge of Spanish goes a long way.
The ruins were beautiful, and although I had a mild interest in swimming in the cenotes (underwater limestone caves), I HIGHLY recommend one cenote in particular: Dos Ojos (two eyes). And make sure you take/buy an underwater camera with you. The colour of the water as the sun streams through the cave opening and into the water is STUNNING.
We rented a car through the resort where we were staying (70$ US/day) - unlimited mileage, but make sure you can drive a car with standard transmission.
The ruins were beautiful, and although I had a mild interest in swimming in the cenotes (underwater limestone caves), I HIGHLY recommend one cenote in particular: Dos Ojos (two eyes). And make sure you take/buy an underwater camera with you. The colour of the water as the sun streams through the cave opening and into the water is STUNNING.
We rented a car through the resort where we were staying (70$ US/day) - unlimited mileage, but make sure you can drive a car with standard transmission.
Good tip?
(+1)
Isla Mujeres, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
there is a michoacana right next to the basketball-field - the aguas are fine, as usual, but try the licuado de fresa - it is muy sabroso!
Good tip?
(+1)
Chichen-Itza, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Hi! If you don't care much for crowds or if it's not imperative for you to take a tour. I suggest that you rent a car and drive to Chichen-Itza. For about 40-60$ a day, you can bank in the Chichen-Itza and the Coba ruins in a day. My friend and I rented a car early in the morning at 7:30, were on en route to Chichen Itza and arrived there at about 10am. The drive was safe and we got to drive through little towns scoping out arts and crafts. When we got to Chichen Itza, the entrance fee was 101 Mx Pesos which is about 10$. There are guides that will give you the tour of the place for about $50. But we didn't really see the point of that. We were able to catch some of what the guides were saying to other groups while we were scoping the different ruins. In reality, the site is so spectacular that you don't really want to pay attention to anyone talking. If you know what I mean. Make sure to leave Chichen Itza by 1:30 if you want to make it to Coba with Ample time to see the Coba Pyramid (the highest in all of the peninsula)and go up on it. Yes, at Coba you can still go on the ruins during your visit. The entrance to Coba was 51 Mx Pesos about 5$. Make sure to rent a bike unless you want to hike in the heat like we did with my friend. Over all, during our whole day we spent $95 for a trip to Chichen Itza and Coba, including gas for two people... a real bargain.
Good tip?
(+1)
Isla Cancun, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
When riding the bus on the strip, don't get off after the tourist spots. LOL.. I made that mistake, I was just going to walk back as it was only 1 stop..
But the bus driver would not let me get off the bus and turned it around to drop me off at the clubs and stuff. He said he didn't want me to encounter trouble. I assured him I could hold my own, but he was pretty adamant about my not getting off, he said hurt or dead tourists is bad for their economy. So I will advise you to get off on time.. LOL.... Tks to the bus driver...
But the bus driver would not let me get off the bus and turned it around to drop me off at the clubs and stuff. He said he didn't want me to encounter trouble. I assured him I could hold my own, but he was pretty adamant about my not getting off, he said hurt or dead tourists is bad for their economy. So I will advise you to get off on time.. LOL.... Tks to the bus driver...
Good tip?
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