Located in Mexico and possessing a beauty that seems otherworldly, the Yucatan Peninsula is situated in the eastern part of the country, separating the Gulf of Mexico from the Caribbean Sea.

The tropical rainforests of Yucatan add to the enchanting beauty of this mythical region. The peninsula, with its unique beauty, belongs to a land that is partially submerged. The part above water constitutes the Yucatan Peninsula.

People rooted in the Maya civilization, dating back to ancient times, continue to live in this region, speaking languages inherited from the Maya culture. The name “Yucatan Peninsula” is derived from the Yucatan State to which it belongs, where approximately two million people reside. The capital of the Yucatan State is Merida.

Exploring Yucatan: Historical And Cultural Riches

The history of Yucatan dates back to the mysterious and ancient civilization of the Maya. Yucatan was built upon one of the largest cities established by the Maya civilization, Chichen Itza. The arrival of the Maya in the region is estimated to be around 2500 B.C. Besides Chichen Itza, the Mayans, who were hunter-gatherers, built another advanced city named Uxmal in Yucatan.

In 1517, Spanish sailors landed in Yucatan seeking indigenous people they could enslave. The Spanish sailors asked the local people in their language where their tribes were. However, as the question was posed in Spanish, the locals couldn’t understand and responded, “Tetec dtan, mat natic adtan,” meaning “You speak quickly; we don’t understand you.” Finding pronunciation difficult, the Spaniards decided to name the region Yucatan.

The local population resisted Spanish attempts to invade Yucatan twice, but the third attempt was successful, subjecting the indigenous people to harsh treatment. After the conquest, priests tried to detach the Yucatan people from Maya culture and beliefs, converting them to Catholic Christianity.

During the Spanish occupation, all books and artworks preserving Maya culture were destroyed by the monks. Due to Spanish oppression and the diseases they introduced, the population of the Maya people, which once numbered five million, rapidly declined to three and a half million.

Yucatan is home to many magnificent structures recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Chichen Itza, one of the most important pyramid structures built with stones on the Yucatan Peninsula, is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Uxmal is another pyramid that carries the superior art and architectural features of the Maya.

The Magic Of Beaches: Best Beaches Of The Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya, situated along the stunning coastline, boasts sea waters where the most beautiful shades of blue reflect. This region is adorned with pristine beaches, tranquil shores, and untouched nature, truly providing a soothing beauty to the human spirit.

Let’s highlight a few famous beaches of Riviera Maya for you: Puerto Morales, a beach of unique beauty where the blue sea meets white sands. Diving can be done here to see tropical fish and reefs resembling a unique painting.

Playa del Carmen harbors many lagoon arms, making this shoreline one of the tourist focal points of Riviera Maya and quite crowded. Xcaret is a rare place that combines ecological and archaeological features. It is a beach adorned with white sands and perfect sea.

Akumal is among the world’s most beautiful beaches, offering underground waters, sea reefs, and coastal caves. Tulum is located on the Caribbean coast and is also registered as an archaeological site containing many works of Maya culture.

Maya Ruins: Chichen Itza And Uxmal

The ancient Maya culture harbors magnificent works that present humanity’s past. The globally renowned Maya Ruins hold great value as a heritage for humanity. Chichen Itza is considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World, situated in the Yucatan Peninsula and registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.

It was once the religious center of the Maya and Toltec peoples. The pyramid of Chichen Itza was built considering an astronomical calendar, and the four surrounding areas symbolize the seasons. The structure is surrounded by 365 steps, representing the days of the year.

Additionally, there is an altar at the top of the pyramid. Another significant structure of the Maya civilization in Yucatan is Uxmal. Built as a place of worship, Uxmal provided religious and worldly education for women of the Maya.

Uxmal was the third pyramid built in the same location, hence its name, which means “Third.” Surprisingly, the structure was built in line with Venus. Unfortunately, after the Spanish invasion, the city of Uxmal and its pyramid had to be abandoned by the Maya.

A Flavorful Adventure: Mexican Cuisine

Mexican cuisine is globally renowned and highly popular. Regardless of where we live, the likelihood of encountering a Mexican restaurant is quite high. I presume everyone has heard of Tacos and Enchiladas.

Delicious Mexican dishes use plenty of spices, with beans, squash, corn, and wheat flour being the main ingredients. If I were to list the most popular Mexican dishes, I’d start with Fajitas. It’s a well-known dish worldwide and can be prepared with beef, chicken, or fish.

Meats are cooked with various spices and vegetables. Another popular dish is Tacos. It is presented with cheese and vegetables inside tortilla bread. Next is the famous dessert, Cajeta. Cajeta is the traditional sweet of Mexico, resembling milk jam, but it is made only with goat’s milk.

It is mixed with caramel to create this delicacy, often spread on the indispensable Mexican bread, tortilla. The next popular dish is Gazpacho, which is a soup shared by both Mexican and Spanish cuisines. Gazpacho is made from tomatoes, with various raw vegetables added. Quesadilla is a popular dish made by placing meat, various spices, onions, and beans between tortilla bread.

An Activity-Filled Vacation: Diving And Underwater Caves

Mexico attracts tourists and visitors from around the world with its culture, nature, history, and pristine beaches. Mexico is a haven for diving enthusiasts, surrounded on all sides by the Atlantic and Pacific.

This feature makes it indispensable for diving enthusiasts and those interested in diving sports. If you plan to visit Mexico, I would like to emphasize that one of the best activities you can do is diving. One of the places you can visit for diving is the freshwater sinkholes located on the Yucatan Peninsula.

There are approximately six thousand underwater caves in Mexico, referred to as “Cenotes.” Underwater caves are predominantly found in Yucatan. The Maya civilization used these underwater caves, filled with freshwater, as a source of drinking water.

Moreover, the world’s largest underwater cave was discovered in Mexico. Some of the most popular and worth-seeing cenotes in Mexico include Cancun Cenotes, Tulum Cenotes, Merida Cenotes, and El Zacaton Cenotes.

See you in the next post,

Anil UZUN