Yucatán Peninsula

The Yucatán Peninsula is the heart of Mexico’s Maya world. Cenotes dot the landscape, while archaeological sites stretch from Uxmal and Edzná to Calakmul, deep in Campeche’s rainforest and once a great Maya power rivaling Tikal. Restored haciendas recall the henequen era, when “green gold” brought immense wealth.

In the cultural hub of Mérida, mansions line the grand Paseo de Montejo avenue. Museums, artistry and an outstanding food scene fill the city, while trova and bolero music carry from historic cantinas after dark. In Campeche City, the Museum of Maya Architecture holds treasures from one of Calakmul’s royal tombs.

Yucatec Maya is widely spoken, and traditions such as hammock weaving, embroidery, beekeeping and horticulture pass between generations. Along a coast quieter than the Caribbean, find kayaking through mangrove forests and the flamingos of Celestún and Río Lagartos.