Yucatan Peninsula Map

You can click on extend screen on the “Yucatan Peninsula Map” to use the map in fullscreen and be able to filter the sites by map categories such as ATMs, gas stations, energy stations for electric vehicles, archaeological sites, Hospitals, Cenotes Yucatan Peninsula, Mayan Train Route(under construction) highlighted in Yellow, Yucatan Peninsula Mexican Restaurants, Yucatan Peninsula Excursions, “things to do in Yucatan Peninsula”, Yucatan Peninsula Restaurants, Yucatan Peninsula mexican grill, Yucatan Peninsula Beaches and more.

Yucatan Peninsula

The Yucatan Peninsula is the northern portion of Mesoamerica that divides the Gulf of Mexico of the Caribbean Sea and the Mexican states of Yucatan, Quintana Roo and Campeche are integrated to the north; And to the south the Yucatan Peninsula is made up of Belize and northern Guatemala. In most of the territory of the Yucatan Peninsula as with the exception of the southern part and the coastlines is limestone and hard land, devoid of important rivers and mountains, in which the water, to return to the sea, breaks gap in the subsoil once reached The water table forming interior cavities known as Cenotes, that the former settlers of the region, the Mayan Civilization, used as a vital water reserve. You can see in the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

In the northern portion of the coast about 7 km east of Puerto Progreso, there is a small summer and fishermen population called Chicxulub where it is estimated that an asteroids fell about 65 million years ago, which formed a gigantic crater, the renowned Chicxulub crater that was approximately 180 km in diameter and that according to the most recent hypotheses resulted in the extinction of the lands of the face of the earth among other species.

In the northeastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula, the henequen, a plant originally from the region and that since the mid -19th century gave rise to an agribusiness, which for many years was the main economic activity of the Peninsula of Yucatan.

YUCATAN

Yucatan is one of the 31 states that together with Mexico City make up Mexico, it is divided into 106 municipalities and its capital and most populous city is Mérida Yucatan(See in Yucatan Peninsula Map).

Yucatan Economy

The economy of Yucatán is currently more diversified than during most of the 20th century. During the third quarter of 2019, the state of Yucatán was the entity with the second lowest unemployment rate, since barely 2% of its economically active population I was unemployed

In the primary sector, Yucatan was the largest national producer of turkey meat in 2011 and the third national level in pork production.

Livestock activity is distributed in the eastern and southern part of the state, highlighting the municipality of Tizimín, being the largest producer of cattle in the entity and part of the neighboring states, highlighting the high quality meat that reaches the Cancun hotel sector and the Mayan Riviera. In the secondary sector of Yucatan, the manufacturing industry and the construction industry stand out since they have a great enhancing effect on the other economic sectors and have a lot of foreign investment in the textile sector by the United States such as the Cayman Islands, China, the Virgins, United Kingdom, Canada, Nicaragua and Israel.

In the tertiary sector, it is the most important sector for its contribution to the gross domestic product of the state and tourism and trade stand out, contributing 63% of the gross domestic product.

Yucatan is a region with a tourist vocation and in the last 25 years it has been the activity with the greatest economic potential since the entity stands out in cultural and ecological tourism. It is estimated that there are more than 1,600 archaeological sites in Yucatan. In addition, Yucatan has more than 370 km of coastline, with ports such as Celestun, “Progreso Yucatan” “Telchac Puerto”, Sisal, El Cuyo and Chicxulub; The port of Chicxulub is the closest town to the epicenter of the “Chicxulub Crater” fixed by an asteroid 65 million years ago and to which the extinction of the dinosaurs is attributed. As a consequence of the impact in Chicxulub, a network of caves known as cenotes was created around which is the so-called ring of cenotes, it is estimated that there are more than 3000 cenotes in the Yucatecan territory as in many of them it is possible to bathe and swimming, as in the case of those found in Kuzama. You can see cenotes and other interesting sites in yucatan in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”

Yucatan food

Yucatan Food has characteristics that make it different from the rest of Mexico and has been described as having one of the most complete gastronomies, the condiments are a characteristic foundation as the water of the region also influences and of course the ingredients themselves are determining factors in the taste of Yucatan dishes. The dishes of Yucatan have a lot of influence from the original Mayan cuisine and especially the link with the corn that was the basis of the diet of the Mayan people, there are many typical dishes of which the most famous are the cochinita Pibil, chicken pibil, soup of lime, Yucatecan tamales, Relleno Negro and many others.You can see Yucatan Restaurants in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Weather in Yucatan

The climate in Yucatan is considered a warm sub-humid climate with approximately 85% of the territory of Yucatan where the average annual temperature is between 24 °C and 28 °C. This regime of relatively high temperatures is tempered by the trade winds that normally dominate the region, produced by an isobaric system that allows the flow of wind from the tropical zones towards the terrestrial equator. Thanks to these winds in the Yucatan Peninsula, it is possible to cool the geography during the hottest times of the year, the summer months, especially during the late afternoon hours when such winds prevail, blowing from the northeast to the southeast.

Yucatan Demography

According to the census carried out in 2020, the state of Yucatán had 2,320,898 inhabitants, which made it the 22nd most populous state in Mexico. The city of Mérida is home to 42% of the state population while the metropolitan area of ​​Mérida occupies 49%. The state of Yucatán has had one of the medium-high level human development indices in Mexico for a decade.

Religion has played a predominant role in the history of Yucatan. Thanks to the action of the Franciscan missionaries in the long period of colonization during the viceroyalty in which the public power was supported to exercise control in the ecclesiastical structures and once again as during the independence of Yucatan, when many of the liberal ideas were led and scattered by the “Sanjuanistas” redoubts of the church itself.

In Yucatan the Catholic religion predominates with 1,554,000 inhabitants and you can also find activity from other religions such as Protestants, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, Adventists, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jews and other religions.

History of Yucatan

Before the arrival of the Spaniards in the Yucatan Peninsula, the name of this region was “Mayab” which in the Mayan language means not many or a few. It was a very important region for the Mayan Civilization, especially during the so-called post-classic period, although the most remote Mayan settlements in the region are estimated to date from the third century after Christ, when the first migrations from “El Petén” settled in the Bacalar region in the east of the Yucatan Peninsula. Around the fifth century, the settlers began to move to the west of the peninsula, founding, among other cities, Chichen Itza, Izamal, Motul, Balam and Tho. You can see these cities in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Many of the Maya cities of the Yucatan Peninsula region survived after the collapse of the cities of the original Maya region, and many of them were still inhabited when the Spanish arrived in the early sixteenth century.

At present, many of the Mayan vestiges and ruins are preserved in good condition and a good number of Mayan archaeological sites are integrated into urban areas, which comprise various periods of the development of the Mayan Civilization, proof that these places have had a line of continuity in its existence throughout the centuries. You can see archaeologicarl sites in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

From the Spanish conquest in the first part of the 16th century, and until the first decades of the 19th century, the Yucatan peninsula was made up of the current states of Campeche, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, Yucatan and what today constitutes northern Belize. It comprised a single political-administrative entity such as the Captaincy General of Yucatan. You can see it in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

After the Independence of Mexico in 1823, a first republic of Yucatan was configured that joined the Federal Republic of the United Mexican States.

In 1841, as a result of cultural and political conflicts linked to the federal pact that had been broken, Yucatán declared its Independence from Mexico to constitute a second republic of Yucatán, but it would only last until 1848 when Yucatán returned to Mexico.

In the second half of the 17th century, the region of the Yucatan Peninsula experienced a civil war between the Mayan peoples and the authorities of the Republic of Yucatan that lasted more than 50 years.

In 1912, at the end of the caste war, the state of Yucatán was divided again to create the federal territory that would later become the current state of Quintana Roo. You can see Quintana Roo State in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

There are several versions of the meaning in Yucatan Maya, although no objective confirmation has been achieved; One of the versions comes from Alonso de Zorita in his work on the new Spain in which he mentions the explorer Francisco Hernández de Córdoba In his 1517 expedition in which they went to a land not seen before by the Spanish where they found local settlers and they asked them what was the name of a large town that was nearby, to which the local Mayan settlers replied “Tectetam” which means “I don’t understand you” in Mayan, and the Spanish thought that the whole area was called that and corrupting the Word, they called it Yucatam.

Another version of the origin of the name of Yucatan comes from the encyclopedia of Yucatan at the time in which the brother of Christopher Colon “Bartholomew Colon” is mentioned, who was on a trade mission off the coast of what is currently es Honduras and after exchanging merchandise, the indigenous people pointed to the coasts of their land in the distance and said: “Yuk´ al-tan Mayab” which was the linguistic designation of their nation and what “all those who speak the Mayan language” means.

The first settlers in the Yucatan peninsula were the Mayans, although the presence of the first humans in the geographical space dates back to the end of the Pleistocene, as indicated by the findings in the caverns on the eastern coast of the peninsula and in the caves of Loltún. You can see Loltun in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Some historians affirm that the first Mayans arrived in the Yucatan Peninsula through the Petén region which is located southeast of the Yucatan Peninsula in the Quintana Roo Bacalar zone around the year 250 after Christ, the first people of the Mayans were called “the Chanes” They are the people that preceded the “Itzaes”, from the year 525 they begin to move north of the Yucatan Peninsula, they were the builders of Chichen Itza, Izamal Motul, Ek Balam, Tho (The city of Mérida) and Champotón. You can see it in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Later, the “Xiúes” of Toltec descent and who came from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico began to settle in the region, giving rise to the displacement of the transfers and the “Cocomes” who were a branch of the “Itzae” people.

Over the years and multiple confrontations, the Mayapán League would be formed, which was made up of the Itzaes, the Xiúes and the Cocomes, an alliance that brought stability to the Yucatán Peninsula that lasted until the year 1194, giving way to a period of anarchy and fragmentation in small manors with which the first Spanish conquerors met in the 16th century.

The first Spaniards to arrive at the Yucatan Peninsula did so on March 1, 1517 and it was Francisco Hernández de Córdoba with the participation of captains Cristóbal de Morante and Lope Ochoa de Caicedo, with the authorization of the governor of the island of Cuba Diego Velázquez of Cuellar.

The conquest of Yucatan was consummated 2 decades after the conquest of Mexico by Francisco de Montejo, his son also called Francisco de Montejo y León el Mozo and his nephew, also Francisco de Montejo the advanced had been in the expedition of Juan de Grijalva and He also participated with Hernán Cortés during the third expedition that finally became the conquest of Mexico. Francisco de Montejo was entrusted with the conquest of the Mayab, but failed in a first attempt between 1527 and 1528. Later he was appointed governor of Tabasco in 1529, with the royal mandate to pacify Tabasco and conquer the Yucatan Peninsula reaching the town from Santa María de la Victoria at that time capital of the province of Tabasco from where he began his mission.

Francisco de Montejo from Tabasco led a new campaign towards Yucatan between 1531 and 1535, failing again in his attempt and after many bloody battles with the Mayan inhabitants of the region around 1535 Francisco de Montejo achieved the total pacification of the province of Tabasco and He then began to plan his new incursion towards Yucatan.

After Francisco de Montejo the advanced took office in Honduras and later in Chiapas. For these responsibilities he conferred on his son his namesake also called Francisco de Montejo nicknamed the young man who founded the cities of San Francisco de Campeche and also Mérida in honor of the Merida of Extremadura Spain on the Mayan ruins of THo and using the stone available in the abandoned Mayan buildings for the construction of the city. You can see Merida in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Once the conquest was consummated, Francisco de Montejo was in charge of the government of Yucatan from 1546, but due to complaints received in the Spanish court he was dismissed from his position in 1550, returning to the metropolis to assume his own defense before the council of Indias, however, he died in Salamanca in 1553 before he could clear his name and his son Francisco de Montejo “El Mozo” died on February 8, 1565 in Guatemala after a long illness, while the nephew died in Mérida in 1572 being its alderman at the age of 55 years.

In November 1761, a social uprising took place in Yucatan that did not have great consequences for the colonial regime, although it definitely marked the history of the peninsula and clearly exposed the tensions that existed in the region as the product of inequity and prejudices in which the indigenous Mayans were held for the exclusive benefit of the white race and Spaniards that 100 years later would lead to the Caste War.

This rebellion took place in the town of “Cisteil” in which a Mayan leader named Jacinto Canek took up arms together with a group of indigenous people against the Spanish colonial government. Although the rebellion was put down and the rebels captured, summarily tried and tormented in Mérida and the town of Cisteil, burned and covered with salt to scare the population, the event produced such social unrest that it marked a milestone in Yucatecan history that until the date is remembered as a symbol of the racial and social struggle that existed for centuries.

After independence was proclaimed in Mexico, Yucatan was not affected militarily by the Mexican War of Independence since the Yucatan region was far from the center of Mexico, which was the place where the hostilities for the independence war took place, but already There was a liberating spirit in the enlightened Yucatecans represented by the “Sanjuanistas” who ideologically confronted the conservative faction of Yucatecan society represented by the group called the “Rutineros”. In 1820 the patriotic confederation was founded by Lorenzo de Zavala one of the Sanjuanistas and there was a moment of rupture as there were those who supported the Spanish government and the Cadiz constitution of 1812 while the other group led by Zavala sought absolute independence from Spain.

While this was happening in Yucatán, the plan of Iguala was proclaimed in Mexico and the treaties of Córdoba were signed, after which Juan María Echeverri, the last representative of Spain in the government of Yucatán, proclaimed the independence of the Yucatán Peninsula and sent 2 representatives to negotiate the incorporation of Yucatan into insurgent Mexico. The incorporation into the first Mexican empire occurred on November 2, 1821. On December 23, 1823, it was one of the 19 free and sovereign states that would found the current Mexican nation in accordance with the provisions of the Mexican constitution of 1824.

In 1835, the Yucatan Republic emerged, proclaiming its independence from Mexico as a response to the centralist governments in Mexico that violated the federal pact that Yucatan had signed in 1825, the Republic of Yucatan maintained relative independence for 8 years but was forced to rejoin to the Mexican nation in 1848 because it had carved a civil war called the caste war and Mexico had conditioned its military support to the government of Yucatan.

In 1852, the state of Yucatan was divided by Campeche initiative due to internal struggles between opposing political factions aggravated by the consequences of the caste war. You can see Campeche in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

The caste war that began in 1847 was a bloody movement led by the Mayan chiefs Jacinto Pat and Cecilio Chi with the aim that the Mayans subjected for 3 centuries will regain their freedom and independence, this movement was known as the caste war and was lasted for more than half a century. During many years of struggle between local and federal troops and indigenous groups, as none of the parties to the conflict seemed to achieve victory over the enemy, during this stage the foundation of a new capital in the jungle took place by the Mayans as they called “Nooj Kaaj Santa Cruz (today Felipe Carrillo Puerto)”. You can see Felipe Carrillo Puerto in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

The last important action of the caste war was the siege that the Mayans imposed on “Tijosuco” for 50 days in 1865, the definitive surrender of the Mayans was achieved by General Ignacio Bravo, who in 1899 occupied the military leadership of Yucatan, the General Bravo undertook a gradual advance and consolidated all the positions gained, until he definitively occupied “Chan Santa Cruz” in May 1901, with which the peninsula was under the direct control of the federal government, it would be a year later when Yucatan would suffer the second territorial change, by decreeing the creation of the federal territory of Quintana Roo with capital in the port of “Payo Obispo” today “Chetumal” with this, after half a century of war, Yucatan would have been dismembered losing more than 2/3 parts of its original territory. You can see it in Yucatan Peninsula Map.

At the same time that the caste war was developing in the mid-nineteenth century, a henequen agroindustry temporarily supported the autarchy of Yucatan, since the henequen plant was the basis of a solid and dynamic economy that underpinned the economic development of the state, although unfortunately not so its social development, the products derived from henequen such as rigging, ropes, sacks, rugs, coatings and many others how they became export items from the Yucatan Peninsula and brought the foreign exchange and resources required to finance the growth of the state, the state of Yucatán experienced growth during the last years of the 19th century thanks to the henequen industry, although part of its economic success was based on the exploitation of the workforce provided by the indigenous Mayans. This success lasted until the end of the Second World War when henequen products lost relevance due to the arrival of synthetic products.

The boom situation allowed the city of Mérida to have electric public lighting and trams before Mexico City. At the beginning of the 20th century Mérida had a greater number of millionaires per capita than any other part of Latin America and for this reason Parisian boulevards and luxurious houses of the time can be found in “Paseo de Montejo” while the populations in the interior of Yucatan suffered from shortages. You can see Paseo de Montejo in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

In the 1930s there was contact by air through seaplanes that took off from the swamp of the Progreso Yucatán Port heading to Havana, Cuba, and Florida in the United States. In the following decade, with the inauguration of the air terminal, it was possible to connect with Mexico City through the then Mexicana aviation company.

In 1951 Yucatan was able to join the rest of the country by rail, although with incompatibility of railways, since from the south of Veracruz to the peninsula the narrow gauge system prevailed for some years, unlike the wide gauge that existed in Veracruz. towards the altiplano, later in the 80s the highway would arrive that finally connected the altiplano with the Yucatan Peninsula. You can see it in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

In the last decade of the 20th century, a process of economic and social reorganization was successfully conducted that has allowed the entity to leave the dependency in general, which had already exhausted its capacity to be the fundamental axis of economic development.

Merida Yucatan

Merida Yucatán is the capital and most populous city of the state of Yucatán in Mexico, it is located in the northwest of the state in the southeastern region of the country, where it is the main social, cultural, educational and financial center. You can see it in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

According to the last census carried out in 2020, the city of Merida Yucatan has a population about 921,000 inhabitants. Mérida is considered one of the cities with the best life quality in Mexico and one of the safest in the American continent.

The historical heritage of Merida is the product of the mixture of the Mayan, Spanish and African cultures during the colonial era, later influenced by the French and Lebanese cultures with some contributions from the Dutch, Korean and Italian, thanks to its rich cultural heritage Merida was the first city to be named the American capital of culture and the first to receive this title twice.

The Mérida historic center is the third largest in the continent and the San Idelfonso Cathedral, located in front of the main square and built with stones from adjacent Mayan ruins, is the oldest in continental America.

Forbes magazine has classified Mérida on 3 occasions as one of the 3 best cities in Mexico to live and invest, the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness has cataloged Mérida as one of the 3 most competitive cities in Mexico for its infrastructure and high social standards, one of the cities often chosen as the venue for several international events; Merida Yucatan has hosted 2 meetings between the United States and Mexico, a meeting with Cuba, a summit of the Nobel Peace Prize, and summits of the Association of Caribbean States and the Pacific Alliance. In addition, several international scientific Olympiads have been held in Mérida, such as the Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science Olympiad. Every year the Yucatan International Reading Fair of the Autonomous University of Yucatan is held in Merida. You can see it in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

The city of Mérida was named in honor of the Merida city of Spain and was founded in 1542 by Francisco de Montejo on the remains of the Mayan city of “THO” that was uninhabited when the Spanish conquerors arrived.

The city of Mérida is located within the so-called “chicxulub crater” formed, according to the most accepted hypothesis, by the impact of an asteroid 65 million years ago, an event known as the impact that would have caused the mass extinction of the Cretaceous-Paleogene in the which the dinosaurs disappeared among other species, the size of the “chicxulub crater” is about 180 km in diameter and around the crater is what is known as “the ring of cenotes”. Merida is located at a distance of 309 km from Cancun and 1557 km from Mexico City. You can see Cancun it in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Weather in Merida Yucatan

The climate in Merida is warm, humid tropical, with rains in summer and with an average monthly temperature of 25 °C and it is located in the dry forest ecosystem.

Attractions in Merida Yucatan

Within Merida Yucatan there are many attractions for visitors such as the historic center of Merida, which stands out for being the third largest in the American continent only after the historic center of Mexico City and the historic center of Old Havana in Cuba. It was declared a national heritage in 1986 by decree of former Mexican President José López Portillo, the area includes a remarkable monumental and architectural heritage from between the 16th and 19th centuries. You can see it in Yucatan Peninsula Map.

In Mérida there are also many Mayan archaeological remains, the closest archaeological sites to the capital city are Dzibilchaltún, Dzoyilá, Chen Hó, Flor de Mayo, Xcatzmil, Caucel and Xoclán, among others.

Within Merida, several haciendas dating from the 19th century are also preserved, which were dedicated to the henequen industry and were part of the network of haciendas that integrated the great industry in general in the region; There are haciendas that have been completely rebuilt and fitted out as museums, hotels, tourist inns or social event rooms. You can see it in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Architecture in Merida Yucatan

The center of Mérida keeps the colonial configuration of the city, which is an area of ​​approximately 4 km² that contains the oldest buildings in the city, including the first square where the central square is located, called the large square or main park in which is the cathedral, the government palace, seat of the executive power of the state and the municipal palace. There are other important buildings that stand out, such as the house of Montejo, where the conquerors of Yucatan and founders of Mérida lived in the 19th century. You can see Paseo de Montejo in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Paseo de Montejo (Montejo Walk)

Paseo de Montejo (Montejo Walk) is the most important avenue in the city, it extends from the neighborhood of Santa Ana in the center of the city, to the exit to the port of “Progreso” the layout and design of the Paseo de Montejo are inspired by French boulevards as it is flanked by large trees, has a median and numerous roundabouts; On both sides of the Paseo de Montejo, large French-style mansions were built during the boom in the genre that Yucatán had at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. You can see these buildings in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Merida Mexico Beaches

The closest beaches to Mérida can be found in the “ Puerto Progreso(Progreso Port)”, about 40 minutes from the city, and the beaches of Celestun and Telchak port are also relatively close. You can see Merida Mexico beaches in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Economy in Merida Yucatan

In the middle of the 19th century Merida Yucatan was one of the most important worldwide centers of henequen trade, a plant that is of the agave type which was a very important raw material for the international textile industry.

This produced an incredible level of wealth that would soon become apparent both in the city of Mérida and in the large agricultural estates known as haciendas that spread throughout the Yucatan Peninsula.

As of 1938 with the invention of nylon, the henequen companies began to go bankrupt, with which the economy of Mérida collapsed and had to readapt for half a century to a totally different economic reality.

Currently, the economy of Mérida is focused mainly on economic activities in the tertiary sector, it is quite robust with one of the lowest unemployment rates in Mexico, Mérida ranks thirteenth among the most visited destinations in Mexico, so the tourism industry it is one of the most important for the city, which has strongly attracted the investment of different national and foreign companies in the region; The safe environment and high social standards that have characterized the city over time have also made it a very attractive and ideal place for investment by companies in the real estate sector.

Real Estate in Merida Mexico

The real estate in merida mexico and homes for sale in merida mexico for inhabitants of other countries has increased considerably, especially due to the boom in investments in physical goods and fixed assets as a consequence of the increase in inflation in OECD countries. from 2019 and the Pandemic from 2020.

Also in Playa del Carmen and Cancun you can find many “Real Estate” companies with extensive portfolios of land, houses, apartments and luxury villas.

Merida Yucatan History

Merida Yucatán was founded on January 6, 1542 by the Spanish Francisco de Montejo and 100 Spanish families after the Spanish conquered the capital of the “Aztecas” the city of “Tenochtitlan”. During the colonial era, part of the city’s architecture corresponding to the 17th and 18th centuries can be seen in the city center. During this period, in order to protect the city from Mayan uprisings, a walling plan was proposed, of which only the wall surrounding the city with the entrances or arches was carried out, currently only the arch of the “Barrio De San Juan” is preserved, the arches of dragons and the bridge in the neighborhood of “La Mejorada”. You can see it in Yucatan Peninsula Map.

After Mexican independence during the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, there was a process of Frenchification of urban architecture that was reflected in the old mansions built at that time on Paseo de Montejo, many of which still exist.

The main economic source of Mérida at the end of the 19th century was the henequen industry, the so-called “green gold”, which made Mérida have a boom situation that allowed the city to have electric public lighting and trams before many other cities in the world Mexico.

At the beginning of the 20th century Mérida had a large number of wealthy families that contrasted with a widespread poverty of the indigenous population.

The Paseo de Montejo is an avenue built at that time and inspired by the great boulevards of Paris, in Paseo de Montejo the mansions of the wealthy henequen landowners were built. You can see it in “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

In this days the human development index of Mérida Yucatan is considered high with a score of 0.8940.

The population of Mérida is predominantly Catholic although there is also a presence of other religions such as the Adventists, the Orthodox Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Baptist Church, the Presbyterian Church, Light of the World and other independent evangelical churches.

In the year 2000 the Catholic population in Merida amounted to 553,000 inhabitants while non-Catholics numbered 80,714 inhabitants; In 1993 Pope John Paul visited Merida on his third visit to Mexico.

Quintana Roo

Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states together with Mexico City that make up Mexico. Its capital is the city of Chetumal and its most populous city is Cancun. Quintana Roo is located in the Yucatan Peninsula Southeast Region of Mexico limiting the North with Yucatan and the Gulf of Mexico to the East with the Caribbean Sea, to the south with Belize and to the west with Campeche. You can see in Yucatan Peninsula Map.

 According to a census held in 2020 Quintana Roo has a population of 1,857,985 inhabitants and is together with Baja California Sur the youngest state in the country, its most populated cities are Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Chetumal, Cozumel, Tulum and Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

Quintana Roo begins as a state in 1902 when the federal territory of Quintana Roo is created and was formerly populated by the old Mayan civilization. At present, some ethnic groups survive and there are multiple archaeological sites that show the demographic concentration that the area had in the past, among which are Chacchobén, Chakanbakán, Chamax, Cobá, Dzibanché, Ichpaatán, Kohunlich, very much, OxTankah, Tankah , Tulum, Tupak, Xel-Há and Xcaret. You can see in Yucatan Peninsula Map.

The state of Quintana Roo arises when President Porfirio Díaz sought economic and political control of the southern border of Mexico with Belize because the United Kingdom was there so it was decided to put strengths in the south of the state of Quintana Roo nearby nearby of the border with Belize as in Bacalar. You can see in Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Holbox Island

Holbox in Mayan means “black hole”, Holbox is a Mexican island located north of the Yucatan Peninsula, it is located inside the state of Quintana Roo and has an extension of 40 km long and 2 km wide with about 34 km of beach towards the North. The population of Holbox is approximately 1,200 inhabitants according to the 2005 census.

Holbox is a destination of adventure and also rest tourism. One of the main activities of the inhabitants of Holbox Island is lobster fishing governed by a ban. Holbox white sand walks along with its crystalline sea are comforting.

Hotels in Holbox

There are different Hotels in Holbox and sites to make camping, A lot of hotels in Holbox have Bungalows. There are famous villas and hotels in Holbox like villas flamingo holbox and mystique holbox. You can see it in the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Holbox Island attractions:

Yalahu in Holbox Island

It is located 30 minutes from Holbox Island, it is a spring of crystalline waters that contains as much beauty as history is said that this spring has healing properties so this beautiful water eye is considered as the source of youth, formerly it was a port Merchant important for the state of Quintana Roo. You can see it in the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Isla Pájaros (Birds Island) in holbox island

Isla Pajaros is a small islet covered with mangrove and cactus located in the Yalahu lagoon, on this island they inhabit a great diversity of birds so there are 2 viewpoints and walkers in order to minimize direct contact with birds , the birds that can be observed from the Isla Pájaros are the flamenco, cormorant, frigates, pelicans, wild gaviotas coma among many more. You can see it in the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Isla Pasión in Holbox Island

Isla Pasion is a small islet that is 10 minutes from Holbox by boat as on this island you can enjoy virgin beaches with a quiet atmosphere and far from civilization. You can see it in the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Cabo Catoche in Holbox Island

In Cabo Catoche is a tip on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico that is approximately 53 km north of Cancun, during the colonial era a Catholic temple was built which is known as Boca Church Punto there are no passable paths to arrive through Cabo Catoche, can only be reached by sea and you can also visit the ruins of Boca Church. You can see it in the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Holbox Island History

Holbox Island has been inhabited since time immemorial by the Mayan Civilization.

In the nineteenth century the Holbox Island received many survivors fleeing from the Mayan social rebellion known as the caste war and in 1891 the inhabitants of Holbox formed the party of the islands based in Isla Mujeres.

The federal territory of Quintana Roo was created, so Holbox Island was integrated as a sub -prefecture of the Northern District, in 1910 the population of the state was grouped into 8 municipalities that were divided into 3 areas that still persist: north, center and south; The northern zone included the municipalities of Holbox, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, at that time Holbox Island was the municipal head of 8 locations but shortly after in 1921 Isla Mujeres absorbed them.

It is a natural refuge of several species both in danger of extinction and threatened and most inhabitants are interested in protecting this area. Reason why Holbox Island host sustainable tourism projects looking for a minimum impact on the various ecosystems such as endemic fauna and vegetation in the area; Within the island there is no pavement and there are few cars, all the streets are of white sand which allows pedestrian displacement, traditional transport media are electric, gasoline and bicycle carts.

Isla Mujeres (Women Island)

Isla Mujeres (Women Island)” is an island located in the Caribbean Sea very close to the Yucatan Peninsula to the southeastern Mexico, Isla Mujeres is in the state of Quintana Roo Mexico and its warm and transparent waters are the perfect place for the Delfines, turtles and “Whale Shark Isla Mujeres”; Swimming with these aquatic species are some of the most attractive activities that can be carried out in Isla Mujeres. If you want to know more about swimming with “Whale Sharks” click here.

To get to Isla Mujeres you can take Ferry Isla Mujeres, boats from Puerto Juárez, Punta Sam and the Hotel Zone of Cancun. “You can see Ferry Isla Mujeres in Yucatan Peninsula Map “

Interesting sites in Isla Mujeres (Women Island):

Hacienda Mundaca Isla Mujeres

One of the attractions of Isla Mujeres is the Mundaca farm which was a livestock agricultural farm popularly known as the Hacienda del Pirata Mundaca, which is related during the caste war with the traffic of Mayan prisoners to Cuba. You can see this place in Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Punta Sur Isla Mujeres (Women Island)

Another attraction of Isla Mujeres is Punta Sur that is the place where archaeological vestiges of the temple are found to Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of love and fertility. Punta Sur is the highest part of the island reaching about 20mts above sea level and is a natural formation adjacent to the “Garrafon” reef that provides a view of the Caribbean Sea, Cancun and the Bay of Isla Mujeres itself. You can see Punta Sur in” Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Playa Norte Isla Mujeres (Women Island)

Playa Norte Isla Mujeres is the main tourist area of ​​Isla Mujeres, in this area is the overseas ferry dock, beaches, hotels, several restaurants, Beachclubs and Golf Cart Rentals Isla Mujeres

Cross in Machote Reef Isla Mujeres (Women Island)

Another attraction of Isla Mujeres is the Cross of the Bay that is a place where a bronze cross was placed in the Machot Arrecife on August 17, 1857, the cross of the Bay measures 3 m high and weighs about 1 ton and It is 12 m deep in the sea, said monument pays tribute and recognition of the men and women who died at sea.

Turtle farm in Isla Mujeres (Women Island)

Tortu-Granja is a natural zone for turtles in which turtles come to spawn between the months of May and September. The eggs are placed in safe areas to keep them safe from predators and after birth the turtles are placed in ponds and are accompanied to the sea by the children of the local schools and the tourists who help them return to their marine habitat.

Snorkel Isla Mujeres (Women Island)

The Snorkel Isla Mujeres can be practiced in several places of Isla Mujeres due to its privileged location.

Rafa’s park is a natural park in Isla Mujeres that owes its name to an invaluable reef that due to its minimum depth and soft current allows us to approach the underwater life of the Caribbean Sea, located on the southern tip of the island and has A majestic coral reef in which diving and snorkeling is practiced.

The spots reef is very close to the southern tip of the island and has a coral bank 12 km long by 700 m wide where diving and snorkeling can be practiced can be there by boat.

The Cave of School Sharks is located east of the island This place is surrounded by coral formations and diving and snorkeling is practiced

The Underwater Museum of Art has more than 440 sculptures which are submerged in the spots exhibition area near the Isla Mujeres, it also has 17 sculptures in the Nizuc area south of Cancun. “You can see this in Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Whale Shark Isla Mujeres (Women Island)

Whale Shark Isla Mujeres is one of the most amazing kind of nature, The Whale Shark, an Aquatic Species that has existed on our planet for approximately 60 million years; Whale Sharks, a calm and social species that likes to interact with humans. If you want to know more about swimming with Whale Sharks click here.

Blue Flag Beaches

Beaches Blue Flag, the beaches of Isla Mujeres have received the Blue Flag certification granted by the European Foundation of Environmental Education to the beaches that have reached excellence in environmental management and management and security and services The application of environmental education activities and water quality this certification is valued every year.

Isla Mujeres Golf Cart Rental

Other very popular activity in Isla Mujeres is Isla Mujeres Golf Cart Rental to tour the entire island, there are many companies that allow Golf Cart Rentals Isla Mujeres per hour and per day. You can see Golf Cart Rentals Isla Mujeres in Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Ferry Isla Mujeres (Women Island)

To get to Isla Mujeres you can take Ferry Isla Mujeres, boats from Puerto Juárez, Punta Sam and the Hotel Zone of Cancun. You can see Ferry Isla Mujeres in Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Isla Mujeres History

Isla Mujeres was inhabited by the Mayan civilization and the island was consecrated to the goddess Ixchel what is the Mayan goddess of the moon, love and fertility; The Maya performed female sculptures on the beaches of Isla Mujeres to pay tribute.

Upon arriving the Spanish conquerors and observing the sculptures they baptized her as “Isla Mujeres.”

On the south of the island there are vestiges of a Mayan temple, archaeologists know that Isla Mujeres was a sanctuary dedicated to Ixchel and Mayan women had to make a pilgrimage to the island as part of their passage from girl to woman. You can see Sanctuary to Ixchel in Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Isla Mujeres was also a shelter and home with famous pirates and slave traffickers such as Fermín Mundaca and Marecheaga

The island was discovered by the expedition of Francisco Hernández de Córdoba in 1517

During the caste war in Yucatan, Mayan and Yucatecan fishermen set a town called “Dolores” in Isla Mujeres.

In 1867 Dolores was already considered a town, for January 28, 1891 Isla Mujeres was considered a municipal head of the Yucatan Islands Party. Isla Mujeres began to take great importance for tourism thus marking its new beginning. On January 12, 1975 Isla Mujeres is established as one of the 7 municipalities that were born along with the official free and sovereign state of Quintana Roo. You can see quintana roo in Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Isla Mujeres Real Estate

The Isla Mujeres Real Estate has grown a lot in the last years, many properties in Isla Mujeres can be found for sale.

Cancun

Cancun means “nest of snakes” in Mayan, Cancun is located in eastern Mexico approximately 1,600 km from Mexico City, Cancun is located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

Cancun is the largest city in Quintana Roo with 888,797 inhabitants according to the 2020 population census. Cancun is considered a world-class tourist destination by the World Tourism Organization.

Cancún began operations in 1974 as a tourist center planned by FONATUR.

Cancun has undergone a remarkable transformation since 1974, Cancun was previously considered a fishing village.

Cancun is the main tourist destination in Mexico along with Mexico City and the Riviera Maya, in addition, the Cancun international airport is the second with the most movement of passengers, which makes Cancun the main tourist destination in Mexico.

Cancun will also be within the Railway Network under construction called “the Mayan Train” you can see it on the Yucatan Peninsula Map highlighted in yellow.

The Mayan Train is a megaproject that has been underway since December 2018 in southeastern Mexico. It is planned as a regional train for locals, tourists and cargo, is planned to begin operations in early 2024.

The Mayan Train line starts in palenque chiapas and travels northeast towards Cancún in Quintana Roo through 2 routes that circle the yucatan peninsula the project aims to connect tourist destinations in the caribbean with lesser known sites inland, including mayan sites history from which it derives its name. you can see it on the Yucatan Peninsula Map highlighted in yellow.

Cancun is divided into 5 zones, the first and the most important touristically is Cancun Island, which is where the hotel zone of Cancun is located, in addition to being the area where most of the beaches and tourist activities are concentrated; the second area of ​​Cancun is the urban area which is where the bulk of the population lives; The third zone is Puerto Juárez, which is the place where the 2 main docks are located to embark and cross to Isla Mujeres, located just 7 km from the port; The fourth area of ​​​​Cancun is called the Ejidal Strip, which is an area of ​​irregularly distributed settlements in the northern part of the city in the municipal limits of Isla Mujeres and Alfredo Bonfil.

Cancun is located northeast of the Yucatan peninsula and from Cancun you can clearly see Isla Mujeres to the north of the city in the so-called women’s fence, which is the area through which various boats and boats-cross that transport the inhabitants all day from the island to the mainland.

The hotel zone is the most important tourist area in Cancun since it is where most of the beaches and tourist activities for which the destination is recognized are concentrated, Cancun Island is a strip of land in the shape of a number 7 with a length of 23 km. you can see map of cancun hotel zone on the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Isla Cancún houses most of the hotels and beaches, as well as residential areas such as Isla Dorada, the Poktapok golf course and the entrance to the exclusive area of ​​Puerto Cancún, which is the most ambitious and important residential area in the city, Isla Cancún is united to the mainland by 3 bridges: the calinda bridge, the club med bridge, and the nizuc bridge, you can see it on the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

In the urban area of ​​Cancun is where the bulk of the population of Cancun lives and is divided into neighborhoods, subdivisions, superblocks or regions such as the regular ones perfectly delimited by paved streets and avenues that have basic services of electricity, drinking water, telephone service, sanitation and internet. In the urban area of ​​Cancun is where most of the city’s political, educational, cultural and service institutions are located.

The Cancun City increases in size every year due to the growth it has experienced since its inception which has continued to this day, so that the zone of the Ejidal strip of Cancun each year has new housing and infrastructure projects such as subdivisions , residential, and new neighborhoods where visitors from all over Mexico and other parts of the world arrive every year to look for their new home in Cancun.

Another area of ​​Cancun is Alfredo Bonfil, which is one of the 3 delegations of the municipality of Benito Juárez, the population of Alfredo Bonfil originally started with settlers from the north of Mexico with the mission of contributing to the demographic increase of Quintana Roo to reach the category of free and sovereign state in 1974 and is located 8 km from downtown Cancun on the federal highway that goes to the international airport and the Riviera Maya, you can see it on the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Weather in Cancun

The climate in Cancun is characterized by the influence of hot ocean currents because Cancun is located on the eastern coast of the continent, which favors a warm and rainy climate.

The predominant climate in Cancun is warm sub-humid with frequent rains during the year, although more abundant in summer. The average temperature in Cancun is between 25° Celsius and the hurricane season begins in mid-June.

December weather in cancun:

The December weather in Cancun is pleasant with an average temperature of 26.8 degrees Celsius and little rain.

Flora in Cancun

The vegetation in Cancun is characterized by being medium forest, lowland forest, lowland flooded forest, mangrove savannah, flooded palm grove and coastal dune vegetation.

In the center between the island of Cancun and the urban area of ​​Cancun we find the enormous Nichupte Lagoon in which we can find species of flora characteristic of the region such as the acacia, the annona, baleno, cameraria latifolia, the palm, the coconut, the dyewood, sapodilla, chechén, pouteria chiricana, palm, red mangrove, and chit palm, you can see the Nichupte Lagoon on the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Wildlife in Cancun

Given the diversity of flora that exists in Cancun and its surroundings, this ecosystem makes it possible for there to be a great diversity of fauna in Cancun and its surroundings, such as many varieties of crustaceans, oysters, various species of fish such as cyclic fish and cyclic poe fish, the American eel; We can also find bird species in Cancun such as the blue-winged egret, the carao, the squacco hawk, the hocofaisán, the heron, the palomero falcon, the long-legged hawk, the Yucatecan bolsero, the curculado bolsero, the king vulture, the swallow marina, the ocellated turkey, the Yucatecan parrot and the Mexican Zanate.

Turtles such as the loggerhead, the white turtle, the leatherback turtle, and the sea turtle reproduce in the Cancun area, as well as the boa constrictors, like the grated hollow, like the garrobo, the green iguana, the howler monkey, the spider monkey, the manatee and the crocodile.

Cancun History

During pre-Hispanic times, the Mayans maintained a commercial network from the Terminos lagoon to Honduras, for which they established maritime routes that ran along the entire coast of the current state of Quintana Roo. For this reason, the Mayans built buildings along the Caribbean Sea along Cancun and the Riviera Maya to carry out commercial exchanges, monitor and help navigation.

According to archaeological studies carried out in the archaeological site of El Meco and the archaeological site of El Rey, which were inhabited points until the 16th century, in the chronicles of the Indies a locality with the name of Velma is described, it is probable that this locality corresponds to the archaeological site of “El Meco” you can see it on the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

The first Spanish Navigator to explore Cancún and Isla Mujeres was Francisco Hernández de Córdoba in 1517.

The first known map of Cancun was made by cartographer Juan de Dios González in 1776. During the 19th century, Cancun was visited by other Navigators such as Joan Loyd Stephens, Frederick Catherwood and Captain Richard Owen Smith.

Starting in 1967, INFRATUR decided to carry out a master plan in Cancun with the aim of building a world-class tourist destination as an engine to contribute to the Mexican economy.

Cancun has been the venue for various international forums due to its privileged location. In 1981 Cancun was the venue for the International Meeting on Cooperation and Development; in 1983 Cancun hosted a meeting of the accounting group that achieved the peace plan in Central America and the Caribbean; in 1989 Cancún was the seat of the miss universe beating Tel Aviv and Viña del Mar that also competed for the seat; In 2003, the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization was held in Cancun.

Cancun has very safe infrastructures against hurricanes as a result of the impact of hurricanes Gilberto and Wilma, as proof of this, all the hurricanes that have impacted Cancun after Willma have not caused serious damage.

Cancun International Airport

Cancun International Airport is the one that receives the most international traffic in all of Mexico.

Cancun International Airport is the second largest air terminal in Mexico after the international airport of Mexico City, today the Cancun international airport has 2 runways and a considerable number of flights operate, it has a new control tower that is the tallest in Latin America and it is number 18 worldwide, Terminal 3 in Cancun is recently built and was created with energy savings in mind, you can see Cancun Airport on the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Cancun Transport Services

Cancun has a huge variety of urban transport which greatly speeds up mobility in the urban area and in the hotel zone such as autocar, turicun and maya caribe; It also has land transportation to other cities in the Yucatan Peninsula through the ADO bus stations among other stations.

Cancun is also home to various television, radio, internet and print media outlets such as sipse TV, Cancun, channel 10, turquoise radio, the Quintana Roo system of social communication, pirate fm, radio formula QR, caribbean fm, among many other media.

Demographics in Cancun

Cancun is a cosmopolitan city due to its recent creation and development, which has caused that until today there is a mix of inhabitants from different cultures and regions of Mexico and other countries of the world due to the numerous job offers that it presents in tourist spaces.

In Cancun, the folklore, gastronomy and customs that prevail come from the neighboring state of Yucatan and the Mayan culture due to the location of Cancun.

Cancun is a multicultural city due to the mixture of cultures from different countries that inhabit the city, as it has a strong influence from countries such as Cuba, Puerto Rico, South Korea, countries in Europe, Africa, the United States, Canada, China, Russia, Japan and several Latin American countries such as Argentina, Colombia and Venezuela.

Religions in Cancun

Cancun is the city where the main religions of the municipality are concentrated, where the Catholic religion covers approximately 50% of the population. We can also find the presence of other religions such as Protestants, Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Pentecostals, Neo-Pentecostals, Adventists, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jews and other religions.

Riviera Maya

The Riviera Maya is a tourist area of ​​Mexico located on the Caribbean Sea coast in the state of Quintana Roo and extends along the coast of beaches of the coast, it is located in the eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula.

The Riviera Maya is considered to begin southern Cancun in the town of Puerto Morelos and extends to the south covering important cities of Quintana Roo such as Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Aventuras, Akumal, Tulum and Coba until reaching the reserve Ecological of Sian Ka An. You can see in the “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

The Riviera Maya has approximately 405 hotels and resorts of international class, 5 stars and other categories that offer at least 43,500 rooms, most hotels and resorts have all inclusive system.

Weather in Riviera Maya

Temperatures in the area of ​​the Riviera Maya ranges between 24 and 29 ° C throughout the year and is characterized by having a humid climate with rains in summer.

In the Riviera Maya you can find very diverse flora and fauna with land animals such as jaguars, deer, wild boars, spider monkey, foxes, mapaches, among many others

Riviera Maya Mexican Restaurants

There are many Mexican Restaurants in Riviera Maya, you can see the Riviera Maya Mexican Restaurants in the “Yucatan Peninsula Map”

Cenotes Riviera Maya

There are many cenotes in Riviera Maya, you can see the cenotes in the “Yucatan Peninsula Map”

Riviera Maya Excursions

There are multiple Riviera Maya Excursions and excursions for all Yucatan Peninsula to archaelogical sites like Chichen Itza, Coba, Tulum, Ek Balam and others. You can get more information about excursions here.

Riviera Maya History

The Riviera Maya was originally inhabited by the Mayan people since 200 AC, the Mayan cities located in the Riviera Maya are characterized by having had constructions in which mathematical bases and high level of precision, arts and engineering were used, being good representatives of culture. You can find various museums dedicated to the past of the Riviera Maya such as the Xcaret archaeological site and also the archaeological areas of Tulum and Coba, it is known that Cozumel was a pilgrimage place between the natives and the influence of the Mayan culture can Notice in the archaeological zones of Cozumel such as San Gervasio and Santa Rita. You can see in the “Yucatan Peninsula Map”

The tourist boom in the Riviera Maya began in 1993 with the arrival of new investments to the area of ​​Playa del Carmen such as the Hotel Beach Complex of Car, as well as hotels such as the Robinson Tulum that began to give a boost in the tourist activity In the Riviera Maya. The continuous growth to this day and currently in that area there are more than 405 international class hotels and resorts.

Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is a Mexican city located in the state of Quintana Roo with an approximate population of 304,100 inhabitants according to the last census of the year 2020.

Playa del Carmen is located within the tourist area called Riviera Maya with a coast on the Caribbean Sea, the main economic activity in Playa del Carmen is tourism.

Playa del Carmen has had a great growth as a city since only 10,000 inhabitants lived in Playa del Carmen in 1996; In 2003 there were already 40,000 inhabitants, compared to the current ammount of approximately 300,000 inhabitants, it is a rapid growth compared to other cities from Mexico. In the same way, the Real Estate Playa del Carmen and houses in mexico for sale for inhabitants of other countries have increased considerably, especially due to the boom in investments in physical goods and fixed assets as a consequence of the increase in inflation in the “OECD” countries since 2019 and the Pandemic since 2020.

Playa del Carmen Meaning:

In pre-Hispanic times Playa del Carmen was called “Xaman há” which means “water from the north” in the Mayan language and was a starting point for the Mayan pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the Goddess Ixchel in Cozumel.

Economy Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen is one of the most visited places in the Riviera Maya so that tourism is the most important economic activity, making the rest of the economy depend directly or indirectly on this activity, also Playa del Carmen has a connection to other attractions related to ecotourism due to its location such as Xcaret, Xplor, Cozumel, Tulum, Xelha, Sian Ka an and Cancun You can see all these sites it in the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

The highway Cancun to Playa del Carmen & Playa del Carmen From Airport are the ones with the highest flow of vehicles in the state of Quintana Roo; The vehicles flow has also increased considerably on the Playa del Carmen to Tulum route. You can see interesting sites & Cenotes on these routes in the “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

The most famous street in Playa del Carmen is the fifth avenue of Playa del Carmen which is the street most visited by national and foreign tourists, this avenue is around 4 km long and is a very safe and crowded pedestrian avenue especially by the afternoons and evenings. Most of the commerce is concentrated here, from craft and souvenir shops to restaurants, bars and nightclubs such as Coco Bongo Playa del Carmen. You can see interesting sites in the “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Other iconic places in Playa del Carmen is the “beach Playa del Carmen” where we can find Beach Clubs in Playa del Carmen such as Playa Mamita’s Beach Club; Other iconic places in Playa del Carmen are the founders park, the Xaman-ha aviary, the Nuestra Señora del Carmen parish and Coco Bongo Playa del Carmen. You can see interesting sites in the “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

The cultural diversity of Playa del Carmen can be seen in the House of Culture, as well as in La Ceiba Park, which are places where pictorial, cultural and craft exhibitions are presented, workshops on literature, painting, music, dance, etc. theater and much more for the entire population.

The most famous celebrations in Playa del Carmen are the Playa del Carmen Carnival, the Virgen del Carmen festival, La Guelaguetza, the Sacred Mayan Journey and the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival.

Playa del Carmen has all the necessary basic services such as urban transport provided by autobus and vans, taxi services and motorcycle taxi service, in addition to foreign transport in its ADO bus stations that allow transportation to Cancun, Tulum and many other parts of the Yucatan Peninsula, Playa del Carmen also has maritime transport to transport passengers to the island of Cozumel. You can see interesting sites in Cancun, Tulum, Cozumel and Yucatan Peninsula in the “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Playa del Carmen also has the “Playa del Carmen Airport” that allows the takeoff and landing of small aircraft. You can see “Playa del Carmen Airport” in the “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Real Estate Playa del Carmen

The Real Estate Playa del Carmen and Houses in Mexico for sale for inhabitants of other countries have increased considerably, especially due to the boom in investments in physical goods and fixed assets as a consequence of the increase in inflation in OECD countries since 2019 and the Pandemic since 2020.

In Playa del Carmen and Cancun you can find many “Real Estate” companies with extensive portfolios of land, houses, apartments and luxury villas.

There are many hotel and apartment complexes in Playa del Carmen such as “Playacar” and “Mayakoba”. You can see Playacar and Mayakoba in the “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

Excursions in Playa del Carmen

Many Excursions in Playa del Carmen can be found for all the places of interest in the Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo and Yucatan, you can find more information about tours here.

Playa del Carmen History

In pre-Hispanic times Playa del Carmen was called “Xaman há” which means “water from the north” in the Mayan language and was a starting point for the Mayan pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the Goddess Ixchel in Cozumel. You can see Cozumel island in the “Yucatan Peninsula Map”.

During the 16th century the Spanish invaded and conquered most of the Mayan sites, however unlike many others, Playa del Carmen never became a Spanish settlement as it was almost always inhabited by Mayans and was considered a fishing village.

The first modern settlement in Playa del Carmen dates back to the beginning of the 20th century when a community of fishermen, coconut producers and chewing gum trees settled there.

The foundation of Playa del Carmen was due to a chewing gum colonizing company from the eastern coast of Yucatan that in 1908 obtained from the government concesión from Porfirio Díaz to exploit forest resources.

In the 1980s, Playa del Carmen was considered a transit town with less than 1,500 inhabitants.

Playa del Carmen is characterized by being made of highly permeable limestone rock and has many “Playa del Carmen cenotes” which are expansions of complex underground pluvial networks that sometimes make their way to the sea.

The climate of Playa del Carmen is considered sub-humid with rains in Summer and the average temperature of Playa del Carmen is 25.8 degrees Celsius.

Given the great population growth that Playa del Carmen has had according to a census in 2014, 60% of the population of Playa del Carmen was considered non-native and 10% immigrant.

Cozumel

In Cozumel many activities can be carried out due to its privileged location. Cozumel is an island made of limestone, the same that comes from the reefs, which is why it also has several cenotes. Cozumel has a humid climate with abundant rains in summer and little in winter as it is surrounded by warm waters of the Caribbean Sea as well as the current of the Yucatan Channel, which causes the prevalence of high pressures, making it an island with high humidity. All these characteristics added together result in Cozumel being a spectacular and paradisiacal island since it has beautiful beaches (Yucatan Peninsula Map) with clear sand and crystal clear water covered by spectacular reefs of various colors(see Yucatan Peninsula Map) with an immense variety of flora and fauna since due to their characteristics, the reefs of the world concentrate 25% of the aquatic fauna and flora. Cozumel is also rich in terrestrial flora and fauna with 27 species of animals endemic to the island of Cozumel such as the pygmy raccoon, the island coati, the Cozumel lizard, the cozumel mockingbird and the Cozumel vireo. In the Yucatan Peninsula Map you can find most of the activities.

Cozumel History

The latest research indicates that the first settlers of the Cozumel island arrived there around the 2nd century BC. It is believed that these individuals were part of semi-nomadic Caribbean groups dedicated to fishing and hunting; As of the 3rd century, the Mayans began to populate the island with a cultural level that was definitely higher than their predecessors, since they practiced agriculture and mastered architectural techniques, which is why in Cozumel there are traces of their activity in some ruins and remains of pottery found in the north center of the island such as “San Gervasio” and “Santa Rita”. Already by the year 1200 of our era during the Mayan Apogee, “the Cozumel island” was a trade center with distant lands , since merchandise arrived in Cozumel from distant places, many of the items were stored in canoes before being sent to other distribution points. You can find San Gervasio in Yucatan Peninsula Map.

From the year 1500 of our era, the first Spanish explorers began to arrive, such as Juan de Grijalva who was the first to land on the island and Hernán Cortés who would later travel to the capital of the Aztecas “Tenochtitlan”. During the colonial era, agricultural activities prevailed on the Cozumel Island.

Cozumel has several traditional festivals such as the Cedral fair which takes place in the town of Cedral (see Yucatan Peninsula Map) in Cozumel in which a miracle attributed to a cross during “the caste war” is celebrated.

Another traditional festival in Cozumel is “The Cozumel Carnaval” which is one of the oldest in Mexico and one of the most important; “The Cozumel Carnaval” is a mixture of diverse cultural expressions, dances and rhythms from the Yucatan Peninsula and the Caribbean. The Cozumel Carnival has its origins in 1874 and is a tradition started by migrant families from Yucatan, Campeche and other places who found their new home in Cozumel.

Tulum

The city of Tulum is a city in Mexico in the state of Quintana Roo and is located at the southern end of the Riviera Maya, Tulum is one of the main international tourist destinations, it was founded approximately in 1860 by María Uicab with the name of Tulum Because this city is next to the archaeological ruins of Tulum built by the Mayan civilization.

The distance of cancun to tulum is 130.7 km.

María Uicab who founded Tulum’s contemporary city was a priestess of the “Parlante Cruz” to which the inhabitants of the area called the “Patroness Holy” during the caste war fought in the Yucatan Peninsula between the Yucatecan government and the peoples Maya, the Yucatan Republic Army chased María Uicab and her destiny is unknown.

The small town of Tulum remained a long time as a place of passage between the south of the state of Quintana Roo and the north of the state of Quintana Roo and as tourism in the state of Quintana Roo increased considerably, Tulum developed as a tourist destination, in 2015 Tulum was appointed in Mexico “Pueblo Mágico(Magic Town)” and has had considerable population growth since it has natural attractions and Mayan vestiges, the Tulum Airport & Mayan train are under construction. You can see the “Tulum Airport” in the “Yucatan Peninsula Map”

In Tulum they live approximately 304,942 inhabitants according to the last 2020 census.

Tulum can currently be considered a multicultural city due to the large number of foreigners who have decided to live in Tulum, it is a very quiet city and with many attractions nearby, it is very common to observe the inhabitants of Tulum to use bicycles in addition to finding many hotels Ecological since the Eco Friendly culture in Tulum is widespread.

Tulum’s climate is warm subhumid with rains in summer and the average annual temperature is 25 ° C.

Tulum Meaning:

Tulum means wall in Maya and its name is due to the wall that protects the archaeological site of Tulum, but in ancient times during the Mayan Apogee the archaeological site of Tulum was called “Zamá”, what means dawn in Mayan.

In Tulum and near Tulum there are several Interesting Sites:

Ruins Tulum

The Ruins Tulum were built by the Mayan Civilization and are the main attraction which receives many tourists from Cancun and Playa del Carmen; You can see the Ruins Tulum in the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Ruins Coba

Another site of interest near Tulum is the archaeological ruins of Coba that are about 40 km northwest of the city, these archaeological ruins are considered of the classic period of the Mayan culture; You can see the Ruins Coba in the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Tulum Beaches

Tulum Beaches that until the mid -80s were very rare, but following the hotel boom in Tulum, the visit to its beaches was considerably increased, you can observe the Tulum Beaches in the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Beach Club Tulum

The Beach Club Tulum are popular since they offer dishes and drinks in the beautiful Tulum Beaches, which generates another way to enjoy being on the beach. You can see the Tulum Beach Clubs in the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Tulum Cenotes

Tulum Cenotes are also a very frequented attraction since there are many underground rivers complex like Gran Cenote (Great Cenote), Cenote Calavera, Cenote Zazil-Ha and Cenote Cristal; Near Tulum you can also visit “SAC Actun”, which is considered the largest underwater caves system in the world and the second longest underground river in the world with 368 km, you can see it the Tulum Cenotes & Sac Actun in the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Park Xel Ha

Another attraction near Tulum is Park Xel Ha; Xel Ha is a natural park where you can relax contemplating the impressive creation of nature such as the lagoon, rivers, underground rivers, flora and fauna of the area, you can learn more information about this water park by clicking here. You can see it in the Yucatan Peninsula Map.

Tulum Restaurants

The Tulum Restaurants are characterized by being restaurants with Mexican and varied international dishes in addition to finding themselves at a short distance, which facilitates decision-making when choosing a restaurant tulum and focusing our cravings towards different types of menu, In Tulum we can find abundant Mexican dishes, Japanese, Italian, French, Kosher and many seafood restaurants such as El Camello Jr  Restaurant Tulum, you can click on any restaurant icon in the Yucatan Peninsula Map to see the score given to restaurants in Tulum by users.

VIVA MEXICO !