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Yucatan on Wheels - rental car tour Stopping points of the tour
Cancun is a wonderful vacation spot with modern hotels, bars and shopping centers. One of the greatest attractions is the fabulous beach, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful ones in the world. Around 35 years ago Cancun was still hidden in the jungle before it grew to be one of the most popular vacation spots. Today the former fishers' village has a population of 500.000 and occupies a 22km long sandbank, which is connected with the mainland by two bridges. Here you will find everything you need for an unforgettable vacation: first-class hotels, shopping and leisure possibilities, not to forget the fabulous white sand beaches with crystal clear, turquoise water. The majority of accommodations are located in the hotel area, which occupies the whole island. The main street is called Kukulkán-Boulevard. The beautiful lagoon, known as Nichupté lagoon, is located in the western part of the island, which is filled with numerous restaurants, marinas, shopping centers and golf courses. The lagoon is also perfect for those who would like to participate in diverse water sports activities. Cancun also offers numerous sightseeing possibilities to make your vacation unique. Visit the El Rey ruins - the largest archeological sight in Cancún - or the interactive aquarium with sea urchins, sharks, skates, see turtles, dolphins as well as many other sea creatures. The city congress center offers you a wonderful opportunity to admire local dancing and music, or you might also attend a bullfight in the Plaza de Toros. Those looking for cultural experience may find a visit to Museo del Aire Libre, Casa de la Cultura as well as Museo de Antropología quite interesting. Kukulcan Plaza with over 250 stores, numerous restaurants, bars, cafes as well as 2 theaters and a bowling alley is recommended for an ultimate shopping experience. Another favorite attraction of Cancúns visitors is Flamingo Plaza. The most modern shopping center is the city market by the sea.
Chichen Itza is one of the largest and best maintained ruin sites of Yucatan and it is located about 120km further to the East of Merida. It has been a significant economic, political and religious center for about 1.000 years. One of the distinctive features, which became world's cultural heritage in 1988 and was successfully renovated, is the fusion of Maya and Toltec cultures, which is best reflected in about 30m tall pyramid of Kukulcan - also known as El Castillo. Besides, you should visit the ball playfield Juego de Pelota, which is surrounded by 8m tall walls, the group of 1.000 pillars, Sagrado cenote where archeologists found numerous remains of sacrifices, the warrior temple Templo de los Guerreros with mask decorated pillars, El Caracol observatory and Convento de las Monjas.
The colonial town of Valladolid is located in the north of Yucatán. It was founded in 1543 by Don Francisco de Montejo el Sobrino, whose uncle seized Yucatán. Today Valladolid is a popular place for an overnight stay and an overland drive junction point. It is located 38km from Chichén Itzá and about 160km from Cancún. Visitors enjoy walking through the town lanes with their colonial charm or eating in a romantic restaurant. The central city park: Zócalo is especially popular among visitors. There is a lot going on here at night as well as during the day. Be sure to visit San Servacio Cathedral built in 1706 and Convento de San Bernadino Siena abbey built between 1552 and 1560 with its beautiful garden. Besides, it is certainly worth taking a drive to Dzitnup cenote only 7km away from Valladolid.
Mérida is the largest city on the Yucatán peninsula and at the same time it is the capital of the identically named state. Francisco de Montejo grounded it on the ruins of the former Maya settlement Ti Ho in 1542. The "White City", owing its name to its light house facades, is waiting for you with numerous treasures. Enjoy the colonial flair and diverse activities in the historical center of the colonial town. The central city point is Zócalo. This place attracts not only the visitors but also the natives. There is a range of various sightseeing possibilities around this square. One of the most significant sights is the majestic cathedral, which represents one of the greatest and the oldest churches of Yucatán. It was established between 1561 and 1599 in colonial style and was placed in the eastern part of Zócalo. In the governmental palace, known as Palacio del Gobierno, you will have a wonderful opportunity to admire numerous paintings of the colonial period. You will find it on the northern side of Zócalo. The former bishop's palace Ateneo Peninsula, the city market as well as museums are also worth visiting.
The fishers' town of Celestún was founded in 1719 and is located about 92 km to the southwest of Mérida - in the west of Yucatán. Celestún, which can be translated as "Painted Stone", captivates by its unique nature. The biosphere reserve occupies an area of over 59.000 hectares and is a true paradise for nature lovers. Take a boat ride through the breathtaking mangrove forests to admire a variety of birds. You will find here up to 30.000 pink-colored flamingos alone - depending on the time of the year and the weather. Since flamingos are very shy, the tour boats have to be kept at a certain distance, so it is advisable to take binoculars with you. Apart from flamingos, this nature reserve also has numerous other kinds of birds, turtles and even two extinction kinds of crocodiles. But the flora also has much more to offer than the beautiful mangrove forests. The subtropical vegetation of Celestún features extraordinary orchids, palms and rare cactuses. |
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