Travel Blog: Yucatán Peninsula
Absolute bucket-list destination, Mexico had been a dream of mine for years. It conjures images of bright reds and yellows, deep scents of hot spices, and sounds of traditional mariachi filling the air.
I thought maybe I’d romanticised it, but from the moment we touched down in Playa del Carmen, Yucatán Peninsula, it was clear my imagination had been right – and then some.
A few things made this a trip to remember: the beach was golden and the (virgin) cocktails just kept on coming, my tired brain and body had a marvellous time recuperating.
But you don’t sit on a plane for nine hours just to lie on a sun lounger, do you? No. Of course not.
With a history as rich and fascinating as Mexico's, be sure to explore as much as possible.
To get you started, here are my top three destinations to help you plan your visit to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula…
1. Chichén Itzá
What: 26 Mayan ruins, which were once part of the ancient city of the same name, built to celebrate deities and ritual days, a site to practise human sacrifice, play ball games, and to come together and learn.
Spread across the Chichén, home to about 20 ruins; and Chichén Itzá, which has six.
History: Its name, Chichén Itzá, means ‘at the brim of the well where the Wise Men of the Water Live’. Built by the Maya people, it was (and still very much is) a sacred city founded by the Itza – the water witches – around the year 435.
Thoughts: Awe-inspiring. Jaw-dropping. It’s absolutely enormous… but it kinda doesn’t look real – I kept taking pictures of it and it honestly looked photoshopped in. Or like a stock photo. Too mighty for my puny phone camera, clearly.
The acoustics are incredible as well, as many guides demonstrated – one well-placed clap and the sound reverberates through the site. It’s just amazing.
2. Cenotes
What: Huge underground caves adorned with stalactites, filled with fresh groundwater (and sometimes lil fish). These sacred sinkholes helped ancient civilisations to set up communities in the Yucatán Peninsula, an area surrounded by oceans. They provided fish and valuable clay for pots, too.
History: A beautiful marriage of destruction + creation: the Yucatán Peninsula came about thanks to a meteorite impact that extinguished the dinosaurs.
Most shut at 5pm, as that’s when the Alux – the spirits of light serving Mayan gods and goddesses – swept through the cenotes and turned off all the lights.
Thoughts: There’s only one word I’d use to describe these natural phenomena: OTHERWORLDLY. It’s like being transported onto another planet, or maybe realm, like nothing I’ve ever seen before.
The water’s freezing but clear and you can see fish hanging out in it. The one I went to had a zipline installed which was pretty sick.
3. That local restaurant up the side street we happened upon
What: This is a more general destination – but trust me. Did you know that Mexican cuisine is protected by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?
I didn’t either, until my trip there. It’s quite clear why, though, when you start trying authentic food cooked using ancient processes and local ingredients.
History: Developed by the Aztecs and the Maya, many recipes heavily feature corn, beans, squash, and chilli peppers. Thousands of years later, these ingredients remain central to Mexican cooking. Ancient Mexicans created a balanced diet that sustained large populations, full of flavour that’ll warm your heart.
Thoughts: DO NOT STAY IN YOUR HOTEL. Get outside, walk around, go to places where nobody’s speaking English. It will change your life immeasurably, and you’ll thank me later. Anything I come across in the UK simply pales in comparison and I am hungry just thinking about it.
If you’re planning a trip to Mexico any time soon, make sure you get out and see the cultural history of the Yucatán Peninsula. It’s a gorgeous place to explore, with some of the best food and friendliest people out there. ¡Viva!