Explore the Mayan Ruins And Enjoy the Mayan Riviera in Mexico
66The whole Yucatan peninsula is chock full of the historical past and architecture from the Mayan civilization. It provides us a glimpse of just what life was like in the prehistory of European colonization of the Americas. If your concept of a great getaway to Mexico is to learn about its history and heritage, then this is actually the best place to go.
The Yucatan peninsula is the place where you can still find incredible proof of the Mayan’s advanced civilization. Only a short drive from the Mayan Riviera Mexico are examples to be discovered of the height of Mayan architecture and civilization. The Mayan Riviera includes the cities of Cancun, Cozumel, Tulum, and Playa del Carmen. The Mayan Riviera was voted one of the top 5 vacation destinations by CNN.
Many travel agents will arrange excursions that will let you enjoy and explore numerous ancient sites. They will still reserve time for you to lay on a beach to soak in the sun. This combines an educational experience as well as a relaxing vacation. Spend a couple of days traveling to several of the very well known ruins and then kick back with some typical water activities.
One of the most famous Mayan ruins is Chichen Itza, which is near Merida, the capital of Yucatan. It's believed Chichen Itza was founded in 432 AD and is among the best examples of Mayan architecture ever excavated. You can climb the pyramid called "El Castillo." You will learn how it is set up to have importance in the way the Mayans viewed astronomy. Additionally the largest stadium in Mesoamerica is located here. This stadium hosted games in which the losers might have been ritually sacrificed. The mix of science, religion, as well as architecture inside the city is quite extraordinary.
Another recently discovered site is at Palenque. In 1952 the mummified remains of Lord Pakal, a ruler in the 6th century, was discovered in a large sarcophagus. There are a variety of beautiful examples of Mayan architecture situated here, for instance comb-like decorations on the roofs of the temples and delicately carved wall panels. There are more than 200 buildings at this site.A visit to Tulum will offer some seaside ruins to investigate for a half day. It also gives you the chance to snorkel and check out a few of the underwater caves that are near there. After that it is a brief trip to either Cancun or Isla de Mujeres for some rest and relaxation. You can get some of the best margaritas here.
Just south of Tulum is Sian Ka'an, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This particular ecological reserve features a lion's share of natural splendor. Additionally, it highlights twenty three archeological sites of Mayan civilization. It also includes an ancient trade route which serviced the cities of Tulum and Muyil throughout the Mayan era.
Touring the Mayan ruins is an awe inspiring trip. To think these beautiful structures were built thousands of years ago using only hand tools is an incredible feat. Due to the crime rate in Mexico, it is safer to book your tours and reservations through a reputable travel company. Many of these companies can offer some really great packages. The packages can include cheap airfare, hotel discounts, and in some cases will be all inclusive (meals and other perks)
Travel Deals
Expidia is having a beach sale! Big Beach Sale: Save up to 30% on Hotels in the Caribbean, Mexico & Hawaii! - Expires 11/24/10
Expidia Travel Sale Expedia Holiday Bonus: Book a flight now, get $200 off your next vacation! - Expires 12/20/2010
More Information about Mayan Ruins
 | Amazon Price: $10.00 List Price: $21.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $52.17 List Price: $26.60 |
 | Amazon Price: $1.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $1.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $9.88 List Price: $14.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $12.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $0.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $28.99 List Price: $29.99 |
More Yucatan and Mayan Articles
- Mexico - Musician and Bands - Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Mexican music terms can sometimes be a bit confusing. During the Mexican-American war (1840s) Corrido was the popular musical form, which are long ballads that narrate issues (popular or political) of the... - Simple Spanish For Resort Vacationers
Heading off on holidays? Want to quickly learn some Spanish words and sentences to use there? Read this article "Simple Spanish For Vacationers," and you'll be well on your way... - 2012 Maya Calendar - Prophecies, Cycles and Fear
The Maya believed that when a cycle ends, a new one begins. 2012 is the end of this cycle; the 'God that can fly' will visit again, the same God that taught them about Astronomy, Math and Architecture.- The... - Mexican Drug Cartel Terrorism Rule Juarez Valley
While many people are getting ready for the Cinco de Mayo celebration, other Mexicans are literally are running for their lives with the population statistics waning at a rapid rate. In Mexicos Juarez... - MAYA SYMBOLS AND MYTHOLOGY
Understanding some of the symbols and mythology of the Anciant Maya is very important when we travel or admire their architecture, art and history. This is just a glance of that magnificent culture. - Ten Most Impressive Archaeological Sites
The list of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World has been around for a long time, but only one of these wonders is still vertical - the Great Pyramid in Egypt. Therefore, you won't find the Temple of... - Interesting Mayan Facts
The Mayans, just like their earlier counterparts the Eygptians, they were experts at building pyramids and used them for many different purposes. The largest Mayan pyramid is located in Uxmal, Yucatan,... - The Maya Civilization And Its Some Important Features
This is said to be one of the old Mesoamerican civilizations originated from the areas around present Mexico in North America. The Mayan people who lived around yucatan area showed their outstanding skills on...
Comments from TnFlash
I hope you found this article about the Mayan Ruins and the Mayan Riviera interesting and informative. Please feel free to leave your comments and share your own opinions and comments plus give your thumbs vote. Send me a email if you have a request on a topic of interest. It’s FREE to join my Fan club, subscribe by Email, my RSS Feed or join me on Hubpages with a click of your mouse.
Join Hubpages and Make Money Click Here
HubMob Hub
Celebrating the Cinco de Mayo and the Mexican culture
- Corn Meal Based Mexican Food
This hub explores the different Mexican food that uses the cornmeal tortilla. Included is a video on how to make homemade corn tortilla. - 2 years ago
- Mexican Culture -Festivals and Celebrations of Mexico
Mexicans are full of energy and life. They are fun loving and party going people. A large number of festivals celebrated by the Mexicans show just how they love to enjoy life. In Mexico, there are several national holidays in a year. Most of the... - 17 months ago
- Cesar Millan, Trainer: The Dog Whisperer - One of Mexico's Famous Exports
Cesar Millan; Before shows such as "The Dog Whisperer" and its British counterpart "At the End of Your Leash" became popular, we used to think, when we saw a dog behaving badly, "There goes a dog that needs some training." Now, when we see dogs behaving badly now, we are more inclined to think, "The owner of that dog needs some training." - 2 years ago
- Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a Low Fat Recipe
Mexico, Central America, and northern South America have shared their foods and recipes with Texas and the Gulf States across and down to the tip of Florida and the Keys to create a wide swath of cuisine that offers endless possibilities and... - 2 years ago
- Summer Olympics Games. Mexico City, 1968 and the Black Power Movement
The 1968 Summer Olympic Games were held in Mexico. The first time they had been held in a developing country. This was the height of the American civil rights movement.African-American athletes Tommie Smith (gold) and John Carlos (bronze) raised their black-gloved fists as a symbol of "Black Power". The Australian Peter Norman, who had run second, wore an American "civil rights" badge as support to them on the podium. As punishment, the International Olympic Committee banned Smith and Carlos fro - 2 years ago
CommentsLoading...
Pam, Thanks for the comment. I think this is a really cool place with all the ancient buildings.
The always popular theme - the Maya's culture! Nice hub and interesting videos!
vox vocis, Thanks for the nice comment. I'm glad you found my Hub interesting.
Fascinating place
superciber, Thanks for the comment. I enjoyed my visit to the ruins in Mexico. It was fascinating how they were built.
Excellent hub!
beckypuetz, Thanks for the comment. This was an easy Hub to write. I love this area because of the beach, history and the night-life.
Wow looks spectacular. Thanks for sharing this hub:-)
Pamela99 Level 7 Commenter 2 years ago
Jack, This is a good hub and those ruins are really a wonderful place to visit. I have only seen a couple of them but it amazes me to see something built so long ago. Good hub.