Uncover 5 Enchanting Gems in Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is a tourist hotspot that attracts millions of visitors annually. Unfortunately, most of these visitors will check into their hotel and won’t check on the beauty that makes the Yucatan Peninsula one of the most spectacular parts of Mexico.

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is a vast coastal region with tropical beaches, spectacular wildlife, ancient Mayan ruins, small villages, and adventure activities. The Yucatan Peninsula is a place of emerald green waters that turn to turquoise waves crashing on perfectly white coral sand beaches.

Explore the Majestic Chichen Itza

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is at the heart of Mexico’s Mayan archeology and attracts around 1.4 million visitors annually—the region’s second most famous Mayan ruins. For over a thousand years, Chichen Itza was one of the major cities in Central America. It was located here because of its proximity to deep cenotes with access to fresh water.

However, a century’s worth of excavation means that the rest of Chichen Itza is just as excellent. Chichen Itza fell on bucket lists worldwide when it was added to the New Seven Wonders List in 2007. As a result, tourism is booming at this beautifully preserved, wonderfully symmetrical Mayan ruin on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Marvel at the Pink Lakes of Las Coloradas

In the corner of the Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, about 3 hours from Cancun, you’ll find a magical place where the seawater turns light pink on an epic level. The pink lakes of Las Coloradas are used for industrial sea salt production.

As the water evaporates, the salinity causes an explosion in the growth of red algae, plankton, and brine shrimp, which spray reddish-pink water. You can visit the lakes and the small town of the same name if you have a car and walk along their banks to take surreal photos of the pink water.

Discover the Historic Town of Izamal

Welcome to another city obsessed with a primary color. Izamal is built on a series of hills that once housed Mayan pyramids, and much of the town still speaks the Mayan language. There’s still a giant pyramid with city views that you can climb.

Like Merida, the city of Izamal is also accessible. Look at the vast yellow-painted Franciscan monastery in the old town, but you can also let off steam with horse-drawn carriages. Until the 16th century, Izamal was a powerful Mayan city with six pyramids around a huge ceremonial square in the most significant urban center of the North Yucatec Plains.

Swim in the Crystal-clear Cenotes

It is an underground cave filled with fresh water. The Yucatan Peninsula has many valleys that open into underground rivers with the most transparent water you’ve ever seen. Cenotes are the perfect way to cool off on a hot day; Mexico’s natural swimming holes were created when the limestone bedrock buckled to reveal underground rivers below.

There are around 2000 different cenotes in Yucatan. You can swim or jump once at the bottom of the water. After rinsing off in the shower, you will plunge down the stairs carved into the stone next to the cenote. On the way down, there are two views of the cenote. These make for great places to take photos.

Relax and Unwind in Tulum

Tulum has the best beaches on the Yucatan Peninsula. The area originally served as an essential port for the nearby Mayan jungle town of Coba, but nowadays, it is full of hippies, backpackers, and celebrities who want to relax. Strictly speaking, there are three Tulum. The archaeological site of Tulum has Mayan ruins on the edge of a sea cliff.

After all, Tulum Playa is the stretch of coast where you’ll find chic resorts, vegan restaurants, spas, and yoga studios. Rent a beach cruiser bike and visit all of Tulum’s great beaches. Tulum offers numerous opportunities for diving, snorkeling, kite surfing, yoga, and cenote.