Lonely Planet Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan

Ray Bartlett

Description

Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher Lonely Planet Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Marvel at Chichen Itza's massive El Castilo pyramid, swim in a cenote, and party in a steamy Caribbean cantina in Merida -all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Cancun, Cozumel and the Yucatan and begin your journey now!Inside Lonely Planet Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan Travel Guide:Colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - cuisine, history, art, literature, Maya heritage, landscapes, wildlife, customs and etiquetteCovers Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Isla Cozumel, Riviera Maya, Costa Maya and the Southern Caribbean Coast, Yucatan State, Chichen Itza, Campeche, Chiapas and more The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan, our most comprehensive guide to Cancun, Cozumel and the Yucatan, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less traveled. Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet Mexico for a comprehensive look at all the country has to offer.About Lonely Planet: Since 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel media company with guidebooks to every destination, an award-winning website, mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveler community. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travelers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves. eBook Features: (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones) Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbuilt dictionary for quick referencing Important Notice: The digital edition of this book may not contain all of the images found in the physical edition.

Sujets

• México
• Yucatán Peninsula
• Mexico

Informations

• Publié par: Lonely Planet
• Date de parution: 01 juillet 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 2
• EAN13: 9781788685122
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 26 Mo

Extrait

Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán

Contents

PLAN YOUR TRIP

Welcome to Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán
Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán’s Top 16
Need to Know
First Time
If You Like…
Month by Month
Itineraries
Diving & Snorkeling
Exploring Maya Ruins
Eat & Drink Like a Local
Travel with Children
Regions at a Glance

ON THE ROAD

CANCÚN & AROUND
Cancún
History
Sights
Beaches
Activities
Tours
Sleeping
Eating
Drinking & Nightlife
Entertainment
Shopping
North of Cancún
Isla Contoy
Isla Holbox
ISLA MUJERES
History
Sights
Beaches
Activities
Sleeping
Eating
Drinking & Nightlife
Shopping
ISLA COZUMEL
History
Sights
Activities
Festivals & Events
Sleeping
Eating
Drinking & Nightlife
Entertainment
Shopping
RIVIERA MAYA
Puerto Morelos
Playa del Carmen
Akumal
Tulum
Around Tulum
Punta Allen
COSTA MAYA & SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN COAST
Felipe Carrillo Puerto
Mahahual
Xcalak
Laguna Bacalar
Chetumal
Corredor Arqueológico
Corozal Town
YUCATÁN STATE & THE MAYA HEARTLAND
Mérida
South of Mérida
Oxkintok
Grutas de Calcehtok
Uxmal
Santa Elena
Kabah
Ruta Puuc
Ruinas de Mayapán
Cenotes de Cuzamá
Ticul
Oxkutzcab
Tekax
West & North of Mérida
Celestún
Dzibilchaltún
Progreso
East of Progreso
Eastern Yucatán State
Izamal
Chichén Itzá
Valladolid
Ek’ Balam
Tizimín
Río Lagartos
El Cuyo
San Felipe
Yucatán Peninsula Cenotes
CAMPECHE STATE
Campeche
Northern Campeche
Pomuch
Hecelchakán
Bécal
Hopelchén
Chenes Sites
Edzná
Southwestern Coast
Champotón
Sabancuy
Isla Aguada
Ciudad del Carmen
Southeastern Campeche
Balamkú
Calakmul
Chicanná & Becán
Xpujil
Zoh-Laguna
Río Bec
Hormiguero
CHIAPAS & TABASCO
Chiapas
San Cristóbal de las Casas
Around San Cristóbal de las Casas
Palenque
Bonampak, Yaxchilán & the Carretera Fronteriza
Tabasco
Villahermosa
Comalcalco

UNDERSTAND

Understand Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán
Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán Today
History
Yucatecan Way of Life
The Ancient Maya
Land & Wildlife

SURVIVAL GUIDE

Directory A–Z
Accessible Travel
Accommodations
Activities
Courses
Discount Cards
Electricity
Embassies & Consulates
Food
Health
Insurance
Internet Access
Legal Matters
LGBTIQ+ Travelers
Maps
Money
Opening Hours
Photography & Video
Post
Public Holidays
Safe Travel
Telephone
Time
Toilets
Tourist Information
Visas
Volunteering
Women Travelers
Transportation
Getting There & Away
Getting Around
Language
Behind the Scenes
Our Writers
Welcome to Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán

Few Mexican destinations can dazzle you with ancient Maya ruins, azure Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico waters and colonial cities all in one fell swoop. Actually, there’s only one – the Yucatán.

Life’s a Beach
Without a doubt, this corner of Mexico boasts some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline you’ll ever see. On the east coast you have the famous coral-crushed white sands and turquoise waters of the Mexican Caribbean, while up north are sleepy fishing villages with sandy streets and wildlife-rich surroundings rimming the southern edge of the Gulf of Mexico. For the ultimate beach-bumming experience you can hit one of several low-key islands off the Caribbean coast, where life moves at a refreshingly slow pace.

Maya Ruins Galore
You can’t help but feel awestruck when standing before the pyramids, temples and ball courts of one of the most brilliant pre-Hispanic civilizations of all time. Yes, those Maya certainly knew a thing or two about architecture and they were no slouches when it came to astronomy, science and mathematics either. Witnessing their remarkable achievements firsthand leaves a lasting impression on even the most jaded traveler. The peninsula is chock-full of these Maya archaeological sites, a few of which were built right on the coast.

Nature’s Playground
The Yucatán always keeps nature enthusiasts thoroughly entertained. With colorful underwater scenery like no other, it offers some of the best diving and snorkeling sites in the world. Then you have the many biosphere reserves and national parks that are home to a wide array of animal and plant life. Just to give you an idea of what’s in store: you can swim with whale sharks, observe crocodiles and monkeys, help liberate newborn sea turtles, and spy hundreds upon hundreds of bird species in mangroves and jungles.

Culture & Fun
For those who need more than just pretty beaches and ancient ruins, you’ll be glad to know that cultural and recreational activities are plentiful in the Yucatán. On any given day you may come across soulful dance performances, free concerts, interesting museums and art shows – especially in Mérida, the peninsula’s cultural capital. For some fun in the sun, the Yucatán is one big splash fest after another, with thousands of underground natural pools (cenotes), parks with subterranean rivers and all kinds of thrilling boat tours.

Becán | CHRISONTOUR84/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Why We Love Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán
By Ray Bartlett and John Hecht, Writers
So you think you know what to expect in the Yucatán? Sure, there are oceans that are many shades of blue, long stretches of pearly white sand and chlorophyll green jungles. Plus outdoor fun: swimming in a limestone sinkhole, diving in coral reefs, exploring ancient ruins. But the one thing hard to imagine is the hospitality. Yucatecans are among the friendliest and warmest people around. They welcome visitors and proudly show off their regional cuisine and culture. While you might come for history and a beach, you’ll leave with a lot more.
For more about, see Our Writers
Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán’s Top 16
Cenotes
The Maya considered them sacred gateways to the underworld. Once you visit your first cenote (limestone sinkhole) you’ll better understand where the Maya were coming from. More than 7000 cenotes dot the peninsula; some, like the spectacular triumvirate of caverns at Cenotes de Cuzamá, make for refreshing, fun-filled swimming holes, while others, such as the underground cave system at Parque Dos Ojos , draw divers from far and wide.

Cenote Zací | DIEGOGRANDI/GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences
Savoring the Flavors
If you’ve never tried regional Yucatecan cuisine , you’re in for a treat. Even by Mexican standards, with its strong culinary tradition, the Yucatán is a foodie’s haven. Yucatecans are famous for their fiery habanero salsas and marinated pollo (chicken) and cochinita (pork) pibiles . Wrapped in banana leaves and cooked underground for an eternity, this meaty traditional dish is a classic on the peninsula. And a visit isn’t complete without a delicious home-style sopa de lima (brothy lime soup) or salbutes (handmade tortillas stuffed with beans and topped with shredded turkey or chicken). Buen provecho!

LINDSAY LAUCKNER GUNDLOCK/LONELY PLANET ©

Top Experiences
Tulum’s Scenic Ruins
Talk about your prime beachfront real estate. The dramatically situated Tulum Ruins sit pretty atop a high cliff overlooking a spectacular white-sand beach. After marveling at the sun-baked Maya ruins, and dodging iguanas and distracted tourists, you can cap off your history lesson with a refreshing dip in the azure waters of the Mexican Caribbean. Come nighttime, join soulful fiestas at bars in Tulum Pueblo or escape to the Zona Hotelera for a quiet oceanfront dinner.

PATRYK KOSMIDER/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences
Isla Holbox
Granted, golf carts hum incessantly up and down the sandy streets of Holbox and some of the locals have a dim view of tourist hordes, but snorkeling with 15-ton whale sharks is about as cool as it gets, and it’s all the rage in Holbox nowadays. Even if you miss whale-shark season, boat tours go to a freshwater spring and nearby islands if you want to enjoy some excellent bird-watching.

RICH CAREY/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences
Mérida
Everyone who visits Cancún or Playa del Carmen should save a couple of days for Mérida , a city with awesome Spanish colonial architecture unlike anything you’ll find by the sea. The weekends see great parties in steamy Caribbean cantinas. On Sunday morning one of the main boulevards and the center close to cars – munch on Yucatecan street eats as you watch all sorts of spirited song and dance performances around the city’s main square, Plaza Grande. And Mérida lives up to its fame as the peninsula’s cultural capital with many museums and art galleries.

MEHDI33300/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences
Morning in Cobá
Get to the Cobá Ruins early to beat the crowds, but also to be there as the jungle awakens – the bird calls and the morning light filtering through the canopy are magical. The experience of climbing the massive Nohoch Mul pyramid and looking out over the surrounding jungle on your own is unbeatable. Make it even more memorable and explore the ruins on a rented bike. By 10am though, the magic disappears as busloads descend on the ruin and you become one of – or with – the crowd.

JORGE MONTIE/GETTY IMAGES ©

Top Experiences
Laguna Bacalar
Known as ‘the lake of seven colors’ for its varied shades of blue and aqua-green, it doesn’t get any more scenic for an afternoon swim than sparkling Laguna Bacalar . Youth hostels make a cheap stay fun and feasible, while fancy resort hotels woo the more liquid travelers. Rancho Encantado has quite possibly the best view on the shore, and at the lake’s south end you can take a plunge into the 90m-deep Cenote Azul.

DC_APERTURE/SHUTTERSTOCK ©

Top Experiences
Calakmul
The ‘Kingdom of the Serpent’s Head’ was one of the most powerful Maya cities that ever existed. What has survived the ravages of time here is very impressive – some of the Maya’s largest and tallest pyramids, with awesome views of expansive surrounding jungle alive with birds, monkeys and j