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Yucatan on Wheels Stopping points of the tour Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a beach paradise found near Cancun, and proudly known as the Riviera Maya. A former idyllic fishing village with a Mayan name Xaman Ha, today has blossomed into a favorite Mexican holiday destination. In this little town, you will find no overpowering hotel towers, but the true Mayan characteristics and a relaxed way of life. The town has been built around the main street or the famous Quinta Avenida, and all the places along the strand offer something new and special to the passersby. Here you will also find many hotels and a broad selection of restaurants. Don't miss to experience the multicultured nightlife and relax on the long white beaches. During the day, large cruising boats offer their services, and you can explore this charming bay from the sea. Even though Playa del Carmen has no special historical places of interest itself, it is an ideal starting point for excursions to Tulum, Chichen Itza and the island of Cozumel.
The cenote of Dzitnup is the most impressive underground nature formation only about 7km to the southwest of Valladolid. Climb down the mysterious cave with a small, crystal clear lake and many stalactites and stalagmites. You can not only swim but also dive in this cenote. The daylight shines into the cave through a small hole, which gives this site its special charm, making the water sparkle in turquoise colors at noon. The legend says the cenote was discovered when a pig fell through the hole in the ceiling and the owners started looking for it. That is why the Mayan named it X-Keken meaning "pig".
The colonial town of Valladolid is located in the north of Yucatan. 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 Chichen Itza and about 160km from Cancun. Visitors enjoy walking through the town lanes with their colonial charm or eating in a romantic restaurant. The central city park: Zocalo 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.
Chichén Itzá 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 Kukulkán - 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.
Mérida is the largest city on the Yucatan 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 Zocalo. 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 Yucatan. It was established between 1561 and 1599 in colonial style and was placed in the eastern part of Zocalo. 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 Zocalo. The former bishop's palace Ateneo Peninsula, the city market as well as museums are also worth visiting. Campeche with its 200.000 inhabitants is the capital of the Federal State of the same name in the gulf of Mexico. The city got the name from its fortification - a site which is quite unique in Mexico. Since 1999 the historically rich center of Campeche belongs to the world cultural heritage of the UNESCO. This beautiful city with its great fortification wall and multicoloured houses, the defense bastions from the 17th century, is definitely worth a visit. Also do not miss to visit the Fuerte de San Miguel in which the Museo Arqueológico e Histórico is accommodated. The ruins of Palenque belong to the most impressive archaeological Mayan site in Mexico. Embedded in the thick jungle on the bank of the river Otulúm, the ancient buildings hidden under the branches of enormous trees fascinate every visitor. The buildings of this Mayan settlement originate from the classical Mayan period of the 7th century. Its beauty is expressed in a harmonious and fantastic way of organised and planed building sites, and it is believed that "Lakamha" (meaning "place of waters") is the original name of Palenque - as it is known today. All the contrasting colours which can be found in Tulum: crystal blue sea waters, grey-white wall ruins and greenery of the surrounding nature, will leave an everlasting touring impression on its visitor. Although there isn't enough time to admire all the masterpieces of Mayan architecture which you can find in the Tulum site, you will be left breathless with many fantastic ruins overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Tulum means 'wall' or 'embankment' which served as a protection against land attacks. The buildings found in Tulum originate from 1.000 and 1.300 and in the center you will find the complex El Castillo - a typical mayan architectual wonder.
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