Traveling to the Yucatán? Here's Help for Planning Your Trip

Planning a Trip can be Almost as Fun as Going There

As a heavy March snow falls outside my window, I'm writing an article for an AAA magazine about Playa del Carmen, Mexico. 

And all the while I'm imagining Playa's warm, balmy breezes, the aqua hues of the ocean and the warmth of the sun falling on my shoulders as I walk around in capris and tank tops. 

Planning a trip (or writing about one) can be almost as fun as going there.  But sometimes it's a little hard to know where to find the best information.

To help you plan a trip to the Yucatán, I'd like to share some of the great resources I found while organizing my trip to the Riviera Maya.   Have fun with your research!

Books & Maps

I've always found Lonely Planet's guidebooks to be useful and their Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán is no exception.  In addition to the usual sections on history, maps, culture, food and drink and environment, there are some beautiful full-color pages in the front loaded with photographs and tips from the author, Greg Benchwick, on such topics as snorkeling and diving the reefs and cenotes, exploring the area's natural wonders, tips for foodies, active adventures on land and sea, and how the past and present intermingle.  Definitely pick up a copy of this book.

I had no idea National Geographic made adventure maps until recently when I was given a copy of their Northern Yucatán Peninsula Adventure Map.  I didn't have it with me on my trip but I wish I had.  One side has a map of the Northern Yucatán Peninsula with detailed city insets of Cancún and Mérida; the other side has information -- plus maps -- of the Yucatán's most important archaeological sites.   And it's made of waterproof-tear-resistant material so you won't have to worry about ripping it or getting it wet.  Great map!

Elizabeth Harper of SealedWithLove.com, who winters in Playa del Carmen says, "Check CancunMap.com for fabulous maps with tons of useful information, updated as regularly as possible."   

I followed Harper's advice and was impressed...  these travel map/guides to Cancún, Playa del Carmen, the Riviera Maya and more look excellent.  They've also got a Mayan Adventure map that looks awesome -- I'm going to have to get one!  The maps were created by Perry and Laura McFarlin who have been traveling the Yucatan for over 20 years. 

Learning Spanish on the Riviera Maya

Teresa Williamson has a fun video and article, How to Learn Spanish in Mexico on the TangoDiva.com website. 

Or read Take a Language Vacation in Mexico, my post about learning Spanish in Playa del Carmen, a program I booked through Languages Abroad.

I've also heard good things about the Spanish school Playa Lingua.  Harper, who took a daily class there for three weeks, says, "the classrooms surround a small courtyard.  Everyone takes a break at the same time so you get to meet people which is always interesting."

Do you want to stay at a top-rated resort while learning Spanish?  The Maroma Resort & Spa on the Riviera Maya offers a Spanish Immersion program, in which guests wishing to practice conversational Spanish or pick up a few words can enlist the help of the Maroma staff.  I'll write more about this soon in a separate post. 

Tours

Alltournative- There are many companies that operate tours in Mexico's Riviera Maya, but one of the top ones is Altournative Off Track Adventures.  I had a long chat with the folks in their Playa del Carmen office where I watched videos of their most popular tours:

• Rio Secreto -- explore an extraordinary underground river in a subterranean world that (until now) has remained unexplored for millions of years
• Coba Maya Encounter -- I loved Coba.  Here you can climb Nohoch Muul, the tallest pyramid in all of the Yucatán.
• Maya Zip-Line -- Zip lining is great, but this half-day tour also features a traditional Maya purification ceremony in the mystic cenote of the legendary Aluxes.  Cool.

Blogs

Travelojos:  The Latin-American Travel Blog - Steven Roll of Washington, D.C. blogs about all things Mexican and Latin American.

Mexico Travel - A travel information website for visitors interested in Mexico Vacation Destinations.

A Canuck in Cancún - A Canadian woman blogs about living in Cancún with her Mexican husband and four year-old son.

General Websites

Visit Mexico - I think the first place you should go is the Mexico Tourism Board. 

Playa Info- The forum here is Playa del Carmen's most visited discussion board.

Travel Yucatan - The information source for planning your vacation to the Yucatan Peninsula.

Eco-Park Websites

Xcaret- About fifteen of my sources recommended Xcaret.  I didn't have time to go there during my trip in October, and honestly, I thought it would be too commercialized, but now it's on my list for the next time.  Xcaret calls itself "a magical paradise where culture, ecology and Mexican wildlife meet."

It's definitely a touristy spot, but I hear it's lots of fun and that the evening show is great.  Kid expert Sam Chapnick of KidCityNY.com says, "Xcaret is not to be missed.  It's unique -- if mother nature created a theme park, this would be it." 

Xel-Ha- If Xcaret is nature's theme park, Xel-Ha is nature's aquarium.  Not far from the amazing Mayan ruins at Tulum, Xel-Ha is known for its underground rivers where visitors can explore cenotes that form diving paths leading to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea.

The Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve- Although I haven't had a chance to visit yet, I hear this ecological park is fascinating.  If you want to immerse yourself in nature and stay away from commercialized sites, this is the real thing.  Try the Sian Ka'an  Wilderness Adventure.

 

Photos courtesy of the Mexico Tourism Board.