Palladium Guides - Destination Costa Mujeres (English)

Costa Mujeres

Palladium Costa Mujeres

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guides Palladium guides

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Cancún

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Isla Mujeres

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Chichén Itzá

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P laya Mujeres y Puerto Juárez

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Puerto Morelos

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Costa Mujeres

White sandy beaches and clear blue seas shimmering under the Caribbean light await you along the length and breadth of the Costa Mujeres. It sounds like the setting for the perfect holiday and this exceptional region is revered by travellers from all over the world because it offers just that… and so much more. Extraordinary restaurants, a vibrant nightlife and attractions for the whole family are there to be enjoyed in Cancún, where you will find every pleasures on Earth. Those who seek an almost divine experience with the most miraculously beautiful and peaceful beaches head to Isla Mujeres; those who want to set foot on the monumental ruins of an old Mayan city, surrounded by jungles, visit Chichén Itzá. Playa Mujeres offers untouched sands and magical water-filled caverns – known as cenotes – in which eternal rains appear to fall, flooded with greenery and sunlight. Puerto Morelos has the unmistakable local style of a traditional fishing village, which is elegantly combined with international prizewinning restaurants. Its surprises are as colourful as the fish that swim in its reef, which is one of the best preserved in the world. The wonders never cease on this unique coast, which has a superb climate. Settle in and immerse yourself in its endless marvels over the coming pages.

Costa Mujeres

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Costa Mujeres

1. From May to September, it’s easy to swim in Costa Mujeres alongside the biggest fish in the world: the docile whale shark.

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2. The National Reef Park of Puerto Morelos is considered the second-biggest barrier reef in the world.

Quintana Roo, the state in which Costa Mujeres is located, has 17 protected natural areas (including, three National Parks).

at a glance

3. La Ruta de los Cenotes takes you to cave mouths that open up another world-one inhabited by Chaak, the god of rain and the giver of life (according to Mayan beliefs).

4. Le Chique, one of the best restaurants in the world, challenges its diners with its experiential and multisensory tasting menu.

The origins of Isla Mujeres date back to the year 564; back then, it was a sanctuary dedicated to the Mayan fertility god, Ixchel.

Around 125,000 baby sea turtles are released every year in Puerto Morelos.

Cancún as we know it today is a planned city that was founded in 1970.

5. The Temple of Kukulcán is the most representative monument of the ancient Mayan city of Chichén Itzá.

The crystal-clear waters of Costa Mujeres are home to a lot of life; to protect it, it is

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DID YOU KNOW…?

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best to use biodegradable sun cream.

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Cancún Natural beauty & vibrant nightlife Costa Mujeres

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young and dynamic city, Cancún has transformed from a tiny cluster of hotels to a world-famous resort destination in just four decades. It’s easy to see why: Cancún is a place of unparalleled natural beauty, with crystalline turquoise waters and beaches as soft as powdered sugar. Most visitors stay in the spectacular Zona Hotelera, or Hotel Zone, a cluster of high-rise hotels, multistory nightclubs, and all inclusive resorts perched along a thin strip of land, which is bordered on one side by the mangrove-cloaked Nichupté Lagoon and by the Caribbean Sea on the other.

Those who venture beyond the Zona Hotelera will find that Cancún is a remarkably attractive, clean, and genial city, filled with lush parks and relaxed restaurants, friendly locals and bustling markets. It’s also home to several Maya archeological sites, which are surprisingly interesting and worth visiting if you don’t intend to take a day trip to the larger ruin sites on the peninsula.

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Costa Mujeres Cancún

See & Do

EL REY ARCHEOLOGICAL ZONE Improbably located on the southern end of the Zona Hotelera, El Rey was the biggest and most important ancient Maya city in the Cancún area. There was a settlement on this site for centuries, but the city flourished between 1200 and 1500, when it is believed to have been an important fishing and commerce center on the Yucatán peninsula.

Though the site is small compared with the magnificent Maya city of Chichén Itzá, which is accessible on a day trip from Cancún, a visit here is nonetheless rewarding, providing a glimpse into Maya aesthetics and architecture from the Late Postclassic era.

Blvd. Kukulcán Km 17. +52 983 837 24 11 MAYAN MUSEUM OF CANCÚN The biggest surprise in visiting this Maya anthropology museum, which opened in 2012, is its wonderful modern design by architect Alberto García Lascuráin. The light-filled second-floor galleries house a small but excellent collection of ancient Maya art and artifacts, including

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mural fragments, stelae, sculptures, and clay vessels. Below the galleries, the museum encompasses a tiny ruin site called San Miguelito, which flourished from 1250 to 1550, but today takes its name from the coconut ranch that stood here in the 1950s.

Blvd. Kukulcán Km 16.5, Zona Hotelera. +52 998 885 3843 MUSA PUNTA NIZUC On the southernmost tip of Cancún’s Zona Hotelera, a branch of the Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA) is hidden beneath the azure waves. Unlike the MUSA site near Isla Mujeres, the museum’s Punta

Nizuc gallery is submerged beneath just four meters (13 feet) of water, and therefore only snorkeling is permitted. Though the project was conceived with environmental preservation in mind, visitors are often astonished by its artistry; many pieces are life-size human forms, now covered in a blanket of algae and coral.

NICHUPTÉ LAGOON Cancún’s famous Zona Hotelera is bordered on one side by the Caribbean Sea and on the other side by Nichupté Lagoon, a calm and expansive body of saltwater that stretches more than 10 kilometers (six miles) along the

coast. A popular spot for fishing, the lagoon is filled with aquatic birds and sea life, as well as crocodiles. To avoid any unwanted reptile encounters, it’s generally best to visit the lagoon with a local guide who knows the area and ecosystem well. Along the water in the Zona Hotelera, the coast of the lagoon is lined with restaurants facing east to watch the sunset.

KEMPINSKI HOTEL CANCÚN Located on the silky white shores of the turquoise-blue waters of the Caribbean, Kempinski Hotel Cancun is the epitome of luxury and five-star hospitality. Boasting distinguished quality service, the hotel has award-winning restaurants and an exceptional spa.

Rtno. del Rey 36, Zona Hotelera, 77500 Cancún, +52 998 881 0808 Palladium guides

Cancún

BOVINOS CHURRASCARÍA As is traditional at a Brazilianstyle steakhouse, meat is cut and served tableside at this restaurant in Cancún city center. It’s a cultural experience as much as a culinary one and you must come prepared to eat, as impressively quick servers will load your plate with roast pork, prime rib, lamb, and brisket. There’s also a massive salad bar at the center of the restaurant, generously stocked with cheese, olives, bread, and cold cuts. Often packed, totally unpretentious, and refreshingly family-friendly, it’s an upbeat place to watch a soccer game or celebrate a birthday.

Av. Yaxchilán 17, Las Casas de Acueducto, 17. +52 998 478 4807

Eat & Drink

ROSANEGRA This popular Latin American restaurant in the Zona Hotelera is a good spot for cocktails and snacks at sundown, when the waterfront dining room, which extends over the calm waters of Nichupté Lagoon, is cast in a rosy glow. It’s also worth visiting after nightfall, though, to soak in the restaurant’s attractive urban ambience, including artwork on the walls, globe lights hanging over

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the bar, and a dressed-up crowd.

Enjoy the chic atmosphere with a meal from the wide-ranging menu, which features everything from guacamole and Peruvian-style ceviche to sushi and waygu beef.

Blvd. Kukulcán Km 15, Zona Hotelera. +52 998 313 4132 EMARA ANTOJITOS YUCATECOS Established in 1980, this simple Yucatec joint is almost as old as Cancún itself. A classic with the local

crowd, it is known for its reliably cheerful and efficient service, low prices, and menu of traditional Yucatec food, including vaporcitos (handmade pork tamales wrapped in banana leaf), sopa de lima (citrusy soup), and papadzules (rolled corn tortillas stuffed with hard-boiled eggs and bathed in pumpkin-seed sauce), which can make for either a pleasant snack or a filling meal.

Av. Xel-Ha SM. 27 MZA. 17 Lotes 2 and 3. +52 998 884 3904

D-LOUNGE In contrast to the many thumping multistory nightclubs, D-Lounge, which adjoins the lobby at the upscale Kempinski Hotel Cancún, has a subdued and elegant atmosphere, ideal for a relaxed yet memorable evening out. There are views of the sea from the bar’s floor-to-ceiling windows, over 100 varieties of tequila, plus small plates such as sushi, if you’d like to make an evening of it. And you might: there is live music and dancing every night. If you’re celebrating a special anniversary or event, D-Lounge is a nice prelude to dinner at the Kempinski’s muchloved fine dining restaurant Fantino.

Rtno. del Rey 36. +52 998 881 0808 Palladium guides

Costa Mujeres Cancún

Shop

PINEDA COVALÍN Cristina Pineda and Ricardo Covalín excel at merging classic Mexican design with contemporary sensibilities in their upscale clothing and accessories label. Come here for colorful silk purses, handbags, ponchos, scarves, wallets, blouses, and neckties printed with designs inspired by traditional Mexican clothing and textiles, as well as a proprietary selection of whimsical jewelry and wristwatches. For those who’d like to bring home a gift or souvenir that is distinctly Mexican, it’s an elegant option. Browse the Pineda Covalín boutique, in the Marina Town Center mall, or take care of a lastminute gift at one of its airport shops.

Cancún Airport T2, T3 and T4

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Cancún 7

8 1. El Rey Archeological Zone 2. Mayan Museum of Cancún 3. MUSA Punta Nizuc 4. Nichupté Lagoon 5. Kempinski Hotel Cancún

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6. Rosa Negra 7. Emara Antojitos Yucatecos 8. Bovino’s Churrascaría 9. D-Lounge

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Costa Mujeres

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aking root along the edge of lagoons and the mouths of rivers, mangroves are strong and resilient trees that thrive in semi-submerged intertidal zones, where saltwater and freshwater mix. Only found in tropical and subtropical climates, they flourish in hot, muddy, sandy, and salty environments that would be lethal to other plants.

Along the coast of the Yucatán peninsula, mangrove forests cloak long stretches of shoreline and surround lagoons, harboring a range of interesting wildlife. Their tangle of roots creates a home for fish and other sea life hiding from large predators, as well as a habitat for barnacles, sponges, anemones, oysters, and crabs. In some cases, newly hatched fish, such as grouper, live within mangrove environments until they are big enough to go out into the open seas.

Birds, insects, and bats live among their branches, while crocodiles often swim along their edges.

Mangroves are incredibly strong, able to withstand strong winds and flooding. As a result, they are vital to inland survival, serving as a barrier against strong winds, storm surge, and waves during hurricanes and other extreme weather. They prevent coastal erosion with their long, strong roots, and they are unusually good at absorbing and processing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

There are thick, picturesque mangrove forests throughout the Mexican Caribbean, including along the shores of Nichupté Lagoon, where many visitors explore the coastal ecosystem on kayaks or speed boats. At Xel-Há Park, near Tulum, visitors can swim and snorkel among the mangroves that line a tiny bay within the park. It is important to remember that, like all fragile ecosystems, mangroves are susceptible to human activity and pollutants and as in the ocean you should wear reef-safe, biodegradable sunscreen when swimming among them.

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Isla Mujeres The most gorgeous beaches Costa Mujeres

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slender island of coconut palms and shallow white-sand beaches, Isla Mujeres is one of the most picturesque spots in the Mexican Caribbean. Sacred to the ancient Maya, the island has been inhabited for thousands of years and was, until recently, home to a quiet fishing community. Thanks to its gorgeous beaches and proximity to Cancún, the island has become a popular day-trip destination, with dozens of ferries making the six-kilometer (3.5-mile) 20-minute crossing back and forth from the mainland every day. Despite the influx of daily visitors, Isla Mujeres is a surprisingly tranquil spot, with an easygoing, beachcentric atmosphere that feels far from the high-rise hotels, multistory malls, and packed beaches of its famous neighbor across the water. What it shares with Cancún is mesmerizingly beautiful ocean on all sides that ranges in color from deep sapphire to translucent aquamarine.

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Costa Mujeres Isla Mujeres

See & Do

PLAYA NORTE Wrapping around the northern tip of Isla Mujeres, Playa Norte is one of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean. Particularly notable is its gently sloping shoreline, which allows bathers to wade out at least 100 meters in waist-deep water. It’s a public beach with an easygoing ambience and you won’t find any fancy resorts or exclusive beach clubs here, despite the stunning scenery; instead, pick a chair at one of the low-key restaurants and bars nestled within the palms and enjoy an afternoon of simple pleasures.

MUSA ISLA MUJERES The fascinating Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA) project was pioneered by environmental scientists who, together with a team of Mexico-based artists, created a beautiful collection of pH-neutral sculptures. With three underwater locations in the Mexican Caribbean, the museum has the dual aim of helping to regenerate sea life while also encouraging people to visit less delicate parts

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of the reef. You can snorkel, scuba dive, or take a glass-bottomed boat to explore the Isla Mujeres branch of the museum, where a compelling and often eerie collection of sculptures, many in human form, is scattered across the sea floor. As in the rest of the museum locations, be sure to use specialized tour operators and do not trust websites such as https://musamexico.org.

GARRAFÓN NATURAL REEF PARK This low-key reef park, located just beside the southernmost tip of Isla Mujeres, is a place of abundant natural beauty, with rocky bluffs, swimmable white-sand beaches, and a shallow reef just offshore, perfect for light snorkeling. The park also has kayaking equipment available for loan, a small swimming pool, and a zip line that extends over the sea. Many visitors buy tickets to the park in Cancún then arrive on the ferry that comes here directly from the mainland; however, you can drop in for some snorkeling during a trip around the rest of the island.

Km 6 Carretera Garrafón Lote 9. +52 800 727 5391 ISLA CONTOY Only a limited number of visitors are permitted each day at uninhabited Isla Contoy, a tiny speck of white sand, mangrove, and palm trees surrounded by a jewel-colored sea. Just 24 kilometers (15 miles) north of Isla Mujeres, the island is an important nesting area for birds and sea turtles, and the surrounding

waters, federally protected from overfishing and heavy tourism, are a haven for fish and other marine life. The beaches here are also pristine, unlike many others in the region. Some tours to the island, which usually include snorkeling at Ixlache Reef offshore, are operated by a local nonprofit organization in Cancún and Isla Mujeres.

PUNTA SUR AND IXCHEL TEMPLE The rocky southeastern point of Isla Mujeres, Punta Sur, stretches out into a vividly turquoise sea. At the tip, the remains of a small temple to the Maya goddess Ixchel stand majestically over all that blue. You can walk along a sun-drenched footpath to the archeological site, then wander past craggy rocks and sunning iguanas to see waves crashing against the shore. The easternmost point in Mexico, it’s the first spot in the country to catch the sun’s rays every morning. If you’re an early bird, it’s a good place to watch the dawn break from a sacred vantage point.

fish. Boats carrying tourists to swim close to these giants of the sea set sail daily.

SWIM WITH WHALE SHARKS Between June and September, whale sharks come to feed in the warm waters around Isla Mujeres.

The world’s largest fish, whale sharks can grow up to 40 feet long. Though intimidating in size, the sharks are docile and harmless to humans. As a result, swimming alongside these beautiful animals has become a popular activity and the waters are often as crowded with snorkelers as they are with

TRS CORAL HOTEL On the Costa Mujeres beach, just a few steps from the sea, this adultsonly accommodation is perfect for both a romantic getaway and a few days of fun with friends. It offers five-star treatments at Zentropia Spa & Wellness, and its modern facilities are located very close to the Rafa Nadal Tennis Centre.

Vialidad Paseo Mujeres, Manzana 1 Costa Mujeres +52 984 877 2100

GRAND PALLADIUM COSTA MUJERES RESORT & SPA Also in Costa Mujeres, very close to the TRS Coral Hotel, this five-star all-inclusive hotel stands out for its complete program for boys and girls, its first-class sports facilities, its quality gastronomic offerings and its spectacular leisure and shopping areas. What’s more, it shares the complete Zentropia Spa & Wellness spa with TRS Coral Hotel.

Vialidad Paseo Mujeres, Manzana 1, Lote 10 SM.3 Zona continental, Isla Mujeres Costa Mujeres +52 800 990 1234 Palladium guides

Costa Mujeres Isla Mujeres

Eat & Drink

OLIVIA Set in a lovely garden dining room just a few blocks from Playa Norte, this casual dinner-only restaurant takes its culinary cues from the Mediterranean, offering a menu built around local produce, but inspired by Greek, North African, and Middle Eastern traditions. Run by an Israeli couple who now live in Isla Mujeres, this long-established eatery is a mainstay on the island, often packed to capacity during the high season. Come here for a plate of hummus or marinated olives, then follow up with grilled kebabs or chicken in a red-wine sauce.

Matamoros, Centro-SM. 001. +52 998 877 1765 ZAMA BEACH CLUB Zama is a petit but stylish beach club on the western coast of Isla Mujeres. It’s a romantic and relaxed spot for a meal, either at the attractive open-air restaurant or beneath a shady umbrella on the beach, where you can linger over drinks and food that, given the lovely setting, are far more sophisticated than they need to be.

Taking advantage of fresh produce and local culinary traditions, you’ll find quesadillas stuffed with the native vegetable chaya, fish tacos, and Yucatec-style sopa de lima on Zama’s appealing menu, along with a long list of tequilas and mezcals.

There is also a multilevel blue-tiled pool onsite, popular with families.

Carretera a Sac Bajo s/n, Mar Ortesa. +52 998 877 0739

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KIN HÁ A patch of luminous turquoise water laps to the shore below this tuckedaway bar and restaurant, where you could easily spend the whole day traipsing between the wood deck overlooking the water and the swimup bar in the onsite pool. Though not a beach club in the traditional sense (it’s not on the beach), the idea is similar: order some shrimp tacos and a margarita and enjoy the scenery, lounging in hammocks, and floating in the sea below the restaurant, where you’ll also find kayak and paddleboard equipment for rent at the docks. https://kinhaislamujeres.com Carretera a Garrafon Fracc. Turquesa lote 9 A y B 77400 Isla Mujeres. +52 998 877 0708

CASA ROLANDI One of the most upscale spots on otherwise laid-back Isla Mujeres, the restaurant Casa Rolandi, in the Villa Rolandi resort, takes full advantage of the beautiful vistas from the western coast of the island. Here, the white-tableclothclad dining room is perched directly over the sea, with windows opening onto the sparkling water below.

Food is inspired by northern Italy, and frequently incorporates fresh seafood in dishes such as seafood risotto and black-ink ravioli stuffed with lobster. Even if you don’t stay to dine, it’s a spectacular setting for sundown cocktail hour.

Carretera Sac-Bajo MZ. 75 Lote 15 and 16. +52 998 999 2000

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Costa Mujeres

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Isla Mujeres

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1. Playa Norte 2. MUSA Isla Mujeres 3. Garrafón Natural Reef Park 4. Isla Contoy 5. Punta Sur and Ixchel Temple 6. Swim with Whale Sharks 7. TRS Coral Hotel 8. Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa 8 7

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10 9. Olivia 10. Zama Beach Club 11. Kin Há 12. Casa Rolandi

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tretching more than 950 kilometers (600 miles) from the tip of the Yucatán peninsula to the Bay Islands in Honduras, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is the largest reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second-largest barrier reef in the world. An estimated 500 fish species make their home amid the stony coral near the Yucatán peninsula, including moray eels, parrotfish, and manta rays. There are more than 1,000 manatees living within the reef system, and it also is an important breeding ground for sea turtles, with seven species, including leatherbacks laying eggs on the beaches around Cancún and the Riviera Maya between May and September.

Whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, are one of the most fascinating creatures to visit the barrier reef, which they do in droves every summer. Among the

world’s largest animals, whale sharks grow to an average of 10 meters (30 feet), and generally live from 70 to 100 years. While most species of sharks are predatory, the whale shark is a docile animal that feeds, like some whales, through a filter. Preferring tropical seas, whale sharks can be found in warm ocean waters throughout the world. Once believed to be solitary creatures, they migrate to gather in substantial numbers across the world, most notably off the coast of the Yucatán peninsula, where the largest gathering of these animals takes place from May to September annually.

Today, several segments of the reef, including the National Reef Park of Puerto Morelos, have been federally protected from overfishing and boating. In Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, among other areas, there has been a rise in sustainable fishing cooperatives, reducing destructive practices and bycatch.

Whale Sharks and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef

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Chichén Itzá Maya heritage & magical cenotes Costa Mujeres

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enturies after its abandonment, the ancient city of Chichén Itzá remains astonishing in its grandeur and beauty. It is one of the few attractions in the region that merits forfeiting a day at the beach to visit. Accordingly, Chichén Itzá is one of the most popular day trips from Cancún, as well as from the Yucatec city of Mérida, and it’s often crowded, not only in the archeological site but in the cenotes and eateries nearby.

Fortunately, crowds can’t dim the magnificence of the ancient city and its environs. If you plan to go, you can make a day of it, by stopping at the charming colonial city of Valladolid for lunch, or dropping in for a dip at one of the many cenotes that dot the jungle path to the ruins.

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Costa Mujeres Chichén Itzá

See & Do

CHICHÉN ITZÁ ARCHEOLOGICAL ZONE The magnificent Maya city of Chichén Itzá was one of the most important cultural, economic, and religious centers on the northern Yucatán peninsula, gaining prominence in the 9th century before collapsing, alongside other Maya cities, in the late 900s. It rose to power again during several waves of migration; notably, archeologists have discovered evidence of cultural exchange between Chichén Itzá and the Toltec people of central Mexico, which influenced the city’s beautiful design. Famously, along the steps of the site’s handsome central El Castillo pyramid, shadows cast by the sun on the spring and fall equinox resemble a serpent climbing the temple’s stairs.

LAS NOCHES DE KUKULKÁN After Chichén Itzá has been closed to the public for the day, a limited group of visitors is allowed access to the site for the evening light show. Perhaps the best part of attending this daily event is the unique opportunity to visit Chichén Itzá at night, when there is a much smaller crowd than you’d find at midday. After a 45-minute tour of the ruins, guests are seated for a laser and light show, which is projected onto the main pyramid, El Castillo. The accompanying audio soundtrack, which covers the pre-Columbian history of Mexico

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and the Maya civilization, is in Spanish, though the visuals alone are enough to keep non-Spanishspeakers entertained.

CENOTE IK KIL An iridescent blue swimming hole half-enclosed within a spectacular natural dome, Ik Kil is one of the most beautiful and best-known cenotes on the Yucatán peninsula. As well as paddling around in the refreshingly cool waters, you can jump off a towering ledge and into the pool below without any fear of touching bottom: the cenote sinks 40 meters (130 feet) into the ground. Close to Chichén Itzá, this cenote is a popular stop with day-trippers to the ruins and there’s often a big crowd here, especially in the afternoons.

VALLADOLID It’s just a short detour on the highway between Cancún and Chichén Itzá to reach the colonial-era city of Valladolid.

Many Chichén Itzá day-trippers stop here for a late lunch after visiting the ruins, though exploring this charming, historic, and authentically Mexican pueblo could easily fill a day or two. Its beautifully preserved downtown, with some buildings dating back to the 16th century, is one of the most historic in Mexico, and the traditional food is excellent.

Among the more unusual sights in the area, Cenote Zací is a beautiful water-filled sinkhole.

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Costa Mujeres

Chichén Itzá

1. Chichén Itzá Archeological Zone 2. Las Noches de Kukulkán 3. Cenote Ik Kil 4. Valladolid

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ccomplished astronomers, mathematicians, artists, and city planners, the Maya were the architects of one of the most complex and influential civilizations in pre-Columbian Mexico.

From 200 to 900, an era that archeologists refer to as the Classic period, they constructed massive cities throughout Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador, and the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico, with some urban centers swelling to an estimated 120,000 inhabitants.

Maya cities were loosely organized around massive temple-pyramids, built from hand-cut limestone blocks.

A dynasty of kings oversaw each city-state, and rulers often led fierce wars against other kingdoms to gain control of trade routes and resources. Using a complex calendar and writing system, the Maya kept track of their history, carving dates, names, and events into stone stelae, which have helped archeologists to better understand Maya culture.

Between the 8th and 9th centuries, most major Maya cities were abandoned for reasons that remain a mystery to scholars. On the Yucatán peninsula, however, many larger and smaller settlements remained inhabited, even as the Maya declined. Most famous among them, Chichén Itzá was a major religious and economic center for more than 1,000 years, remaining powerful until the 13th century. Its architecture shows influence from both the Maya, who founded the city, and the civilizations of central Mexico.

After Chichén Itzá and its satellites declined, the Maya continued to inhabit the Yucatán peninsula through the time of the Spanish conquest. Hernán Cortés himself met the Maya of Cozumel in 1520, when he docked his ships on the island. Surviving demise, conquest, disease, and modernization, an estimated two million ethnic Mayans are still living in Mexico today.

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Playa Mujeres &pristine beaches Old-fashion ambience &Puerto Juárez Riviera Maya

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orth of the city of Cancún, the coastal highway becomes narrower and more rugged as it cuts through a largely undeveloped, mangrovefringed peninsula extending into the Caribbean Sea. The tiny community of Puerto Juárez is a gateway to this region, tucked along the coast just north of Cancún’s city center. Most visitors come to Puerto Juárez to take the ferry to Isla Mujeres, but, as one of the oldest communities in the region, it also boasts a charming beach and an old-fashioned ambience. Head a little farther north and you’ll arrive in Playa Mujeres, a strip of unspoiled sand named for its views of Isla Mujeres, which is visible along the horizon.

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Costa Mujeres Playa Mujeres & Puerto Juárez

See & Do

EL MECO ARCHEOLOGICAL ZONE You won’t need more than an hour or two to explore the remains of this small Maya city north of Cancún, and on most days you’ll find the resident iguanas outnumber human visitors.

That’s precisely why it’s so nice to visit El Meco, which was founded as a small fishing community as early as 200, and reached its apex during the Late Postclassic period, when it was believed to have been inhabited by migrants from Chichen Itzá and Mayapán. Today, the small stepped pyramid called El Castillo is the site’s largest structure, with temples scattered around it, shaded by old ceiba trees.

Carretera Puerto Juarez–Punta Sam Km 2.7 ISLA BLANCA One of the only undeveloped areas in the Mexican Caribbean, Isla Blanca is the name given to the sandy tip of the peninsula that stretches about 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Cancún.

Take the coastal highway until it turns to sand, then keep going. Where the road ends, you’ll find a parking lot.

With its sea breeze and scenery, it’s a good spot for kite-surfing, horseback riding, and bird-watching.

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Eat & Drink

FLAMINGOS An institution in Puerto Juárez, Flamingos opened 40 years ago, when the city of Cancún was just a small cluster of hotels on the beach. Though it has been totally remodeled in the years since, this spacious bar and restaurant retains a classic Caribbean charm, with ceiling fans lazily circling, colorful tile floors, and dozens of comfortable wood tables overlooking the sea.

The menu is likewise traditional, with seafood-centric dishes like limespiked ceviche and grilled octopus on offer. If you want to dine with your toes in the sand, order your meal from one of the beach chairs and hammocks out front.

Carr. Puerto Juarez–Punto Sam Km 3.5. +52 998 478 4808 Palladium guides

Costa Mujeres

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Playa Mujeres & Puerto Juárez

1. El Meco Archeological Zone 2. Isla Blanca

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in just a few minutes, you can walk from Playa Mujeres to Playa Tortugas. There, the bright-white sand, as fine as sugar, makes the blue of the Caribbean shine with a special light. It a particularly calm and peaceful spot, making it perfect for young children to play in. It also offers a number of opportunities to practice water sports, such as diving, as well as an unexpected way to pass the time: a bungee jump in to the sea, which provides a very refreshing finish!

A favorite with locals, given that it is a publicly accessible beach, Playa Tortugas has a family atmosphere that is always lively, and the area is surrounded by bars and restaurants. But as night falls during the nesting season of the sea turtles (from May to September), the more intimate spectacle that gives the beach its name takes place. It´s important to observe the spawning of these ancient creatures from the proper distance, while avoiding turning on any lights that could disturb this natural process.

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Puerto Morelos An authentic fishing village Costa Mujeres

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espite its location between the sparkling resort destinations of Cancún and Playa del Carmen, the small seaside community of Puerto Morelos still feels like an old-fashioned fishing village. Stroll along the oceanfront promenade to see wooden boats bobbing in the shallow turquoise waters, families strolling along the pier, and kids roller-skating on the city’s main plaza.

Enjoying the old-school ambience is reason enough to visit Puerto Morelos, but most people come to swim and snorkel along the barrier reef, which is located just half a kilometer (⅓ mile) offshore. Designated a national protected area, it is known as one of the best places for snorkeling in the Riviera Maya, with calm, clear waters and a multitude of fish and other sea life darting amid the coral.

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Costa Mujeres Puerto Morelos

See & Do

Eat & Drink

NATIONAL REEF PARK OF PUERTO MORELOS Snorkeling and diving within the National Reef Park of Puerto Morelos is the principal reason visitors come to this seaside village. Just a half kilometer (⅓ mile) offshore, the reef is among the most accessible and largest along the Riviera Maya, at some points stretching to a giant 30 meters (100 feet) across. Because of the reef’s protected status, fishing and boat traffic is limited in these waters, resulting in excellent visibility and a noticeably healthier ecosystem. There are also numerous dive sites, including a wreck dive, that are popular with day-trippers.

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RUTA DE LOS CENOTES Just outside Puerto Morelos, a paved highway heads deep into the jungle. Dotted on both sides by cenotes, this road was recently given the name La Ruta de los Cenotes, or the Cenotes Route. As you drive, you’ll see signs for the many swimming holes along this scenic and surprisingly unvisited stretch, from marvelous water-filled caverns, such as Siete Bocas and Kin Ha, to open swimming holes, such as Las Mojarras and Verde Lucero. Some are rustic spots, tucked down jungle- clad dirt roads, while others, such as the multifaceted cenote and ecopark Selvatica, boast zip lines, ATV rentals, and snack bars.

PUNTA CORCHO Punta Corcho resembles the other breezy palm-roofed eateries in Puerto Morelos. Then you start to notice the details: cool geometric tile floors, rustic-chic wood tables, amiable but efficient service, and a noticeably creative menu of mezcal cocktails.

Run by Mexico City-based chefs Salvador Orozco and Daniel Ovadía, this noteworthy spot ably blends the low-key charms of Puerto Morelos with the contemporary sensibilities of the capital, with a menu that relies heavily on fresh fish and local produce.

Try wood-roasted scallops, or octopus ceviche, accompanied by a Paloma Negra, a cocktail made with mezcal, grapefruit juice, and dark beer.

Av. Rafael Melgar SM. 01 MZ. 6 Lote 01-01. +52 998 206 9105 LE CHIQUE Chicago-based chef and TV host Rick Bayless has said that his most memorable meal in Mexico was at Le Chique, an upscale fine-dining restaurant in the Azul Beach Resort, just a few minutes north of Puerto Morelos. Here, in an elegant round dining room, chef Jonatán Gómez Luna Torres uses sophisticated modern cooking techniques to reinterpret regional Mexican flavors, creating a memorable, at times playful, and wholly creative multiplate dining experience. In addition to Bayless’s endorsement, it’s the only restaurant in the region to have been listed on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.

Carretera Cancún-Puerto Morelos. +52 998 872 8450 Palladium guides

Costa Mujeres

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Puerto Morelos

1. National Reef Park of Puerto Morelos 2. La Ruta de los Cenotes

3. Punta Corcho 4. Le Chique

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Riviera Maya

Spotlight

on

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he limestone bedrock of the Yucatán peninsula is speckled with deep natural sinkholes, dry caves, and caverns. Locally known as cenotes, a term derived from the Yucatec Mayan word ts’onot, these sinkholes formed over many thousands of years as cracks in the limestone sediment created underground rivers, which then caused the ground to collapse.

Unusual, eerie, and often unimaginably beautiful, cenotes are among the most memorable places to visit within the Riviera Maya.

Whether dry or filled with water, most cenotes are incredibly deep, and many are joined by underground rivers that reach as far as 100 meters (300 feet) below the surface. The fresh water that fills these wells has

been filtered through the earth, so it is exceptionally pure, clear, and cool, with sunlight dancing off the caverns to create spectacular colors that often rival the stunning green and turquoise shades of the Caribbean Sea. Many scuba divers take a break from the coral reefs to visit the stalactite-filled underwater rivers that run between cenotes; at most spots you only need an open water dive certification to dive in the caverns.

As well as being places of beauty, cenotes support isolated and unusual ecosystems, sheltering fish and aquatic plants that can survive only in these unique and ultra-pure environments. When visiting cenotes, even those with many visitors, it is important to respect their fragile ecosystems. Heed all posted signs, and don’t enter the water wearing bug repellent or sunscreen.

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hideaway Río Secreto Riviera Maya

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The World Travel Awards, as the ‘Oscars’ of Tourism, have named Río Secreto the best natural reserve in Central America. The reason? Exploring this system, made up of 38 semi-submerged caves that lead to an extraordinarily beautiful crystalline underground river, is a unique adventure.

For the Mayans, Río Secreto, with its majestic stalactites reflected in the turquoise water, was a sacred place and they held rituals there as can be seen from the religious altars and wall paintings that have been found in this magic space-living vignette of the geological evolution of our planet.

Río Secreto, located at Playa del Carmen, welcomes adults and children aged four and over. The duration of the complete activity depends on the chosen tour, but it usually lasts around three-and-a-half hours. Take into account that, during the visit, you will have to walk, crouch and float.

Costa Mujeres Photos © Shutterstock, iStockphoto, Unsplash : Malek Bee, Embla Munk Rynkebjerg.

TRS Coral Hotel A member of the Leading Hotels of the World Vialidad Paseo Mujeres, Manzana 1 Costa Mujeres (Cancún, Mexico) Phone: +52 984 877 2100

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Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres Resort & Spa Vialidad Paseo Mujeres, Manzana 1, Lote 10 SM.3 Zona continental, Isla Mujeres Costa Mujeres (Cancún, Mexico) Phone: +52 800 990 1234

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