Introduction to Merida, Chichen-Itza and the Mayan Interior

Ask most people about the Yucatán, and they think of Cancún, the Caribbean coast, and Chichén Itzá. But there's much more to visit than just those places. With a little exploring, you'll find a variety of things to do. You might spend a morning scrambling over Maya ruins and in the afternoon take a dip in the cool, clear water of a cenote (natural well). The next day may find you strolling along a lonely beach or riding in a skiff through mangroves to visit a colony of pink flamingos, and by the evening you might be dancing in the streets of Mérida. This chapter covers the interior of the Yucatán peninsula, including the famous Maya ruins at Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, and the flamingo sanctuaries at Celestún and Río Lagartos, as well as many other spots that might find special favor with you.