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Travelers Guides
Q U I N T A N A R O O :
The state of Quintana Roo is located at the east part of the Yucatan Peninsula and is
border by the states of Yucatan and Campeche, the country of Belize and on the east by the
incredible Caribbean. Quintana Roo is Mexico's youngest state which was founded in 1974.
Since then the world has come to know the beauty of its massive coral reefs,
comfortable tropical climate, international resorts, dazzling white-sand beaches, tropical
islands, nature reserves and the country's mega resort, Cancun. The state is more than
just Cancun.
There are islands such as Cozumel, Isla Mujeres and the Contoy Island Bird
Sanctuary. Great attractions such as the Mayan Riveria which is an area of endless
deserted beaches, sleepy fishing villages and attractions for travelers from all over the
world. The ancient Maya ruins of Tulum, Cobá, the remote jungle site of Kohunlich,
Dzibanché, El Rey, Muyil, San Gervasio and others are only a small part of the states
history.
The territory was once a home to the Itzáes, who around 400 A.D. came out from
Bacalar and founded Chichen Itzá, at the north of the peninsula de Yucatán. Bacalar is
located in the very south of Quintana Roo just north of the capital of Chetumal.
Ecological parks such as Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve have created another type of
attraction for what has become to be known as Ecotourism. The site is quite large and is
pristine and will remain that way.
Quintana Roo Cities
| Cancun | Cozumel | Playa del Carmen
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| Akumal | Bacalar
| Chetumal |
CANCUN
Cancún boasts a winning combination of fine beaches,
world class hotels and a North American style of tourism. The island of Cancún, it has
bridges on both ends, is home to world class hotels with all the services included, it is
an excellent place to kick back and rest, enjoy any number of water sports on the beaches
or in the blue-green transparent waters of the Caribbean or dance all night in the huge
discos with lots of night life.
Cancun is more than dancing and swimming, it is a great
location to start archaeological journeys and appreciate natural beauties of Mexico. While
Cancun is more expensive than most places in Mexico it offers services which cannot be
found anywhere.
Quintana Roo Cities
COZUMEL
Jacques Cousteau, dearly loved the island of Cozumel and, filmed a movie about
the marine life surrounding the island in 1961. From that time until today Cozumel has
been known as a divers haven and is now one of the top five dive destinations in the
world. But, Cozumel has changed and is now also a popular destination for duty-free
bargain hunters and tourists from all walks of life.
Cozumel still has that sleepy little
island attitude only with all the comforts and for all budgets. The island is located off
the coast of Play del Carmen, a short boat ride away and many travelers arrive at the
Cozumel airport. Mexico's largest inhabited island is also a tropical treat for cruise
ship passengers with large vessel accommodations on the south end of the island. At 9.6
miles wide and 28 miles long the Caribbean island is today one of Mexico's favorite
tourist destinations.
Anything you can think of to do in the Caribbean, can be done around Cozumel. From sun
bathing, swimming, snorkeling, wind surfing, diving, boating to jet and water skiing. San
Miguel, Cozumel's only town, is located in front of the docks where passengers arrive from
Playa del Carmen. This part of the island is where the hotels and restaurants are located.
Quintana
Roo Cities
PLAYA DEL CARMEN
Affectionately known as simply 'Playa' this beach front town has
really grown into a jewel on the coast of Quintana Roo. It is quickly becoming a favorite
for many travelers since it is much less cosmopolitan than the international Cancun.
The original Mayan name of Playa was Xaman-Ha which means 'Waters of
the North'. The town is located 40 miles south of Cancún in the heart of what is now
called the Mayan Riviera. Playa is a perfect base from which to explore the myriad of
attractions in the 'Riveria' such as Maya Ruins of Xel Ha, Tulum Cobá and Muyil.
Also near the quiet little town of Playa are sites like Cozumel,
Xcaret, Xel Ha, Tulum, Cobá, and the Ecological Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka´an and
colonial cities such Valladolid and Tzimin. Nearby Playacar Golf Club offers a spectacular
par 72 championship course designed by world renowned Robert Von Hagge. Playa is also a
great place to just relax and enjoy the miles of unspoiled white sandy beaches and clear
aqua marine Caribbean waters.
Quintana Roo Cities
AKUMAL
The name means "Place of the Turtles" in Mayan and is one of the
southern most resorts in the Mayan Riviera. A beach town it is located just north of Tulum
and is only 65 miles of good road from Cancun. Akulmal is one of the older areas on the
coast and is famous for being a very tranquil place and also for the thousands of
endangered sea turtles that come here to lay their eggs.
The eggs are laid in the spring,
but the breeding season is from May to October and also takes place on the beach. It is
not uncommon to spot giant sea turtles called 'caguamos', make their way up the beach and
dig holes in the sand. They then fill them with eggs, cover the holes, and with sheer
determination drag themselves back into the sea.
Akumal is nestled into an intimate sheltered bay and is really a great getaway for
someone looking for peace and tranquillity with amenities of much larger cities. Travelers
looking for a bit of paradise on a smaller scale are searching for Akumal.
Water sports abound in Akumal. The beaches are serene and the calm waters of the bay
are perfect for snorkeling, diving or just swimming. There is an incredible reef just off
shore and further out some of the best cave diving in the world. There are a series of
ridges honeycombed with these caves which are separated by canyons. There is also a coral
wall located between the reef and the caves. Wall and cave diving are considered the
playground of more experienced divers, however, there are still great areas for the less
experienced.
This part of the Mexican Caribbean is filled with colorful marine life. There are over
500 different species of tropical fish within swimming distance of shore. Giant sponges in
hues like hot pink and florescent orange light up the ocean and there are coral beds
including a brain-coral garden located offshore in about six to seven feet of water.
Loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles feed in the reef offshore and are not especially
wary of divers. Jet ski's are rented in Akumal and sport fisherman have a choice of many
different locations and styles of fishing.
The statue of the Spanish shipwrecked sailor (1511 A.D.) Gonzalo Guerrero, dressed as a
Maya warrior, stands guard over the bay as a reminder of the first contact between
Europeans and the Maya. Gonzalo Guerrero married into a noble Maya family and became a
dreaded foe to the Spanish. He is called the father of the first Mestizo, the first
Mexican of mixed European and native blood.
Quintana Roo Cities
BACALAR
The beautiful Bacalar Lagoon is one of the more breath taking views to be
found in Quintana Roo. From the hillside above the lagoon you can see beautiful islands
with crystal clear Caribbean water wrapping around them.
The town sits on top of the bay
and the streets gradually drop down to the edge of the lagoon where the Fort of San Felipe
sits. This majestic fort was built in 1727 to protect Bacalar against pirate raids. In
fact, before the fort was built the area was slowly deserted due to the danger from the
pirates.
The fort also became famous during the Maya Wars where it was the site of a very large
massacre. Another of the more famous sites to be found at Bacalar is the Cenote Azul. It
is a very well known tourist destination where the cenote is thought to be bottomless. A
very nice restaurant and small zoo complete the attraction.
Quintana Roo Cities
CHETUMAL
The capital of Quintana Roo is located south of Bacalar and just above the
border of Belize, in fact they share a duty free 'Free Trade Zone' where shoppers can get
great bargains without the hassle of import-export concerns. Chetumal, because of its
location on the border of Belize has established a culture that is quite different than
any in Mexico.
The languages of English, Mayan and Spanish are spoken though Spanish is
dominant. There is also a language mixture called Creole which can be heard. The mix of
races and languages makes Chetumal a very different place in Quintana Roo.
Aside from the
normal parks and Municipal offices Chetumal also offers alternatives such as visits to
archaeological sites of Kohunlich in Quintana Roo and Xpuhil, Becan, Chicanna in Campeche.
These ancient cities are located deep in the jungle and are excellent spots for birding.
Quintana Roo Cities
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