DK Travel : Cancún and the Yucatán : Places of interest

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Labná

The Arch of Labná (wonderfully drawn by Frederick Catherwood, ) exemplifies the sophistication of Puuc architecture. Nearby, the town’s Palacio is only slightly smaller than Sayil’s, and was divided into seven patios – the part to the left was the home of the lords of Labná, the patios to the right (east) were for servants. The setting is especially lovely, in tranquil woods full of birds.
Laguna Chankanaab, Cozumel

One of the most enjoyable and accessible places for even small children to be dazzled by a real new experience – a first introduction to snorkeling and the underwater treasures of the Cozumel reefs. The sea is very placid and there’s coral and abundant sea life just off the beach. In the same park there’s also a coral lagoon, a botanical garden, and a Dolphin Discovery center.
Laguna Chankanaab, Cozumel

CozumelA great place to see Cozumel’s undersea treasures with an easy swim, this small nature and snorkeling park lies close to the Chankanaab and Paraíso reefs (see Paraíso, Cozumel) and includes a beach, a botanical garden, and a Dolphin Discovery center.
Laguna Yal-Ku, Akumal

This winding rock pool of brilliant turquoise water right at the north end of Akumal’s Media Luna Bay is one of the natural coral inlets on the Riviera coast. Rarely crowded, it’s delightful for swimming and snorkeling with young children, with coral and colorful fish that are easy to spot.
Loltún Caves

This vast cave complex is both a stunning natural phenomenon and ancient Mayan site. It has been occupied by humans longer than anywhere else in the Yucatán, from remote prehistory right up until the 19th century. The ancient Maya lived here, mined the caves, and used them for rituals. Guided tours take you through 2 km (1.5 miles) of caves, but the network extends much further. The rock formations are awe-inspiring, and a special feature of Loltún is its strange changes of temperature, from fierce heat to chilly breezes.
Maní

Now wonderfully sleepy, this town was important at the time of the Spanish Conquest, and contains the oldest Franciscan missionary monastery in the Yucatán, the scene of dramatic events in 1562 (seeManí Monastery). The town was the seat of Tutul Xiu, the first of the Mayan lords to accept Spanish authority in 1542. The monastery and town square occupy the top of an old Mayan temple-platform.
Mérida

The Yucatán’s capital, founded by the Spaniards in 1542 on the site of the Mayan city of Ti’ho, has a seductive appeal. Whitewashed Spanish houses with shaded patios provide delightful places to stay. Despite the bustle of its market (and traffic), amid the city’s old squares life still proceeds at a leisurely, friendly pace.

Tiled icon at Santa Lucia, Mérida
Mérida

Perhaps the most seductive of all the colonial cities in Mexico. Elegant architecture, shady patios, great markets, a distinct friendliness, the soft music of boleros and the jarana heard in free concerts in 16th-century squares, and fiestas enjoyed by all ages every Sunday – the town’s appeal is plentiful and varied.

Cafés, Mérida
Oxcutzcab

The south of Yucatán near the Puuc hills is a fertile, fruit-producing region. Oxcutzcab has a huge market, where Mayan women in huípiles (white dresses with bright embroidery) preside over stalls stacked with succulent mangoes, papaya, oranges, watermelons, and more. Above them is the lofty tower of the town church, finished in 1645.
Parque Garrafón, Isla Mujeres

A broad, natural pool of rock and coral is the central attraction. There’s also an ordinary swimming pool, and snorkeling reefs and landing stages just offshore. Good for novices.