Yucatan Travel: Attractions of Mexico’s Southeast

Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is located in the Southeastern part of the country. It borders the Caribbean Sea to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the north and west, and Guatemala and Belize to the south. Covered mainly with jungled lowland forests which spring up from the flat limestone, the peninsula is home to diverse wildlife, culture, and to a rich Mesoamerican history.

Geography of the Yucatan in Mexico

The peninsula is made up of three Mexican states: Campeche, Yucatan, and Quintana Roo (and parts of Belize and Guatemala). Campeche is on the western side, Yucatan is to the north, and Quintana Roo runs along the northeast and eastern side of of the peninsula, to the Belize and Guatemala border. Jungle is found inland, and beautiful clear waters line the coasts of the Yucatan.

Cancun and Other Mexican Cities on the Peninsula

Cancun is the most popular tourist destination city in the area. Located in the northeastern corner of Quintana Roo, it is the easternmost city in Mexico. A tourist area that mainly caters to a younger crowd, Cancun has a hotel zone, located on a strip of land in the Caribbean, which is a popular resort area for Americans and Europeans. Inland from the hotel zone, an actual city is found, and many of its inhabitants are employed in the tourism industry.

Merida, the capital of the state of Yucatan, and Campeche, the capital city of its title state are also great cities that have a stronger local cultural presence. Mayan ruins and natural attractions in these places rival the beaches and clubs of Cancun.

Riviera Maya in Mexico’s Eastern Yucatan

The Riviera Maya is a popular tourism district for family travel, located to the south of Cancun, on the Caribbean coast. In it, Mayan ruins, such as those at Tulum, natural attractions, resorts, and coastal activities, including fishing, diving, and snorkeling draw people from around the world. Located entirely in Quintana Roo, the district runs from just north of Playa del Carmen to the Tulum area.

The Caribbean coastal region of the Yucatan is made up of limestone, which hosts shrub and jungle, and manmade decorations, such as Mayan ruins, and, more recently constructed resorts. The ruins of Xcaret, Xel-Ha, Coba, and Tulum, all Mayan names, are found in or around the wonderful riviera. Beautiful cenotes, which are freshwater ground springs that are perfectly clear, dot the coastal areas of the district; many of these team with exotic fish, and make for some of the best locations in the world for freshwater snorkeling.

The Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico has countless vacations activities for families and individuals of all ages. Mayan ruins, Cancun nightlife, fun packages from all inclusive resorts in the Riviera Maya, sightseeing, snorkeling, diving, beach going, and fishing all attract people from around the globe, providing for them great getaways in Southeast Mexico.