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Category Archives: South America
Chichén Itzá.
The most famous and best restored of the Yucatán Maya sites, Chichén Itzá, while tremendously overcrowded – every gawker and his or her grandmother is trying to check off the new seven wonders of the world – will still impress … Continue reading
Tulum.
Tulum’s spectacular coastline – with all its confectioner-sugar sands, jade-green water and balmy breezes – makes it one of the top beaches in Mexico. Where else can you get all that and a dramatically situated Maya ruin? There’s also excellent … Continue reading
Xcalak.
Xcalak POP 380. The rickety wooden houses, beached fishing launches and lazy gliding pelicans make this tiny town plopped in the middle of nowhere a perfect escape. Blessed by virtue of its remoteness and the Chinchorro atoll (preventing the creation … Continue reading
Laguna Bacalar.
Laguna Bacalar comes as a surprise in this region of scrubby jungle. More than 60km long, this crystal-clear lake offers opportunities for camping, swimming, kayaking and simply lazing around. It’s noted mostly for its large cenote, old Spanish fortress and … Continue reading
A return visit to Chetumal.
Chetumal (SE Yucatán) was an excellent return transit hub for the next leg of my journey – heading north long the eastern coast of The Yucatán, en route back to Cancun. It just so happened that a carnival was taking … Continue reading
The gritty town of Escarcega.
The southern peninsular region from Escárcega to Xpujil, which borders modern-day Guatemala, was the earliest established, longest inhabited and most densely populated region in the Maya world. Here you’ll find the most elaborate archaeological sites on the Yucatán Peninsula. Hwy … Continue reading
Cascades de Misol-Ha (Palenque).
To avoid another long bus journey I decided to spend a night back in Palenque, prior to continuing my journey east – towards Chetumal. Just 20km south of Palenque, spectacular Misol-Ha cascades approximately 35m into a wonderful wide pool surrounded … Continue reading
Ocosingo & las ruinas de Toniná.
A respite from both the steamy lowland jungle and the chilly highlands, the bustling regional market town of Ocosingo sits in a gorgeous and broad temperate valley mid- way between San Cristóbal and Palenque. The impressive Maya ruins of Toniná … Continue reading
San Cristóbal de las Casas.
Set in a gorgeous highland valley surrounded by pine forest, the colonial city of San Cristóbal (cris-toh-bal) has been a popular travelers’ destination for decades. It’s a pleasure to explore San Cristóbal’s cobbled streets and markets, soaking up the unique … Continue reading
