Tulum
Tulum is home to many bars and restaurants with an eclectic atmosphere. The town centre has a unique charm, while its cliffs face the Caribbean Sea. Its 1,500 year old archaeological site is also famous, and Tulum is located in a national park dedicated to the protection of fauna and flora. Sea turtles have made their home here!
The Mayan cities
Famous for its Mayan civilisation, Mexico has preserved many vestiges of this pre-Columbian era. Many ancient cities have been superbly preserved here, as shown by Chichén Itzá, for example, which is a Unesco World Heritage Site and was voted one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
>> Why did the Maya civilization disappear?
Cenotes
Cenotes are natural freshwater wells formed through the rock in a limestone bedrock. Considered as sacred places by the Mayan civilizations, they allow today to bathe in breathtaking landscapes. The Yucatan Peninsula has nearly 10,000 of them!
The Naica mine
The earth in Mexico is full of treasures, as shown by the Naica mine, which contains countless crystals 300 metres below ground. The crystals cover all the walls from floor to ceiling and can reach up to 12 metres in height!
Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is a major tourist attraction in Mexico, with sandy beaches, six theme parks, numerous bars and restaurants, and shops. A lively city, it is a symbol of Mexican entertainment and festivity, while also offering a wide range of water sports.
>> Yucatan: a colossal tourist train project to link the Mayan archaeological sites
Sian Ka'an
Far from the hustle and bustle of Playa del Carmen, Sian Ka'an is the largest protected area in the Mexican Caribbean. Covering 600,000 hectares, it features beaches, mangroves, dunes, tropical jungle, cenotes and an impressive coral reef. 300 species of birds and more than 1,000 species of plants are found here.
The Agua Azul waterfalls
The Agua Azul waterfalls are a succession of emerald blue waterfalls. This timeless place, which seems almost unreal, is located at the junction of three rivers, in the middle of the jungle.
Barrancas del Cobre
The Barrancas del Cobre are located in northern Mexico. It is a network of six canyons, spread over 650 kilometres. By comparison, this area is larger than the Grand Canyon. At 1,700 metres deep, its crevasses can hold more than five times the height of the Eiffel Tower!
>> Mexico: solidarity tourism on Mayan soil
San Cristóbal de Las Casas
San Cristóbal de Las Casas is a city located at an altitude of more than 2,000 metres, which has preserved its Spanish colonial style. The streets here are narrow and colourful. The traditional indigenous shamanic religion is still practiced here.
Guanajuato
Finally, the former mining city of Guanajuato has a historic centre listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. A very lively student city, it has many monuments with colonial architecture as well as small streets and flowery squares. The hill of the Pípila monument offers a superb view of this very colourful city.
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