por creavix | Mar 25, 2018 | Destinations
The road runs straight down the entire Maya Rivera from north to south. Simplifying we will say that it starts in Cancun, and goes south along the sea to Playa del Carmen, and then to Tulum, passing Akumal. That main highway takes off from the sea passing Tulum, surrounding the Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka’an towards Muyil and much later Bacalar. In fact, around here in Darwin Nomad we have written about the trip to Bacalar, and even about the trip to Calakmul a little further.
Another dirt road continues straight to the sea, passing through the small trendy hotel zone of Tulum and entering the Reserve heading to Punta Allen. In the map below you can see it.
Then two roads surround the immense Reserve of Sian Ka’an, and are two different ways to visit the reserve: 1.- The option from the interior that surrounds the Reserve via Muyil … and 2.- the parallel to the sea getting into Reserve by dirt road via Punta Allen. They are two different trips. Both are worth it.
Options to go: The option 1 of Muyil is easier and cheaper. You can even take a bus from Tulum to Muyil which is about 40 minutes, and leaves you near the archaeological zone. Option 2 of Punta Allen is more complicated because there is little public transport and the dirt road is long, although in good condition. But this option of Punta Allen is very worthwhile. You can take around 1:30 in your own car.
What is certain is that even if you bring a car or not, or walk alone or with family … if you are in the area of Tulum try to go to Sian Ka’an.
1.- The option of Muyil: There is an archaeological zone and a zone of jungle of the interior. There is a fresh water lagoon, marshes and water channels built by the Mayans where you can launch yourself to float. It will be hot and the sun will be incessant. In this option you can first visit the archaeological zone and then go to the lagoon to cool off. This option is much closer and cheaper if you walk without a tour. You can do it in half a day.
Muyil is 22 kilometers south of Tulum. The archaeological zone opens every day at 8 in the morning, and there are restaurants on the road. Bring water to the archaeological zone! In the area you will find boaters who offer excursions where you can swim in the lagoon.
2.- The option of Punta Allen: The option in Punta Allen is different, it is lagoons facing the ocean, turtles, dolphins. Once you reach Punta Allen you can get a boat trip with local cooperatives that can take you to snorkel , to see turtles or dolphins, or to stop in a turquoise zone of water up to the waist.
The Punta Allen option is more expensive, and it will take you all day. But is it worth it. Although there are tour operators, and a very sporadic public transport, probably the most efficient is to rent a car for the day you can get for about US$40 in Playa del Carmen. The road is dirt road, but very walkable. You will be slow, but you can see the sea, the lagoon, and if you want you can stop at a virgin beach to cool off for a while.
In Punta Allen there are restaurants, and good lobster tails!
On both places we recommend you to go with short, comfortable shoes for sea and land, light clothing, the less the better because the heat will be hard; take insect repellent, sunscreen… bring water and enjoy!
We recommend you see this Post by Darwin Nomad about the exploration of the Spaniards on the Mayan coast in the 1500s.
por creavix | Mar 24, 2018 | Destinations
As humans we can go through the 80s. 80 years may seem many or few, long life full of adventures. But in the history of the earth a succession of generations has been from here to there, going around the world for many years. The land of now was already the steps of someone before …; all these places have breathed history, conversations, events that, if you close your eyes, maybe you can feel.
To the earth the human has explored it for years. Before Bering freeze.
Before contemporary man traveled comfortably on cruises – now that everything seems to be discovered, were the seas and the waves alone. A brave man suddenly decided to make a boat and go sailing. Some ancients fished in fragile rafts. But until the fourteen hundred we actually began to explore the world by the seas.
EXPLORATION OF MEXICO: 1511 – 1517 – 1518 THE COAST OF YUCATÁN
1511.- The sinking of the Valdivia. The Spaniards arrived in Mexico in the first two decades of the fifteenth century.
Columbus arrived in Cuba in 1492, and it took almost 20 years for the first Spaniard to reach Mexican lands with the sinking of Valdivia in 1511. It was the survivors Jerónimo de Aguilar and Gonzalo Guerrero who arrived at the always paradisiacal Cozumel, where they lived 9 years as slaves in the peninsula.
Cortes found them in 1519 and they served as interpreters.
The voyage of the collapse of Valdivia
1517.- The expedition of Fernandez de Córdoba. In 1517, the first documented trip of Spanish exploration in the Mexican interior took place. Lead by Francisco Fernández de Córdoba, they arrived at Cabo Catoche, where Holbox is. In fact, on Holbox we have written this Post about the paradisiacal island and the possibility of swimming with Whale Shark.
From Holbox they went west towards Campeche and Champoton.
Some confrontations with the original settlers left their expedition weak and Cordoba was wounded and left for Florida. In Florida they were between Key Marco and Tampa Bay, and after facing the locals they had to return to Havana. Cordoba dies on his return for the injuries received in Champoton. Even with its complications his trip traced the route for the following expeditions of Grijalva and Cortés.
The expedition of Fernandez de Córdoba.
1518.- The Journey of Juan de Grijalva. Cordova’s expedition impressed. Imagine the stories of the things seen, what they said about the turquoise waters of Yucatan, Campeche, the vegetation of the Mexican coasts, the settlers and the rich land they perhaps imagined.
All that happened in Havana, there was the center of power with the governor Diego de Velásquez. So much those stories impress, that it was decided to return, and they sent from Cuba four ships and 300 men in 1518 to explore those same lands under the orders of Juan de Grijalva.
Grijalva –in fact, is now the name of one of the most important rivers in Mexico, near the Pantanos de Centla, of which Darwin Nomad has spoken.
They arrived in Cozumel … let’s imagine their journey in front of Tulum, the Sian Ka’nn Reserve, and the passage along the coast of what is now Cancun. We recommend that you see this article by Darwin Nomad on how to visit the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve on your own
The chronicles say that they saw high towers and stone houses on the coast. They went through Isla Mujeres to the Rio Lagarto in Campeche in search of water … and it is narrated that they had contact with the locals. They entered Laguna de Términos, that wide lagoon where the oil zone of Ciudad del Carmen is now. They found the Rio Grijalva and entered it. Imagine the stupor, the curiosity, the vertigo and fear of ignoring which strange eyes were beyond the green vegetation.
They followed the coast of Veracruz towards Isla de Sacrificios and reached the Pánuco River, near Tampico. They returned to Cuba bordering the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, via Champoton.
His trip laid the foundations for Hernán Cortés’ definitive subsequent trip, which would reach the Great Tenochtitlan from which the locals had spoken.
The Journey of Grijalva in 1518
In Darwin Nomad we will continue talking about trips and explorations. From what it was before and from the avatars that occurred for what it was today. Visit Mexico.
por creavix | Mar 3, 2018 | Destinations, Mayan Riviera, Mexico
Mexico offers you a lot. It has wide beaches with all kinds of waves.
It has perfect weather and an incomparable culture. It has tourist places with all the services. There are many places on the Pacific coast, the Caribbean, and the interior of the country.
Here we recommend some places that are worth exploring:
Cancún
Cancun is a big destination with all the services. The sea is turquoise blue and the sand on the beach is fine, perfect for your children’s sandcastles.
There are all kinds of hotels, from large all-inclusive chains to small boutique hotels.
In an easy way you can make trips to the surroundings like go swimming with the whale shark, go to Holbox or take a couple of hours to the archaeological site of Tulum. Have you heard about the Cenotes? Old underground water wells where it is possible to dive or snorkel.
Riviera Maya
The Mayan Riviera is near Cancun. One hour It is the strip between Cancun and Tulum, includes Playa del Carmen, and the possibility of crossing by boat to the island of Cozumel.
La Rivera has all the services and all kinds of hotels. You can make base in one of them, in Playa del Carmen, for example, and from there spend the calm day in front of the sea with your piña colada, while your children play. And the next day make a trip to a cenote or to a pre-Hispanic area. There is diving everywhere.
Los Cabos
You are in Baja California Sur, in northern Mexico. The contrast is of desert facing the sea. There is everything in Los Cabos: from first level restaurants to safe beaches for swimming. Activities outside the resorts include whale watching, fishing and zip lines. There are even 4×4 tours to go to the desert to see great zahuaros.
Chiapas
The trip to Chiapas is not beach. But it is an explosion of energy and endearing Mexico. A recommended one-week autonomous tour is to fly to Villahermosa and rent a car there. Drive to Palenque to visit an archaeological zone that will leave you breathless. From there you can go to Yachilan, Bonampak and return to Palenque on an all-day trip.
Both are remote archaeological sites, where you breathe antiquity. From Palenque you can go to Tonina on the way to San Cristobal de las Casas. You will be surprised by Ocosingo. This trip is ideal for your children to know a different culture.
Calakmul and Bacalar.
This is in the southeast of Mexico. Here we have a specific post for this trip. It is a combination of archeological zone, heat and turquoise blue water. A trip to breathe.
