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[ click on a picture to
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There are many interesting sites to visit that are less than an hours drive from La Selva Mariposa, as well as a few a little farther. We provide a notebook in each
suite that you can take with you in your car that includes specific directions and other helpful information on our favorite backdoor tours.
CLICK HERE to
read the Yucatan travel articles your host Mari has written for sac-be.com.
Some of our favorite sites are listed below:
Cobą Ruins and cenotes
Ek' Balam ruins and cenote
the Colonial city of Valladolid
Tulum ruins and the beach clubs of Tulum
Yal Ku Lagoon in Akumal
Muyil ruins and Sian Ka'an BioReserve
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| Multun |
Dzinup |
Yax
Mul |
Ek' Balam |
Grand |
These are just a few of the amazing fresh-water cenotes in the
Yucatan. There are many within a few miles of LSM. Some are underground,
some above ground. Most are available for swimming, snorkeling and/or diving.
The variations in each one can be simply breathtaking. Since
there are few rivers and lakes in the Yucatan, cenotes were the source of fresh
water for the Mayans.
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| Nohuch
Mul |
Ball
Court |
Cobą
Sac-Be |
carved
stella |
Astronomer's
House |
The Mayan ruins at Cobą, only a few miles from LSM, are known for their huge
structures and the carved stella. The Nohuch Mul pyramid
is one of the few that still allow visitors to climb it's 120
steps to the top. Cobą was a major Mayan city and the ruins are
extensive, connected
by the crushed white limestone roads or 'Sac-Be'. Renting a bike
or a guided 3-wheel bike is a good idea!
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| The
Acropolis |
Carved
Angels |
the
famous "Mouth" |
aerial
view |
Pacal
carving |
The Mayan ruins at Ek' Balam have only recently been
open to visitors. Those who skip the famed, but overcrowded Chichen Itza, will
be
rewarded with some of the most exquisite carvings and sculptures in the Mayan
world. Almost nothing compares to it. Small but powerful!
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the air |
Tulum
citadel |
interior
courtyards |
citadel
again |
Tulum
beach |
The seaside ruins at Tulum were one of the last
cities built and inhabited by the Mayans. The beautiful setting make these
ruins unique.
They are compact but very popular with tourists, perched 40 feet above the
crystal blue sea. Tulum was the port for the city of Cobą.
Modern Tulum is only a few miles from LSM and has many good restaurants, beach
clubs and shops.
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| thru
the mangroves |
small
Mayan ruin |
reef
from the air |
a
view over the inlets |
was
that a manatee? |
The Sian Ka'an
Biosphere Reserve, located just south of Tulum, is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. The enormous biodiversity make this area
extremely important. The reserve encompasses both land and sea
(offshore coral reefs) as well as over 23 Mayan sites, such as
Muyil. Eco-tours
are readily available for hearty, adventerous souls in this mostly undeveloped
area.
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| Monkey
Sanctuary |
Celustun
Biosphere |
ziplining
above a cenote |
Yal
Ku Lagoon (snorkel) |
Xel-Ha
Water Park |
There are so many things to see and do in our area!
The incredible wildlife at sanctuaries & reserves, outdoor pursuits, water
sports & amazing
water parks, the beaches, and of course, the history and culture of the Mayan people that
will surround you.
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Cobą Rd shop |
Valladolid
church |
native
fiesta in Tulum |
local
market |
the
best hammocks! |
The Yucatan is a
colorful unspoiled place, still filled with the descendants of the
Mayan people. Local markets, small villages, fiestas, and
native crafts are in abundance. The local food is unique in all of
Mexico... try the Poc Chuc (BBQ pork) or the Sopa de Lima (turkey,
lime & tortilla).
The Yucatan is also considered the safest state in Mexico. While
most people can speak Spanish, many speak Yucatec Mayan as their
1st language.
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