Mayan World

A woodland museum park in the heart of Villahermosa, La Venta features colossal stone heads and other strange Olmec sculptures rescued from the ancient city of the same name when oil drilling began nearby. The state capital of Villahermosa is an ideal base from which to explore the area. Attractions include the Usumacinta River, Centla nature reserve and the Gulf Coast beaches near Chiltepec and Frontera The southern uplands harbor picturesque towns such as Tapijulapa and Teapa, the Agua Blanca waterfall and the Cocona caves.
 
CAMPECHE.-The westernmost of the three Mexican states comprising the Yucatán Peninsula, Campeche possesses spectacular Maya cities and colonial monuments and a wealth of natural attractions such as the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, quiet Gulf Coast beaches and lagoons. Visit the pyramids and temples that dot the Campeche landscape, silent witnesses to the glory of a long-lost era. A short drive from Campeche City lies Edzná, one of the masterpieces of the Maya World. 

Also worth a visit are Hochob, the remote sites of Becán, Xpuhil, Chicanná and mysterious Calakmul .Don't miss the timeless city of Campeche. Founded in 1540 by the Spaniards, it boasts some of the finest colonial churches and mansions in the area. One of the richest ports in the Americas during the 16th and 17th centuries, Campeche was frequently raided by pirates Stroll the ramparts of the mighty fortress built to protect the port from their attacks. Outside Campeche City, the small towns of Hecelchakán and Champotón, Calkini, and Becal, the center of the Panama Hat craft industry, are all worth a visit.

YUCATAN.- Maya temples, gracious colonial cities, pristine beaches and nature reserves teeming with colorful bird life seem to crowd the flat landscape of the Yucatán The legendary warm hospitality of the state's inhabitants is an added bonus for visitors. Discover the Yucatan's magnificent Maya heritage. 

The Pyramid of kukulcán towers above the flat plain at mighty Chichén Itzá, silent testimony to a time when the city was the center of an important religious cult honoring the feathered serpent god. Gracious Uxmal, renowned for ist carved facades is no less impressive. Other sites are Kabah, Sayil, Labná and Xlapak, known as the Puuc Route. The Spaniards too left their mark on the Yucatan. 

Time stands still in the white city of Mérida, where horse drawn carriages still pull up outside 17th century, churches and houses at the turn of the 19 ht century Yucatán’s charming capital benefitted from the success of the local henequen (sisal) industry. The elegant mansions that line the wide Parisian style boulevard of Paseo Montejo are the legacy of this glittering period. 

Outside Mérida, the colonial settlements of Izamal, Valladolid and villages on the Convent Route are also worth a visit. The Yucatecan coast boasts deserted beaches, tranquil fishing villages and the nature reserves of Celestún and Río Lagartos, home to a flock of pink flamingos.

QUINTANA ROO.- Massive coral reefs, international resorts, dazzling white-sand beaches, tropical islands, nature reserves and mysterious, ancient cities are just some of the attractions offered by Quintana Roo, Mexico's youngest state. Cancún, the country's megaresort, boasts a winning combination of fine beaches, world-class hotels and impressive infrastructure. 
Nearby attractions include the picturesque and atmospheric island, Isla Mujeres, and the Contoy Island Bird Sanctuary. South of the resort is an area of endless deserted beaches, sleepy fishing villages, Maya ruins and ecological parks just waiting to be discovered –the Cancun-Tulum Corridor. Offshore lies Cozumel, Mexico’s largest inhabited island and one of the top five dive destinations in the world. Back on the mainland you can sign up for a memorable ecological trip to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. 

Maya sites are found throughout Quintana Roo, even in ultramodern Cancún where crumbling temples nestle beside high rise hotels. Further south, the ancient cliff top city of Tulum offers spectacular views of the Caribbean. Also worth a visit are Cobá, Xel-Há, Xcaret and the remote jungle site of Kohunlich. 

Discover the state capital of Chetumal, a city with a true Caribbean flavor. Sites of interest in the area include the beautiful Bacalar Lagoon, Cenote Azul and the San Felipe Fort, built during the Colonial Period to protect Bacalar against pirate raids.


SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE.- Mundo Maya Trip Alternatives: Mundo Maya offers visitors a variety of exciting vacation options. There literally is something here for everyone and the chance to create great destination and activity combinations. There are the traditional archeological site circuits that take in all the major Maya cities and for the adventurous, camping excursions to Yaxchilan and Bonampak in the Lacandon rain forest and to Piedras Negras in Guatemala are now available. 
Such trips offer the chance to see the jungle and its wildlife. A wealth of tours have been designed for those interested in exploring the area's major colonial cities. Visitors spend a few days soaking up the atmosphere in Mérida and Campeche before departing for San Cristóbal de las Casas and Guatemala. Since many of the colonial cities are also important Maya market centers, a trip can quickly turn into a handicraft shopping spree. Side trips can be arranged to the villages where textiles are woven and pottery made.

Those interested in soaking up the sun on a Caribbean beach can take their pick from luxury resorts with every convenience and entertainment option imaginable, rustic waterfront cabins or campsite developments, great for getting away from it all. 

Quintana Roo, Belize and Honduras all boast stunning beaches and a range of accommodation options. The Pacific coast also has some fine beaches. Water sports fans will not be disappointed in the Mundo Maya. The Mexican Caribbean resorts of Cancún and Cozumel offer activities ranging from windsurfing, sailing and. In fact, keen divers regard the coral reefs of Quintana Roo, Belize and Honduras as some of the richest and most colorful in the world.. 
More than ever, area rivers are figuring in adventure holiday brochures Whether it's white water Canoeing or a trip down a jungle river on a Other kinds of adventure tourism available in the Mundo Maya include horseback riding, caving and climbing and cenote diving. 
The region offers a wealth of ecotourism trip possibilities. Go bird watching in Belize, join a jungle expedition in Chiapas, search for the quetzal and the shy manatee in Guatemala; or sail down a canal the Maya made over 1,000 years ago in the Sian Ka'an Reserve in Quintana Roo, just some of the options on offer. 

Area travel agencies are putting together an unbeatable range of combination trips featuring the different elemenst that make Mundo Maya such a fantastic travel alternative Visitors can explore Maya sites and colonial cities, discover a multitude of landscapes and witness colorful native fiestas, all during one vacation. They will even be able to select the places they want to visit and ask for a personalized itinerary.