Wednesday, June 13, 2012

The Riviera Maya A Treasureland of Background and Natural Splendor

By Linda Patterson


The state of Quintana Roo, located on the eastern edge of Mexico's Yucatn peninsula, is one of the most diverse and beautiful in the entire country. It's a tourist's dream come true, providing everything from ancient Maya ruins to lush, unspoiled natural landscapes, to the booming resorts and world-class luxury of the Riviera Maya. In times past it was known simply as the Cancun-Tulum corridor, in reference to its location buttressing two important centers of civilization, both of which date back many centuries to the Maya's dominance over the region. It is a simply irresistible opportunity to experience every facet of a tropical paradise, in a setting that is safe, educational, and fun for singles, couples, or an entire family.

Family Forest Adventures

Do love nature tours? Quintana Roo, and indeed all of Central America, is the ideal place to take one. Though you may be staying in the lap of luxury on the Riviera Maya, the deep, untouched jungle is just a short car ride away. You'll stand in awe of the towering rainforest trees, with trunks thicker than your own body, and hear the calls of strange and wild animals rise up through the mist from parts unknown. If you prefer, you can hire a multilingual guide to help you keep track of all the colorful tropical birds and unusual flora you come across as you trek deeper into the welcoming arms of the jungle. If you'd rather dive than hike, however, the Yucatan is one of the world's premier snorkeling and scuba-diving locations. Take an excursion out to the great Mesoamerican barrier reef, and spend the day swimming with dolphins, diving with incandescent tropical fish, and even seeing a shark or two glide by the reef as you watch in amazement!

Millennia of Maya History

Anyone who has heard of the ancient Maya civilization and had their curiosity aroused should doubly consider traveling to the Riviera Maya, as it sits within a stone's throw of a long list of amazing Mayan ruins, such as Umal, Kabah, and Xel Ha, just to name a few. These sites are only a short trip by van from any of the beach resorts; you can venture there on your own, with a tour group, or in the capable hands of a personal guide, who can explain the detailed history of this incredible site. For the more physically active and challenge-seeking crowd, be sure to ask your hotel about the Coba adventure tour.

Indeed, the Riviera Maya and the Eastern Yucatn boast some of the most amazing and colossal Mayan sites anywhere in the region. The old port city of Tulum stands like a watchtower over the coast; its ancient lighthouse used the brilliance of the sun's rays to guide ships safely between the reefs offshore. By far the largest site in the area is Chichn Itz , which sports such amazing locations and artifacts as the Jaguar Throne, the Temple of a Thousand Warriors, and the Pyramid of Kukulcan, a hundred-foot tall step pyramid whose jagged steps create the mythical shadow of the serpent-god himself during the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes.

The Bountiful Beauty of Sian Ka'an

Perhaps the most astonishing feature of Quintana Roo was not wrought by the hand of any human civilization, but writ large on the earth by the pen of Mother Earth herself. Though deforestation and human encroachment threaten much of this land's magnificent biodiversity, at least one area has received the maximum amount of protection available the Sian Ka'an bioreserve. Within its boundaries flourish hundreds of species of birds and mammals, crocodiles and turtles, monkeys, coatimundi, and more. Visitors are welcome to venture into the park by land or by sea, and view firsthand the incredible diversity and splendor of nature, hopefully to be forever convinced of the necessity and responsibility we share in safeguarding such treasures of the plant and animal kingdom.

Sian Ka'an puts the natural beauty of the Yucatn region front and center. The array of plants and animals you can glimpse here likely the only place you may ever have the opportunity to see them is truly incredible. You can arrive at the site by land or sea, but either way, if the ocean tempts you, be sure to take a dive and swim with the dolphins, sea turtles and sharks! that inhabit the great Mesoamerican Barrier Reef just off the preserve's sparkling sandy shores.

With all this adventure and excitement waiting for you, how can you resist a journey to the Riviera Maya? However long you stay, you can be sure of one thing it won't be nearly long enough, and you'll be planning your return from the moment you step on board your flight back home!




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