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    Insight Guides Explore Cancun & the Yucatan (Travel Guide eBook)
    Insight Guides Explore Cancun & the Yucatan (Travel Guide eBook)
    Insight Guides Explore Cancun & the Yucatan (Travel Guide eBook)
    Ebook435 pages2 hours

    Insight Guides Explore Cancun & the Yucatan (Travel Guide eBook)

    By Insight Guides

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    About this ebook

    Insight Explore Guides: pocket-sized books to inspire your on-foot exploration of top international destinations.



    Experience the best of Cancun and the Yucatan with this indispensably practical Insight Explore Guide. From making sure you don't miss out on must-see attractions like Chichen Itza, to discovering hidden gems, including the region's cenotes (sinkholes) and idyllic beaches, the easy-to-follow, ready-made walking routes will help you plan your trip, save you time, and enhance your exploration of this fascinating/thrilling region.



    - Practical and packed with inspirational insider information, this will make the ideal on-the-move companion to your trip to Cancun and the Yucatan

    - Enjoy over 15 irresistible Best Routes to walk, from Cancun itself to the Riviera Maya.

    - Features concise insider information about landscape, history, food and drink, and entertainment options

    - Invaluable maps: each Best Route is accompanied by a detailed full-colour map, while the large pull-out map provides an essential overview of the area

    - Discover your destination's must-see sights and hand-picked hidden gems

    - Directory section provides invaluable insight into top accommodation, restaurant and nightlife options by area, along with an overview of language, books and films



    About Insight Guides: Insight Guides is a pioneer of full-colour guide books, with almost 50 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides with user-friendly, modern design. We produce around 400 full-colour print guide books and maps as well as phrase books, picture-packed eBooks and apps to meet different travellers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherInsight Guides
    Release dateNov 1, 2018
    ISBN9781789192872
    Insight Guides Explore Cancun & the Yucatan (Travel Guide eBook)
    Author

    Insight Guides

    Pictorial travel guide to Arizona & the Grand Canyon with a free eBook provides all you need for every step of your journey. With in-depth features on culture and history, stunning colour photography and handy maps, it’s perfect for inspiration and finding out when to go to Arizona & the Grand Canyon and what to see in Arizona & the Grand Canyon. 

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      Book preview

      Insight Guides Explore Cancun & the Yucatan (Travel Guide eBook) - Insight Guides

      How To Use This E-Book

      This Explore Guide has been produced by the editors of Insight Guides, whose books have set the standard for visual travel guides since 1970. With ­top-­quality photography and authoritative recommendations, these guidebooks bring you the very best routes and itineraries in the world’s most exciting destinations.

      Best Routes

      The routes in this book provide something to suit all budgets, tastes and trip lengths. As well as covering the destination’s many classic attractions, the itineraries track lesser-known sights, and there are also ex­cursions for those who want to extend their visit outside the city. The routes embrace a range of interests, so whether you are an art fan, a gourmet, a history buff or have kids to entertain, you will find an option to suit.

      We recommend reading the whole of a route before setting out. This should help you to familiarise yourself with it and enable you to plan where to stop for refreshments – options are shown in the ‘Food and Drink’ box at the end of each tour.

      Introduction

      The routes are set in context by this introductory section, giving an overview of the destination to set the scene, plus background information on food and drink, shopping and more, while a succinct history timeline highlights the key events over the centuries.

      Directory

      Also supporting the routes is a Directory chapter, with a clearly organised A–Z of practical information, our pick of where to stay while you are there and select restaurant listings; these eateries complement the more low-key cafés and restaurants that feature within the routes and are intended to offer a wider choice for evening dining. Also included here are some nightlife listings, plus a handy language guide and our recommendations for books and films about the destination.

      Getting around the e-book

      In the Table of Contents and throughout this e-book you will see hyperlinked references. Just tap a hyperlink once to skip to the section you would like to read. Practical information and listings are also hyperlinked, so as long as you have an external connection to the internet, you can tap a link to go directly to the website for more information.

      Maps

      All key attractions and sights mentioned in the text are numbered and cross-referenced to high-quality maps. Wherever you see the reference [map] just tap this to go straight to the related map. You can also double-tap any map for a zoom view.

      Images

      You’ll find lots of beautiful high-resolution images that capture the essence of the destination. Simply double-tap on an image to see it full-screen.

      © 2018 Apa Digital (CH) AG and Apa Publications (UK) Ltd

      Table of Contents

      Recommended Routes For...

      Escape the Crowds

      Foodies

      History Buffs

      Island Fun

      Maya Enthusiasts

      Natural Yucatán

      Night owls

      Water lovers

      Explore Cancún and the Yucatán

      Geography and layout

      History

      Climate

      Population

      Customs and etiquette

      Politics and economics

      Food and Drink

      Local Cuisine

      Where to Eat

      Local restaurants

      High-end restaurants

      Cantinas

      Street food

      Vegetarian and vegan

      Markets

      Drinks

      Non-alcoholic

      Beer and wine

      Spirits

      Shopping

      Shopping areas

      Malls

      Outdoor shop-hopping

      Artisan markets

      What to buy

      Clothing

      Carved items

      Silver

      Prices and opening hours

      What not to buy

      Entertainment

      Mexican entertainment

      Bars and nightclubs

      Cantinas

      Activities and Sports

      Bird- and wildlife-watching

      Diving and snorkeling

      Caves and cenotes

      Sport fishing

      Festivals

      History: Key Dates

      Early History

      Classic Maya Period

      Postclassic Maya Period

      The Colonial Era

      The Modern Era

      Cancún Hotel Zone Sights

      Cancún Island

      El Rey

      The Maya Museum

      Underwater Museum of Art

      Playa Marlín

      Isla Mujeres Day Trip

      Puerto Juarez

      Isla Mujeres

      West coast

      Punta Sur

      East coast

      Isla Mujeres town

      Riviera Maya

      North Riviera Maya

      Puerto Morelos

      Playa del Carmen

      Accommodations and restaurants

      Parque Fundadores

      Xaman-Ha

      South Riviera Maya

      Cenotes

      Akumal

      Dos Ojos

      Tulum

      Staying in Tulum

      Cozumel Loop

      San Miguel de Cozumel

      Cozumel Island

      Ixchel Temple

      East coast

      Punta Sur

      West coast

      El Cedral

      South of San Miguel

      South of Tulum

      Punta Allen

      Muyil

      Kaan Luum

      Muyil Ruins

      Sian Ka’an Muyil

      Gran Cenote

      Southern Quintana Roo Coastline

      Mahahual

      Xcalak

      Laguna Xcalak

      Bacalar to Kohunlich

      Bacalar

      Lake Bacalar

      Cenote Azul

      Chetumal

      Dzibanché

      Morocoy

      Dzibanché

      Kinichná

      Kohunlich

      Calakmul Maya

      Xpujil

      Xpuhil

      Becán

      Chicanná

      Calakmul

      Campeche Old Town Walk

      Campeche walking tour

      The Sea Gate

      City Museum

      Ex Templo de San José

      The Land Gate

      Baluarte San Pedro

      Around Parque Principal

      Baluarte de la Soledad

      Fuerte San Miguel

      East of Campeche City

      Edzná

      Hopelchén

      Mérida Sights

      Mérida Old Town Walking Tour

      Mérida Cathedral

      Casa Montejo

      Mérida Market

      Parque de Santa Lucía

      North of the City Center

      Paseo de Montejo

      Museum of Anthropology

      North of Mérida

      Dzibilchaltún

      Puuc Route, Henequen and Convents

      The Puuc Route

      Kabah to Labna

      Loltún Caves

      Route of the Convents

      Chilam Balam

      Mayapán

      Acanceh

      Izamal Walk

      Parque 5 de Mayo

      Franciscan convent

      Maya ruins in Izamal

      Kinich Kakmó

      Parque Itzamna

      Chichén Itzá Walk

      Valladolid and East Yucatán

      Valladolid Walk

      Museo San Roque

      Convento de San Bernardino

      Greater Valladolid

      Parque Xkekén

      Cobá

      Nohoch Mul

      Cobá cenotes

      Accommodations

      Downtown Cancún

      Hotel Zone

      Isla Mujeres

      Playa del Carmen

      Cozumel

      Akumal

      Tulum

      Xcalak

      Chetumal

      Xpujil

      Campeche

      Hopelchén

      Mérida

      Uxmal

      Oxkutzcab

      Izamal

      Pisté

      Chichén Itzá

      Valladolid

      Restaurants

      Downtown Cancún

      Hotel Zone

      Isla Mujeres

      Cozumel

      Playa del Carmen

      Akumal

      Tulum

      Mahahual

      Chetumal

      Campeche

      Mérida

      Izamal

      Valladolid

      Nightlife

      Nightclubs

      Bars, Beach Clubs and Cantinas

      A-Z

      A

      Admission Charges

      Age Restrictions

      B

      Budgeting

      C

      Children

      Clothing

      Crime and Safety

      Customs and Entry Requirements

      D

      Disabled Travelers

      E

      Electricity

      Embassies and Consulates

      Emergencies

      H

      Health and Medical Care

      Hours

      I

      Internet

      L

      LGBTQ+

      M

      Media

      Newspapers and magazines

      Radio and television

      Money

      P

      Postal Services

      R

      Religion

      S

      Smoking

      T

      Telephone

      Time Zones

      Tipping

      Toilets

      Tourist Information

      Transportation

      Getting there

      V

      Visas and Passports

      W

      Weights and Measures

      Women Travelers

      Language

      Pronunciation

      Basics

      At the bar/restaurant

      At the hotel

      Shopping

      Communication

      Transportation

      Useful phrases when traveling

      On buses

      On the road

      Taxis

      Months of the year

      Days of the week

      Numbers

      Books and Film

      Film

      Books

      Recommended Routes For...

      Escape the Crowds

      Take a trip along route 5 to Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve and Punta Allen. For those with more time, the ruins in Calakmul (route 8) offer quieter Maya experiences amid teeming rainforest. Campeche state is also packed with remote archaeological sites and endearing towns (route 10).

      Paul Stafford

      Foodies

      Indulge your taste buds in Mérida (route 11) while watching a traditional dance performance. Try a delicious pollo píbil, cooked the traditional way, in Izamal (route 13). Seafood is highly recommended along the Riviera Maya (route 3).

      Paul Stafford

      History Buffs

      Explore the Maya sites along the famous Puuc Route, which segues into an exploration of Spain’s first monasteries on the American mainland (route 12). Walk the fortified walls of Campeche on route 9.

      Paul Stafford

      Island Fun

      Hop over to islands close to the east coast, such as the beautiful Isla Mujeres (route 2), where you can swim with whale sharks. Experience the great diving, wilderness and seafood of Cozumel (route 4).

      Paul Stafford

      Maya Enthusiasts

      Of the 160 or so Maya sites peppering the Yucatán, Chichén Itzá (route 14), Uxmal (route 12) and Tulum (route 3) are among the most significant. Follow route 10 for a look at some remarkable lesser-known Maya ruins.

      Paul Stafford

      Natural Yucatán

      Sea life is abundant around Akumal (route 3), while wildlife thrives in Calakmul (route 8). Cozumel offers beautiful coral reefs (route 4). Explore the mangroves of Bacalar on route 7 and see one of the largest atoll reefs in the northern hemisphere (route 6).

      Paul Stafford

      Night owls

      Dance to techno in the nightclubs of Cancún (route 1) or match the pace of the Mexicans in a traditional Mexican cantina in Mérida (route 11).

      Paul Stafford

      Water lovers

      Swim in distinctive cenotes across the peninsula (routes 3, 5 and 15), kitesurf in Playa del Carmen (route 3), scuba dive the Caribbean from Xcalak (route 6) or watch the sun setting over the sea from the islands (routes 2 and 4) or Campeche (route 9).

      Shutterstock

      Explore Cancún and the Yucatán

      Imagine expansive forests concealing vast ruins of an ancient empire, miles of gorgeous white-sand beaches fringing azure waters, and a proud, independent culture with a penchant for bright colors and delicious food – welcome to the captivating Yucatán Peninsula.

      Akumal Beach on the Riviera Maya

      Paul Stafford

      Cancún is one of the world’s foremost tourist playgrounds. Its shiny, smart hotels and all-inclusive resorts cater to around 5 million visitors each year. Almost everybody speaks English, and the US dollar can be used as easily as Mexico’s currency, the peso. This is especially impressive given that there was little else there besides a lagoon and some rudimentary fishing huts when development was first started by the Mexican government in 1969.

      Cancún can be the entirety of a trip to the Yucatán Peninsula or merely a gateway to it. Natural beauty and wildlife may have been pushed back by the bulldozers, but numerous biosphere reserves and natural parks still teem with avian and mammalian activity. The Yucatán’s Caribbean coastline is stunning (including offshore islands Cozumel and Isla de Mujeres), and a look beneath the waves reveals rich marine biodiversity as beautiful as it is complex and fragile.

      Farther inland, and occasionally overlooking the sea, evidence of one of the most remarkable empires in the Americas abounds. From huge pyramids peeking above the forest canopy, to barely-excavated edifices reclaimed by nature, the Maya left an indelible legacy that is synonymous with the Yucatán. The civilization’s demise was sealed by the arrival of Spanish invaders, who left their own unique imprint on the region via a succession of wealthy cities, such as Mérida. The two cultures have combined and grown together over the centuries to create a truly distinct culture that can be seen in the fashion, art, music and cuisine.

      Xpujil ruins in Campeche

      Paul Stafford

      Cancún and Playa del Carmen are made for pleasure, and no one would blame you for simply sitting by the pool, basking in the sun. Yet to do that would be to miss the other facets of the region: beautiful natural wilderness, the majesty of the Maya archaeological sites, picturesque Spanish colonial towns and interesting, welcoming people. Enjoy the hedonistic pleasure of resort life, but be sure to peek over your sunglasses occasionally; there’s a lot worth exploring.

      Geography and layout

      Believed to be an island by the first Spanish invaders in the 16th century, the Yucatán Peninsula has always been a different, detached region of Mexico. The three states of the peninsula – Campeche, Yucatán and Quintana Roo – sit on a giant, flat limestone plain, sometimes only a meter or two above sea level. There are no surface rivers anywhere north of Champotón, on the west coast, and the Belize border on the southeast. Rainwater sinks straight through the rock; the Yucatán is honeycombed with caves and sinkholes (cenotes). Above ground, dense subtropical dry forest covers the south of the peninsula, while in the north the environment is even drier and the forest more sparse and scrub-like.

      Bright yellow streets of Izamal

      Paul Stafford

      The Yucatán Peninsula sits directly south of Louisiana and Mississippi, north of Belize and Guatemala, and west of Cuba. Cancún is located on the northeastern coast where the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea meet (the Caribbean coast runs south of Cancún, forming the Riviera Maya as far as Tulum). The lesser-developed Costa Maya is farther south toward Belize, while Mérida, the peninsula’s largest city, is in the northwest and the colorful walled city of Campeche sits farther south on the west coast.

      Transport around the whole region is almost exclusively via road, with many local and inter-town buses, colectivos (combis) and shared taxis plying numerous routes. Some of the remoter temples and villages have less frequent public transport connections and this is where renting a car would be advantageous. Regular ferries travel to the main islands, including Cozumel, along the Caribbean coast and daily flights connect Mérida and Cancún, although a first-class bus may be just

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