It was built on the site of the Mayan city of  Ichcaanziho or "city of the five hills", on January the 6th, 1542 by Francisco de Montejo “el Mozo”. Merida is a cultural center, willing to share its beauty:  from a drive in “calesa”, a walk through its streets, and the magnificent of its architectonic buildings, that altogether combine the magic of the past with the modernity of the present. A visit to its multiple museums, a regional show and the unique taste of The Yucatecan food, its traditions, culture and the kindness of its people, are characteristics that make it worthy deserving of the title: of very noble and very loyal city of Merida. We invited you to know a bit more about this city of dream and to discover why is a spot full of history.

Located about 160 km east of Merida, it takes its name of the Mayan language of ZACI, city of the first movement of independence, proud of its past, conserves its traditions, customs, and the Mayan language. Deers, wild boars “tepezcuintles”, anteaters, squirrels, weasels, “zarigüeyas”, wild cats, armadillos, raccoons, turtles, rabbits and iguanas make its  fauna is one of its greater attractiveness. Valladolid has twenty-five archaeological sites, and the most important are: Kumal, Xkuxil, Xkakuil, Dsoloya and Xkax; it is possible also to enjoy the beautiful natural wells of Zaci and the grotto of the Dzitnup natural well. Valladolid has its own tourist infrastructure that this constituted by hotels, restaurants, a video bar, a club, a nocturnal center, a commercial rooms of social events, cinema, centers, a bazaar of great level, jewelry stores and a market of crafts.

Izamal, known as the City of Hills is located 72 kilometers of Merida, is one of the sites that cannot be omitted when going to Yucatan. It is a sacred city from its origins, perhaps millenarian. It is in the land of Izamal, where according to the tradition, the most important priest of the Mayans is buried. The ancient people had four great pyramids; the main one Kinich Kak Moo excels like the greater one in the whole state. Prevailing it emphasizes the conventual set constructed by Fray Diego de Landa, is one of the greatest monasteries of Mexico, built on top an ancient Maya pyramid. The entire town is painted yellow, color that makes the sunset more fascinating. The city of Izamal conserves a greater stylistic unit and a deep rooted flavor of greatness in the peninsula.

Celestun “Espanto de piedra” one of the most colorful beaches of the Yucatecan coast, located 92 km of Merida, offers a great amount of touristic attractives that is worth the trouble to visit, extensive beaches, the old inclined beacon, the natural beauty of the national park of the pink flamenco, the temple of the Purest Conception, Los manglares de la Ria, the “Eye Baldiosera” the greater fresh water concentration within the manglar, the petrified forest and the annual celebration of the port. There is a great variety of rabbits, zarigüeyas, iguanas, chameleons, basiliscs, pelicans, gulls, herons, flamenco, squid, calamary, shrimp, and lobster, among others. The visitor will also be able to enjoy the traditional Yucantecan food like: salbutes, panuchos, pipian of deer, papadzules, mucbil-pollo, tamales, mero in tikin xik, cherna rebozada, mero in black mac cum, pampano escabechado, squid in their red, roasted fish, fried fish, mero empanizado; or its typical candies like the yucca with honey, cocoyol in syrup, melcocha, sweet potato with Coconut, lined Coconut; and its drinks like Coconut water, xtabentun, a drink made of anise, pozole with Coconut and cornflour drink

Holbox or Isla de Tiburoneros, located in the Protected Natural Area of Yum-Balam, is one of the most impressive paradises of the Caribbean, peaceful town of fishing tradition. In this ecosystem there is a great variety of fauna such as the deer, tejon, the wild boar, the vixen, the raccoon, the marine turtles, the boa, the mount turkey and aquatic birds like herons, pelicans, frigates, pink flamencos and ducks, among others. Holbox is a rustic and colorful place with stone and wood houses. The sand streets lead to a main plaza where people attend every night and the small restaurants serve products of the sea fresher than one can imagine. Be willing to discover a peaceful and very hospitable atmosphere island, with extensive beaches of incomparable beauty, where the people enjoy a narrow coexistence in their almost virgin surroundings.

Campeche, is a state with deep historical roots, was founded October 4, 1540 like “the villa of San Francisco de Campeche”, by Francisco de Montejo “El Mozo”. Between its beauties they emphasize, its colonial architecture, La plaza de armas, La casa 6, the Bastion of the Solitude; Museum of Mayan Wakes, the Bastion of San Carlos Museum; of the City, the Door of the Sea, the Levee, the Fiancée of the Sea, the Earth Door with its spectacle of light and sound, the Fort of San Miguel, the Fort of San Jose the High Museum of Boats and Arms, the Historical Center, the Small square of San Francisco and the Circus-Theater of the Renaissance; its archaeological zones Edzna, Calakmul, Balamku, Becan, Chicanna, Kanki, the Tiger, Hochob, Hormiguero and Jaina; and its delicious traditional food make it worthy deserving of the title of “Cultural Patrimony of the Humanity”.

Majestic city located in the coast of the state of Quintana Roo, in Mayan language means “Yellow Serpent”. The technology, modernism, quality and a very fresh touch mix together in Cancun, in their nightclubs, bars, convention centers, restaurants, hotels, condominiums, and in the automobile race track. Cancun offers the visitors the matchless beauty of its white sand beaches where it is possible to practiced all kind of activities and water sports such as: snorkeling, diving, and parachuting, among others; to take the sun or to enjoy the services and comforts that its impressive Hotel Zone offers, with over 30km of extension with more than 500 restaurants that offer the travelers the best of national and international food.

Located in the Caribbean Sea, opposite to the coasts of Quintana Roo, it is the largest island of Mexico, Cozumel means “Place of the swallows” named like that, after an ancient Mayan legend, that tells; that Ixchel the Mayan love and fertility goddess lived in that island, and the Mayan people named many temples after her and the goddess to thank them, rewarded them by sending them their favorite birds (the swallows) as a gratitude symbol. There are many activities in Cozumel for travelers to do, such as: snorkeling, diving, the tours to the Palancar reef, the Columbia reef where the visitor can watch see turtles and mantarayas, Torments reef, a wild safari on the seashore, Paradise reef where the coral star and the coralline shrimp are found, the first aquarium of Mexico made of coral and stone. The tourist can also find in Cozumel traditional Mexican crafts like silver, traditional clothes and hammocks. Cozumel is the best place to enjoy one the calmest and paradisiac vacations that one can only imagined without making aside the fun.

Is located east off the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It's about eight miles across the Bay of Women (Bahia Mujeres), its neighbor to the west, Cancun. “Isla Mujeres” has a lot to offer. It has a hotel infrastructure with facilities from one to five stars, restaurants of international and regional food, bars to listen to trova music, and island tunes, beach clubs, shows of the Caribbean, swimming with dolphins, farm of turtles. How to refuse to the simple and calm life of the tropic, if their beaches are white sand paths, ideal to walk under the sun and contemplate the sea, it is very easy to fall in the temptation of the good food, dance, water sports and its peaceful surroundings. The water activities are adventures that the tourist can not find any where else, sailing, the view of the beautiful coral reefs while snorkeling; el Garrafon Natural Reef Park is a breathtaking view for those who enjoy snorkeling. This park is unique as there is a reef located just a few feet off the shore, the impressive Cave of the Slept Sharks and “El Farito”, “Islache” and Manchones reefs, make of “Isla Mujeres” a place full of magic, extraordinary beauty and fun.

“Playa del Carmen” is one of the most attractive tourist destinations of the Mexican Caribbean. Located in the heart of the Mayan Riviera, to 68km to the south of Cancun, it has a semi-tropical climate, in this place, bathed by waters of the Caribbean Sea, the tourist will find beautiful beaches of smooth surge, like Paamul beach and Paradise beach, ideals to relax, to take the sun and to practice all type of activities. The ecological parks of Xcaret and Xel-Ha where the travelers will be able to practice aquatic sports such as: snorkeling, windsurf and kite surf. In the wharf, the tourist can take a tour to visit the Great Mayan Reef, the second largest reef of the world, where it will be able to dive to more of 10m of depth, between hundreds of fish of all colors and corals with more than 500 years old or to take tours by the zone of natural wells these mirror like natural wells are connected underground between each other. At night the tourist can take a walk by the Fifth Avenue, the more famous meeting point of Playa del Carmen, where they can find all type of restaurants, bars and caverns of cosmopolitan atmosphere, as well as a commercial center with exclusive clothes stores, jewelry shops and boutiques.

Beautiful Mayan city located in the state of Yucatan, the name of Chichen-Itza means “At the mouth of the well of the Itza”. It is the most famous city of the Mayan culture and it was the main political and economic center of the Mayan civilization. Its different constructions such as: The Temple of Chac Mol, The Group of the Thousand Columns, The Great Ball Game and dominating the center of Chichen is the Temple of Kukulcan, one of the highest and remarkable constructions of the Mayan architecture, each side of the pyramid has a great perron and in the base of the North perron there are two colossal serpents heads to honor the great God Kukulcan. These past July 7th, 2007 Chichen Itza was named one of the Seven Modern World Wonders, by New Open World Corporation.

Uxmal means “built three times”, it is part of a group of archeological sites that the mayan people call the Puuc Route, is a highway that leads from Oxkutzcab to Kabah, for about 41km, connecting the interesting Maya archaeological sites Labna, Xlapak, Sayil and Kabah. This archeological site is located in the municipality of Santa Elena, Yucatan, an old Mayan city of the classic period. It has a very unique and peculiar architectonic style in its buildings grouped together on a square shape platform. In the front part of the buildings each one of them have a carefully elaborated figures with thousands of small stones polished and fit to form perfect mosaics, an  architecture never matched in beauty in all the Mayan zone. Many “Chultunes” or water tanks can be appreciated along the zone“. The main buildings of Uxmal are: The Pyramid of the magician, the Nunnery Quadrangle, the Game of Ball, the Governor’s palace, the House of the Turtles, the Great Pyramid, the House of the Doves, the South Temple, Ancient Pyramid, the quadrangles of the Cemetery, Platform of the Wake, among others. You can’t loose a special gift to the sences: The spectacle of Light and Sound. It has facilities such as: craft stores, restaurant and museum.

23 Km . from Uxmal is Kabah, the second largest site in the Puuc region It's estructures include the Codz Poop, with a facade of 250 masks of Chac the rain God, The Kabah Arch and the Palace.

9 Km . from Kabah, this site is known for the Palace, a three story structure built on a hill, and famous for it's dimensions and Chaac mask decorations.

Sayil also has numerous ncient water catchments tanks, called “Chultunes” in Maya.

5 Km . further on from Sayil, this site shows ancient structures before they are reconstructed by archaeologists, giving you an idea of how their first discoverers found them.

Another 3 Km . from Xlapac, the name of this site means “old or abandoned hause”. Particularly known for it'a arch wich connects to the Palace and the Mirador structures via a sacbe.

Loltun means “stone flower”, is the name of this spectacular caves located south of state of Yucatan that astonish everybody. The Mayan people used them to provide themselves with clay, which they used to made utensils, and this caves were also used as a religious center and refuge. The tour on these caves goes on for over a distance of 700 meters of impressive stone formations. In the main gallery is a room call “Cuarto de las columnatas musicales”, that when a person hits them with the hand, they produce pleasant sounds, the tourist can also admired stone formations, that by their suggestive and capricious forms, has been baptized with peculiar names, such as: La Catedral”, “La Cabeza”, “El Gran Cañon”, “La Mazorca de Maiz”, “El Infante”, “El cuarto de las estalactitas”, among others. Another its main attractiveness are the fresco paintings on the walls: “hands in negative”, there are paintings more elaborated of faces, animals, grecos and decorative figures. Loltun has a Restaurant, Parking lots, Baths and Snack Bar.

The Cenotes of Yucatán are a treasure chest of the archaeological, anthropological, and geological information yet to be disco-vered by tose who enjoy cave-diving.

This makes them yet another on Yucatan 's hidden tourist attractions.

The Cenotes of Yucatán are a treasure chest of the archaeological, anthropological, and geological information yet to be disco-vered by tose who enjoy cave-diving.

This makes them yet another on Yucatan 's hidden tourist attractions.

This is located inside the archaeological zone at Dzibilchaltun, very close to Mérida.

Near Chichen itza in Valladolid. He is one of the attractive places but of the organization. One arrives at elmediante primitive stairs that slide under an enormous rock suspended on the pool.

This is just before Valladolid , it's main attraction is it's soaring vault, with the light filtering through a tiny aperture.

Nature’s sacred Paradise.  Xcaret is the most famous echo-archaeological park of the world. Here, the tourist will find: archaeological ruins, dolphins` shows, horses, tropical birds, butterflies, the cave of the bats, beautiful white sand beaches and the tourist can also snorkeling in its famous crystalline caves and underground river, garden of mushrooms, farm of turtles, trips to the tropical forest the choral reef aquarium, horse rider’s shows. For over More than 53 activities to enjoy, and only in one place the friendliest park of the world. Xcaret is an experience for all the senses. Named by the old Mayan world “small cove”, Xcaret was a one of the most important ports of the Mayan culture and respectful ceremonial center. We specially recommended to see “Xcaret at night”, which is amazing show that will take the tourist to the deepest roots of the Mayan traditions, ending in a colorful celebration of lights and colors with the most beautiful dances of the different regions.

The Mayans baptized Xel-Ha, which means “where the water is born” or “source of water”. The legend tells that the Mayan Gods put together their wisdom, dreams and love for the beauty of nature to create a place that reunited the best thing of the Mexican Caribbean, so they were so satisfied with their work that they decided to let it, among the mortals, but before they did, they named the guacamaya, the dark-brown fish and the iguana “Guardians of Xel-Ha”, caretakers of the sky, the sea and the Earth, respectively. Xel-Ha is a wonderful creation of nature that anyone can enjoy, it has a creek set, lagoons, natural wells and caves in which salt water is mixed with fresh waters of the underground rivers of Yucatan. Xel-Ha has the most spectacular natural aquarium of the Mayan Riviera that it invites to tourist to embark upon a true aquatic adventure. It invite the tourist to explore its aquatic park, in where you will be able to enjoy natural attractions, ecological attractions and aquatic activities, like snorkeling and swimming with Dolphins.

If you want but information on our state, we invited to you that you visit this web:

www.yucatan.gob.mx