Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula: (Day) Trips & (Fun) Dips

Ever since the first time I travelled around the world when I was 19, I’d always wondered what exploring Mexico would be like. A part of the world full of ancient lands, tribes, jungle, ruins and intrigue which I knew one day I’d have to go to. Having put together many a trip for my wonderful customers, I finally decided it was time. Time to attempt a chilled-out beach holiday on a delicious Caribbean-esq beach under the heat of the sun which we would not be getting in the UK in January … It was decided; 10 nights, Playa del Carmen for its proximity to places we wanted to visit and of course the beach. After a somewhat ropey start with motorway delays, flight delays, racing through the layover and a huge delay due to unforeseen snow in Atlanta, we finally made it! What a fantastic mix of down time (our version of this means hitting the gym, swimming kms in the sea and hiring bikes, by the way) and day trips. Our first little adventure out of the resort and away from Playa del Carmen was to the archaeological site of Chichen Itza where we had a wonderful guide to show us round and regale stories of events such as Pok Ta ‘Pok – the pre-Hispanic ball game which was probably more of a ceremonial ritual than a sport. Before I went there, I linked human sacrifice and head rolling with the Mayan people, more than anything else – but from the guide, we learned that actually, this wasn’t a common event. What we should really be remembering those times for is the astrology, the calendars and the mind blowing calculations which were made without todays technological advances. From here we drove down a dusty track, through the undergrowth to a concealed car park to then head on foot to the lockers and changing rooms before the shaman purified all us tourists through prayer and copal smoke before we entered the cenote. The bedrock of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula is pockmarked with natural sinkholes, which twist downwards into the porous limestone bedrock. These cenotes (a word from the Mayan 'd'zonot', meaning 'sinkhole') vary in size from tiny openings to vast water-filled caves. By the way – they are amazingly cool (in more ways than one)! Stalactites and stalagmites galore, little fish which have never seen daylight, bats living in the rafters and then a tiny hole in the cave’s ceiling sending a shaft of light straight down onto us. There’s more life to these cenotes than you may think – or like to know. Silkworm spin their threads in the pitch black, hair-thin lines hanging down which are only seen with a torch – we definitely didn’t want those all over us! Blind, leggy spiders spotted by the trained eye of our guide freaked some people out, but their existence – along with the other creatures in these caves – is truly incredible. Have you heard of Cozumel? A dream destination for divers – particularly at the likes of Palancar and Columbia coral reefs. Although we are not divers, we did take our snorkels with us on the ferry across for our day trip to this dreamy destination just 45 minutes off the coast of Playa del Carmen. Armed with cycling helmets, sun cream, water and of course our snorkelling gear, we grabbed our hire bikes and headed east across the island, for the quieter (of visitors) yet wild (big waves) side of the island. It was no mean feat really – a 65km, almost flat, circular route into the wind for 70% of it (bizarrely) and in a balmy 28 °C we had the best day of exploring! Wildlife galore – the prettiest blue butterflies flapping along the verge, an abundance Cozumel Spiny Lizards in a full range of sizes sunbathing on the pathway, tiny turtle prints making their way along the untouched sands, the bottom-dwelling yellow stingray trudged beneath us and an array of fish-life took our breath away. Our next full day out was heading further south to the Mayan ruins of Tulum and its spectacular coastline. A much smaller settlement, more overgrown and in disrepair compared to Chichen Itza, but still a remarkable place with an engaging guide who was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable it was contagious. What a setting! Nearly 1000 years old, these ruins were once the central point for the civilisation of over 1500, one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Mayan people. Last but not least, we couldn’t go home without giving ourselves the opportunity to head out of a little boat, jump off said boat and snorkel our way back to shore through waving weeds and coral, multi-coloured fish, flapping (substantially sized) rays and the serene and peaceful sea turtles. Each year hundreds of green sea turtles make Akumal their home. While an endangered species, the local community supports conservation efforts to protect the species and there has been a steady increase in numbers in recent years.it was an absolute privilege and something which was quite overwhelming. I’ve always had quite a soft spot for these creatures and tend to pick up a carving or similar when I travel, but never had I thought I’d end up swimming amongst them while they completely ignored us and continued to feed on the sea floor. So many sites, sounds and snippets of information we had picked up throughout our time in Mexico. Although the weather was mixed to begin with, this didn’t dampen our desires to get out and explore, to see the magical country outside of the resort-lined beaches. Would I go back? Yes – with over 800 cenotes on the Yucatan Peninsula alone, I simply must head back one day to seek some more and go trudging through the jungle!