YucatanExpeditions

Suggested Itinerary for Yucatán expeditions.

Two nights -- Mérida, the colonial (and current) capitol of the Yucatán. Mérida, "The White City," is an extraordinarily rich cultural, culinary and artisanal environment. Participants will lodge at Casa San Juan, a national historic monument operated by its very helpful owner, Pablo da Costa. Larger groups may lodge at Hotel Santa Lucia, with swimming pool, in-house cafeteria, and in-room television/telephone. Optional side trips from Mérida include Hacienda San Antonio, the small cities of Izamál and Motúl, two colonial gems "lost in time" where local transport relies on horse-drawn carriages known as "Victorias." Mérida is home to the Western Hemisphere's oldest Cathedral, built in 1561. La Casa de Montejo - Mérida's first colonial government building is an architectural masterpiece. Six evenings each week, Mérida sponsors outdoor music, dance or theater presentations. On Sunday, Mérida's city center is closed to vehicular traffic.

Two nights -- Valladolid. In historic Valladolid, we will lodge at Hotel San Clemente with a fine courtyard swimming pool that's open until 10:00 P.M. We will eat at Mesón del Marquez where President Jimmy Carter lodged during his 1989 visit. Our stay will include exploration of a major archeologial site such as Chichén Itzá, the largest of the Yucatán's Mayan ruins. (Recently, "Science News" published a paper in which sound engineer David Lubman suggests that the remarkable acoustics of Chichén Itzá may represent the world's first "sound recording," specifically the song of the Quetzal, a bird of mythic significance to the Maya.) Alternatively, we may visit Ek Balam, a Mayan ruin currently under excavation. Ek Balam's central pyramid is higher than Chichen Itza's and provides a striking view of the pyramid at Cobá - glimpsed atop the jungle canopy - 30 miles away. Typically, visitors leave Ek Balam mystified by the sudden (and relatively recent) collapse of Mayan civilization. Watch divers plunge 26 meters into the refreshing green water of Cenote Zaci (where you may also swim.) Optional afternoon visits include the Balankanché Caves (where numerous Mayan artifacts were discovered in inexplicably eerie arrangements), and Cenote Dzitnup, where you'll swim in water so beautiful, the memory will last a lifetime. I'm happy to report that Valladolid has a delightful new museum, which - although small - has assembled exquisitely informative displays concerning pre-Colombian and post-Colombian Yucatecan life, including the fascinating Caste War which began in Valladolid in 1848, and which didn't formally conclude until 1976.

Two nights -- Isla Mujeres. Participants will lodge at Hotel Carmelina or Hotel Frances Arlene three blocks from
Playa Norte's sugar sand and turquoise water. Enjoy a motor launch side-trip to Isla Contoy, a national Nature Preserve graced with an abundance of tropical birds and "swimmer-friendly" 5 foot manta rays. On Isla Contoy you will feast sumptuously on the fish-of-the-day caught en route to Isla Contoy. (On Spanish Pronto's July 10 - 17 trip, we ate char-broiled barracuda and lobster with side dishes of guacamole, avocado and fruit. En route to
Isla Contoy, you will snorkel a "high seas" coral reef that's home to hundreds of species of brilliantly colored tropical fish. The exquisitely beautiful Parrot Fish is an inhabitant of these waters. (We strongly recommend that you bring Kodak's 27 shot underwater disposable camera.) For an additional $150.00, we will tour Isla Mujeres another day, encircling the island by motor launch, snorkeling at Isla Mujeres' offshore National Snorkeling Park and enjoying a second seaside fish feast.

One night -- Final night in Mérida. Feast on Pollo Pibil --- the Mayan "Holiday Dish" --- at Pórtico del Peregrino's garden restaurant.

Final day -- Return home.

For groups of eight or more, all-inclusive seven-day expeditions costs $850.00 plus airfare. Ten-day expeditions available for $1000.00.

For more information, please contact alanarchibald@mindspring.com

A hyperlinked version of this page is available at HOME

á é í ó ú ñ



	HOME Suggested Itinerary for Yucatán expeditions. Two nights -- Mérida, the colonial (and current) capitol of the Yucatán. Mérida, "The White City," is an extraordinarily rich cultural, culinary and artisanal environment. Participants will lodge at Casa San Juan, a national historic monument operated by its very helpful owner, Pablo da Costa. Larger groups may lodge at Hotel Santa Lucia, with swimming pool, in-house cafeteria, and in-room television/telephone. Optional side trips from Mérida include Hacienda San Antonio, the small cities of Izamál and Motúl, two colonial gems "lost in time" where local transport relies on horse-drawn carriages known as "Victorias." Mérida is home to the Western Hemisphere's oldest Cathedral, built in 1561. La Casa de Montejo - Mérida's first colonial government building is an architectural masterpiece. Six evenings each week, Mérida sponsors outdoor music, dance or theater presentations. On Sunday, Mérida's city center is closed to vehicular traffic. Two nights -- Valladolid. In historic Valladolid, we will lodge at Hotel San Clemente with a fine courtyard swimming pool that's open until 10:00 P.M. We will eat at Mesón del Marquez where President Jimmy Carter lodged during his 1989 visit. Our stay will include exploration of a major archeologial site such as Chichén Itzá, the largest of the Yucatán's Mayan ruins. (Recently, "Science News" published a paper in which sound engineer David Lubman suggests that the remarkable acoustics of Chichén Itzá may represent the world's first "sound recording," specifically the song of the Quetzal, a bird of mythic significance to the Maya.) Alternatively, we may visit Ek Balam, a Mayan ruin currently under excavation. Ek Balam's central pyramid is higher than Chichen Itza's and provides a striking view of the pyramid at Cobá - glimpsed atop the jungle canopy - 30 miles away. Typically, visitors leave Ek Balam mystified by the sudden (and relatively recent) collapse of Mayan civilization. Watch divers plunge 26 meters into the refreshing green water of Cenote Zaci (where you may also swim.) Optional afternoon visits include the Balankanché Caves (where numerous Mayan artifacts were discovered in inexplicably eerie arrangements), and Cenote Dzitnup, where you'll swim in water so beautiful, the memory will last a lifetime. I'm happy to report that Valladolid has a delightful new museum, which - although small - has assembled exquisitely informative displays concerning pre-Colombian and post-Colombian Yucatecan life, including the fascinating Caste War which began in Valladolid in 1848, and which didn't formally conclude until 1976. Two nights -- Isla Mujeres. Participants will lodge at Hotel Carmelina or Hotel Frances Arlene three blocks from Playa Norte's sugar sand and turquoise water. Enjoy a motor launch side-trip to Isla Contoy, a national Nature Preserve graced with an abundance of tropical birds and "swimmer-friendly" 5 foot manta rays. On Isla Contoy you will feast sumptuously on the fish-of-the-day caught en route to Isla Contoy. (On Spanish Pronto's July 10 - 17 trip, we ate char-broiled barracuda and lobster with side dishes of guacamole, avocado and fruit. En route to Isla Contoy, you will snorkel a "high seas" coral reef that's home to hundreds of species of brilliantly colored tropical fish. The exquisitely beautiful Parrot Fish is an inhabitant of these waters. (We strongly recommend that you bring Kodak's 27 shot underwater disposable camera.) For an additional $150.00, we will tour Isla Mujeres another day, encircling the island by motor launch, snorkeling at Isla Mujeres' offshore National Snorkeling Park and enjoying a second seaside fish feast. One night -- Final night in Mérida. Feast on Pollo Pibil --- the Mayan "Holiday Dish" --- at Pórtico del Peregrino's garden restaurant. Final day -- Return home. For groups of eight or more, all-inclusive seven-day expeditions costs $850.00 plus airfare. Ten-day expeditions available for $1000.00. For more information, please contact alanarchibald@mindspring.com A hyperlinked version of this page is available at HOME á é í ó ú ñ