Uxmal Ruins

South of Merida is where you will find the Uxmal Ruins (pronounced oosh mahl). This is an impressive Maya archaeological site with some fascinating structures that display ornamentation that adds to the appeal.

 
Uxmal was an important city that extended to nearby towns of Labna, Xlapak, Kabah, and Sayil. Xumal means “Thrice Built” in Mayan and is reported to have been built five times. First settled in about 600 AD and shows influence from the Mexican highlands in the architecture as seen in the serpent imagery, phallic symbols and columns. 

The fact that water was scarce in this region led to the supreme importance of Chac, the rain god also known as the sky serpent as seen in its image abundant throughout the site. The use of stucco masks protrude from facades and cornices. It seems that the site was abandoned around 900 AD, not sure why. Drought conditions may be the main reason. 

 
I have seen many ruins sites during my travels this last two and a half years. But this one is uniquely different than any of them; with its smooth sides, rounded corners and lack of stairs leading to the top portions of the main pyramid. 

I am glad that I took the time to stop by and take a look.

Chichen Itza Ruins: One of the “Seven Wonders of the World”

This sight is one of the “Seven Wonders of the World” that I can now cross off my bucket list. It cost M$204 and parking was M$22. It took me about three hours to see it all and take the photos I wanted. I went early, first in. I almost had the place to myself, but within two hours it was full of tourist and local vendors selling their crafts: this changed the feel of the place so more photos needed to be taken. 




Only about 30 building have been fully restored and to keep them looking good there is no climbing on any of them. So the walk around is an easy one that allows for wheel chairs and strollers. Many of the sights I have visited are not as accommodating. 

The Mayan people have displayed a talent for building temples and





ceremonial centers, developed an astronomical calendar, predicted solar and lunar eclipses, mathematical concept of zero, and produced the refined hieroglyphic writing system. There are many other accomplishments as artists, historians and road builders. The earliest Mayan settlements date back to around 1800BC. They were and still are an amazing people…

Cenote Ik-Kil and Cenote Dzitnup (Xkeken) Yucatan, Mexico

Cenote Ik-Kil also known as Cenote Sagrado Azul (Blue Sacred Cenote) is a crystal clear, round, open cenote that is strategically located in the heart of the “Chichen Itza” archaeological zone (only 3km away). This cenote is about 150 feet deep and down 85 feet from the surface so you do need to be able to handle some stairs but the incline is not a steep one. It
does have several ways you can enter the water; jumping in, going down the side ladder, and the brave ones diving in from a high point. This cenote is mostly for swimmers I did not see any reason to use my face-mask and snorkel and not really for divers like the Dos Ojos. There are long roots hanging down from the surface to the water that helps give you that underworld felling. There is a small waterfall within this cenote and that is a first for me in my cenote exploring. It cost M$70 to enter with free parking.
 

The Mayan Connection: Cenote comes from the Mayan word “dzonot” or

“ts’onot” which means sacred well. Mayans believed the cenotes contained curative elements and considered many of them to be sacred. They also believed cenotes to be portals to the underworld and a way to communicate with the gods. The Sacred Cenote (Cenote Sagrado) at Chichen Itza was used to perform human sacrifices!




Cenote Dzitnup (Xkeken) is a semi open cenote just outside of Valladolid. This is a smaller cenote and is mostly for swimming no real need for snorkeling and definitely not for diving; the best for diving is still Dos Ojos. This cenote has a small hole at the surface and man-made stone stairs into a cave like setting. The need for artificial lighting does add an eerie look to the stalactites hanging down from the roof. But the cold clear blue water is still very refreshing and well worth the side trip for a visit.

Cenote Dos Ojos

Cenote Dos Ojos or “two eyes” is located a little over 9 miles north of Tulum on highway 307. This cenote was named Dos Ojos because it is actually two circular cenotes. This is a world famous cenote and there is a large cave system below where divers can explore almost 500 meters of the underwater world in the immediate area. IMAX filmed part of their film “Journey into Amazing Caves” here. 

There are areas for swimmers, snorkelers as well as scuba divers, be sure to bring or rent a strong underwater flashlight or you might be able to piggyback a long with a scuba or snorkeling group because it can get dark, spooky and a lot of fun. You will get to see some impressive formations you don’t get to see otherwise. 


The water crystal clear and was delightfully cold for me, I spent four hours snorkeling and was comfortable the entire time but others thought it was too cold. For those people you can rent a wetsuit. I recommend going to the first cenote first and then on to the second, the order is important once you go, you will see why that is true. 

 
 

This cenote was the most expensive one at M$150 so far, I recommend going to the Gran Cenote first at M$120 then to the Dos Ojos Cenote you will be even more impressed.

Bacalar on Laguna Bacalar (Bacalar Lagoon)

This town is an old Spanish settlement here before Chetumal and now is a little local resort; with an old fort in the heart of town called “Foerte de San Felipe Bacalar”. 

 

Bacalar as it turns out is quite a nice little town located just north of the Belize border on Hwy 307 between Chetumal and Cozumel, Mexico. It has everything you need; ATM, hospital, bars, restaurants, street vendors, souvenir shops, one campground that is right on the lake, hostels, hotels all on a great seven color lagoon. The lagoon is big enough for motorboats, water-skiers, jet-skies, sightseeing watercrafts, sailboats and much more.

 

This fresh water lagoon is known as “Las Lagunas de Siete Colores” (The Lagoon of 7 Colors) and is landlocked. It is very shallow with a light reflecting bottom that changes colors depending upon time of day and lighting conditions. It is an excellent place to swim and camp. 

The water is beautiful, clear and with colors changing from white to the deepest blue. At this location there are special live formations called Stromatoites that date back some 3,500,000 years. At night the moonlight prances on the water like thousands of fireflies were dancing on it. An added bonus is right now there are not many mosquitoes or other biting insects to spoil the night’s enjoyment. 

 

Cenote Azul (Blue Sinkhole) is separated from Laguna Bacalar only by a narrow strip of land but entirely different and reported to be more than 175 feet (57 meters) deep. For M$10 you can access this great swimming hole through the restaurant. Spending a hot sunny day in a cool deep blue sinkhole is great way to spend time and have a bite to eat.

  

Sinkholes here are caves of soft limestone that collapsed and exposed the freshwater rivers within. There are more that 6000 of them and are unique to the Yucatan peninsula; the freshwater within is considered to be sacred waters. The Mayans thought that the underground rivers and streams that are found in these cenotes are gateways to Xibalba or the underworld. Another theory is that some 65 million years ago the Chicxulub meteor impacted the area and a huge proliferation beginning at a radius of more than 100km (62 miles), but looking at a map the cenotes are not in that area. This meteor is the one that is thought to be the start of the ice age and causing the extinction of the dinosaurs. 

My first plan was to stay for just a few days then head on up to Cozumel where I had planned to sell my two scuba tanks and maybe a wetsuit to one of the dive shops. That would have given me some extra cash then I could afford to snorkel with the whale sharks ($150US) and do a few other things, but that has fallen flat. Now I am planning where to go next. 

The Balneario Cocalitos Campground is $7.50US per night for me; it is lovely and right on the lake. I need to stay a bit longer to balance out my month and money, and then I will be on the road again.

Belize gas prices were $6US per gallon and I got bad gas millage too. Mexico gas is run by the government so it will be the same price throughout the country at $3.80 per gallon, I can sure use a price break.

I am very much looking forward to getting back home…the grass being greener as they say.