Date: 05/01/2013 e 08/01/2013

Path: Leaving the north of Tulum 109, for 10 minutes, we come to the Great cenotes. For 3 Cenotes, we left Merida toward Valladolid, na detour YUC 18 até Cuzamá.

The Blue Mystic cenotes

When we think the blue Caribbean on the beautiful beaches of the Yucatan Peninsula already impressed, find another singular beauty, Typical of the region: os cenotes. Poços de água azul cristalina submergem em meio à natureza cercada de mistérios e encantam a todos com suas cores vivas à luz do sol.

Important elements of Mexican culture, the cenotes have represented the main source of fresh water for the Mayans and today are exploited as tourist activity. Surrounded by stories about his training, This natural phenomenon is present in more than 7.000 pontos espalhados pela Península do Yucatán.

Top view of a cenote, in Cuzama

A cenote can be fully opened, as a lake, or nearly completely closed, like a cave. The water found inside can be sweet, salt, ou ambas. Regardless of its structural characteristics, they all seem to share a mystical beauty to the sunshine, compondo uma paisagem daquelas de tirar o fôlego.

The green and blue of Great cenotes

Legends tell that the regional cenotes emerged from the meteor, for thousands of years. However, the most prominent theories, treat us like depressions consist of porous limestone. Nevertheless, carry the name of the sacred title, originating in the Mayan language word "ts'onot”. Some believe in its medicinal power, mysticism indígena do curative source, ou mesmo que eles sejam portais para comunicação com os deuses.

Great spot to snorkel in Gran Cenote

Throughout Mexico, tourists can find cenotes, especially in cities with archaeological sites. Although publicly available, normally, are in private places, being required to pay an entrance fee, around U.S. $ 10. We cenotes, is usually possible to do activities like snorkeling or diving. Os mais preguiçosos podem simplesmente curtir o visual e se banhar nas águas cristalinas.

Andre prepares for diving

We had the opportunity to visit some of them during our "vacation" in the Yucatan. The first thing you KNOW it was the Great cenotes, located in the vicinity of Tulum. Amid the green forest, wells leads to the interior of the water filled caverns. Certified divers, As our friend Andrew, may descend into groundwater and wander between the outputs of the Gran Cenote. Há ótimos pontos para simplesmente dar um mergulho sem compromisso e curtir a natureza.

Galera happy amid nature

The cave divers and

We also pass by 3 Cenotes of Cuzamá, city ​​located about 45 minutes from Merida. In the same ride, visit to the cenotes Chelentun ("Leaving stones"), Chansinic’che ("Tree with ants") and Bolonchoojol ("Nine drops of water"). Upon arriving in the village, hired a guide to take us through woods. Shipping was curious: donkeys pulling a cart that rode on rails. The same track is used to go back and, so if we found another group in the opposite direction, alguém tem que ceder e puxar a carroça para fora dos trilhos.

The donkey took us all to the cenote

Someone has to give

First class

The tour lasted almost the whole afternoon and it was quite interesting. The cart leads to the entrance of cenotes, where there is wood stairs giving access to the caves. Holes in the surface allow entry of sunlight, giving color to the spectacle. A blue illuminated inexplicable surge of water. Não é à toa que há todo um misticismo em torno desses fenômenos.

Nanda down the wooden ladder to the natural well

Beauty mysterious cenote in Cuzama

Light beam and the blue water mystic

Will not failed to meet the other thousands of cenotes throughout the region. Even as some of the famous Ik-Kil, nas ruins of Chichen Itza (arrived late!), or Dos Ojos, Also near Tulum (which passed straight!), will have to stay for the next visit, que não poderíamos deixar de fazer depois de conhecer esta impressionante beleza natural.

Nature in the Grand cenotes

For more photos of cenotes, click here!

The post The Blue Mystic cenotes appeared first on 4x1.

Date: 22/12/2012 à 11/01/2012

Path: We crossed the Riviera Maya up and down, and also stretch from Cancun to Merida region. We left to return to Bakalar Bakalar over 20 dias depois.

I do Yucatan Peninsula: The Holiday Expedition

After crossing almost the entire territory of Mexico, reached its most glorious: do Yucatan Peninsula. A place where beauty paradisiacal beaches and cenotes mix to impressive archaeological ruins of Mayan civilization, as well as the glamor of luxury hotels and endless parties. Foi no Yucatán, that somehow, took a vacation Expedition. Curtimos the quiet place, with friends, won during cerca de dias. There was no shortage of stories to tell.

Relaxando Ao Por-do-Sol Isla Mujeres

Since entering Mexico not, counted the days to our arrival in Yucatan Peninsula, the extreme southeastern. Although generally not very close to being very touristy regions, we wanted to check for ourselves this region so beautiful, Highly fashionable and known by Brazilians. Moreover, that was where we would find friends who decided to pay us a visit at the end of the year. Estava tudo programado há meses e a ansiedade era grande.

Too bad that did not last long, Cass saudades!

The Yucatan Peninsula separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico and compreende states of Yucatán, Campeche and Quintana Roo, and the last one is one of the jewels of the Mexican tourism. In it is located no less than the very famous Cancun, and other beautiful beaches of the Riviera Maya, extending over a range of about 130 km desde a cidade de Puerto Morelos até a paradisíaca Tulum.

The blue of the Caribbean beaches of the Riviera Maya

Cancun was the place chosen to be our headquarters in the region. It was the easiest place that people could fly to wherever they were to visit us. Depois da saga ate Bakalar (empty link), stretch right to the city, in order to establish our base and begin to enjoy our holidays with friends. We were immensely happy to have company for Christmas, quando a saudade da família e dos amigos bate mais forte.

We arrived in Cancun on exactly 22 December and would leave only the day away 11 January. As our HQ, was there and we went out there we returned on shorter trips to other parts of the peninsula. We found a camping away as much as the hype, but it had a price infinitely cheaper options that best located hostels, and without comparing it with the hotels glamorous Zona Hoteleira. O Camping was El Meco Loko, near the beach Meco stations and ferry departing for Isla Mujeres. Some days there and we felt at home already, so much so that often the young who charged us at the entrance, now let us to pay days after returning. E as idas e vindas foram várias.

Morning on camping El Meco Loko

The road to the campground to the airport and still know by heart, so many were the times that we. In 20 days, some went to the airport 6 times, two for each visit would. Our first visit was awaited and super to the Cassia, longtime friend from college and a great supporter of our project. It was with that she spent the night of Christmas, nothing on a traditional dinner, watered the many memories and laughs; and other memorable days, that were not enough to kill the longing. After, we were pleased to receive two friends who met along the journey: to Giulli, one of our dear host in Salt Lake City and Julia, German we met during our stay in the Amazon jungle. Estas foram nossas companheiras para a festa de Ano Novo e outros dos dias das nossas férias.

The models that accompanied us in Cancun

Directly from Germany

Our routine always changes when we have company. Seems that give us extra energy, a willingness to share all the joy that the trip has provided us. Also strange is that taste of home, people we know and we like. Nesse sentido, is that these days in the Yucatan Peninsula vacation seemed like the Expedition. All in good company!

New Year in CocoBongo

The Yucatan Peninsula has the ability to attract an interesting variety of tourists. Since most revelers, hungry ballad and days at the beach tanning, even the most interested in the remaining remnants of the Mayan culture or colonial. Também há aqueles que apenas querem curtir a riqueza natural espalhada em todos os cantos.

Our vacation ended up being a mixture of moments. Now we were just enjoying the beautiful nature of the crystal blue water beaches or even the cenotes; either caíamos in the gandaia and render parties, that are a trademark of the region. Ainda tivemos tempo para conhecer mais ruínas da civilização maia e também o clima aconchegante de Mérida.

Praia em Isla Mujeres

Charming little square in Merida

It was difficult to choose a script, since the options on the Yucatan Peninsula are numerous. We had no option but to leave some things to the next opportunity. In the end, points of interest that were part of our visitation list: Cancun, Isla Mujeres, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Akumal, Merida, Chichen Itza, Gran Cenote, 3 Cenotes, Bakalar.

Given this diversity, condensamos the five reasons why we strongly recommend a trip to the Yucatan Peninsula:

1) The Beaches: Not only in Cancun Caribbean blue water that makes eyes shine. Na chamada Riviera Maya, There is a sequence of amazing beaches, in a range 130 km along the coast. Cities can even be a bit too elegant and full of gringos, with its chic hotels and charming bars, but this does not detract from the natural beauty of its beaches. Among elas, that was more like that of Tulum, onde ainda se pode encontrar um lugar tranquilo e preservado para relaxar diante do cenário paradisíaco.

Visual paradise in Tulum

2) Os Cenotes: Formations very characteristics of the Yucatan Peninsula, the cenotes are deep wells resulting from the collapse of limestone, permitting the submersion of groundwater. Not found, are pools of crystalline water, generally surrounded by caves, and emanating a blue unexplainable in words to meet with the sun. During holidays, passed the Gran Cenote, near Tulum and also by 3 cenotes, located in the region of Merida. There are many others scattered across the peninsula, igualmente ou até mais impressionantes.

The mesmerizing blue of the Grand cenotes

3) The Mayan Ruins: As in much of Mexico, the remnants of ancient civilizations are scattered throughout the Yucatan Peninsula. The region was home to the Mayan and Olmec, and some of its ancient cities still have survived. Chichen Itza is one of the best known and best preserved, encompassing an impressive complex of pyramids and other buildings. Em Tulum, as ruínas à beira-mar proporcionam uma vista esplendorosa.

Pyramid Kukulcán, em Chichén Itzá

4) A Yucatecan Culture: with a rich mix of Mayan heritage with Spanish customs, the state of Yucatán preserve their traditions very well. The city of Merida, for example, is a great place to enjoy the exotic cuisine yucateca, but also appreciate their customs, architecture and music.

Presentation of dances, Merida

5) The Nightlife: For anyone who is looking for those parties that pass the limits of dawn, options abound in Yucatán. Those in Cancun already have that mindset of fun in head and animates it most parties. It was there that enjoyed one of the most diverse and lively ballads of travel: o CocoBongo. Playa del Carmen is also a center for bars and clubs more elegant and full of glamor. In Isla Mujeres can also find an interesting shake. Ultimately, for baladeiros of carteirinha, a região é um paraíso.

CocoBongo, the ballad in Cancun

Ultimately, as you can imagine, spent those twenty-something days “holidays” a good. More details of our comings and goings, tales and encounters in the Yucatan Peninsula during our “holidays” seen in upcoming posts! Wait!

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