Cultural Gems in Mexico with Elegant Resorts
Famous the world over for its exquisite beaches, hearty cuisine, tequila, silver mining, Lucha Libre (Mexican wrestling) and love of football, Mexico also has a rich cultural history, with a past still in evidence throughout this, predominantly, Spanish-speaking country. Its ancient Aztec history and subsequent Spanish colonial past, along with the American-Mexico war that saw the country lose territory that today comprises the states of California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada, plus a ten-year-long revolution (1910-1920) are well documented and have resulted in a fascinating area of the world for the international traveller to explore.
Many of our featured luxury resorts can be found on Mexico’s east coast, in an area known as the Yucatan peninsula, which has the distinction of being home to one of the largest indigenous populations in Mexico. It is also home to a selection of its most stunning, well-preserved ancient landmarks. Just seventeen of almost 3,000 Mayan sites have been restored and may be visited by tourists. Chichen Itza is one such site and is a well-deserved component of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’. Incredibly popular with tourists, the remains of this, once powerful, Mayan city can be found amongst lush jungle approximately 112 miles inland and are a great option for a day trip if you can tear yourself away from the perfect beach of your resort. Alternatively, the abandoned walled city, Tulum, is positioned atop a fabulous stretch of the coast and boasts a spectacular tower at its heart, presiding dramatically on the clifftop above a gorgeous beach, breathtaking turquoise water and rugged, palm tree-clad rocks – it’s probably one of the most photographed sites in Mexico. Enjoy a guided tour, and then spend the rest of the day snorkelling at the nearby Gran Cenote, or visit an indigenous village in the nearby jungle to see how modern-day Mayan people live and work, learning about their traditional culture with a professional guide.
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