Once the centre of the Mayan civilization.
The vast Yucatán peninsula borders both Belize and Guatemala and offers a diverse range of flora, fauna, ancient sites and colonial cities along with some fantastic beaches.
The highlight is the Mayan ruin of Chichen Itzá, nominated as one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’, although the more intimate Uxmal nearby should not be missed.
If ruins and Mayan sites are your thing there are plenty more ruins that are further off the beaten track; Coba, Edzna, Dzilbilchaltun and Izmal to name just a few.
We recommend a stay in the delightful colonial city of Mérida with narrow cobbled streets, colonial architecture and sunny plazas. One of the best ways to get to meet the locals is wandering through the street vendors stalls at the weekend.
It’s worth spending a few days in the UNESCO city of Campeche located on the Gulf of Mexico, this is a charming town with a lazy Caribbean atmosphere.
If you want to spend some time in the countryside, try one of the beautiful haciendas where you can hike and horse ride in the local area.
A charming and historical area
When to go: All year round