Yucatan Penninsula Trip 2006

Merida is on the NW side of the Yucatan pennisula de Mexico. I'm not sure what there is to do there <claudia says a bunch of cool stuff> and i know there will be beach.

Flight Info

Using the 'prego search' (http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch/prego - need to make a login to try it) I found a $350 (incl all taxes) plane flight direct from Houston to Merida leaving Fri before 4th of jly and coming back Wed morning after 4th of july.

Houston, TX to Merida, Mexico: Continental Airlines Flight CO 1842

	Departs Houston, TX (IAH)	Fri, June 30	7:18p	 2 hrs 7 min
	Arrives Merida, Mexico (MID)		9:25p	

Merida, Mexico to Houston, TX: Continental Airlines Flight CO 1843

	Departs Merida, Mexico (MID)	Wed, July 5	7:20a	 2 hrs 5 min
	Arrives Houston, TX (IAH)		9:25a	

Info on what to see

If you likes Egypt, this is the latino-american Egypt.....

There were three big cultures in Latinoamerica before the Europeans arrived: the Mayans, the Aztecas and the Incas. The Incas were in South America, and the Mayas and Aztecas were in the Mexico area. The Mayas were mostly located in the Yucatan peninsula, and the Aztecas settled their main cities around what is now Mexico City.

The Maya culture vanished before the Europeans arrived... nobody knows exactly why. But they had an advanced culture: they had their own writing method (there are still some "codices" in museums around the world), they had a very advanced calendar (better than ours), and they built many cities.... with pyramids. One of their cities (can't remember which one right now) is said to be built in scale to the solar system (so they have a pyramid per body in the sky: sun, moon, earth, other planets, etc).... don't know if this is true, though... we'll have to see.

You can take a first look at places at this link: http://mayaruins.com/yucmap.html

Usually people travel to Cancun and from there they go to Tulum (Tulum does not appear in the link above). Others arrive to Merida, rent a car and move around.

I'll see if i can find more cool links about the Maya culture.

Turns out my HS friend Julie lived in Merida for 3 weeks! Here's what she had to say:

I cannot believe you are going to Merida.  That is where Ray and I lived all last summer.  Kind of crazy.  It is one of my very favorite places in the world!   I would recommend Chichen Itza and Uxmal as far as ruins go.  Also, on the way to Uxmal  there are some caves you should see (Lab Na-I think).  I have a bunch of other things to recommend as well, but the names are at home. Just be aware that it is VERY hot.  The city itself also has a lot of great things to see and good places to eat.  I'll get back to you on that.  Wow!  How fun!

  The best clubs for the night life are Mambo Cafe (a kind of cheesy place with great salsa music).  Thursday night it's all you can drink for around 10,000 pesos ($10 dollars about).  It's in Plaza de Las Americas.  Also, If you are into a very classy place Ka is also pretty fun.  The only thing is that you either need reservations or you need to get there early (around 10:30pm) to get a table.  You buy the bottle of liquor and then they bring you the mixers you want.  Ka has mostly American music, techno and what not.   

If you want to go to the beach, you can take a city bus to Progreso (about 30min).  The stop is in the city center.  I'll look up the address when I get home. 

Scuba Diving

There are apparently a number of interesting cave diving locations near Merida. I think I'd rather go diving in the ocean in Cozumel or Cancun instead though. If there is any way I can do this, I (Hexar) will.

Here are some cool links I have found so far:

COOL ARCHEOLOGICAL PLACES

1) CHICHEN ITZA: one of the main Maya cities http://www.mysteriousplaces.com/mayan/TourEntrance.html http://www.wohlmut.com/Maya/chichen.htm http://www.isourcecom.com/maya/cities/chichenitza/shadowof.htm http://www.locogringo.com/past_spotlights/apr2002.html We are going to miss the equinox, though: http://www.isourcecom.com/maya/cities/chichenitza/shadowof.htm

2) CENOTE: Sacrificial Well at Chichen Itza http://www.mysteriousplaces.com/mayan/Cenote.html

3) TULUM http://www.sacredsites.com/americas/mexico/tulum.html http://www.locogringo.com/past_spotlights/aug2002.html http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g150813-c1814/Tulum:Mexico.html

COOL BEACH DESTINATIONS http://www.travelyucatan.com/isla_holbox_mexico.php

GENERAL ARCHEOLOGY INFO http://mayaruins.com/yucmap.html http://www.digitalmeesh.com/maya/Astronomy.htm

GENERAL INFO - Hostels, places to visit, info about renting cars, driving distances http://www.hostelz.com/hostels/Mexico/Merida http://www.travelyucatan.com/trans-10.htm http://www.travelyucatan.com/