Published on Saturday, April 14, 2012 by Linda Patterson Planning a vacation to the Yucatn can be a slightly overwhelming task, simply because there is so much available to see and do in this part of the world. Its environments run the gamut between giant five-star resorts and pristine, untouched wilderness, with nearly unlimited opportunities for every type of activity from sunbathing to eco-trekking. This guide will hig...

Published on Tuesday, April 10, 2012 by Linda Patterson The concept of a subterranean underworld is quite common in world religions. From the Hades of ancient Greece to the Yomi of Japanese Shinto beliefs " even Christianity has its Hell " the bowels of the earth are frequently depicted as the realm, be it refuge or prison, of departed souls. It's hardly surprising, then, to learn that the ancient Maya had similar concep...

Published on Monday, April 9, 2012 by Linda Patterson The eastern coast of Mexico's Yucatan peninsula holds a treasure trove of environmental beauty and natural diversity, which just happens to lie next to some of the world's most astonishing world-class resorts. The state of Quintana Roo is home to the fabulous Riviera Maya, Mexico's premiere vacation destination, as well as untold acres of pristine jungle and dozens ...

Published on Thursday, April 5, 2012 by Linda Patterson Chichn Itz is deservedly one of the most famous Mayan cities. From the magnificent pyramid of El Castillo to the huge Great Ballcourt, its staggering size and amazing architecture are world-renowned and nearly unparalleled in the long history of the Mayan civilization. If you plan a visit to this remarkable site, you'll surely have a long list of buildings, sculptur...

Published on Wednesday, April 4, 2012 by Linda Patterson Ask yourself: what could be more relaxing than lying on a tropical beach, watching the sun set? Especially in the equatorial latitudes, sunsets are certainly a sight to behold " the glowing orange disc descending on the horizon, seeming to melt into the glittering waves as they dance, alight with fiery colors. If you close your eyes, you can almost hear the tranquil...

Published on Saturday, March 31, 2012 by Linda Patterson Chichn Itz was one of the Mayan civilization's most important cities. From the time of its establishment, around 600 AD, up through the apex of Mayan rule over the Yucatn peninsula, the city stood as a shining example of their culture's ingenuity, diversity, and power. It was, therefore, a natural religious center for the Mayan empire as well, and at least during pa...

Published on Thursday, March 29, 2012 by Linda Patterson Renowned almost without compare among Caribbean tourist destinations is Mexico's famous Riviera Maya. Lying on the eastern seaboard of the lush Yucatn peninsula, the Riviera Maya is almost an oxymoron, being a cluster of huge resorts and eco-parks nestled within the arms of the wild, untouched rainforest that surrounds it. This makes the Riviera Maya an unprecedente...

Published on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 by Linda Patterson Among the three writing of the old world which were independently created was the Ancient Mayan hieroglyphic. The other two were the Chinese hieroglyphic and the Sumerian cuneiform in Mesopotamia. As stated by modern day scholars, the other old world's languages and also writing forms were influenced, in any other case based, on these 3 most ancient scripts. Among t...

Published on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 by Linda Patterson Chichn Itz is one of the largest and most magnificent Mayan sites in the Yucatn; visitors to its ruins have no shortage of incredible sights to behold. One of the most famous of these, perhaps second only to the great pyramid El Castillo, is the enormous ballcourt at the northwest edge of the city. In the time of the Maya, a fiercely competitive game was played betw...

Published on Monday, March 26, 2012 by Linda Patterson Sian Ka'an's Biosphere is both a well recognized non-government and non-profit organization. It's actually maintained by teams of wildlife activists and conservationists in the Tulum municipality. A Mexican state which is the Sian Ka'an Reserve is located in Quintana Roo is known to have a reputation that travels across the world. In fact, visitors from across the ...