The Mayan Gypsy
Destinations
During your stay at The Mayan Gypsy, there are many beautiful destinations to visit. MORE INFO COMING SOON)
Flamingo Tours, Celestun Yucatan
WHERE TO SEE THEM? In the Yucatan, flamingos are best observed at Celestún (an hour and a half drive from Mérida) You can easily find tours to Celestún because it´s so easily accessible from Mérida.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE FLAMINGOS? Flamingo birds are best observed between December and April. On my past Yucatan roundtrips we used to include Celestun and when we went in the rainy season there were sometimes very few birds, or none at all. Or sometimes we got lucky and we did get to see a flock. So this doesn't mean you should only go there in dry season. Celestun is beautiful even without flamingos. You can see many other bird species as well, like cormorants, the american stork, pelicans, spoonbills, ibis and, the cute little martín pescador. I've seen the odd boa constrictor and small mammals like coatimundis (tejon) and raccoons. There are also two types of crocodiles.
Did you know the eyes of flamingo birds are actually larger than their brain? MORE FACTS ON FLAMINGOS HERE!
Mayan Ruins - Chicken Itxa
Dzibilchaltun | Chicken Itza | Uxmal
Dzibilchaltun, a modern Mayan name meaning “writing on flat stones,” doesn’t have huge pyramids like Chichen Itza or Uxmal, but it does have its own unique features that make it a worthwhile site to visit. It was once a wealthy port and center of Mayan coastal trade with a peak population of about 200,000. The population declined as Chichen Itza rose to power. The Maya lived here from 300 B.C. to the time of the Spanish invasions. The Spanish continued to build in the city once they arrived and visitors can see the Franciscan chapel that lies in the middle of the Mayan ruins. Restoration continues at Dzibilchaltun with over 35 square kilometers investigated by international archaeologists. 8,000 structures have been identified but only a small portion excavated. Due to the long history of this particular site and the various influences from both Maya and Spanish communities, INAH has added an on-site museum on some of the great architectural features of the buildings and artifacts.
CENOTES - Fresh Water Swimming Holes
The natural wonders of the state of Yucatán are countless and some of the most important and unusual are the "cenotes", or sinkholes. In Yucatán there are over 6000 cenotes, with only 2400 actually studied and registered.Ik-Kil - Located less than 2 miles from Chichén Itzá. Called the "Sacred Blue Cenote," it is a perfectly round well-type cenote with magnificent hanging vines and waterfalls. This is an ideal place for cooling off after visiting the ruins! The open cenote sits about 85 feet from the surface, and a grand stairway leads you down the steps into the water. Access is safe and easy. Xlacah- Located at the Mayan site of Dzibichaltún, just north of Mérida, this is the closest cenote to Mérida. Meaning "old village," it is an open ground level cenote, great for swimming. It is more than 140 feet deep at one end. Another great place to cool off after climbing pyramids! Cenotillo- This village about halfway between Izamal and Tizimín gets its name from the large number of cenotes located within the town and the outskirts - more than 150, according to the locals. Ask around for a guide to take you to some of them.
PIER - Malecon de Progreso, Yucatan
In its role as the hub of Yucatán’s coastal communities, Progreso is something of a paradox. Its laid-back ambience is still appealing most of the year; many North Americans and Europeans who want to escape their chilly winters are attracted to Progreso as a place to live part-time or full-time. They like the fact that there are restaurants, hardware stores, supermarkets, and a good hospital; all essential services are there. And of course they are only a half hour drive from Mérida and all its nearby attractions. Others, however, don’t want to live in the “hustle-bustle” of this port city of 54,000 inhabitants... they prefer the smaller towns of Chelem or Telchac Puerto, or the spacious beaches of San Benito or San Bruno, and use Progreso as a place to shop or dine. Either way, Progreso has long been a crucial link to the world. Its foundation came about due to necessity. During the height of the henequén export era, the port town of Sisal (west of Progreso) was the main cargo departure point. But the shipping industry needed a place which was closer to the capital of Mérida. In 1856, federal permission was granted to erect the new town. In 1871 it was officially founded, and in 1875 given the category of “city”.
Visit Merida, Mexico
Located 30-40 minutes from Progreso
Mérida, the vibrant capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán, has a rich Mayan and colonial heritage. The city’s focal point is Plaza de la Independencia, bordered by the fortresslike Mérida Cathedral and white limestone Iglesia de la Tercera Orden, colonial-era churches built using relics from ancient Mayan temples. The Casa de Montejo, a 16th-century mansion, is a landmark of colonial plateresque architecture.