Ichkabal, the new excuse to travel to Mexico and visit the Riviera Maya

Starting this month, tourists who choose the Mayan Riviera As a vacation destination you will have one more option to explore and soak up the ancestral culture that populated the Mexican lands thousands of years ago. It is about Ichkabalan archaeological area known as Mesoamerican Egypt, which is believed to have been one of the first political centers of the Mayan culture, with structures even larger and older than those at Chichen Itzá.

Thanks to the combination of paradisiacal beaches, all-inclusive resorts and historical sites to discover, Mexico It is the favorite destination of Argentines who travel to the Caribbean. Now that the summer season is practically around the corner, with the opening of Ichkabal – scheduled for Saturday the 14th – there is a new reason to fly to the Latin American country.

The archaeological zone is 58 kilometers southwest of the Magic Town of Bacalar, in the Yucatan Peninsula. Ichkabal, whose name means “between lowlands” in Mayan, remained hidden under the dense vegetation of the jungle until it was discovered in 1995.

The new lost city will be a worthy “competitor” of Chichen Itzathe best-known Mexican complex of Mayan ruins worldwide, declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. Its center is the temple of Kukulcán, one of its largest pyramids, famous for the play of light and shadow that occurs on each equinox on the steps of the pyramidal basement known as The Castle. It emulates the feathered serpent body of the god that gives the pyramid its name.

Another favorite excursion for travelers is swimming in the great Cenote. From the Mayan ‘ts’ono’ot’, which means ‘hole with water’, a cenote is precisely a very deep well that is fed by the filtration of rain and the currents of the rivers that originate in the heart of the earth. . One of the most popular is the Great Cenote of Tulumwhich is on the road that goes to the Mayan ruins of Cobá. With a depth of 10 meters, it is an ideal place for lovers of diving and swimming. It has a circular shape and swimming in its crystalline waters you can find stalactites and stalagmites as well as fish, turtles and other forms of aquatic life.

Many also choose to spend the day in Sian Ka’an (which translates as origin of the sky), the largest natural reserve in the Mexican Caribbean, located on the Yucatan Peninsula. Surrounded by hundreds of meters of virgin beach and jungle, it was declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987and it is one of the most important places in Mexico for the conservation of biodiversity.

But Mexico not only has cenotes and natural reserves but also has coves, which are sea inlets, smaller than a bay. One of the best known is Yal-Kújust three kilometers from Akumal beach. It is a relaxing place to spend a day sunbathing and practicing snorkelas a couple or as a family. With impressive views of the Yal-Kú lagoon, within the property there are restaurants and tropical rest cabins with hammocks and chairs.

Mexico is a true box of surprises and according to legend, there is a place that has the fountain of youth inside. It is about the Yalahau cenote, an excursion that those who visit the Holbox Island, located between the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. At first glance, it gives the impression of being a place isolated from the rest of the world (no cars, paved streets or large buildings), however, Holbox offers services and amenities that ensure a comfortable and pleasant stay. There is a wide variety of restaurants, which offer Mexican and international cuisine; while other more “casual” ones (quaint restaurants with palapa roofs, where you will have your feet in the sand) are located in front of the beach or a few blocks from the center and usually offer tacos, seafood and the local specialty, lobster pizza .

The opportunity to explore local culture is enriched with activities such as Tequila tastings and authentic Mexican cooking classesin an adults-only space in UNICO 20° 87° Hotel Riviera Maya. These experiences not only allow you to enjoy deep flavors and traditions, but also open a door to fascinating cultural heritage of Mexico.

The interesting thing about the accommodations in the Riviera Maya is that the Mexican culture is present in every corner. In the case of the aforementioned all-inclusive resort, from the architecture and decoration to the gastronomy, they give tourists the feeling of being immersed in an ancestral culture.

Hotel guests can enjoy miles of white sand beach and a variety of things to do on and around the property, including visiting the archaeological zone of Tulumswim with dolphins, sail a catamaran to the Isla Mujeres enjoying cocktails with local ingredients, among many other options.

This is how the Riviera Maya offers endless ways to connect with the cultural and natural wealth of the region, from its ancestral traditions to its vibrant contemporary life.