Tulum and Xel-Ha
Tulum sits at the southern end of the Riviera Maya, an area of costal development along the Caribbean Sea coast. Not nearly as impressive as Chichén Itzá, Tulum has its own beauty overlooking the sea and boasting a few very well-preserved structures. This area was inhabited circa 560 A.D., but its heyday was around 1200 until the Spaniards came.
Xel-Ha is a nature preserve set up like a snorkeling theme park. We saw some colorful fish along with a couple of stingrays. Highlights included swimming the shadows of the Cueva Maya (Mayan Cave) and the crystal clear waters of the Río de los Sueños (River of Dreams).
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Since my digital camera
didn’t go snorkeling with me, I bought the pictures they took of
us in the cave. The Yucatán Peninsula is like limestone Swiss cheese.
There are caves, holes, and cenotes (sin-ó-tes) throughout the land.
Cenotes are like million-year-old sinkholes that collect freshwater in
the area. The second picture was taken looking through a cenote above
ground.
We also had a waterproof, disposable camera in tow. I'll have to wait until the honeymooners return to see how those pictures came out. |
Seeing the ruins at Tulum and snorkeling at Xel-Ha made for a memorable last day to a fantastic trip. Even though it was only a few days, our time was rich with adventure, friends, and celebration. With so much more to see in the Yucatán Peninsula, I’m looking forward to a time when I can visit again.