Honeymoons in the Yucatan from The World's Greatest Honeymoons

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Land of Mayan Gods

Poised at the very tip of Mexico, dividing the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula is surrounded on three sides by white sand beaches and turquoise waters. But don't make the mistake of thinking that the Yucatan is just another beautiful beach destination. Composed of three states (Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatan), the entire peninsula is rife with fascinating ruins of the great Mayan civilization, ornate Colonial-era buildings, fabulous 19th Century mansions, remote fishing villages, and lush jungles.

And then there are the sophisticated resorts, modern cities, mouth-watering cuisine, friendly people, endless opportunities for exhilarating adventure, and a pervasive atmosphere of peace and tranquility. Is it any wonder that this region welcomes more visitors than any other area in Mexico?

Also See: Mexico Index | Acapulco | Cancun | Cozumel | Ixtapa & Zihuatanejo | Los Cabos | Yucatan Peninsula

In fact, twice a year—at each equinox, on or around March 21 and September 23—visitors flock here from around the world to witness an event that takes place nowhere else on earth. Huge crowds gather at the former Mayan stronghold of Chichen-Itza. At sunset, they gaze upward at 90-foot El Castillo pyramid as a shadow depicting Kukulkan, the Mayans’ feathered serpent god (Quetzalcoatl to the Aztecs), appears to slither from the pyramid’s tip, down a central staircase, to the ground. If you’re planning a fall or spring wedding, you may want to time your honeymoon to witness Kukulkan’s brief appearance.

Yucatan Honeymoon Ideas

Chichen-Itza: The most powerful Mayan city of the ancient world and the best preserved of those that remain, Chichen-Itza dates back to 6th century A. D. The Mayans were an advanced society. They built observatories to study and map the heavens, invented the calendar, and communicated with a hieroglyphic writing system. For some mysterious reason, they abandoned this site in the 10th Century, and it quickly disappeared beneath jungle growth. Today, though, you can walk along the same white paths used by the Mayans, exploring magnificent ruins like the Royal Palace, the Ball Court, or the Pyramid of Kukulcan (if you stand away from the pyramid and clap your hands, you'll hear an echo that sounds exactly like the Quetzal, a bird considered sacred by the Mayans). All the while you’ll be surrounded by lush greenery, underground rivers, and limestone outcroppings. Located on the main highway between Mérida and Cancun, Chichen-Itza has been an official World Heritage site since 1988.

Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve: Quintana Roo’s Sian Ka'an, which means "Where the sky was born" in Mayan, is a 2500-square-mile World Heritage site, a complex of unexcavated Mayan ruins, mangroves, coral reefs, tropical forests, lagoons, freshwater canals, gorgeous birds, and mucho wildlife (including the endangered manatee). The Reserve also shelters 23 Mayan archaeological sites, some of them extremely remote, with artifacts dating back 2300 years. The non-profit Friends of World Heritage recommend taking a tour with a local group, Sian Ka'an Tours, which returns a percentage of revenues to conservation work in the Reserve. ~ If you’re up for a long and adventurous drive, head out to the seaside village of Punta Allen at the reserve’s southern tip. The road is extremely rough (some have called it axle-breaking). If you're willing to take the risk, you'll be rewarded with gorgeous surroundings and the opportunity to eat just-caught lobster grilled on the beach.

Exploring and Diving in Cenotes: For a completely new experience, try cave diving in the warm waters of a magical “cenote”—an underground freshwater pool, often surrounded by stalagmites, stalactites, and even fossils. In a region with no above-ground rivers and few bodies of fresh water, cenotes have been a primary source of water for centuries. In fact, the Mayans often built settlements near or right beside cenotes, using them as a source of water. Cenote water tends to be incredibly clear, deriving from rainwater that has filtered slowly (as little as 1 meter per year) through the earth. Quintana Roo’s lovely and accessible Claw of the Jaguar is popular with beginners and experts alike, and so is the perfectly round Sacred Blue Cenote near Chichen-Itza. But you’ll find hundreds of diver-friendly cenotes all across the Yucatan.

Merida: Known as the “White City,” Yucatan's capital, Merida, is famed for its splendid, white-washed Colonial-era buildings and its 1598 Cathedral—the oldest in North America. Ride a horse-drawn carriage along mansion-lined Paseo Montejo, designed to resemble the Champs Elysées. Learn about Mayan life at the Museum of Anthropology and History, housed in a beautiful 19th Century palace. Stroll the city's colorful open air market (Coral Negro), searching for hammocks, Panama hats, and pottery. The zócalo (town square) provides a great backdrop in which to sit quietly, sipping a fresh-squeezed lime or watermelon juice, while watching the world stroll by.

Playa del Carmen: Perched on the sandy Caribbean coast and backdropped by jungle greenery, this stylish city was once a thriving Mayan village, and, more recently, a simple fishing town and artists' colony. Today it's a perfect vacation base. It's a popular destination for Europeans, who bestow a decidedly cosmopolitan air. Gorgeous beaches are everywhere, beach bars and dive shops rule, Cozumel Island is a short ferry ride away, some of the best snorkeling and diving spots on the Great Maya Reef are just offshore, the seafood is great, and the nightlife is tops! If you're into golf, a notable 18-hole championship course, Playacar, awaits you. And if all you want is to get away from everything, keep this in mind: the further north you go, the quieter and more isolated the beaches become. »»More about golfing in Playa del Carmen and Mexico

Tulum Beach and Ruins: Often cited in polls as one of Mexico’s Best Beaches, Tulum—on the Caribbean side, about 70 miles south of Cancun—is actually a combination of a beach, an archeological site, and a small but busy town. Tulum's beach consists of more than 4 miles of white limestone sands and see-through waters; it is, simply, gorgeous. To reach it, walk the coast road that runs by the ruins described below until you see the El Mirador and other cabanas on your left (about 20 minutes from the ruins). You can access the beach from any of the cabana places. ~ Tulum's cliff-top ruins—the only known archaeological site in Mexico located by the sea—were once a smallish walled Mayan village dating back to the 6th century. Over sixty well-preserved structures are contained within three massive walls surrounding the site. Faded frescoes are still visible in some interiors, and many excellent artifacts have been recovered. The ancient city remained active into the Spanish era, but, by the 16th century, it was abandoned. A remarkable sound-and-light show takes place after dark; as you walk the old pathways, you'll hear thorough descriptions of the buildings and village life, ultimately coming away with a better understanding of Mayan culture.

Isla Mujeres/Isla Contoy: The small, gorgeous tropical island of Isla Mujeres, just across the bay from Cancun, mixes Caribbean allure with Mayan heritage, enfolds it in a jungle, and ties it all up with a fabulous beachfront. You'll also find a knockout selection of precious stones and gifted jewelers happy to turn any stone you buy into a design of your choice (or why not create your own design?). ~ About 15 miles from Isla Mujeres is tiny and uninhabited Isla Contoy. A National Park protecting more than 70 species of birds, it's the most important nesting site for sea birds in the Mexican Caribbean. It also contains a small museum and lookout tower. A limited number of people are allowed onto the island each day, and it's best to reserve in advance through the Park's site.

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All written material © WGH ~ Photos: Bruce Herman (Boats/Playa del Carmen); Guillermo Adlana (flamingoes); Bruno Girim (Tulum)