Yucatan Peninsula  holidays

Who is the Yucatan Peninsula best for?

Yucatan and Caribbean Coast holidays are for travellers who want to bury themselves in captivating culture while discovering Mayan art and ticking off the wealth of age-old sites. For those who want to wander past charming colonial buildings and experience both the peaceful atmosphere of the small towns of Yucatan as well as the vitality of vibrant cities. And finally, for travellers who want to unwind with a stay in a serene seaside resort just steps from the ocean. With powdery sand underfoot and an underwater world just waiting to be explored, you'll be in utter heaven.

What you can you find in the Yucatan Peninsula that you won't find elsewhere:

There is so much to discover on a trip to the Caribbean Coast: water of extraordinary purity; an underwater world teeming with life; and a scattering of sleepy seaside resorts. If it's whisper-quiet villages you're after, there are plenty to discover from pretty Playa del Carmen to Tulum - the only Mayan city that borders the Caribbean coastline. Hop aboard a boat and you can sail around the Yucatan peninsula's picture-perfect islands: Cozumel, Isla Mujeres, Isla Holbox and Isla Contoy. With days spent swimming and snorkelling and evenings spent dining on fresh seafood and meeting the friendly locals, life is pretty sweet here. Head inland into the heart of Yucatan, and you'll discover the magnificent Mayan ruins from Uxmal and Kabah to Labna and Edzna. Get a taste of adventure while trekking into the jungle or make your way to one of the colonial cities where you can mooch past pretty pastel-coloured houses and escape the heat in lovely local restaurants. The northern part of the peninsula is home to two of the finest colonial cities - Merida and Campeche - as well as Original Travel's favourite inland haciendas which make the perfect bases to discover yet more beautiful Mayan ruins in the region. No trip to the Yucatan is complete without visiting the outstanding Mayan site of Chichen Itza. Right in the middle of the peninsula, there is no excuse for not stopping off here when en route between your hacienda and beach hotel.

Special things to do in Yucatan Peninsula:

- Hike into the rainforest and you'll get lost in a different world entirely while exploring beneath the gorgeous green canopy and following paths that are barely visible in the thick foliage.
- For a more low-key beach retreat, the idyllic Isla Holbox lies off the northern coast. This droplet of sand offers stunning white beaches and turquoise lagoons, and visitors will share the sandy roads (bikes and horse carts are the transport du jour here), with local fisherman, returning home with their morning catch.
- Snorkel or dive one of the many cenotes (collapsed limestone cave systems) that dot the Yucatan Peninsula. The caves are home to astonishing clear water with visibility sometimes reaching 100 metres, and some were used a ceremonial or sacrificial sites by the Mayans, adding a cultural element to any cenote adventure.