|
Quintana Roo:
The State
of Quintana Roo forms part of the Yucatan Peninsula of
Mexico and is bordered by the states of Yucatan and
Campeche as well as the neighboring countries of Belize
and Guatemala to the south and west. Its capital is the
city of Chetumal, near the Belize border. On its shores
lap the blue and crystalline waters of the Caribbean and
the terrain, consisting of a thin layer of fertile soil
over a limestone base, holds tropical jungles and
wetlands filled with wild animals, birds and lush
vegetation. It is a fabulous spot for outdoor activities
suchg diving and snorkeling in the coral reefs and cenotes,
visiting a number of ecological reserves and scouting
the Mayan ruins of the area.
Places
of Interest
Cancún
- is a high-end touristic destination developed by
the Mexican Government during the 1970´s, which has
grown into a complex of over 100 high-rise hotels,
numerous restaurants and dining facilities, shopping
malls and recreational activity promotors and providers.
It is handy to many of the Mayan archaeological sites as
well as the islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres and the
long, white-sanded beaches of the Caribbean coast.
Isla
Mujeres - Only a
short ferry ride from the peninsular mainland is Isla
Mujeres, a tiny and tranquil tropical island with
excellent opportunities for diving and snorkeling in the
clear waters and reefs. On this small piece of land,
measuring only 8 x 1.5 kms., is a small community
offering lodging and dining facilities, as well as the
El Garrafón National Park at the southern part of the
island - an insurpassable location for snorkeling and
diving amid the coral reefs and unusual underwater rock
formations.
Isla
Cozumel - The island of Cozumel lies in the
Caribbean off Puerto Morelos and Playa del Carmen. It
was considered one of the best diving areas of the world
by Jacques Cousteau, and its coral reefs, white beaches
and transparent waters harbor a great variety of marine
life and some fine opportunities to explore nature in
its underwater parks
Playa
del Carmen - 60 kms south of Cancún is the
relatively new resort of Playa del Carmen, a community
offering bed and breakfasts and other small, beachside
lodging, restaurants and cafes, and peaceful oceanfront
walkways with a variety of arts & crafts shops.
Playa del Carmen was, until recently, a sleepy fishing
village that attracted only the more adventurous. Now
the community includes residents and business people
from all over the world who enjoy its verdant natural
surroundings, clear Caribbean waters and fine, white
sands, and is the state's fastest growing community.
Akumal
and Xel-Ha - A long-favored diving and snorkeling
area, Akumal, about 60 kms south of Cancun and only a
few kilometers north of Tulum, has been growing rapidly
in the past few years into an important resort and
recreational center. Originally a coconut plantation.
Just
south of Akumal is the Xel-Ha National Park and
Archaeological site, a fabulous lagoon protected by the
Honduras Reef and providing a perfect atmosphere to
watch the multi-colored underwater life. The lagoon
offers submarine caves, winding waterways and coral
formations to explore.
Tulum
- An important fortified Mayan archaeological site
with a large pyramid - El Castillo - and several
sub-structures perched on a cliff overlooking the
crystal Caribbean.A few kilometers to the south of Tulum
is the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve with some incredible
mangrove swamps and tropical vegetation as well as
tremendously abundant bird and wildlife including
flamingos, crocodiles, monkeys and boa constrictors.
Bacalar
- Bacalar is located about 40 kilometers from
Chetumal and 3 1/2 hours drive from Cancún, on the
shores of a lake of the same name, Lake Bacalar. Fed by
a series of cenotes and underground currents,
this long (50 km), fresh water lake is tremendously
transparent and blue and is surrounded by mangroves and
reeds.
Xcalac
- The southernmost community of the Mexican
Caribbean coast, Xcalac is one of the oldest Mayan
settlements in the state. It is a very small fishing
village to which services such as drinking water and
electricity have only just recently come, located in an
area offering long stretches of solitary beaches and
ecological havens, fabulous diving in the offshore
reefs, fishing and birdwatching experiences.
|
