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San Ignacio, Lamanai Tour of Maya Ruins, Orangewalk, Corozal, 105 Day Adventure, Ambergris Caye, Placencia, Punta Gorda.

Antigua, Panajachel, Lake Atitlan, Xela, Cost of Living, Videos, Travel information, Photos, Stories, Medical care, Maya markets, Restaurants, neighboring towns, Cafes, Senior Living and more. The Adventurer's Guide to Guatemala, The Adventurer's Guide to Panajachel.

Isla Holbox Homepage

Isla Holbox is a paradise island in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, north of Cancun. Twenty-six miles long and almost a mile wide, this tropical island is vulnerable to destruction by hurricanes.Activities including fishing, swimming with the whale sharks, visiting the bioluminescence areas at night, and kiteboarding. It has become quite a tourist area in recent times offering many hotels and restaurants. No cars are allowed on the island, and at this time the roads are not paved.

 Campeche, Yucatan, Mexico

Conquered in 1540 by the Spanish, Campeche quickly became a flourishing port. The Spanish discovered a dye in logwood, and in time a ruthless group of Caribbean pirates and thieves sought to profit from this valuable commodity by controlling the market. As a result, the city was attacked and looted on many occasions from 1597 to 1685.

Chich'en Itza Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

The Northern Yucatan is arid, and the interior has no above-ground rivers. The only means of retrieving water was through natural sink holes called conotes. This appeared to be magic to those living here, so the name Chich'en Itza - loosely translated - meant The Mouth of the Well of the Magicians of Water.

Merida, Yucatan, Mexico

Merida is considered the cultural capital of the entire Yucatan Peninsula. European travelers come here looking for something different than the hub-bub of resort towns. You will find narrow streets and broad central plazas all over this city.

We just spent a week in Isla Holbox and flew a private plane from this island to Cancun. These ferries are wonderful - clean, new, and comfortable. A young man played guitar and sang at the front of the rows of seats, and drinks and snacks are also sold onboard.

Javi's Cantina Restaurant Bar

While walking on the beaches of Isla Mujeres, one of our readers recognized us and came up to chat! What a happy and humbling experience. As a parting gift, she mentioned that we must eat at Javi's Cantina, and to order the Parmesan Crusted Filet. It was her very favorite. Well alright then... Let's go!

We were visiting Isla Holbox and since we were in the vicinity, we thought we'd take a couple of days and go to Isla Mujeres. After taking a private plane out of Holbox and into Cancun international airport, we then took a ferry to land on the island itself. After checking into our hotel and getting settled, the next day we took a walk around some of the island's beaches.

This story goes to show you how important the right employees are to a business. If it weren't for Carlos, we would never have eaten here.

The Mayan Resort Tulum, Yucatan, Mexico

A two hour drive from the tourist resort of Cancun, Mexico, and an hour from Playa del Carmen, the Maya ruins at Tulum are the most known, most advertised and most popular Maya site in the Yucatan. What we could see from photos of Tulum, we figured it had been a resort town for the Maya centuries ago. You know, a weekend retreat for the rich Maya rulers of Chich'en Itza who were fatigued and wanted a break from ruling the masses. Certainly, it was the most upscale of any Maya ruins we had seen previously.

Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico

In Pre-classic times, a small tribe of Indians decided to make their home along the foothills of the Sierra de Palenque mountains. Even though this site dates back centuries, probably as early as 500 B.C., it did not receive much importance until about the mid-7th century A.D.

Some folks who had read our Adventurer's Guide to Early Retirement invited us to visit them while we were in the “neighborhood” - meaning the Yucatan peninsula. We have never been to the southern area of Mexico where they live , so we jumped on the opportunity. Instructed to meet Jon at 100% Agave, a well known local joint in Mahahual, we entered a Jimmy Buffet style bar-restaurant with beach sand as the floor. A stranger called out as we walked passed. "Billy? Akaisha?" We had never met Jon so this voice had to be his, and it was. Shaking hands we dumped our gear and gratefully sat down.

From San Pedro, Belize to Chetumal, Playa del Carmen & Valladolid, Mexico

We are nearing the end of our 105 Day Adventure through the rugged Mexican Pacific Coast, Guatemala, Belize and the Yucatan. While we aren't tired of traveling at this point, the unrelenting rainy weather pattern and the unbearable humidity is taking its toll on us. We don't mind dreary weather if we are at home cooking a pot roast and baking bread. But uninterrupted rain while traveling brings challenges to daily living.