Yucatan, The Mexican state of Yucatán is located on the peninsula of the same
name, bordered by the states of Quintana Roo and Campeche. Its capital is the
beautiful colonial city of Mérida, and other major cities and towns
include Valladolid and Progreso - it's port on the Gulf of Mexico.
Yucatán offers the adventurous visitor stunning colonial architecture, important caves and
grottoes and ecological preserves and sanctuaries such as Río Lagartos
and Celestún.
Yucatán has surprising diversity:
archaeological sites galore, colonial cities, tropical forests, peerless
snorkelling, seaside resorts, quiet coastlines and raucous nightlife. The
region's famous Mayan sites are particularly impressive at Uxmal and Chichén
Itzá, near the Yucatán state capital, the attractive colonial city of Mérida.
Heirs to a glorious and often violent history, the Maya live today where their
ancestors lived a millennium ago.The stunning
cliff-top ruins at Tulum, overlooking a palm-fringed beach and turquoise sea,
attract their fair share of visitors too.
Citrus production has gained in importance in recent years, and textile
production, tobacco and other farming, and fishing are also important.
Roads and rail lines connect many of the larger towns with the capital, MErida. By 300
B.C., and until Columbian times, YucatAn was populated by the Maya. CortEs came
to YucatAn in 1519. It became a state when Mexico won independence (1821) but
seceded from 1839 to 1843. There were severe political uprisings in 1847 and in
1910. Several of the most famous Mayan ruins, including TulUm, ChichEn ItzA, and
Uxmal, are located here.
As in most of Mexico, the Yucatán has two principal seasons: wet and
dry. Rainy season extends from May through October, with high humidity and heat.
Dry season brings cool breezes.