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Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is located on the
Mexican Caribbean coast in the heart of the Riviera Maya.
This quaint, breezy, beach town
reflects Mexican, Caribbean, American, and European influences, and
has won the hearts of visitors from around the world… visitors
returning time and again to the comforting melody of surf and sea…
the splendor of swaying palm tress lacing the skyline, bowing to the
balmy sea breeze… where not a single high-rise blocks the
magnificent sunrise and sunset… and the ancient Mayan Ruins are just
an adventure away.
Parallel
to the beach, one block from the ocean… Playa del Carmen 5th Avenue
, perfect for a brisk afternoon walk or leisurely evening stroll
among the unique galleries, art and craft shops, continental gourmet
restaurants and cool hot spots. Playa del Carmen Avenida 5 will
treat your senses to an eclectic array of cosmopolitan cuisine…from
sushi and seafood to Mexican, Argentinean, Italian, French, Thai,
Tex-Mex, and Cajun.
Dance the night away to live music in one of our fun filled
nightclubs and friendly alfresco bars.
Join
the myriad of history, archeology, and mystery seekers and visit the
Mayan Ruins of Tulum -- the only Mayan ruin still existing on the
seashore… its proximity to the sparkling turquoise Caribbean makes
Tulum the most visited Mayan ruin of all, with over 2 million
visitors annually. Or dare to venture miles away from civilization
to enter the mysterious remains of one of the largest Mayan cities
ever discovered at Coba Ruins. And what shudder-bugs trip to the
Yucatan Peninsula would be complete without a photo of the pyramids
at Chichen Itza?
The coast - Mayan Riviera
Our
magnificent stretch of Caribbean coastline Riviera Maya holds many
pleasant surprises for the first time visitor - Mayan ruins, cenotes
and wild jungle.
First off, we have the enchanting cenotes, a world unique phenomenon
and a natural mindblower. A cenote is basically a cave or a window
into an underground cave system, filled with the most unbelievably
clear water.
Diving, snorkeling and swimming among stalactites and stalagmites is
an intense, almost religious experience and it should not be missed!
Another
fascinating feature on the Mayan Riviera is of course the Mayan
culture. Some of the most famous and astonishing examples of Mayan
architecture and ingenuity are found next door to Playa del Carmen;
Tulum, Coba, Chichen Itza and Ek Balam.
The Mayan world
There is plenty of evidence of the Mayan civilization in Playa del
Carmen and its surroundings. The Mayans left heritage in 5 states of
Mexico, which are Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Chiapas, Campeche and
Tabasco. And in 5 countries of the Latin America: Mexico, Belize,
Guatemala, Honduras and Salvador. The Yucatan peninsula is literally
full of Mayan ruins, big and small. There are even quite a few ruins
in downtown Playa del Carmen.
The
Maya had a different name for Playa del Carmen - they called it
Xaman-Ha, which means still waters.
Superior proficiency
The Maya culture was amazingly highly evolved, in many ways more
than its contemporary Europe. They built monumental palaces, which
they decorated with wall paintings and stone carvings. Between the
cities an elaborate system of paved roads was built through the
jungle. The Maya were the only ancient culture in Mesoamerica had a
developed written hieroglyphic language, and they produced books and
scrolls. Mayan art was elaborate and colorful. They also charted the
stars and were skilled engineers and mathematicians.
A
lost civilization
The organized Maya civilization broke down before the Spaniards ever
came to the New World. Most of the big cities had been abandoned
before 1200 AD. Many has theorized about the cause of the decline,
but most agree that there were probably a number of reasons, such as
social uproar, warfare, bad harvests and overpopulation. The highly
structured social order may have collapsed long before the Conquest,
but the Mayan people were still here. In fact a few cities were
still inhabited when the Conquistadors arrived, for example Tulum,
only an hour from Playa del Carmen. The Maya put up a fierce fight
and it actually took the Spaniards 173 years to conquer Yucatan.
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