Spanning over 3,000 years, the Mayan civilization is amongst one of the original cultures of the world. As one of the most sophisticated ancient civilizations, I would argue them to even be one of the most important.
I remember learning bits and pieces about the Mayans throughout grade school, but some education that was because I didn’t even know that the civilization was still thriving today.
Yup, over seven million Mayans still live across Central America and Mexico, working hard to preserve their culture while still rediscovering the secrets of their past.
It was upon learning this, that I came to understand the name Riviera Maya, or the “Mayan Riviera”. The Mayans were the first people to settle in this part of Mexico, and their culture still heavily influences the region even now.
Language, tradition, and a deep connection to nature are what that shape the Mayan’s worldview– people after my own heart.
It was this distinct culture that I was thankful to experience and foster a better understanding of during my time in the Riviera Maya.
Here were some of my favorite Mayan experiences:
Exploring the Ruins of a Bygone Era
The ruins in Tulum once made up a Mayan walled-city, which was possibly called Zama, or City of Dawn. The city stood tall on the bluff facing east towards the sunrise, hence the name City of Dawn.
Having access to both land and sea trade routes, Tulum was thought to be an important Mayan trading hub. Today it is one of the best-preserved coastal Mayan sites, however if you’ve been to Tik'al or Chichen Itza you might not find these ruins particularly impressive.
The real draw of these ruins are their dramatic surroundings on the cliffs with idyllic beaches below.
Swimming in the Portal of the Underworld
