Some of you still cannot be with us right now but we can bring the beauty of the Mexican Caribbean and the Yucatan to you. Here’s our monthly gallery showcasing some of the region’s many natural and historical attractions. How many have you visited? Which ones would you like to explore on future visits to Grand Residences?
Cozumel
First brought to international attention by Mexican diver René Cardona and French conservationist and filmmaker Jacques Cousteau, the chain of reefs circling Cozumel’s leeward coast offers some of the finest diving in the world. Visibility is as high as 200 feet and the seascapes are breathtaking: towering coral buttresses festooned with sponges and coral gardens teeming with marine life, including 300 species of multicolored fish of all shapes and sizes.
Uxmal
An hour’s drive south of Mérida, Uxmal is one of the loveliest ancient cities in the Maya World. Its architectural wonders include the Magician’s Pyramid, the Nuns’ Quadrangle, which is a gracious courtyard surrounded by four palaces, and the Palace of the Governor.
Muyil
This archaeological site is the largest of 23 discovered to date in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. It lies in the jungle close to the lagoon of the same name and was a port in ancient times. More than 1,000 years ago, the Maya dredged and widened a natural canal running through the wetlands between the city and the sea to create a trade route for their canoes.
Celestun
Located on the west coast of the Yucatán, 92 km from Mérida, Celestún Biosphere Reserve protects 81,482 hectares of tropical forest, wetlands, cenotes and estuaries, not to mention a prehistoric petrified forest and an area of ancient Mayan saltpans.
The reserve is rich in wildlife: over 300 species of bird have been recorded, including thousands of flamingos, the elusive boat-billed heron, pygmy kingfisher, sandwich tern and the osprey.
