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Yucatan ExplodesThe Yucatan peninsula is home to one of Earth's greatest cataclysms.  65 million years ago the Yucatan was visited by an asteroid or comet that most scientists agree destroyed up to 75% of all lifeforms (90% of plankton), broke the Earth's food chain ("Adios" dinosaurs), and (luckily for us) ushered in the "age of mammals". Chicxulub (devil's tail) crater is located on the peninsula's northern coast with the present day port of Progreso at "ground zero".  More than 3000 years ago, the Mayas emerged from the Yucatan (considered one of Earth's 6 "cradles of civilization") as a highly sophisticated culture; spreading south and west into Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador; leaving behind many famous archeological sites such as Chichen Itza, Coba, and Tulum.  From the conquistadors' first landfall off Cape Catoche in 1517 to the bloody skirmishes that wiped out most of the indians, the Yucatan peninsula was a battlefield. The region tried to secede from Mexico in the early 1840s, but the government easily (and harshly) quelled the rebellion. Later, following years of oppression, the enslaved indians rose up and massacred thousands of European settlers. This launched the "War of the Castes", that eventually wiped out half the indian population. Long isolated from the rest of Mexico and still one of the least Hispanicized (Mexicanized) populations in the country; the "Yucatecans" practice many of their ancient beliefs and language. The capitol of the Yucatan is Merida, where Moorish-inspired, colonnaded colonial architecture, and cafe life blend handsomely with turn-of-the-20th-century pomposity. With the advent of Cancun, the peninsula's Mayan ruins, long a mecca for archaeologists, have become a magnet to thousands of tourists annually.  The many direct airline flights to Cancun have brought these long-lost treasures within easy reach. Travelers from around the world can now marvel at one of the most brilliant civilizations of the ancient world without having to journey too far from their vacation base. The peso devaluation in 1994 resulted in increased purchasing power for foreigners, who bought homes and hotels throughout the Yucatan, creating a diverse international population that lives alongside the Maya. Trekking along the coast, you'll meet ex-pats from around the world running lodges and restaurants.    Whether buying a new car, or a used car, or selling a vehicle; first check KBB (Kelley Blue Book), Black Book, Red Book, or the NADA Used Vehicle Guide. For Cancun Specials and the lowest priced roomrates and airfares to the most popular Cancun hotels and Mayan Riviera resorts, turn from Yucatan to the Cancun home page.  Yucatan. |