Mein Auslandssemester in Mexiko
Mein Auslandssemester in Mexiko
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26-27/08 - Routa Maya

Gepubliseer: 16.09.2017

After a student party on Friday, Charlotte, Marfise, Julie (three exchange students from France) and I set off on the Maya Route early in the morning with Mexplorando (a youth travel organization here in Mérida). Getting up was hard, but it was definitely worth it!

First stop:

Chichén Itzá

Temple pyramid in Chichén Itzá
Temple pyramid in Chichén Itzá


Chichén Itzá is one of the most famous Maya ruins and is also one of the seven new wonders of the world. Consequently, the site is very touristy. Nevertheless, the temple pyramid is definitely worth a visit and a must for anyone who lives in Mérida for five months. Although I have to be honest and say that the Maya ruins in Palenque left a much more impressive impression on me.

Team Routa Maya
Team Routa Maya


After two hours of Maya culture in the blazing sun, it was time for lunch and, above all, a cool-down in the...


Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman

View from above on the
View from above on the 'water hole'

Impressive natural phenomena
Unique natural phenomena

With many different rock ledges, from which we could jump into the cool water, and a long 'liana' with which we could swing across the cenote, we had pure fun in the water and time flew by.

Cooling down in the Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman
Cooling down in the Cenote San Lorenzo Oxman


Off we go - swinging across the cenote with the liana
Off we go - swinging across the cenote with the liana


And then it was time to go to our accommodation for the night. The Routa Maya led us to Valladolid for that.


Valladolid - Pueblo Mágico

Evening atmosphere in Valladolid
Evening atmosphere in Valladolid


Valladolid is a small charming town between Mérida and Cancun. There we checked into our hostel, enjoyed the peaceful evening atmosphere, had a delicious dinner and then actually wanted to go to the Mexplorando party. Buuut the four of us were still feeling the effects of Friday night's party and after dinner, fatigue hit all four of us so much that we actually decided to skip the party.

Instead, we were fit and well-rested the next morning when the alarm clock rang, so we could take some time to explore Valladolid at our leisure while the others needed time to recover from their hangovers ;-), before the journey continued.

Morning atmosphere in Valladolid

Morning atmosphere in Valladolid


Valladolid: a city full of colorful alleys and streets
Valladolid: a city full of colorful alleys and streets

From Valladolid, we continued on the Routa Maya to...

Ek Balam

Julie and I overlooking Ek Balam
Julie and I overlooking Ek Balam

Ek Balam is like Chichén Itzá, a Maya site, but much smaller and less well-known and therefore much less touristy. In addition, in Ek Balam, you can climb up all the ruins and pyramids - no matter how high the pyramid and even more adventurous the steps...


Ek Balam
Ek Balam

However, those who dared to climb all the way to the top definitely did not regret it (at least until the descent ;-)), the view from above was awesome!


High above the treetops
High above the treetops in Ek Balam

Ek Balam

High above the treetops in Ek Balam


Please allow me to introduce, from left to right: Charlotte, Marfise, and Julie

Once we had successfully descended from up there, it was definitely time for a cool-down in the...

Cenote X’Canché

Cenote X’Canché
Cenote X’Canché

This time, however, we actually voluntarily said goodbye to the fun in the water after an hour and a half because we were all very hungry. So we stormed the nearest mercado with fifty hungry mouths, ...

Burrito norteña and Agua de Piña (pineapple water)
Burrito norteña and Agua de Piña (pineapple water)

... before we could continue to the final destination of our excursion:

Izamal - Pueblo Mágico

Group photo in Izamal
Group photo in Izamal

Izamal is a historically significant and beautiful small town that was completely bathed in the colors of the Vatican about 20 years ago on the occasion of the pope's visit. That's why Izamal is now also called the yellow city.


Together with Virginia (from Spain) in front of the palace
Together with Virginia (from Spain) in front of the palace

To conclude, we climbed a small Maya ruin located slightly outside the town to enjoy the sunset over Izamal before we had to make our way back to Mérida.

One final look back at Izamal and the Routa Maya
One final look back at Izamal and the Routa Maya

All I can say is: a perfect weekend trip!



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