🌴 MEXIQUE : 2 semaines au YUCATAN, les INCONTOURNABLES !! Tour du monde - Ep24 🌮

This week, we're taking you with us on a 2-week road trip around the Yucatan Peninsula, where we're joined by 3 friends for New Year's! We all landed at Cancun airport, where we stopped for a quick night in the city center (ADO bus). The very next day, we took a taxi to Chiquila, where the ferries depart for Holbox Island, which we'd heard was a true paradise and a great place to celebrate New Year's. And indeed, the restaurants, the bars, the atmosphere—everything was fantastic on this island, which still manages to retain its charm, with its sandy streets and stretches of white sand. We spent 3 days exploring the island, from Playa Mosquito to Playa Coco, frequently stopping at our home base, Barba Negra. Once our stay on the island was over, we picked up our AVIS rental car at Cancun airport and headed straight for Valladolid, where we only stayed for the night before leaving early the next morning for a wonder of the world: Chichen Itza. We were impressed by the site—also by the number of souvenir shops and visitors, but we had been warned. When the crowds became too dense and the sun too hot, we quickly left to enjoy our first cenote. These freshwater wells would soon become our best friends in the Yucatan. Then, on the way, we stopped in Izamal, the "golden" city, where we enjoyed a magnificent sunset from the convent (and where we ALMOST gave in and tried marquasitas, those crepes with Nutella...and Gruyère cheese). Arriving in Mérida, we were happy to discover the largest city and capital of the Yucatan. Like most cities on the peninsula, Mérida is organized around a main square and its cathedral. We happily lose ourselves in the colorful alleyways, the artisan shops, and the market. It's already time to leave Mérida and embark on the Ruta Puuc in our rental car. Along this route, we have the opportunity to visit the magnificent temples of Uxmal and Kaaba (other stops are normally possible, but closed during our visit due to the virus). Once again, we are dazzled by the beauty of the ruins, especially their intricate details. These sites seem very different from the legendary Chichen Itza we saw a few days earlier. In the evening, we arrive in Campeche. This seaside town, which was often the victim of pirate raids until the Spanish crown agreed to build fortifications, completely captivates us. Especially its small pedestrian street adorned with terraces and twinkling lights. It's love at first sight! After Campeche, it was time for us to make a significant detour to see an exceptional site: Calkmul, the Mayan site hidden in the jungle. Before entering the national park of the same name, we stopped at the Bat Cave. Exactly half an hour before sunset, 3-4 million of these winged creatures swirled out of their caves to feed on the nectar of a particular orchid. A breathtaking spectacle! After witnessing this bat ballet, we headed into the national park. Our goal: to arrive at our campsite, itself nestled in the jungle (Yaaxche Campsite), before nightfall. We were all excited as we walked in the dark to the nearest restaurant, hoping and dreading to encounter a howler monkey, or worse, a jaguar (which, of course, didn't happen). The next day, the alarm rang before dawn so we could visit the Calkmul site in the cool of the evening and without too many other visitors. On the way, we stopped at a trailhead and the monkey enclosure, where we saw some beautiful wild animals. Then it was finally time to visit the site we'd heard so much about. We weren't disappointed by the view of the canopy after a good climb up the various pyramids. The site was also much more deserted than others we'd visited, much to our delight! After Calakmul, we headed towards the Bacalar Lagoon. We had booked a hotel right on the lagoon, the Paraiso, and thus had our own private dock on the lagoon, complete with swings. A breathtaking view! The tacos at Christian's were also a dream—and we ate them several times in a row (understandable, given the prices). Our stay in Bacalar ended far too soon; it was already time to head towards Tulum. Or rather, Akumal, right next door, which is less expensive (Del Front Beach Hostel). There, we enjoyed snorkeling, and in particular, went to see the magnificent green sea turtles with a guide. What a sight! We made a mandatory stop at the magnificent ruins of Tulum, and a final stop at a cenote (Cenote Carwash), before heading back to Cancun, where two of our friends were taking off for France (already...). We'll take you there!