If you are interested in reading facts about the Yucatan, you will be fascinated by this list. The Yucatan peninsula is one of the most culturally rich parts of Mexico.
The peninsula, comprised of the states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, and the Yucatan state, is the home of Chichen Itza and several other Mayan ruins. The area has its own gastronomy that differs significantly, and many people in this part of the country still speak Maya.
Many Mexicans and people that live in or have traveled extensively through Mexico will note that passing through the Yucatan is like visiting a different country entirely. Indeed, people here even have their own traditions, holidays, and cultural practices that are only celebrated in Southern Mexico.
20 Amazing Facts about the Yucatan Peninsula
These facts about the Yucatan should help you gain a deeper understanding of the region. In turn, they may inspire to visit this wonderful corner of the globe.
The Yucatan was an independent nation
Before the Spanish colonization, the Yucatan was not a part of Mexico as it is today. It was its own country.
People that visit the Yucatan today will often comment that the culture here is significantly different from that in other parts of Mexico. indeed, the Yucatan often feels like a completely different country in itself.
Interestingly, the Yucatan has tried to become independent from Mexico several times throughout history. It became a republic of its own between 1841 and 1848.
However, it would then later rejoin the United Mexican States during the caste war. During this conflict, the Yucatec Mayans rebelled against the Spanish conquistadors to such an extent that the white race was almost entirely removed from the state.
The people of the Yucatan requested assistance from various countries who refused. The only country that agreed to assist?
Mexico. On the condition that the Yucatan rejoined Mexico and gave up its independence.
Dinosaurs were wiped out by the Chicxulub meteor
Chicxulub (pronounced chick su lube) is a sleepy coastal town in northern Yucatan. It is known for its gorgeous beach which boasts soft, powdery white sand and is bordered b translucent turquoise waters.
The little settlement is home to a population of just 5,000 people, most of whom are involved in fishing and trade.
If you just happened to drive through Chicxulub while diving along the Ruta Esmerelda, you may initially feel that the town is nothing to write home about. However, this area is interesting because it was here where the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs hit the earth 66 million years ago.
When the asteroid hit, it didn’t just wipe out dinosaurs, it actually caused mass extinction and wiped out 8o% of all animals on Earth.
It is the same asteroid that is responsible for the creation of cenotes in Southern Mexico. You cannot see the impact site of the Chicxulub crater as it is underwater. However, several Dino-related attractions have started popping up in the local area.
For instance, there are numerous larger-than-life statues of T-rexes and other dinosaurs scattered around Chicxulub. These provide a novelty factor and they are great places to take photos beneath, particularly if you are traveling with children.
In the nearby beach town of Progreso Yucatan, you can visit the Meteorite Museum which tells the chronological history of the area, and the impact of the crater. Nearby Sendero Jurassico is a park that exists to educate people about the different species of dinosaurs.
You can walk around the trails in the park, past large sculptures of dinosaurs, with descriptions of each one beneath.
Yucatecan food is one of the oldest cuisines in the world
Yucatecan food is very different from standard Mexican food. It is one of the oldest cuisines in the world and even predates many European cuisines.
Many recipes that are used in the Yucatan today are the same ones that we used by the Ancient Maya centuries ago. In many cases, the same traditional cooking methods are also used.
For example, dishes such as pollo pibil and cochinita pibil were prepared in an underground oven known as a pib. Today, the same underground oven is used to prepare local dishes.
There are a lot of great restaurants in Merida and in other places around the Yucatan where you can sample traditional Yucatecan food. Cochinita pibil is arguably one of the most famous dishes in the region.
To prepare it, pork is marinated in achiote and orange rind and then slow-cooked until it is soft and tender. You can think of this as the ancient version of pulled pork.
Many regional dishes use “queso de bola” in their recipes. This translates to “ball of cheese” and Edam cheese is what they are referring to.
It is perhaps quite bizarre that Dutch cheese is so well-loved in this part of Southern Mexico. However, after the Spanish colonization of Mexico, Edam was one of many products that made its way onto the shores of New Spain and people developed a taste for it.
There are over 7,000 cenotes in the Yucatan
There are over 7,000 cenotes in the Yucatan. These are natural sinkholes filled with water that were formed by a weakness in the earth’s surface that formed after the Chicxulub crater smashed into the region.
The word “cenote” stems from the Ancient Mayan word “Dz’onot” meaning “cavern with water”. It is perhaps interesting to note that there are so many cenotes, particularly when there are just a handful that have become famous with tourists as a result of social media.
Cenotes are only found in Southern Mexico. There are also a couple that exists in the state of Chiapas.
Particularly interesting are the Homun cenotes. There are more than 20 cenotes in and around this little town which experts have referred to as anillo de los cenotes (ring of cenotes).
Some cenotes (like the one at Chichen Itza) were used for human sacrifices or ritualistic purposes. Others were used as water sources and others were simply used for swimming and recreation.
The Yucatan state is home to 4 pueblo magicos
There are four pueblo magicos in the Yucatan state. Pueblo Magicos are Mexican settlements that boast a particularly interesting culture, history, natural beauty, or gastronomy.
There are currently 132 places that are regarded as being Pueblo Magicos. This is a title awarded by the Mexican government’s Secretary of Tourism.
Generally speaking, if somewhere has been recognized as a pueblo magico, it is a good indicator that it is a worthwhile place to visit.
Izamal is perhaps the best-known pueblo magico in the area. All of the buildings in this charming city have been painted yellow in honor of the Mayan sun god Kinich Kakmó.
A pyramid dedicated to this deity exists in the center of town and is one of the only remaining pyramids in the area that was not destroyed by the Spanish. The pueblo magico of Sisal is known for being one of the best beaches in the Yucatan.
Valladolid is the third pueblo magico in the area, named after the city of Valladolid in northwestern Spain which was the capital of Spain at that time. The San Servacio church in the center of town was originally built by Priest Francisco Hernandez in 1545.
It has been demolished and rebuilt several times throughout the years but today is one of the most notable religious structures in the Yucatan.
Finally, the pueblo magico of Mani is arguably the least visited. It is known for its various meliponarios that produce honey from a species of stingless bee harvested by the Ancient Maya and known as “xunan kab”.
The impressive Convent of San Miguel Arcangel sits in the city’s central square and dates back to 1548. There are many interesting sculptures, frescoes, and religious icons inside that were created locally between the 17th and 19th centuries.
A lot of people are of Mayan descent and still speak Mayan
There are 68 different indigenous groups living in Mexico today and among them, they speak 68 languages divided into 350 different variants. One of them is Maya,
Over 6 million people in the world still speak Maya today. Mayan speakers are predominantly found in Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, El Salvador, and Honduras.
Yucatan Maya has its differences from Mayan spoken and used in other parts of Latin America.
The Yucatan is home to the only paranormal museum in Latin America
One of the most unique things you can do in Merida is the Paranormal Museum (Calle 63ᴮ 230 x8 y 10, Cortés Sarmiento). The museum is the only one of its kind in Latin America and is said to contain several items that are “cursed” or possessed.
(It is essentially the Mexican answer to the Warrens house museum in the US. Each item is accompanied by an information plaque that tells its story.
You can explore the museum and gain an in-depth understanding of each item and its story on a tour for 80 pesos per person. Notable items include dolls made using the same cut of fabric as the notorious Anabelle doll and dolls retrieved from the creepy Isla de la Munecas in Mexico City.
Once upon a time, the Yucatan was one of the richest places in the world
In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Yucatan was one of the richest places in the world. The henequen plan (sisal) was grown and used to make natural fiber products.
This was in high demand and was exported across the world to make things like hammocks, bags, and clothing. Wealthy Spaniards living in the Yucatan set up grand haciendas to live in and to cultivate sisal from.
Sadly, the invention of synthetic fibers saw the eventual demise of the industry. Many haciendas fell into abandonment, although many Yucatan haciendas have been converted into hotels over the past few decades.
The Mexican singer Pedro Infante loved the Yucatan and sadly died here
Pedro Infante, the beloved Mexican singer, and actor from Sinaloa loved the Yucatan state. Close to the ADO central bus station in the city of Merida, there is a place called Petropolys Cafe.
You can stop here in the mornings for classic Mexican breakfast dishes like huevos rancheros, or chilaquiles. Apparently, Pedro Infante was a regular here and a huge poster displayed outside expresses his love for the Yucatan.
Sadly. Pedro Infante died while flying an aircraft over Celestun. Today, there is a small museum here dedicated to his life.
Some of the most important Mayan ruins in Mexico are found here
Some of the best Mayan ruins in Mexico can be found in the Yucatan state. Many can be explored as day trips from the city of Merida.
Chichen Itza is arguably the most famous ruin of all. The sheer mention of Mexico is synonymous with the image of the Temple of Kukulkan.
The city has been UNESCO protected since 1988. In 2007, it was designated as one of the “new” seven wonders of the world.
Chichen Itza is a very large site that does not just consist of the famous pyramid. The city stretches over 4 square miles and was once home to over 35,000 people.
There are a lot of interesting structures and sites to look out for here. A stone platform carved with skulls known as a Tzompantli sits just a short distance away from the Temple of Kukulkan.
The skulls of enemies would be placed on the top of this in order to scare off enemies and send an intimidating warning to any potential traitors. The nearby cenote was used to make human sacrifices.
The city of Mayapan is also worth noting and is often missed from most Yucatan itineraries. This was essentially the “last great” Mayan city as King Kukulkan II and his people moved here after the downfall of Chichen Itza.
Mayan ruins are still being discovered in the Yucatan
Archeologists are still constantly discovering and excavating Mayan ruins in the Yucatan. Some sites, such as Chacchoben in southern Quintana Roo, are only partially excavated.
Archeologists continue to work around the clock to reveal their secrets and who knows what other treasures lurk beneath the surface? Since there is so much jungle cover across the Yucatan peninsula – particularly in the southern part of Campeche and the Yucatan state, there are probably dozens more Mayan settlements waiting to be discovered.
In Summer 2022, construction workers stumbled across the Ancient Mayan city of Xiol when working on an industrial site on the outskirts of Merida. It was believed to have been occupied between 600 and 900 AD and to have thrived during the Late Classic period. The site consists of several plazas, palaces, and public buildings.
It seems to have been abandoned, like many other Mayan cities, after around 900AD for seemingly no reason. In late 2022, archeologists are also working on excavating more structures hidden beneath the surface at Oxtankah ruins, along with 26 other ruins found in the state of Quintana Roo.
The Yucatan is one of the best places to see North American flamingos in the Americas
The gorgeous North American flamingo calls the Yucatan home during the winter season. Approximately 35,000 of these birds live in the Ría Celestún biosphere reserve between November and April before migrating east.
Then, they start to move west towards Rio Lagartos and El Cuyo. If you are driving around the Northern Yucatan in the spring or hanging out on local beaches like Uaymitun, you may be lucky enough to see flocks of flamingoes flying overhead.
The Yucatan capital of Merida is the safest city in all of Mexico
The city of Merida is hailed time and again as being the safest city in Mexico. Not only that, but it is one of the safest cities in all of the Americas on the whole.
Crime rates are very low, including petty crimes like pickpocketing and theft. Merida has as of yet managed to avoid a lot of the drug-related violence that is seen in other parts of the country.
There are several theories as to why Merida is so safe. A popular running theory is that narcos and their families live here and they have agreed to keep Merida as neutral territory.
That isn’t the craziest suggestion as there are definitely a lot of people with a lot of money in Merida. However, generally, it seems to be a cultural thing that again iterates how the Yucatan is very different culturally from other parts of Mexico.
The police are generally better here – they patrol the streets and have a big presence, respond quickly to complaints, and there is a big sense of community. Yucatecans are proud of their home state and even outside of Merida, the Yucatan is a very safe place.
The Yucatan is home to a supposedly haunted village
There are a lot of abandoned places scattered throughout the Yucatan. One of the eeriest of all is the ghost town of Misnebalam.
This little settlement sits on the road between Merida and Progreso. No more than 100 years ago, it was home to approximately 170 people that worked in the thriving henequen industry.
The decline in this industry caused people to gradually move away. However according to local legend, so too, did the paranormal activity.
This all started when the owner of Misnebalam Hacienda, Don Fidencio G.Márquez was killed while driving on one of the roads near the town in 1921. His killer was never found and according to legend, he has been seen wandering the grounds of his hacienda at night.
As time went on, more spooky activity started. The ghost of a young boy that was apparently assaulted and killed named “Juliancito” has reportedly been running through the fields playing with a ball.
So too, has the ghost of a headless monk wearing black robes. The final two residents left the town in 2005 and Misnebalam has fallen into an eerie level of abandonment ever since.
Today, the area is filled with roads that lead to nowhere, and billboards advertising hotels and businesses that no longer exist.
Summer is the rainy season
Summer in the Yucatan marks the start of both the rainy season and the hurricane season. So, if you are trying to decide the best time to visit the Yucatan, it isn’t necessarily best to travel during the summer months, as is the case with other travel destinations.
Summer in the Yucatan sees daily temperatures soar above 104° F and the conditions are incredibly hot and humid. This is not too bad if you are relaxing on the beaches of the Riviera Maya, but if you are in the midst of a Merida itinerary or you are driving along the Ruta Puuc, where there is no shade and no sea breeze, it can become unbearable.
June also marks the start of the hurricane season in this part of Mexico (as well as in Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific coast). Although severely damaging hurricanes are virtually unheard of, there are still a lot of rains and storms during this time.
Sometimes, the storms can be so severe that they cause some flooding in certain parts of Merida, or knock out the power and internet in certain areas for days on end.
Nobody is certain where the name Yucatan came from
Nobody knows for sure where the name Yucatan actually came from and there are a number of theories that exist. One popular theory is that the region takes its name from the Yuka crop which grows in this part of the world.
A second theory Is that one of the Spanish colonizers that first arrived in Mexico asked the native people what the name of their settlement was. Since they spoke different languages to each other, the natives replied that they didn’t understand.
This sounded like the word “Yucatan” in their language.
There are many unique fruits that are native to this region
Many delicious fruits grow in Mexico. There are a lot of traditional and exotic fruits grown here that you may have seen in many other parts of the world.
For instance, bananas, pineapples, coconuts, and papaya are all grown in Mexico. Many fruits that grow in the Yucatan only grow in this region or in Latin America.
Star apples are actually quite rare on a global scale. They grow in Latin America and you may be fortunate enough to see them growing in the Yucatan.
You can only eat the inside of the fruit as the skin contains a latex-like substance that irritates your mouth and throat. Star apples are very very sweet with a texture that many compare to the type of chunky apple sauce that you enjoy at Thanksgiving.
The chocolate fruit, also known as sapote negro is a tropical fruit found in Mexico, Central America, and South America. It is a distant relative of the persimmon and looks quite similar to the persimmon fruit.
The outer skin of the fruit is a pale shade of green, whereas the inside is brown with a rich, chocolatey color.
This is nicknamed “the chocolate fruit” because many people say that it tastes just like chocolate. It has a rich, dense, and creamy texture that almost resembles chocolate mousse.
The cathedral of San Ildefonso in Merida is the oldest in the Americas
The Cathedral of San Ildefonso in Merida was constructed between 1561 and 1598. It was built on the site of an old Mayan temple and like many other churches in Mexico, stones and other building materials from the original Mayan site were used to construct it.
the cathedral sits in the main Square of Merida which is known as the Zocalo. There are several controversial paintings inside the cathedral that depict the indigenous Yucatan people paying respect to Francisco de Montejo, the colonizer of Merida.
Only a handful of these paintings remain today as many were understandably destroyed during the Mexican Revolution.
The convent in Izamal is one of the oldest in the Americas
The Convento de San Antonio de Padua sits on a hilltop just above the zocalo (Central Square) in Izamal. Construction of the site finished in 1561 and the convent is still in operation today.
it was built on the ruins of an old prehispanic building known as Pap Hol Chac. it is one of the oldest convents in Latin America and the largest of its kind on the North American continent.
A few modifications have been made to the original structure over the centuries. inside the convent, there is a beautiful Baroque style Altarpiece covered with laminated gold. it depicts various scenes from Jesus’s life.
The convent boasts a large atrium with four chapels, the church, the chapel of Indians, and the chapel itself with its upper and lower Cloisters. If you visit Izamal today, it is free to explore the convent and its courtyards.
You may also see some of the resident nuns hanging out in the gardens.
Several big cats call the Yucatan jungle their home
Several species of big cats live in Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. This includes the jaguar, the puma, the margay, the ocelot, and the jaguarundi.
Jaguars live in the Yucatan jungle close to Lake Bacalar in the southern part of Quintana Roo as well as in the southern part of Campeche state close to Calakmul. Sightings are rare as the jaguars’ territory is becoming more and more significantly reduced due to constant developments in the Yucatan.
This big cat is also very shy of humans. You are more likely to catch a sighting of the jaguar in remote parts of Campeche State very early in the morning.
Final thoughts on these facts about the Yucatan peninsula
Hopefully, you enjoyed reading these facts about the Yucatan peninsula and they have inspired you to visit the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. You may also enjoy reading these general facts about Mexico.
Safe travels and have a wonderful time in Mexico. Buen Viaje! xo
