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The Mexican Caribbean is about to become a lot cooler and it has nothing to do with a cold blast from the north hitting the tropical beach resort destination.
The region has been named in The Cool List 2024 as one of the top most exciting destinations in the world to visit next year according to National Geographic Traveller magazine from the United Kingdom.
Connecting With Mayan History
Along with New York, Miami, and the Iberá Wetlands in Argentina, the Mexican Caribbean is officially a cool place to visit and explore in 2024 according to the Brits.
Technically, they recommend the Yucatan Peninsula and its dramatic connection to ancient history that can even make Indiana Jones excited to explore around in the region’s jungles.
In fact, back in June of this year a real-life Indiana Jones named Ivan Šprajc unearthed a Mayan city in the region that was previously unknown to the modern world.
Unfortunately, tourists to the Mexican Caribbean can’t exactly visit Ocomtún yet, but it is hoped that once it is secure and recorded that it will be open to visitors.
The newly discovered ancient city was occupied between 600 and 800 CE according to the dating of pottery from the site. It also has a large pyramid complex nestled in the Balamkú Ecological Conservation Zone of the Yucatan Peninsula.
However, the magazine said there are still many ways that visitors to the cool travel region for 2024 can connect with the Mayan traditions and history.
The Maya Adventure Route
For example, the magazine wrote that real adventure seekers can check out the 80-mile mountain biking and hiking route in the Mexican Caribbean called the Camino del Mayab.
Tourists exploring this passage back in time will venture along less-visited Maya communities and cenotes before ending up at the Maya city of Mayapán.
Cancun Hotel Zone Mayan Connections
Travelers to the Mexican Caribbean can find plenty of places to connect with the culture that made the area a cool destination to visit in 2024.
Tourists don’t have to venture far from the hotel zone of Cancun to explore an ancient Maya site. In fact, The King of all Sites is right in the hotel zone for travelers to explore.
Known as The King, the ancient Mayan site in the Cancun hotel zone shows the bases of where buildings once stood. The proper name of the site is Kin Ich Ahau Bonil, and it is believed to be an ancient observatory for the local Mayans.
Amazingly, the site, conveniently located right next to Playa Delfines, really doesn’t get much attention or visitors.
Modern Mayan Connections
For tourists looking for Mayan connections without the ruins, the magazine article says travelers can head to the Riviera Maya and stay at the newly renovated Maroma south of Cancun.
The resort hotel offers traditional spa wellness treatments and even was designed using Mayan architectural principles. It’s definitely a throwback in time with a touch of Mexican Caribbean luxury.
What Tourists Need to Know
There are a number of ways that travelers can explore their adventure side and get to know more about the traditional Mayan culture, which made the Mexican Caribbean one of National Geographic Traveller’s cool places to visit in 2024.
Visitors looking to explore the area should know that reservations are already being booked as far in advance as Spring Break for the Mexican Caribbean, especially Cancun.
Therefore, travelers will want to plan ahead for their flights and hotel accommodations for their vacation getaway.
It’s also good to reserve guides and tours to the popular Mayan sites well in advance as well. The added attention around the popularity of these sites will make them fill fast as adventure travelers explore their Indiana Jones side in 2024.
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