Known since 1665 as the estancia of Diego de Mendoza, a descendent of the conquistador Francisco de Montejo, Hacienda Temozón is built of coral walls and white moldings in the tropical rain forest. During the second half of the 19th century it was transformed into a sisal hacienda. One of the most important in the peninsula, with an area of 6642 hectares, 640 workers and the most powerful industrial equipment in the region, Temozón is one of the best examples of the prosperity generated by sisal production.

Located in the main house and overlooking the breathtaking main gardens, swimming pool and the old factory buildings, Temozón restaurant serves a blend of regional and international cuisine; authentic procedures such as the “pib” (underground oven) are incorporated in the menu. Most of the ingredients are organic and come from the gardens.

Located within the grounds of the Hacienda Temozón, Xaca Mucuy is an open, almost circular cenote with a diameter of 20 meters, where visitors can immerse themselves in the depth of its waters ranging from two to almost 35 meters.

Uxmal dates from the Classic Maya era (600-900 A.D) and is termed Puuc style. The earliest recorded date found so far is 569 A.D. There is scant glyphic information concerning the rulers of Uxmal. Two stelae have been recovered that name one ruler, Lord Chaac, and his parents, and have been dated to c.900 A.D. Uxmal was abandoned more than once, and it is noted in the Spanish chronicles that Uxmal was one of the few inhabited sites at the time of the Conquest. It was the main capital of the Xiu, who ruled here until about 1050 A.D., after which time the site was abandoned. The Xiu along with the Itza were the two main cultural groups of the Yucatan from the Classic period forward.

The ruins of the ceremonial structures at Uxmal represent the pinnacle of late Maya art and architecture in their design, layout and ornamentation, and the complex of Uxmal and its three related towns of Kabah, Labná and Sayil admirably demonstrate the social and economic structure of late Maya society.

Merida, capital state of Yucatan whose heritage is a rich blend of Mayan y colonial was founded in 1542 by Francisco de Montejo on the remains of the ancient Mayan city, called T’hó, which means 5 in the Mayan language. In fact, when he arrived, he found 5 Mayan temples surrounding a huge plaza and resembling the Roman ruins of the city of Merida in Extremadura, Spain, and therefore he adopted the same name. Merida of Yucatan.

On our tour of the city, we will stroll Paseo Montejo, which is a gorgeous tree-lined avenue stretching from the Santa Ana neighborhood ending with the grand and unmissable Monumento a la Patria. The incredible mansions are a reminder of the wealth that was in the Yucatan during the 19th century. At one point Merida was home to the most millionaires in the world, wealth created by processing and export of locally grown henequen, a fibrous plant from which twine and rope are produced.

We will also visit Lucas Galvez market, a feast for all your senses from the beautiful and unusual fruits, vegetables, and meat to the beautiful scent of fresh flowers in the air.

Chichen Itzá

The sacred Chichén Itzá site was one of the greatest Mayan centers of the Yucatán peninsula. Throughout its nearly 1,000-year history, different peoples have left their mark on the city. The Maya and Toltec vision of the world and the universe is revealed in their stone monuments and artistic works. The fusion of Mayan construction techniques with new elements from central Mexico make Chichen-Itza one of the most important examples of the Mayan-Toltec civilization in Yucatán. Several buildings have survived, such as the Warriors’ Temple, El Castillo and the circular observatory known as El Caracol.

Chichen Itza was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. In 2007, the Temple of Kukulcán at Chichén Itzá has joined such famous architectural wonders as the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu and the Taj Mahal on the list of the Seven New Wonders of the World. This impressive pyramid symbolizes the grandeur of the Mayan civilization. The greyish white colossus is 30 meters high and has exactly 365 steps to the temple at the top – this was also the number of days in the Mayan calendar.

Historians believe that Chichen Itza was founded and rose to prominence due to its close proximity to the Xtoloc cenote, an underground source of fresh water. The name Chichen Itza is a Mayan language term for at the mouth of the well of the Itza. The Itza were an ethnic group of Mayans who had risen to power in the northern part of the Yucatan peninsula, where the city is located.

There are about 1,000 registered cenotes in Yucatán and our visit wouldn’t be complete without seeing one. While the Cenote Sagrado de Chichen Itza is not for swimming, we will be able to visit one nearby.

A cenote is a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater. The regional term is specifically associated with the Yucatán, where cenotes were commonly used for water supplies by the ancient Maya, and occasionally for sacrificial offerings. The term derives from a word used by the lowland Yucatec Maya—tsʼonot—to refer to any location with accessible groundwater.

Cozumel

We are flying to Cozumel to relax. We will depart Chichen Itza in the afternoon arriving to the Cozumel airport after half an hour flight, which will give us two full days to enjoy sun, swimming pool and nearby beaches, before heading back home on Sunday.

The InterContinental® Presidente Cozumel Resort and Spa hotel places you on a palm-fringed Caribbean island on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest coral reef system in the world. You can swim in a beachside infinity pool or relax in a spa. The hotel's acclaimed dive center offers reef diving and snorkeling trips with expert instructors.

We will make sure to visit Buccanos Beach Club and have a dinner at the club renowned restaurant.