Here’s our monthly gallery showcasing some of the region’s many natural and historical attractions. How many have you visited?  Which ones would you like to explore on future visits to Royal Resorts?

Rio Secreto

Discover the majesty of the Riviera Maya’s caves and cenotes on a visit to Rio Secreto just south of Playa del Carmen. Your guide will lead you through the galleries full of stalactites and stalagmites and still pools. Yet there is more to see, this hidden treasure is in a jungle reserve rich in wildlife, including coatimundi, deer, ocelot and the elusive jaguar, and nature walks and bike trails are also offered.

Holbox

Miles of white sand beach and aquamarine water that shimmers with phosphorescence during the summer nights, spectacular sunsets, and the chance to see rare birds and animals are some of Holbox’s charms. Located in northern Quintana Roo, just off the Gulf coast, this island is a must for nature lovers, birders and fishermen. There are eco and fishing trips year-round and whale shark watching excursions during the summer. Lobster pizza tops the list of island seafood specialties.

Quinta Montes Molina, Merida

One of the highlights of a visit to the city of Merida, state capital of the neighboring state of Yucatan, is a walk along the leafy boulevard Paseo de Montejo lined with the gracious old mansions dating from the henequen boom in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. Set in beautiful gardens and built in 1902, the elegant French-style Quinta Montes Molina with its iconic tower is one of them and it is open to the public.

In 1915, the house was purchased by local businessman Avelino Montes Linaje and is still owned by the Montes Molina family to this day. Guided tours show visitors rooms full of original furniture, Baccarat crystal chandeliers, Murano glass, paintings and the family china. Porcelain and alabaster statues grace the halls and corridors.  Sepia photos, art deco pieces, clothing and musical instruments show what life was once like for the family.

Downstairs in the basement are the kitchen, the wine cellar, laundry and the servants’ quarters.

Quinta Montes Molina is open Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Uxmal

An hour’s drive south of Mérida, lies one of the architectural jewels of the Maya World, Uxmal. The skyline is dominated by the Magician’s Pyramid, a temple shrouded in legend. The Nuns’ Quadrangle, a courtyard surrounded by four palaces is famous for the artistry of its stucco facades. The Palace of the Governor and the Great Pyramid look down on the site from the top of a hill crowned by an ancient manmade platform. El Palomar, Temple of the Birds, the Ball Court and the House of the Turtles are other buildings of note.

If you decide to stay the night in one of the nearby hotels be sure to return to Uxmal in the evening for the video mapping. In the morning, explore the chain of smaller archaeological sites near Uxmal known as the Puuc Route: Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak and Labna. With Uxmal, they are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Thomas More Travel is your guide to incredible travel experiences in the Mexican Caribbean and Yucatan.