We spent Valentine’s Day at Bacalar Laguna with new friends from Canada, Gwen and Cory. We ate homemade pizza and drank coconut water right out of the coconuts. We had a fabulous time and are very grateful our paths crossed.
Valentine’s Day
We Found Paradise
And it is called Bacalar Laguna, a small lake in the Yucatan. Actually, I believe it is several cenotes that converged, but hey minor details. The important thing is that it was gorgeous! Beautiful fresh water in hues of blue and green. Dappled sunshine to read and relax. A small bit of paradise.
A Bit of Wind
We made it to the Caribbean Sea on the Yucatan Peninsula. It is beautiful, hot, humid and a bit of wind, especially when an afternoon storm rolls in.
We Were Flying
The Wee Rover hit 50mph on the flat, topeless road across the Yucatan!
We felt like we were flying!
Hanging with the Big Rigs
The Wee Rover did her first overnight at a Pemex Petrol Station. She was very excited to hang with the big rigs.
Another Mayan Ruin?
How many Mayan ruins can one see? Well, in Mexico you can spend days, weeks, maybe even months visiting them all.
Yesterday, we visited Palenque, a huge change from Yachitlan as Palenque is on the bus tour route. We counted 4 huge buses in the museum parking lot and many more small van tour groups. Since we were here, and had found a wonderful camping place with a pool, we decided to visit the ruins anyway.
We were amazingly surprised. The ruins sprawl over a fairly large area, so except for the busy main areas, it can absorb a large number of people. We walked over from our camping spot, wandered for a few hours in the heat and humidity…until we ran out of water, took lots of pictures, and then sauntered back and fell into the pool.
We were glad we decided to brave the crowds. We have found every set of ruins to be similar, but unique in their own way. I’m not sure how many more ruins we will visit…you know, the unplanned, plan and all.
Today, we are being bums. The pool, internet to catch-up on blogs, the pool, trying to get wet clothes to dry (futile in this humidity), and did I mention the pool?
Jock! Start the Engine!
Yachitlan Ruins, a real life Indiana Jones moment!
We learned of Yachitlan from a fellow traveler while in Baja. Mayan ruins, jungle, monkeys, a boat ride in…we had to check it out.
So, a few hundred miles of topes, mountain roads, topes, heat, topes, jungle, and more topes, we arrived in Frontera Corozal on the river border between Mexico and Guatemala. We set up camp in the heat and humidity and hired a boat and guide to take us the 20km down river to Yachitlan early the next morning.
After several swims in the pool and a very hot night, we boarded the boat at dawn and went zipping up the river enjoying the scenery and cool breezes. 45 minutes later, one ruin peaked out of the jungle just as we neared the dock. From there we wound our way up into the jungle exploring ruin after ruin with Juan, our English speaking guide. For two hours we had the entire site to ourselves.
An ancient site, a labyrinth, the jungle, crocodiles sleeping on the river bank, howler monkeys howling, spider monkeys swinging from tree to tree, and bats dozing in the shadows of the stone structures.
Amazing!
We felt like Indiana Jones!
It’s Hot!!!!
The trip south to Yachitlan was a drive into the very hot and humid jungle along the border between Guatemala and Mexico.
Did I say it’s Hot!
To make the long trip down more manageable we planned to camp along the way. We found a small village spot, Cascadas Welib-Ha, that let us camp in the parking lot, rather than rent one of the few cabanas. The falls were beautiful and the cool water was perfect after a long hot day of traveling. And the little family restaurant had delicious pescado (fish).
It was so nice, we stayed on the way back north as well!
