Xcaret, Mexico

Xcaret Eco Park is a Mexican themed eco-archaeological park. Xcaret was an important harbour and trade centre at the height of the Mayan civilisation and remains from this era can be seen in the park.
As a theme park, it displays some natural and cultural features, representative of Yucatán. The nature-based attractions include a river going through a Mayan village, a subterranean concrete sluice in wich people can swim and snorkel, swimming with the dolphins and a beach with a number of activities. The cultural activities include a replica of a Mayan village and a series of Mexican-themed shows.

Opening hours: 8h30 a.m. to 9h30 p.m.

Ticket (standard): 129 USD (about 120 €); discounts apply for buying tickets in advance online here.











Local: Solidaridad, Quintana Roo, México

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Saint John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta, Malta

Image
Saint John's Co-Cathedral was commissioned by Grand Master Jean de la Cassière and built as the conventual church for the Knights of Saint John, between 1573 and 1578. It's a Roman Catholic cathedral, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. The Grand Master and several knights donated gifts of high artistic value for its decoration, making its interior a gem of Baroque art and architecture. While the exterior reflects the knights' military pragmatism, the interior reveals their sophistication, power and wealth. Not to miss the paintings by Caravaggio, "Saint Jerome writing" and "The beheading of Saint John the Baptist". Opening hours: 9.30 to 16.30 (12.30 on Sat., closed on Sun.) Entrance fee: €10 Back to Valletta
Read more

Church of Santa Maria de Belém, Lisbon, Portugal

Image
The church of Santa Maria de Belém originated from the expansion,  ordered by Henry the Navigator in the 15th century,  of a previous hermitage built on the site. The new church was trusted to the Order of Christ- of which Henry the Navigator was the Grand Master- to help the seamen that passed by Belém, as the hermitage had done before. In 1501, by order of King D. Manuel I, the Monastery of the Hieronymites started being built and the small church was totally remodelled in the Manueline and Renaissance styles. It was the king's wish that the church should become a pantheon for the dynasty (Avis-Beja) started by him, and that it continued to help the travellers passing through Belém. Like the Monastery, the church was significantly restored in the 19th century. Inside the church are the tombs of several historical figures: Luís de Camões, one of Portugal's greatest poets who lived in the 16th century, Vasco da Gama, the first navigator to go to In...
Read more

The Gates of Mdina, Malta

Image
Mdina walls have three gates: the Mdina Gate, the Greeks Gate and the Gharreqin Gate. The Main Gate, also known as Vilhena gate, was built in 1724, under Grandmaster Antonio Manoel de Vilhena, who in 1722 ordered the renovation and restoration of Mdina. The courtyard behind the main gate was demolished to make way for the Vilhena Palace and a new gate had to be built, a few meters to the left of the old one, which was walled up. The Gate has reliefs of Saint Agatha, Saint Paul and Saint Publius, the three patron saints of Malta. The Greeks Gate is the oldest of the three Gates, dating back to medieval times. It was also renovated in 1724 when an outer portal was built in the baroque style. It is known as the Greeks Gate because a small community of Greeks once lived by the gate. For many years it was the only gate by which the slaves were allowed to enter Mdina. The Gharreqin Gate is the less known and most recent of the three Gates. It was excavated in...
Read more

Archaeological excavations in Lisbon's Cathedral Cloister, Portugal

Image
Archaeological excavations in Lisbon's Cathedral Cloister started in 1990. These excavations have unearthed remnants of human presence since the Iron Age.It's possible to see the remains of a Roman road with shops on both sides. This road would have connected the Roman Theater to the port area. From the Roman period, there's also part of a kitchen and a "cloaca" (sewage system).From later periods there are traces of Visigothic buildings and a very visible part of a Moorish building with red walls, probably related with the Mosque that once stood on the site where Lisbon's cathedral was built. Opening hours : 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket (standard) : €2.5 (€4 combined with the Treasury), cash only. Roman road and shops. Roman sewage system close to a Moorish public building. Moorish building.
Read more