EUROQUEST SideTracks

Once the mass-tourist resorts of Cancún and Playa del Carmen are left behind, we may wish to head South on the Mayan Riviera to discover some of the true treasures of the Yucatán Peninsula, the Mayan ruins in Tulúm and Cobá. Just an hour south of Playa del Carmen by bus, we reach the sprawling village of Tulúm, once a sleepy small community and now a booming center for ecologically-minded tourism and gateway for the Mayan heritage sites. In Tulúm, it may be advisable to rent a bicycle to have easier access to the amenities in the village itself, as well as to the Mayan ruins and the magical beaches on the Carribbean. The first stop of any bus service to Tulúm is at the "ZONA ARQUEOLÓGICA", from which a 5 minute walk leads past sales booths and local handicrafts to the Museum Entrance itself. At a cost of 57 Pesos per Person, visitors gain access to what may rank among the most fascinating and scenic sights on the Yucatán Peninsula. Mayan ruins meet the blue Carribbean

With the war on drugs raging in many parts of the nation particularly in are as close to the U.S. border, tourism to Mexico has equally been adversely affected with many visitors questioning their personal safety in light of exagerated media coverage on the ongoing battle between drug cartels. For visitors that actually do venture south of the border (if coming from the U.S.), almost all tourist areas are perfectly safe, offer great value for money and unforgettable scenery, pristine beaches and unique cutural and architectural treasures. The most popular resort areas to visit would include the Baja Peninsula, the Pacific Coast around Puerto Vallarta as well as the Mayan Riviera on the Yucatan Peninsula. Among those destinations, the Yucatan may be by far the most popular and most crowded, as in addition to North American visitors, Europeans equally flock here in high numbers mostly from France, Italy and the Benelux. The best advice to arriving passengers here would be to leave