mayan ruins Archives - The Cabana Beach

To speak of Mexico is to speak of the Maya civilization, one of the most important in pre-Hispanic America.

Therefore, it is not surprising that every year millions of people want to admire in person the invaluable legacy left by this culture in Yucatan, Campeche, Tabasco, the eastern part of Chiapas and Quintana Roo.
Precisely, in this state we can locate the island of Cozumel among the favorite destinations for those who decide to enjoy a vacation in this country.

For you to enjoy even more your trip to this paradise on the Caribbean coast and its Mayan heritage, here are a few curiosities that you will probably like to know.

Things you have to know about Cozumel

Cozumel, in Mayan language Kosom Lumil, is the third largest island in Mexico and the second most populated.
It is one of the 11 municipalities of the State of Quintana Roo, is located 18 kilometers from the Yucatan Peninsula and just over 60 kilometers from Cancun.

It is also known as the Land of the Swallows due to the large number of these birds that fly over this territory founded by the Mayas as a sacred sanctuary and commercial stop.

The enchanting island has been the scene of historical events that have marked it, making it an exotic island, like something out of a fairy tale. It has sheltered Mayans, Spaniards and even reckless pirates.

Despite this, it has always been a peaceful island and its inhabitants seem to be enraptured by a love and respect for the Mayan culture as in few other places.

The Arrecifes National Park (Great Mayan Reef) and its spectacular corals and marine fauna are some of the reasons why Cozumel is considered one of the top 5 diving destinations in the world.

Around the 60’s the renowned filmmaker, diver, oceanographer and writer Jacques Cousteau after having explored the seas throughout the world aboard his ship Calypso, declared that Cozumel was the best place to dive and, as if by magic, all diving lovers fixed their eyes on this small island making it one of the best places to practice this sport.

The people of Cozumel in gratitude to Jacques Cousteau have placed a statue of him at the bottom of the sea.

If you don’t want to swim underwater to appreciate the marine fauna, coral formations and even a sunken ship, you can dive in a real submarine!

Although Cozumel does not have extensive white sand beaches, since its geography is rather rocky, there are at least 3 that are a must-see:
Punta Chiqueros – with a still rather “wild” environment -; Playa Palancar, one of the most popular and highly recommended for snorkeling; and Playa de Chen Rio, which looks more like a swimming pool, thanks to the rocks that surround the place and slow down the swell.

Archaeological sites in Riviera Maya

Among the most important archaeological sites to visit in Cozumel are the San Gervasio Ruins, where the sanctuary dedicated to “Ixchel”, the Mayan goddess of fertility, was erected.

The first inhabitants of Cozumel were the Mayas, who worshipped the goddess Ixchel, deity of fertility, childbirth, love and gestation. The love of the Mayan people for the goddess Ixchel was such that a sanctuary was built for her and it was the duty of every woman to go at least once in her life to worship her. It is said that the goddess Ixchel in gratitude made them bring from the sky the favorite birds of the Mayas, hence the name La Isla de las Golondrinas (Island of the Swallows). In Mayan Cuzam is swallow and Luum, place, giving origin to the name Cuzamil. The Spaniards, unable to pronounce it accurately, began to deform it to Cozumel.

However, you will have to board a boat to go to the mainland and tour the Mayan settlements of Chitchen Itza, Tulum and Coba.

El Cedral de Cozumel

El Cedral de Cozumel is one of the places you should not miss, because it is a small town that has gone through different eras such as: Mayan and Spanish era. This construction is the oldest in Cozumel.

This community has one of the oldest vestiges of the island, in which we can still see much of its architecture and traces of paintings on walls dating from 800 BC.

Also, El Cedral has one of the most significant traditions, a fair commemorating the day of the Holy Cross and the arrival of the 21 families that took refuge on the island of Cozumel during the Caste War in 1848.

The story goes that more than 170 years ago, Casimiro Cárdenas fled to Cozumel Island from the town of Sabán. His enemies murdered several of his companions, but Cardenas survives. He thinks it was because he always kept a cross in his hands and later promises that every year he will make a festivity in honor of the Holy Cross for the life that was given to him. Today, a festival is held in honor of the Santa Cruz de Sabán. On this site, one of the oldest ruins of Cozumel, the site of “La Cárcel”, is also located.

The fair of El Cedral takes place at the beginning of May and in it you can find activities such as bullfights, cockfights, rodeos, typical food, folkloric dances of the region, horseback riding, among other activities that make this fair one of the must-see activities on the island of Cozumel.

This festivity begins on the last days of April and ends on May 3, the day of the masons and the Holy Cross. During these days, masses, rosaries and folkloric dances are held. On the other hand, the town of Cedral is full of festivities, the fair is present, a bullring is the host of the bullfights, as well as of the invited artists.

The pig's head dance at the Cedral festival

Every year on May 3rd, visitors to the Cedral festival dress up in their costumes. The long awaited dance of the “Cabeza de Cochino” begins in a part of the main palapa of the village, it goes around the whole palapa, they laugh, they celebrate one more year of tradition. Pol Keken, a word that comes from the Mayan, Pool means head (of any animal) and Keken means pig. Ancient stories mention that deer or wild boar heads were used before, in order to worship the Mayan deities. But with the arrival of the Europeans, they brought the pig and it was adopted by this species.

The pig’s head has sweet bread, bars or inserted Chinese paper flags, plus flowers around it, it goes on top of a tray with an apple in the mouth of the animal, plus fruit around it. It is carried by the person who made the promise.

The ribbon dance

It is so called because on a pole several meters high, they have placed ribbons of different colors and at the tip, several flowers that adorn the so-called pole. With turns, alternating men and women, they wind the ribbons on the pole, lining it with a colorful fabric from top to bottom, to finish with another fabric away from the mast and in the form of a hat.

The ribbons are lifted and lowered and they go backwards, to unbraid the ribbons, until the pole is left with the ribbons hanging and then remove the pole and dance where the rest of the presentation will take place.

To make your experience at El Cedral more memorable, we recommend that you bring comfortable clothing, cash, sunscreen, water, hats and sunglasses.

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Cozumel Jungle Tour

Cozumel Island is the third largest island in Mexico (after Isla Tiburón in Sonora and Isla Ángel de la Guarda in the Sea of Cortés), as well as the second most populated island in the country (after Isla del Carmen in Campeche).

It is important from an ecological and faunistic point of view due to the large number of endemic species and subspecies that inhabit it (27 vertebrates), including the largest number of endemic island mammals (seven), including the dwarf mastofauna.
These and other biogeographical peculiarities make it the second island conservation priority in the country.

Travel through the jungle of Cozumel on this off-road vehicle tour with enough time to swim in a cenote and drive through a coral cave, all while discovering the Mayan culture.

Unlike most of the islands that make up the Greater and Lesser Antilles, most of Cozumel’s territory is preserved, as agricultural and livestock activities are restricted to small areas for family use. In addition, most of the population and tourism are concentrated in the town of San Miguel in the northern zone, so anthropic zones cover approximately 11% of the island.

The island has four Natural Protected Areas: the Arrecifes de Cozumel National Marine Park, the Laguna Colombia Flora and Fauna State Refuge (Parque Punta Sur) of which three quarters of its surface is made up of lagoon and mangrove systems, while the rest is occupied by a small portion of medium-sized jungle and beaches; the Cozumel Island Flora and Fauna Protection Area and finally the “Selvas y Humedales” State Reserve in the center of the island.

Let your senses guide you on this adventure on dirt roads surrounded by abundant nature. A lively and knowledgeable staff will take care of you while telling you fun facts about the Jade Cave Cenote.

The cenote is connected to several subway tunnels on the island. When you arrive, you can take the opportunity to swim and admire the incredible nature.

During the adventure you will discover the cave system of Coral Cove, drive through the village of El Cedral, travel along several rocky trails, swim in a cenote and cross mud holes that will test your driving skills. You will also have the opportunity to take with you some wonderful memories captured by a team of photographers throughout the trip.

The tour includes:
All entrance fees
Bottle of water
Safety equipment (helmets, goggles and bandanas)
Bilingual guides

This tour is not suitable for:
Under 10 years old
Pregnant women
People with back problems
People with mobility problems
People in wheelchairs
People with respiratory problems
People with epilepsy
People with diabetes
Persons with hypertension
Drivers under 16 years of age
People with heart problems
Persons with pre-existing medical conditions

Important information:
What to bring
Driver’s license
Comfortable shoes
Closed shoes
Not allowed
Be in a state of drunkenness
Insect repellent
Unaccompanied minors
Sun protection

Before traveling:
Minimum age to participate is 10 years old
Minimum driving age is 16 years old
Participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied and supervised by a chaperone, parent or legal guardian at all times.
People with the following diseases/medical conditions cannot participate: pregnant, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, epilepsy, respiratory disease, blood pressure problems, back/neck problems, taking antidepressants, lithium, beta-blockers or vasoconstrictors.
The maximum weight per passenger on a quad is 145 kilograms (320 pounds).
A zero tolerance policy applies to people under the influence of any substance.
All participants must sign a waiver document.

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LA TUMBA DEL CARACOL

Cozumel one of the ten municipalities of the state of Quintana Roo is a Mexican island, the third largest and the second most populated of the country in the Mayan language Cozumel means “Island of the Swallows”, rich in archaeological monuments, product of the Mayan culture, has incredible places for tourists the most relevant are San Gervasio, El Cedral, Miramar, Punta Molas, Celarain and Cinco Puertas on the island of Cozumel and Xel Ha, has historic buildings such as the Public Clock, the boardwalk, the Esplanade of the Flag, the main park, monument to the snail, monument to the diver and the statue of the Virgin submerged in the sea, in June is the religious feast of St. Pedro and St. Pablo, in September that of St. Miguel.

In June is the religious feast of San Pedro and San Pablo, in September is the feast of San Miguel (the name of the municipal capital is San Miguel de Cozumel), in February or March is the carnival and in May is celebrated in El Cedral the feast of the Holy Cross.

The name of the ruin “El Caracol” was given because of the snails that ornament the small dome that crowns the roof of this small temple, hence the name. It is also known as “Tumba del Caracol”, because of its small size, which resembles a burial mound.

It is certain that this pre-Hispanic complex was built during the late Postclassic period (1200 – 1500 A.D.) and although it is believed that this archaeological site is dedicated to and was built in honor of the Mayan goddess Ixchel, there are no remains to prove it.

The ruin of the Caracol has a west-east alignment towards the islet “Celarain” 550 m. away and you can see the sunrise in alignment with it, on February 22 and October 20. In addition, the observation of celestial movements was of great importance to the ancient Maya.

That is why they developed calendars of great precision used in agricultural and religious activities, and transferred the knowledge to build their cities in harmony with the cosmos and worship the deities that inhabited the celestial vault.

The main temple is the one that gives name to the zone and it is a miniature temple of vaulted roof and four doors, that later was wrapped in three of its sides by a bigger construction.

On the roof it has a small square temple, with four openings and an upper hole, where a snail-shaped top was placed, decorated with four rows of natural snails embedded in the stucco.

One of the legends that embrace this archaeological zone is that people believe that the wind makes the snails whistle, and that the ancient Maya related it to hurricanes and the cult of the wind.

The singular decoration of the roof of this building is unique in the region. This makes it highly recommended for a visit, which includes an exceptional view of the sea at the southern tip of Cozumel Island.

The Caracol group is located at the southern tip of the island of Cozumel, on the dirt road leading to the Punta Celerain lighthouse, where there is currently a small museum which is in charge of the Foundation of Parks and Museums of Cozumel.

The site is located within the ecological reserve of Punta Sur, administered by the same foundation. From the city of San Miguel de Cozumel, it can be easily accessed by following the perimeter road to the south of the island.

Services available in the area:
The archeological site does not have any. To access the park’s services, the corresponding access fee must be paid.

Hours:
Visits are scheduled upon request to the INAH Center. The park is open from Monday to Saturday, from 9:00 to 16:00 hrs.

Recommendations:
Wear comfortable shoes, water, insect repellent and biodegradable sunscreen.
Since INAH does not have permanent staff at the site, visits should be requested at least five days in advance.

How to get to the site:
It can be easily accessed by following the perimeter road to the south of the island.

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Cozumel and its cultural secrets

Beyond its spectacular beaches, Cozumel also has cultural secrets to offer you.

When we go on vacation to a paradisiacal destination like the Caribbean
we have in mind to enjoy the sun, sand and sea,
we believe that we only need these three elements of nature to be happy,
but there are also destinations that have to do with culture.

Cozumel not only has the most impressive natural beauties,
it is also developing activities that are linked to culture.

That is why we want to highlight the cultural activities in Cozumel,
after a few days on the beach tanning, you can go to three
spectacular places that will make you reconnect with the past, present and future.

The first is the ruins of San Gervasio, a mystical, millenary site full
of beautiful iguanas that guard this sacred place.

San Gervasio, Cozumel

San Gervasio is the largest archaeological zone on the island of Cozumel,
where there are ancient structuresthat frame the remains of the Mayan civilization
and serve as a sanctuary for the goddess Ix-chel.

Upon entering we will feel an energetic atmosphere.

The road is made of stone, as this was the way to know how to get to this or that place,
and this reminds us of the natural intelligence that the Mayas had
to develop their cities and communication routes.

San Gervasio served as a strategic point for the political and economic development of its time.
Most of the structures were used as altars, shrines and for meetings of government officials.

El Pueblo del Maíz

A park that connects us with the Mayan ancestors, and where their way of life is explained,
the daily activities they had and a choreographic representation of their rituals is offered.

Where we will learn that fresh water comes from subway wells, from the liquid that accumulated
from the rainwater and that was accumulated by the surrounding nature.

The Maya also discovered that chicle, a gum extracted from the bark of a tree,
allowed them to stay hydrated while chewing it,
which they did when they had to walk for several hours or days.

There is also an explanation about the goddess Ix-chel,
who was known not only as an entity that intercedes for fertility,
but also for abundance in the Maya land.

We are given a copal bath to get rid of bad vibes and then we enter the pre-Hispanic universe,
where we are told that cocoa was used as currency to buy food,
we are taught how to grind corn to make dough and then we end up
making a tortilla to which we add a delicious pumpkin seed sauce.

Then there is the procedure for making chocolate,
which explains how the cocoa bean is obtained.

These seeds are put in the sun to dry and then roasted on the comal,
and then ground in the metate, without a sweetener, the flavor is similar to coffee,
the Mayas used honey so that the ground cocoa had flavor and became chocolate,
with which they also prepared beverages.

Later there is a choreographic representation of a ritual,
among other cultural activities worth appreciating.

El Planetario

Another of the cultural activities in Cozumel is for lovers of astronomy and anything to do
with space and the environment, there is an ideal place to learn about the past,
present and future: “The Cha’an Ka’an” planetarium, which has state-of-the-art technology.

Thanks to the geographical position of the island, the telescope has been able to see stars,
planets and even galaxies.

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