Adventure Travel
 
There are so numerous different types of birds to spot and enjoy on the Yucatan Peninsula and which is a hard decision to come up with which place to go to be able to surely take pleasure in living paradise.
Hiking trips are considered to be one of the ideal ways to be able to arrive to the more obscure areas and are led by tour guides that can offer you valuable insight into the species that you are viewing on the bird watching tour.

Because of its ideal location, the Yucatan Peninsula is considered to be one of the most famous birding areas all over the world. Because it is engulfed by the Gulf of Mexico one side and the Caribbean Sea on the other side, and the Yucatan Channel on the northern coast that makes the climate and surroundings perfect; it simply is ideal for our flying friends.

In this mix of ocean and jungle, you can see over 546 different species of birds living here, with the Mayan ruins all too often giving a home for the more gentle species of birds. Aside from the protected areas all around the Mayan ruins, there are a couple of significant biosphere reserves in the Yucatan. Sian Ka'an which is the 3rd largest protected area in Mexico and the Rio Lagartos in the northwestern area. In Sian Ka'an, you will be able to see over 300 species of birds within the area of lagoons, islands, dunes and wetland areas.

The tour departs from the Playa del Carmen, Cancun or the Riviera Maya every day of the week. Visitors are offered with two options: either the whole day in the Rio Lagartos Reserve or a half-day in the Rio Lagartos Reserve. In both tours, there is an expert guide who will accompany the visitors and they are very familiar with the bird species and also with the geographical area of the site.



The Rio Lagartos Reserve tour begins in the morning immediately right after leaving the hotel, riding by automobile to the beginning of the Peten Tucha trail, based near the Rio Lagartos village; and it is where the trek into the jungle starts. Several of the species of birds found here are the Laughing Falcon, Yucatan Jay, Vermilion Flycatcher, and Crested Caraca.

There are two climates that you will come to experience in the Rio Lagartos wetlands region on your bird watching tour: the Yucatan's dry forest and the Mexican mangroves. There are no less than 10 various kinds of vegetation enclosed inside the Rio Lagartos Reserve; these differ in height from mere centimeters to over 10 meters in height. The small island areas made up of small tightly growing types of trees nearby springs have the most variety in floral species. The all day tour includes fees, birding guides, boat tour, and lunch and pick up at the end of the day to return to your hotel.



Going for a half day tour is in Sian Ka'an, over thirteen million acres of area, measuring about 120 kilometers in length from south to north along the Caribbean coastline. The tour will start at 5 in the morning and with a pick up from the hotel, visitors will ride a car to the Muyil entrance of the reserve. The large core zones in the reserve are set up to facilitate scientific research and limit the building of cities or villages to preserve the heritage of the preserve. The name of the preserve itself means 'where the sky is born'.

In this great diversity of aquatic wetlands, the brown pelican, roseate spoonbill and Yucatan woodpecker are among the species of birds that are to be found in the said area and the tri colored heron are some of the exceptional birds spotted here. With the bird watching tour, you will not only gain an experience of a lifetime but as well as the photos of a lifetime. Mexico's Mayan ruins are forgotten only by humans, yet are full of life with the birds and wonderful sceneries that this lovely paradise holds. For something completely different, a bird watching tour of the Mayan area is nothing less than breathtaking.

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Tours from Duende:
Multi-day Jungle Tours (warning: Real Adventure Travel!)
Bird Watching Tours
Crocodile Tour
Marine Turtle Night Tour
Customize your own tour

Articles:
Top bird watching sites from the Riviera Maya
Hiking Tours in the Mayan Jungle - How Adventure Travel differs with Duende Tours

 
The Tikal ruins lay north of Guatemala City, which is known to be a cultural Mecca of ancient times.



The great dynasties of Tikal consist of some of the most well known kings and numerous queens at the same time.

In the year 1979, Tikal National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site for the countless offerings that it shared to the world. The Tikal ruins must be on your list of places to visit in the Mayan territory because of the best reasons such as technology, the significant architecture and the great atmosphere.

During the ancient times, Tikal was made the capital of a conquered area where in it rose and became one of the largest urban areas that ever existed in the vast Mayan civilizations. Though there are still many ancient mysteries that remain in Tikal, it has been said that Tikal is the best known as well as the best understood of all the Mayan cities.

Among the biggest of the sites that have been significantly explored by archeologist is Tikal; considered the heart of the Mayan civilization in what are the Pre-Columbian times. Amongst the many ancient Mayans that existed, Tikal was known to be the most powerful and oftentimes visited. The most amazing that you will see in the Maya areas is the style of the architecture, dating back to nearly the fourth century BC.

Between 200 and 900 AD which was referred to as the Classic period of the Mayan Civilizations, was the time that Tikal was said to have attained the pinnacle of its victory. Tikal factually dominated the Mayan Society during this seven hundred year reign. They were a force to be believed with in military might, in financial growth, and in political structure. There is well-known proof that representatives from Tikal interacted with other areas all around ancient Meso-America, nevertheless far away as Teotihuacan; a flourishing urban center that endured in the far-off Valley of Mexico.



Tikal was conquered by that metropolis at around 4 AD. The conquest by Teotihuacan appears to show the beginning of the end, considering the fact that no major new monuments were made following this time, and a lot of what were their influential and precious palaces were destroyed.

Tikal is the best explored and the most well documented of all the Maya cities to inhabit the lowlands. There is a long, amazing list of tombs, rulers and Mayan temples that populate the area. No Mayan trip is complete without having a visit to the Tikal ruins to discover again the palaces and temples that have seen centuries of usage and hundreds of years of pursuit.



Duende Tours is greatly proud to offer you the opportunity to explore the amazing area and to unravel the majestic and so as the mystery that the ruins of Tikal have to offer you. Aside from that, the neighboring countryside will display its own magic and outdoor adventures. Try to see the beauty of the Tikal ruins when in Mayan country.

Related articles and information:


Tour of the Tikal Ruins


Day tours to Mayan sites:
Chichen Itza Tour
Palenque Tour
Coba Adventure Tour
More day tours


Multi-Day Tours:
Mayan Ruins Tours
3-Day Calacmul Jungle and Mayan Ruins Tour

More Information:
Tikal Ruins Pictures
Chichen Itza: Mayan Ruins

 
Those who take time to visit the Palenque ruins will simply enjoy the amazing Mayan ruins and wonderful architectural beauties as it brings a non-stop trip through history and culture.

For those who would like to experience history as well as some sunshine, the Palenque ruins which are about 650 kilometers from the beaches and white sands of the Riviera Maya and somewhat off the beaten path still makes a reasonable overnight trip.

Once you arrive at Palenque, be sure to allocate adequate time to see all that the area holds for you. Less than a full day and you will see next to nothing, so great are the number of attractions in Palenque.

The moment you arrive in the exotic area of the Mayan ruins, you will surely be captivated and become excited to explore the jungles, mountains and a number of caves. You will certainly be amazed of the wide array of wildlife and birds as you explore the rich history and magnificent buildings that the Palenque ruins hold for you.

Palenque-Mask

Situated amongst the foothills of the Tumbala, the mountains provide you a spectacular landscape of a relatively infinite variety of green that flows just like a verdant river all the way to the gulf.
The Usamacinta River was important to the Mayans who lived there given that it was their main source of life, even today and centuries later.

The ruins of Palenque are regarded as a high-canopy jungle. The landscape is awe-inspiring just as the Palenque ruins do. You will be enveloped in a sense of wonder and peace that the landscape provides as you move among the ancient Mayan temples. The trees provide a canopy that protects you from the sun, having a spectacular setting.

Palenque-Temple-of-Inscriptions

Staying in Palenque for the entire day, for that matter, even organizing a 2nd day is going to be your response regardless of what time of the year you choose for your visit.

Among the most spectacular sights-and sites-that you will see in Palenque is the Temple of Inscriptions.Entombed here is Pakal the Great. Renowned as the greatest and most mighty ruler that the Palenque ever had, Pakal compelled the temple to be built after he had passed out of the world. The pyramid steps lay unseen for many hundred years, found in the mid 1800's, but it was not until 1952 that Alberto Ruz solved the mystery of the staircase that led down into the tomb.

To visit this part of the Temple of Inscriptions, special permission is required, however when or if you get it you'll be significantly touched by your visit here. Palenque is somewhat literally, ample to entice you to know more pertaining to the Mayan civilization, and to see regularly in an effort to discover the countless mysteries that linger there.



Related articles and information:


Tour of the Palenque Ruins


Other day tours to Mayan sites:
Muyil and Mayan Culture Tour
Tulum and Sian Ka'an Tour
Coba Adventure Tour
More day tours


Multi-Day Tours:
Mayan Ruins Tours
3-Day Calacmul Jungle and Mayan Ruins Tour
3-Day Sian ka'an Tour

Articles:
Hiking Tours in the Mayan Jungle - How Adventure Travel differs with Duende Tours
Chichen Itza: Mayan Ruins
Bird Watching Tours


 
Wildlife experts stress that the Laguna del Tigre National Park, in the Petén department of Guatemala, consists of 70 to 80 percent of forest, an outstanding biodiversity and essential freshwater reservoirs, and that makes it a vital area to be preserved. Environmentalists sense the need to put emphasis on the ecological importance of the National Park because some institutions are interested to exploit the area because of petroleum. Some particular institutions think and believe that there is nothing to protect in the said area.

The executive secretary of the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), Claudia Santizo stated that 80 percent of the park is embodied with different types of vegetation and that approximately area of over 43000 hectares of the reserve's swamplands and freshwater reservoirs ought to be conserved. Secretary Santizo stated that the most important wetland of Mesoamerica is the Laguna del Tigre National Park, to the point that because of the danger of the expansion of oil contracts a global mission of the Ramsar Wetlands Convention are going to visit Guatemala in the approaching weeks. In addition, Byron Castellanos, from Balam Association also explained that the Laguna del Tigre Reserve is among the 14 ecosystems that is important to the Maya Biosphere Reserve. He even more discussed that it's the sole location where the Scarlet Macaw propagate, a species at risk of annihilation, and that it's the location with the jam-packed population of the Mesoamerican River Turtle, which is another at risk species.The reserve is considered to have great cultural significance, because numerous archaeological Mayan sites can be found inside of the reserve like El Peru Waka, which was previously the commercial contact among Tikal and Calakmul. Castellanos added that the San Pedro River is born in the Laguna del Tigre Reserve and that this very important waterway will be lost if the location is left behind. The coordinator of the Environmental Legal Action Center, Rafael Maldonado, mentioned that those involved in promoting oil drilling sell the idea that there is no biodiversity left in the preserved area; they happen to be assisted by the frame of mind of existing and past governments who desire to reduce the budget of CONAP. He further stated that the National Park is a secure location for many hundreds of species of migratory birds and that protecting the flora and fauna of the location could possibly provide the local communities a more useful living besides oil. Maldonado mentioned that continuing the oil contract is of huge risk to the park because it permits to carry on operating the Xan well, drill five more wells and renovate 6 others that were left behind. The Vice President of the Republic, Rafael Espada, expressed to be in support of the oil exploitation, as long as it's carried out within the law, as well as he fended off to rule in favor of stretching the contract or protecting the Laguna del Tigre National Park.

Santizo once again mentioned that CONAP contradicts the oil contract extension, as a result of the detrimental result.

If you would to visit Mayan Ruins or have an Adventure Travel at Guatemala as a way to promote Green Activities we recommend you visit the following link: Tikal Tours
 
Tulum has been voted second by TripAdvisor's 2010 Travelers Choice Beach & Sun Destinations of the World. The Tulum Mayan ruins are known to be the site of a Pre-Columbian Maya city. It is along the east coast of Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico and on the cliffs that the ruins of Tulum are located. Tulum which is one of the coastal Maya sites is recognized as today's popular site for tourist because of its best-preserved beauty.

The Mayan ruins of Tulum are easily accessible on Tulum tours out of Cancun, Playa del Carmen or the Riviera Maya or when staying in Tulum you can simply take a walk or a taxi to these beautiful ruins that are situated on the Caribbean beach.

If you plan going to the Ruins of Tulum it's advised to arrive to the site at 8 am when it opens. The best way to avoid the heat and crowds is by arriving early.Another solution is definitely to arrive later in the afternoon, prior to closing time which is at 5 pm. You will not find a lot of shade at Tulum Mayan ruins so be sure to take with you a sun protection and a swimwear if perhaps you would like to have fun in the rejuvenating Caribbean Sea when traveling to the ruins of Tulum. Tulum tours are offered as private trips with transportation only or in combination with a guide. Other Tulum tours combine a visit to Tulum Mayan ruins with additional activities such as zip lining, cenotes, Sian Ka'an Reserve or Coba Mayan ruins.

Tulum was also a ranked second on Romance Destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico as a hot destination; it garnered the 5th place on Relaxation and Spa Destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico; and it got the 7th place on Destinations in the Caribbean and Mexico.