The Yucatán Peninsula proved to be insufferably hot, and it marked a time in which we learned about hydration, cenotes, and we bought our tickets to Cuba. Via couch-surfing, we were in contact with Rudy with whom we stayed for our four days in Mérida. A lover of the natural phenomenon cenotes or natural freshwater wells, he took us to a few of the thousands that exist in the area and we had a thoroughly wonderful stay. The following is downtown Mérida:

Painting by Fernando Castro Pacheco in the Governor’s Palace

By much happenstance, we passed a small travel agency advertising flights to Cuba. We waltzed in and had a most bizarre experience purchasing our tickets; about an hour after we first walked in, our tickets were delivered by the agent’s daughter, handed off from her van.

Our first cenote

The view from inside the cenote toward the entrance

Boating out to an island housing the Reserva Ecológica El Corchito

Fit and stealthy raccoons!

Cenote-ing in the rain

Maya Ball Game performance

Dzibilchaltún, a site mostly visited for its cenote, highly suggested by Rudy

These two guard pups across the street gave us a good laugh

Our flight to Cuba left from Cancún, so we decided to stay in the less touristy Tulum for the three days before flying out. We weren’t intending to go “glamping” (glamour-camping), but it ended up being the most economic and enticing option. Aside from the mosquitoes outside and the heat, we loved it!

The glamping site at night