Mayan Influence

The Mayan World

It is believed that human beings have probably inhabited the area of present-day Yucatán for 7,000 years or more.  For the last few thousand years, the Mayan Indians have inhabited the entire Yucatán Peninsula, as well surrounding regions.  The physical “boundaries” of the ancient Mayan empire spanned across a region that now includes parts of five nations. 

The Maya peoples never disappeared, neither at the time of the Classic period decline nor with the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors and the subsequent Spanish colonization of the Americas. Today, the Maya and their descendants form sizable populations throughout the Maya area and maintain a distinctive set of traditions and beliefs that are the result of the merger of pre-Columbian and post-Conquest ideas and cultures. Many Mayan languages continue to be spoken as primary languages today.

Archaeological Sites

Because the Yucatán has a rich history of ancient cultures, archaeological sites are active throughout the region. In addition to the many National Parks and Nature Reserves, Archeological sites often provide some of the best birding opportunities in the peninsula.