Beyond Sapphire Villa
In case you get tired of relaxing, allow us to tell you what else is here. The Yucatan has it all! You will find the Mayans a gentle and proud people, always smiling and happy to help. You will almost immediately notice a feeling of being welcome and safe amongst the local people. This is true of most of the Yucatan, as its roots are founded by the legacy of the Mayan culture. For day trips there are many options: Exotic ruins and locales, Cave exploration, Flamingo nesting, trips to Historic Merida and many more, offering an almost limitless variety of activities for the adventurous traveler.
There will be lots of opportunities to discover the culture by browsing through Progreso and Chelem and participating in local events. Or a 45 minute drive to Merida and you are in a beautiful, romantic and historic colonial capital. Here are some of the other main attractions, which make this area so unique.
Mayan sites
The Yucatan is rich in Mayan history and reveals a multitude of archeological sites. Many major ruins are located within a radius of 3 hours from Progreso, the closest just 20 minutes away.
Dzibilchaltun - with its new, excellent Mayan museum, ecological path to the ruins, and beautiful cenote for swimming, it's just 20 minutes away from Progreso.
X-tambo - an exciting new site recently under excavation by archaeologists, this is definitely a National Geographic type of experience! Located just past Uaymitun off the beach road leading from Chicxulub.
Uxmal - along the Pucc Route one finds many ruins and the main attraction is Uxmal for its colossal Magician's pyramid and elaborate sound and light show, which reflects the Mayan history.
Izamal - the yellow city, a jewel with ruins right in its centre. Visit the town by horse and buggy to discover Mayan pyramids and a grand monastery. Enjoy lunch and local cultural events of dancing and singing.
Chichen Itza - the world-renowned ruins date back 1553 years, and depict the sophisticated Mayan culture of the times. Located just 2 hours from Progreso, these ruins are well worth the guided tour and don't forget to stop at the refreshing underground cenote of Akil on your way back.
Cultural events, ecological sites
Thousands of Flamingos may be seen from the flamingo lookout tower located in Uaymitun. Entrance and binoculars are free. Many other species of birds abound along the estuary. Celestun is a natural reserve 2 hours from Progreso. Flamingo boat tours are available and the small fishing town is quite picturesque with fine seafood restaurants.
Merida - Festivals occur through the varying seasons in Progreso and Merida. They celebrate cultural and religious events with colourful flair in which vacationers can participate. Merida hosts a series of dances from traditional to ballet, and perform various concerts all week long. Sundays are popular to celebrate special cultural events. Centre town is closed to traffic to give way to celebrations of all kinds. Merida is a great place to go on a shopping spree. You can bargain in the local market for items such as the world famous hammocks. Take a city tour in a horse and buggy and see the grand colonial architecture, which dates back to the 1500's. Visit the Governor's palace and museum, the Cathedral and many other historical sites. Merida by night is safe and boasts many chic restaurants and live entertainment. Stride through the parks and attend the various concerts and events.
On the outskirts of Merida (before reaching the city centre) you will find what we call the American area, complete with a very nice mall, department stores, Home Depot, TGI Fridays, Bennigans and Sams Club to name a few. A multi-cinema movie theatre with Hollywood movies in English is also in the mall. So for those experiencing withdrawal from these amenities, rest assured they are there. Speaking of withdrawal, inexpensive internet cafes can be easily found in both Progreso and Merida.
In Progreso you will find: great restaurants, many of them seaside, a large supermarket and an outdoor market with local produce. And of course the malecon with it’s beautiful beach and view of the longest pier in the world. If you want a place like Cancun, full of American tourists, American restaurants and just like the USA, Progreso is not it. But if you want an experience of authentic Mexican culture amidst friendly locals, Progreso is the place. Mostly Spanish is spoken here and if you want to learn, it is a great place to do it.
