While Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is famed for its pristine beaches and clear blue waters, the region’s rich history with the Maya civilization is equally captivating.
“The Maya had been around for thousands of years before the Europeans arrived,” said Carlos Rosado van der Gracht, a tour guide, Ph.D. candidate, and editor of Yucatán Magazine. He highlighted that the Maya “built magnificent cities, developed a great civilization, their own mathematics, medicine, astronomy — by any measure, truly one of the world’s great civilizations.”
Though centuries have passed, the Maya remain a vital part of the region’s heritage. Dante Garcia, an underwater archeologist working with Auberge Resorts, noted a growing sense of pride among those with Maya roots. “If you go to the villages, people proudly say, ‘I’m Maya.’ That’s something great to appreciate right now,” Garcia said.
As travelers explore the Yucatan, nearly everything they encounter — from cuisine to architecture — is influenced by Maya culture. And contrary to misconceptions, the Maya have not vanished. Today, more than six million Maya still live in the region, and their culture thrives.
“There’s archaeology everywhere,” Rosado noted. “There are over 50 large archaeological sites within the city boundaries alone.” This makes it easy for travelers to experience the Maya’s enduring legacy firsthand.
For those eager to learn more about the Maya’s history in the Yucatan, Garcia, Rosado, and others share their insights on the podcast Lost Cultures: Living Legacies, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.
Editor’s Note: Please be mindful that this transcript does not go through our standard editorial process and may contain inaccuracies and grammatical errors.
