Xcaret

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Xcaret is a Maya civilization archaeological site and an ecological park and resort located south of Playa del Carmen in the Riviera Maya, Quintana Roo, Mexico.

1 Maya ruins
2 Ecological park
3 Resort
4 External link

[edit] Maya ruins

Several small Maya ruins lie through the park's 200 acres. Xcaret is a Mayan word meaning "small inlet." (The Mexican "X" is pronounced approximately "sh", hence the name is something like "Shcaret" when pronounced). This settlement was at its peak from 1400 to approximately 1517 A.D. The Mayas are said to have bathed in the inlet to purify their bodies before traveling to Cozumel to worship Ixchel, Goddess of Fertility.

[edit] Ecological park

With the idea of a tourism development that would add to the attractions of the region, a group of Mexican entrepreneurs purchased the land surrounding Xcaret.

In 1984, Architect Miguel Quintana Pali, captivated by the spot’s natural beauty, purchased 5 hectares of this wonderful parcel from the group with the idea of building his dream home.

However, when he began to clear the land, he started uncovering cenotes formed by collapsed cave ceilings weakened by 3 million years of erosion from underground rivers running through them and flowing into the sea. He felt that so much beauty should not be accessible only to a privileged few. Quintana began to formulate the idea of a Natural Park open to the public and soon joined forces with Oscar, Marcos and Carlos Constandse to achieve this goal.