We circled the peninsula and stayed successively in Playa del Carmen, Rio Lagartos, Valladolid, Merida, Campeche, Xpujil, Bacalar and Isla Mujeres. Hundreds of pictures were shot by our family, but in this post, I am showing what Yucatan has to offer in a modest 15 photos…

First stop: Rio Lagartos and Los Colorados

In Rio Lagartos we spent couple of hours boating through the lagoon, enjoying its natural beauty and observing big groups of flamingos. Rio Lagartos is also home to the famous (Las Colorados) pink salt lakes, an almost surreal sight. The lakes are part of a sea salt harvesting plant. Being so salty, the water attracts salt-tolerant algae that produce carotenoids (organic pigments). In the sunlight these organisms become more concentrated, creating the famous pink water. Brightness varies depending on the weather. Try to visit around middle of the day and avoid cloudy days. Some people have indeed returned somewhat disappointed so be prepared (also to pay an entrance fee because you won’t get in otherwise). There are a few spots on earth where you can experience pink lakes, here is an overview.

Valladolid and Chichén Itzá

From there we went to Valladolid, a charming colonial town full of history and culture. We visited the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá, where we marveled at the ancient ruins (along with hundreds of tourists from around the world, as Chichén Itzá is one of the 7 New Wonders of the World). As with these places, come as early as possible to avoid the dozens of busses that bring tourists from Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Once these groups take over the place you should be ready to move on! Chichén Itzá is world famous, but there are so many more ancient Maya sites to discover in Yucatan, like Ek’ Balam, Bécan (see later on) or Calakmul.

Yellow city of Izamal

Next up on our roadtrip: the city of Izamal. Known for its brightly colored buildings, all yellow! Izamal is one Mexico’s “Magical Towns,” or “Pueblos Mágicos.” Why are so many of the buildings yellow? Some say this was done in honor of the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1993, but honestly, no one seems to really know.

Campeche

Via Merida we found ourselves captivated again by another lovely place: Campeche. Campeche itself offers colorful houses and a lively street full of bars and restaurants. Enjoying the delicious Yucatecan cuisine, including local beers, music and a shot of tequila. When in Mexico…, right? 

Cenotes

And when in Yucatan, you can’t leave without having visited one of the hundreds (maybe thousands) of Cenotes! Cenotes are large caves filled with cool, clear water. Some are real caves, others are semi-closed with an opening to the sky above. Tree roots are lingering down passed the limestone walls, reaching out to the water (which is full of fish by the way). The deepest cenote is around 282m deep…. On top of that, they say that all these cenotes are connected to each other through underground rivers. Scientists confirm that these cenotes were formed after that big meteorite hit Yucatan 66 million years ago (marking the extinction of the dinosaurs by the way). If you are interested in the scientific story (about the Ring of Cenotes), check out this article.

Multiple day tours around Campeche and Merida are possible, think (even more) cenotes, Maya ruins, white sandy beaches, haciendas, caves, etc., etc.

Maya ruins of Becán

After Campeche, we went further south to the ruins of Bécan, near the town of Xpujil. Beautiful Mayan ruins hidden in the lush jungle. Because of its location away from the beaten tourist path, we had almost the entire area to ourselves! Contrast to Chichén Itzá, visitors are allowed to climb these structures, providing you with a majestic view of the surrounding jungle. 

Bacalar lake

Known as the Lake of Seven Colors, Bacalar was a great stop on our road trip. Upon arrival, we first had lunch at the food truck called Mr. Burrito, highly recommended! The Bacalar lake offered us time to relax, swim, (sunrise) kayaking and delicious food. Enough for our family to fully enjoy this place, slowly approaching the end of our 14-day trip. 

Isla Mujeres

Our trip ended with a visit to beautiful Isla Mujeres, where we spent our days lounging on sandy beaches and exploring the island’s charming streets. 

Travel in Yucatan

Yucatan is so much more than only the beach towns and cities like Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum. Go out and explore, you will be pleasantly surprised by the beauty of it all. 

Hope you enjoyed the selection of photos!

Is Yucatán worth a visit?

Absolutely yes. It was an unforgettable experience full of adventure, history and natural beauty. There are many possible itineraries to be found on the Internet, should you be considering a trip to Yucatán yourself. My goal is to give you an idea of what all these amazing places on the peninsula look like. 

Note:

We were pretty excited upon checking the box on our 6th of the ‘New 7 Wonders of the World’ by visiting the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá. One more to go, the Great Wall of China…

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Just send me a message on Twitter or Instagram. 

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My forest photography time is my personal Kairos time. When the forest fills with mist, or turns into a colorful explosion in autumn, I forget about time. My camera moves and searches for the best way to capture that moment. My forest photography is a journal of my best Kairos moments. Enjoy this selection of forest photos from the past year. Follow me on Instagram for more forest photography.

In one of the photos, I am trying to be artistic. Successful? By the way, fancy an assignment? Find the 2 photos with the same tree on them….

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Let me take you on a blind date with the Netherlands! Be surprised as I was, when I walked 414 kilometers (257 miles) through the Kingdom. Hiking in the Netherlands: from a landscape of cows and estates in the east, forests and heathlands in the center, to the low grasslands (polders) and sandy coastal areas in the west. The route I followed was diverse and introduced me to the interesting texture of the landscapes that Holland has to offer. 

For this blog post, I divided the route into 3 parts: east, middle and west. Each section has its own unique attractions. In between, I share some personal thoughts about how I got hooked on hiking and why!

The trail I walked has a concept, a common thread. Wearing my camera, hiking boots and backpack, I followed the so-called Path of the Migrating Birds (“Trekvogelpad” in Dutch). The Trekvogelpad (initiated in 1999) follows and passes rivers, the North Sea coast and polder landscapes, landmarks often used by migratory birds. Besides flora and fauna, the trail also shows you surprising insights into Dutch culture and heritage. Are you ready for a Dutch hiking cocktail? 

My thoughts on why I started hiking

I can hear you thinking: Act of Traveling about hiking? That’s somethings new! Let me tell you why I started hiking in the first place. Like so many, I became a passionate hiker after living in a world of lock-downs where after a while you just have to get out of the house. So I bought a pair of professional hiking boots and hit the road. My first hikes were short (10-12km) but I soon moved on to longer distances: around 30km (18-19 miles) a day. 

I became addicted to hiking because these first trips already made me appreciate my own country all over again. I discovered places nearby that I didn’t even know existed or that I had only visited as a child: natural parks, historical monuments, picturesque villages, unique landscapes. This blogpost is about exactly that: how hiking (or traveling slowly) made me consciously witness the diversity of our unique, Dutch landscape. 

After a couple of months, I felt I was ready for the big stuff. I picked one of the most popular long-distance hiking trails, the TrekvogelPad. The trail would take me across our country, from the eastern border with Germany to the west coast. 414 kilometers of being by myself, with nothing more than Mother Nature to accompany me. And I realized I didn’t need anything else…

Hiking the trail: the eastern part 

I walked the trail from east to west (both directions are signposted). I live in this eastern part of the country, yet I was surprised by the places I passed. The area is mostly agricultural landscape but it’s filled with beautiful estates, ancient watermills and even castles. Woods and farmland are intermingled where keywords here are quiet, friendly, clean. 

This area is not so densely populated as the west, but that is also the charm of this place! In this part of the country, people will always greet you and welcome a stranger to their hometown. 

The castles and estates are the highlight of this part of the route, where I was pleasantly surprised by the care taken to maintain the historic estates for future generations. For me, this section is also about the abundance of farm roads with trees on either side. Especially early in the morning, preferably with a little fog, my camera is always ready to take another picture.  

My thoughts on hiking alone

Some people asked me: who do you hike with? No one, just me, is my answer. I like to be alone (I’m a true introvert). I feel like I can connect with my surroundings much better when I’m alone. The individual traveler gets different attention from others than couples or groups. But you also have much more attention to the places around you, no distractions, just nature and yourself. Like I experience everything much more intense. More conscious. Does that make sense? Leave your ideas in the comments! 

Hiking the trail: the central part

This long-distance hiking route seamlessly strings together different landscapes into a patchwork that reflects the Dutch landscape. On the central part of the route, you move from agriculture landscape to primeval forests in a nature reserve called the “Veluwe”; the sounds of tractors and cows fade away, where the muffled sound of birds slowly becomes hearable in the dense forest.

Part of the Veluwe is a fenced National Park (called ‘De Hoge Veluwe’) where you have to pay an entrance fee. By doing so, you are not only supporting the preservation of nature, but also of some historic buildings, such as the Country Residence Sint Hubertus below, which is considered one of the most image-defining buildings in the country. 

Another interesting place to visit in the Veluwe National Park is the Kröller-Müller art museum. This museum houses the second largest collection of Van Goghs paintings and drawings in the world! The museum is also located in one of the largest sculpture gardens in Europe. So, if you are tired of walking, or just want to take a few extra days to explore the Veluwe, rest ensured that there will be plenty of entertainment for you! 

Soon after walking through the Veluwe you will be treated to another great National Park: ‘De Utrechtse Heuvelrug’, the second largest forest area in our country (Veluwe is our absolute number one). The area is hilly (created 150,000 years ago during one of the last ice ages) and offers great views of the nearby Rhine river. Thousand-year-old villages like Amerongen and Rhenen are fun to stroll around in, they offer many historic buildings, a picturesque castle, nice restaurants and a few hotels. 

My thoughts on what hiking has made me realize

Being outside in nature is soothing to the body and mind. At least that’s what I realized during all those trips. And I don’t think I am the only one with that: hiking in nature is like a remedy: a cure for work stress and relief from pandemic worries. When I feel down or overwhelmed, a hiking trip in nature quickly relieves me from all those depressing feelings. The magical early morning sunlight in the forest, an unexpected appearance of a deer, the fantastic variety of mushrooms, and so much more. For me the forest also offers great photography opportunities too! Check my Instagram feed if you like.

The Netherlands offers a variety of long-distance hikes, you can check them out via this Exploring Holland website. It also answers the question: Is it safe to hike in the Netherlands? The answer is obviously: yes

It’s safe to hike in the Netherlands!

Hiking the trail: the (final) western part

Starting in the east, you have experienced the agricultural part, stood in front of historic castles and estates, beautiful National Parks and maybe even a deer or two. Now it’s time to visit the western part of the Netherlands. Here you will find the traditional (fishing) villages, the flat grasslands or polders and windmills at the Zaanse Schans. Everything our country is world famous for. 

Everywhere in our country you find lovely villages and windmills, but this part in the west is different. It’s mainly built on reclaimed land (polders) where the former inhabitants of the villages engaged in fishing and even whaling. The houses are hundreds of years old and the atmosphere is so different from nearby cities. If not for the many cars, it’s almost like stepping back in time. 

Walking from village to village through the flat grasslands, sometimes having to stick my boots deep into the mud, I enjoy the sounds of the many birds living here. During the breeding season (March to July) parts of the trail are closed, so you have to take that into account. Same goes for some of the small ferries on route, they might be out of service due to high water or maintenance. Please check this before you head out!

So when you visit the Amsterdam area, try to escape the urban jungle and visit villages like Durgerdam, Ransdorp, Broek in Waterland and De Rijp. Places you will all visit when you walk the Trekvogelpad. De Rijp is a perfect example of a historic village full of national monuments. From the 17^th to the 19^th century, this village was doing very well because of fishery and whaling. Dozens of green-colored, wooden houses, typical of this area, makes this an unforgettable destination. 

End of the trail

The trail ends on the beach. What a way to end this trip, drinking an ice-cold beer with my feet resting in the warm sand. It’s a special moment. You remember all the places you passed, the people you met. This trip has made me realize three things. First, I don’t always have to travel far to be surprised and inspired. Second, our little country has a stunning network of long-distance hiking trails of some 12,000km (7,500 miles), so for the next few years (or decades for that matter) I’ll be fine. Third, we really need to protect nature. Nature is fragile and very sensitive to change. The Netherlands is also subject to loss of biodiversity and deforestation (to name a few). Let’s respect the nature that is still there and accept that we, humans, do not own it. We are allowed to use and enjoy it. For example, watch the Netflix documentary Fantastic Fungi and I promise you will never look at mushrooms the same again! Or read ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’ by Peter Wholleben, again an eye opener I can tell you.

Every path invites you to go further. There is always another place to discover and it will surprise you. And if you look closely, that place might be right next door. 

The website Wandelnet offers a total overview of the Trekvogelpad, including downloads of GPX files and descriptions of each single legs (23 in total). It took me 4 months to finish the route.

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Why I like street art? It has no rules. Sometimes the freedom of expression is shown by an explosion of colors, where another artist has chosen for a delicate mix of lines and icons. Most of the art works in STRAAT (Dutch for street) drew me in, offering a combination of visual beauty and a contemporary (political) message. An explanation of the artist and his/her work accompanies every piece. They definitely add value to the experience but feel free to just watch to create your own interpretation. I mean, out on the streets you will not find any explanations!

Urban aesthetics

Banksy, the most famous street artist of our times. But look at all the (global) artists at STRAAT who are all creating their own universe. Some are connected to nature, others are politically engaged. And others don’t have any message at all, they just create for the beauty of creation. 

STRAAT museum

STRAAT is one mind-blowing visual experience, especially when it’s dark outside and every piece of art is illuminated. All the artworks were created on-site (!) and, as mentioned, provide the added value of context and information. The museum resides in a former warehouse on the NDSM wharf in Amsterdam Noord (North) and also outside of the building you will find great pieces of street art and graffiti. The area Amsterdam Noord used to be very rough and industrial but is slowly turning into a modern, residential area. Luckily the NDSM building (now a national monument) and the STRAAT museum are here to stay! 

I truly enjoyed my visit to STRAAT. The entry fee is Euro 17,50. Maybe a bit high for your average visitor, but remember that the ferry from Amsterdam Central Station (Ferry F4) to the NDSM area is free of charge. That will save you a lot on cab fees… STRAAT museum has its own café overlooking the whole exhibition. And don’t forget to visit end of day when the night falls…. That’s when street art really gets illuminated. 

Want to read more about street art? Here are a few more posts that you might like:

• Street art tour in Rotterdam
• Street art in Berlin
• ‘Street art’ in Florence, Italy

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Forest photography

I have not been the only one. Many people have started hiking during the pandemic. Escapism. Freedom. The only way to get outdoors when everything else was closed or forbidden. For me personally, the forest was also the sword with which I defeated a many-headed monster. A dormant monster awakened by the pandemic, showing its heads in the form of stress and gloominess. But Mother Nature has the power to defeat!

I think my moment of revelation was somewhere in July, 2020. The first lockdown was upon us. I decided to visit the Dutch Natural Park the Veluwe. I never really considered exploring that area in the past, but man how wrong I was. How could I have forgotten how beautiful my own country actually is! Since that day I have not stopped hiking.

Fast forward to now. At this moment I have over 1000 photos on my laptop of all the hikes done since July. Some of them I share via my Instagram account. Most of them I just look at and remember that particular moment in the forest. Sometimes it was like meditation (forest bathing), amazement or just pure joy. I have discovered areas I had forgotten about or never heard of. Many hikes made me marvel at the beauty of nature, no matter what season.

Power of Nature

It also made me realize that nature does me good. For me, a day in the woods is the perfect escape from working at home all the time, the fatigue and stress. Nature energizes me. On the other hand, walking has made me realize that we have to be incredibly careful with the natural areas around us. Nature is under pressure and it is our job to protect it. If you are Dutch, consider supporting Natuurmonumenten, an organization that is making a case for all the nature that is still left. And for the new nature that is still to come in the Netherlands. Thanks!

So now I am sharing my most magical forest photographs. The ones I took so far. As soon as the trees turn green again after a long and dark winter, I am back with my camera. What would you like to see and read here on Act of Traveling? Maybe just more forest photos? Or also some suggestions for great hiking routes? Let me know in the comments below.

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Want to read more about Morocco? Click here to see the overview of all the stories about Morocco on this blog.

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Put on your walking shoes and discover the lively and colorful districts like Alfama and Bairro Alto. Explore and find great rooftop bars like PARK and Rio Maravilha (in the LX factory near the famous 25 de Abril bridge). Experience the architectural diversity, including the modern architecture of museum MAAT. Lisbon is an attractive city in its own way: the place is different, interesting and rough around the edges. We loved it.

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