If you have a vacation to the Yucatan planned in the coming future, having an idea of what to do can be all the difference between fun and just wanting to be done. To get this plan together, you may want to have an idea of what are the best things to see or do in the Yucatan. By having an idea, you won’t be completely lost when you arrive and make everything go much smoother.

The Yucatan is the epicenter of the ancient Mayan world. It’s home to the biggest pyramid in the western hemisphere, El Castillo in Chichen Itza. If you find yourself in the Yucatan, you’ll thank yourself for making the trip to Chichen Itza.

Chichen Itza was the spiritual and social hub of the late Mayan World. It was the centerpiece of the Mayan civilization in the Yucatan Peninsula since the early 700’s. The city was the center of sacrifice for the area as well. The city owed that sacrificial reputation to an ancient Mayan and the mysterious cenotes in the area. A cenote is a natural well that reaches deep into the land, possibly connecting to other underground tunnels.

The Sacrificial Cenote wasn’t used for drinking, or cleaning, another set of cenotes and artificial wells were used for that. A Bishop in the mid 1500’s is the first to mention the sacrifices that occur at the ancient Sacrificial Cenote. The Bishop claimed that Chichen Itza had a huge chamber inside which they would herd thousands of slaves and citizens to be sacrificed at the cenotes.

The ball court at Chichen Itza is one of the oldest known game courts in human history. The game is often referred to as Tiatchtli, and has been played since 1,000 B.C. Modern versions of the game are still played to this day by local populations, but the how the details of the game and how it was played by their ancient Mayan ancestors is still unknown.

Most people recognize the famous stone goals; this is actually a later addition to the game. The original version is even more mysterious than the late versions; seeing that we have no idea how they kept score before the stone hoop was added. The few rules we do know of belong to the time after a stone hoop was instituted. A single successful hoop could make a win, and being able to touch the ball to the vertical stone hoop scored individual points.

The cenotes of the Yucatan are among the areas' most beautiful natural formations. These entrances to subterranean bodies of water have been one of the major attractions for as long as they have been noticed. They have had a huge impact on the people as well as the geography of the area.

The place is called Cuatro Balam. It is located in Guatemala and is quickly becoming one of the most interesting places to go to if you want to see Mayan pyramids. Inside Cuatro Balam park there are up to 4,000 Mayan pyramids. The park was started under the former Guatemalan president Berger due to the citizens' concern over protecting the natural and archeological beauty of the country. Guatemala’s current president now supports the large park’s growth and funding, as well as several private investors, who have similar worries about ancient artifacts being lost forever to time.

One such artifact that has only recently been discovered is more of a jungle sculpture than artifact. This new sculpture was located inside the Cuatro Balam park at a location called El Mirador. The sculpture is over 2,000 years old. This link between the two far off countries has added to the drive of Mayan tourism. Those who can’t make it to the Egyptian pyramids are equally in awe of the Mayan accomplishments, which can rival Egyptian pyramids in any engineer's or tourist's eyes. It is a strange fact that every experienced archeologist that has studied both Mayan and Egyptian cultures has admitted.

The idea of going to see Mayan ruins crosses the minds of millions each year, but don’t let a crowd stop you. There are great Mayan ruins that aren’t as crowded but just as wonderful to visit. The Mayan site of Cahal Pech is one of these locations. Located in the Cayo area of Western Belize, the site offers more than a few Mayan buildings and ruins to see.

The site itself is a type of archeological enigma. No one seems to know when it was discovered. The first time, on paper, that the ruins of Cahal Pech were discovered it was during the beginning of WWII, in the mid 1930’s. Because of the war efforts and the resources that were taken to fight, the first official dig held at the Cahal Pech site was in the 1950’s peacetime, 1950 to be exact.

The Mayans and Aztecs both got a great amount of uses and nutrition out of maize. And, for those who are unsure what it is, well… it’s corn. Some of the earliest corn farms have been found in the Mayan and Aztec territories. Many archeologists have speculated that it was the Mayans that had first mastered the idea of farming and irrigation. Newer evidence has emerged that has made the corn seed seem viable as a farming product far before the Mayans, Aztecs, or Olmecs. Signs of living, farming and harvesting corn have been discovered in the South American territories as early as 5,000 B.C.

Farming foods in the lush jungle landscape is what kept the Mayan alive. Most of the foods they harvested included beans, manioc (tubers), and maize. The Mayans and the Aztecs had to do this while accompanying it with hunting to accommodate for the proper nutrition and protein that they needed. Many have pondered, what did the Mayans drink? Even though they lived in jungle, fresh and abundant rainwater wasn’t a reliable option.

Every parent wants to take their kids on a vacation that will stay in their memories for the rest of their days, otherwise what's the point right? The hidden factor that most people don't see is the fact that every parent's mind is reeling from all the possible dangers. Vacationing can mean going into busy, complicated, and often confusing tourist spots. The hustle and bustle can make it easy for a parent to get separated from their kids, or even their purse or wallet.

This fear factor alone can sap the fun right out of the vacation for any parent and their children, but as the old adage suggests, "there's safety in numbers." By hiring a family guide the odds of your vacation being safe and smooth doubles. Here are a few reasons how using a family guide ensures your family vacation is as safe as possible: