A peninsula, sticking out into the Gulf of Mexico. It is Mexican territory, divided between the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo.
The Maya civilization was very prominent here, but when the Spaniards arrived the place was already in ruins.
One of the nastiest places in Yucatan is Cancun, where planeloads of gringos and eurotrash (and mexitrash of course) arrive, get sunburnt, leave some hard cash and then go home having seen practically nothing at all of the real Mexico.
In Yucatan you must visit the Chichen Itza and Tulum Mayan sites, at the very least. A nice play to stay is Playa del Carmen, although it too is succumbing to turist invasion.
| 
