66 million years ago, an asteroid hit the Earth. As a result of this cosmic collision and its aftermath, dinosaurs and many other species of animals and plants became extinct. The huge Chicxulub impact crater was then formed, which is located on the Yucatan Peninsula and at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico. That is not all that happened back then ...

It all started around 2500 BC. These were the beginnings of one of the oldest civilizations in the Americas - the Maya. Their roots go back to the indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica. The Maya developed and built cities until the appearance of the Toltecs in 987 AD. They followed their legendary chief Quetzalcoatl. As the years passed, the two civilizations mingled. Two large urban centers were established: Mayapan - Maya and Chichen Itza - dominated by Toltecs.

History shows, however, that the Spanish conquistadors were the ultimate victors. This is evidenced by, for example, Spanish as the official language of Mexico.

Chichén was founded around the 6th century CE, possibly by the Mayan peoples of the Yucatan Peninsula who inhabited the region from the pre-classic period, 1500 BCE - 300 CE

The land of death - Xibalba - is inhabited by zoomorphic demons
living just below the earth's surface. Mayan hell was a realm in many aspects "parallel" to the earthly world. Xibalba had its rulers, upper caste, palaces, utility buildings, and even a field for ritual ball games.

Cenotes were the gateway to this world.

Today, cenotes are the main tourist attraction of Yucatan. You can swim inside the cave and experience these natural wonders for yourself.

Below the ground, deep in the Yucatan jungle, run the three longest underwater systems in the world (Dos Ojos 82km, Sac Aktum 172km and the Ox Bel Ha 270km). Who wouldn't want to dive there?

Maya Forest is stretching across Belize, northern Guatemala, and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Is became a home for countless rare and endangered species like white-lipped peccary, tapir, scarlet macaw, harpy eagle, and howler monkey. Deeper in the jungle you might even meet a jaguar.