Cancun may get most of the tourists, but venturing deeper into the Yucatan Peninsula pays off.
A vendor makes crepes filled with Edam cheese at Merida’s Plaza Grande. ( David Hammond/Chicago Tribune )
Flying fish — fried and with a dash of hot sauce — are for sale at Merida’s main market, Lucas de Galvez. ( David Hammond/Chicago Tribune )
Chichen Itza has a particularly lovely and well-maintained cenote, Ik Kil, that attracts throngs of tourists and locals alike and provides towels and a locker for under $10. ( David Hammond/Chicago Tribune )
Ancient structures are plentiful in the Yucatan town of Izamal, about 40 miles east of Merida. ( David Hammond/Chicago Tribune )
The main pyramid in Mayapan, the last great political capital of the Mayan world. ( David Hammond/Chicago Tribune )
Not as well known as Chichen Itza, the pre-Columbian site of Mayapan is awe-inspiring in its own right. ( David Hammond/Chicago Tribune )
