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Mexico – Mérida, Las Coloradas, Chichén Itzá and more

admin — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 16:38:44 +0000

What to Do in Mérida – Capital of Yucatán, Mexico?

Exploring Chichén Itzá, Las Coloradas, and Other Destinations

Mérida, the capital of the Yucatán province in Mexico, is a city often overlooked by tourists who mostly visit the Caribbean side of the Yucatán Peninsula. Most travelers head to Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cancún, but skip Mérida.
Maybe that’s for the good, because the city has managed to preserve a real “Mexican” character, a blend of ancient traditions, colonial architecture, friendly and welcoming locals, and prices that haven’t yet skyrocketed like in other popular tourist spots.

In addition, the city center is small enough to get around by foot, almost all the streets are laid out in right angles, which makes navigation much easier.
The most interesting part is concentrated in the historic center and the nearby area, which is also the best place to find accommodation. Whether a hotel or a hostel among the colorful buildings, no two of which are exactly alike.

What can we do and what to see in Merida

Plaza Grande and the Cathédral of Mérida

As in most Mexican cities, the main square marks the heart of the city. On its eastern side stands the cathedral, officially named the Cathedral of San Ildefonso.
The cathedral, like many public buildings in Mexico, was constructed using stones taken from the ruins of Mayan and Aztec temples and structures after the Spanish conquest in the 16th century.

In the evenings (from around 7:00–8:00 PM), a local food and crafts market opens in the square, along with live music performances.

If you’re lucky, you might get to see a reenactment of the sacred Mayan ballgame played in front of the cathedral. Known as Pok Ta Pok, the game involves getting a ball through a hoop without using hands, feet, or head.
In the original version, the losing team’s hearts were sacrificed by priests to the gods in the temple that once stood where the cathedral now stands.

Around the main square, you’ll find several interesting and important sites, such as the City Hall, the Governor’s Palace (Palacio de Gobierno del Estado), the Montejo House, which has been turned into a museum (Museo Casa Montejo), the Olimpo Cultural Center, Pasaje de la Revolución, and more.

On the streets surrounding the square, you’ll also find a wide variety of Mexican restaurants, cafés, and bars—some offering live or local music every evening.

Other Places Worth Visiting in Mérida

The Area Between Plaza Grande and Parque de San Juan

This area is full of local shops, historic buildings, authentic Mexican food, tourist offices, clothing stores, bags, shoes.. everything you can imagine.
Don’t miss the vibrant Mercado San Benito market.

Zona Paseo Montejo

A more modern area centered around the main avenue, Paseo de Montejo. On weekends, the wide boulevard becomes a pedestrian zone where locals and visitors come to see and be seen.
You’ll find art galleries, cafés, and the lovely Parque Santa Ana, surrounded by restaurants, coffee shops, and galleries. Just stroll around and enjoy getting lost in the area.

Recommended Museums in Mérida

Museo de la Ciudad de Mérida – The city’s historical museum
Museo Regional de Antropología, Palacio Cantón – The Regional Museum of Anthropology
Museo Casa Montejo – The Montejo House Museum

The Spanish Conquest of the Yucatán Peninsula

The conquest of the peninsula was a long, complex, and violent that took decades and many lives. At the time, the region was inhabited by dozens of Mayan kingdoms, which were not ruled by a single central government but were divided into independent political entities sometimes at war with one another.

The first Spanish attempt to conquer Yucatán took place in 1517 but ended in failure. In 1527, Francisco de Montejo led an another expedition, but then he encountered fierce resistance from the local population and was forced to retreat.

It wasn’t until the 1540s that the Spanish gradually succeeded in taking control of most of the peninsula, after repeated attempts. They exploited internal conflicts between the Mayan kingdoms and used overwhelming military force. Epidemics brought from Europe also claimed many lives among the native population.

Even after the main conquest, some areas remained under indigenous control until the 17th century and even later. The Spanish conquest brought with it a deep suppression of Mayan social, religious, and political life: their religion was banned, temples destroyed and replaced with churches, and their language and culture repressed.
Despite all this, the Maya managed to preserve part of their cultural identity and language to this day.

Recommended Day Trips from Mérida

Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is without a doubt one of the must-see sites in Mexico. A Unesco heritage site, in 2007, it was declared one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

The name Chichén Itzá in the Mayan language means “At the edge of the well where the wise people of the water” referring to the city’s spiritual and cultural significance.
It’s an especially impressive and beautiful archaeological site, one of the most famous and visited in Mexico. Featuring dozens of remnants from the magnificent Mayan civilization.

The site is divided into two main areas: “Old Chichén,” which includes six primary structures, and the central part, known as “Chichén Itzá,” where about twenty additional monumental ruins can be explored. Altogether, visitors can see 26 archaeological structures, each revealing more about the fascinating history of the Maya.

The most iconic and imposing structure is the Kukulkan Pyramid (also known as El Castillo). Standing about 30 meters tall, it’s the tallest structure at the site and its most recognizable symbol.
Next to the pyramid are the Temple of the Warriors, the Great Ball Court, where sacred Mayan ballgames took place and the round observatory, El Caracol, a testament to the Maya’s advanced astronomical knowledge.

Chichén Itzá was an important religious center and pilgrimage site as early as the 5th century AC. Over its thousand year history, it was influenced by various cultures, especially the Maya and the Toltecs, and these influences are evident in the site’s unique architecture and art.

Beaches

Although Mérida is located about 45 km from the sea, some of the most beautiful beaches along the Gulf of Mexico are not far from the city.
The closest, most popular and therefore most crowded is the beach of Playa Puerto Progreso.
Further along the coast, you’ll find other beautiful and sunny beaches such as Playa Uaymitún, San Benito, Balneario Sac-ha, and Telchac Puerto.

Las Coloradas and Rio Lagartos

The Colorful Lakes and Río Lagartos Reserve

The colorful lakes of Las Coloradas are located within the Río Lagartos Nature Reserve (Parque Natural Reserva Ría Lagartos).
The area is famous for its intensive pink waters and its rich variety of wildlife and bird species.
Río Lagartos is a protected biosphere reserve and a key conservation area.
It’s highly recommended to combine your visit to the pink lakes with a boat tour through the reserve. The boat tour is a wonderful experience for nature and bird lovers.

Why are the waters in Las Coloradas so pink?

The pink color of the lakes is caused by tiny red algae and small planktonic shrimp that live in the lagoons.
The area has been used for salt production since the time of the Maya, and even today, the lakes undergo evaporation to extract salt.
This process increases the concentration of minerals and, naturally, the density of microorganisms which makes the color even more vivid and intensely pink.

Do pink flamingos live in pink waters?

The same microorganisms that give the lakes their stunning pink color are eaten by the flamingos, and that’s how their feathers get their distinctive rosy color.

However, the salt concentration in the pink lagoons becomes too high for them (in fact, the shrimp die off during the final stages of evaporation), so you won’t find flamingos in the most vividly pink pools.
Instead, flamingos live in areas where the salinity is lower, especially within the Río Lagartos Reserve.

What can we see on the boat tour?

The boat tours in Río Lagartos mostly start from the town of Río Lagartos, which serves as the gateway to the reserve.

During the boat tour in the Río Lagartos Reserve, you can encounter a variety of wildlife, including crocodiles, and observe dozens of bird species such as cormorants, pelicans, and flamingos.

The biosphere reserve is a natural area spanning 500 square kilometers and is home to the only flamingo colony in Central America.
The flamingo population, which numbered barely 5,000 individuals in the 1950s, has since grown to over 30,000.

Despite the large size of the reserve, much of it is no longer available to the flamingos and other birds.
Hotels and businesses have been built along the coast, and salt production facilities have altered the salinity of the water. As a result, only a few areas remain suitable for nesting for the flamingos and other birds.

Cenotes

Cenotes are natural freshwater sinkholes or pools formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock, revealing underground sweet water sources.
There are hundreds of cenotes throughout the Yucatán Peninsula. In the Mayan language, cenote means “water well” and these sites were considered sacred in ancient times.

The water in the cenotes is crystal clear and exceptionally pure, and many of them lead into underground cave systems. Some are small and enclosed, while others are large enough for swimming, snorkeling, or diving.

As in the rest of the Yucatán Peninsula, the Mérida area also has cenotes.
The ones closest to the city are part of the “Cenote Ring” (Anillo de Cenotes). However, the most beautiful and famous cenotes in Mexico are located near the town of Tulum.

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Koalas and Me – Volunteering at a Koala Conservation Center

admin — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 16:42:12 +0000

Koalas and Me – My Volunteering in Australia

About My Experience at the Koala Conservation Hospital in Port Macquarie

The first time I heard about the Koala Hospital and rehabilitation center was during the devastating bushfires that swept through Australia in 2020. In February of that year, a fundraising event was held to support the koalas, and ever since, I occasionally received email updates about the hospital.

Last year, as I began planning my big trip to Australia, I knew I wanted to include something meaningful – something beyond the usual tourist attractions. I reached out to the hospital and was accepted for a work experience placement.

For me, working and helping Koalas at the rescue center was both the fulfillment of a dream and the closing of a personal circle. It was also where I met some of the koalas whose stories I had followed back during the tragic events of 2020.

The Koalas Are Unique and Fascinating Animals

Koalas may look calm and cuddly, but in reality, they’re not so easy to care for and can actually be quite “picky.”

Australia is home to over 800 species of eucalyptus trees (also known as gum trees), but koalas can digest the leaves of only about 50 – 60 of them.

In practice, however, each individual koala typically eats leaves from just 2 or 3 eucalyptus species. Only the ones it knows and is familiar with from its native area. This makes it challenging to relocate koalas, as their new habitat must contain exactly the types of trees they prefer.
Koalas will often starve rather than try leaves from unfamiliar trees, even if those leaves are nutritious and enjoyed by other koalas.

In addition to eucalyptus leaves, koalas occasionally chew on soil to supplement missing minerals. Due to the low nutritional value of eucalyptus leaves, they spend most of their time resting or sleeping. Sometimes up to 20 hours a day.

Except during extreme drought, koalas never drink water. At the hospital, each koala is given a bowl of soil and a bowl of water. If a koala approaches the water to drink, it’s usually a sign that its health needs to be checked.

Koalas are also highly territorial. You can’t keep more than one koala in the same enclosed space, or they’ll start to fight with one another.

The word “koala” in the Aboriginal language means “does not drink.”

Most of the time, koalas appear sleepy and rather indifferent. But when you see how excited they get in the morning when fresh eucalyptus branches arrive – and how attentively they observe everything happening around them you realize it’s just an illusion.

They are at their most alert and active in the early morning hours, eagerly waiting for their fresh leaves, which they begin munching on right away.

Koalas have five fingers on their hands, including two opposable thumbs. On their feet, they have only four functional toes. Two of which are fused. Interestingly, both male and female koalas have bifurcated reproductive organs. Still, almost always, only one cub is born at a time.

The Koala Hospital and Its Volunteers

The koalas are housed across three main areas: Intensive Care, Rehabilitation, and Display. In addition, the hospital includes a treatment and surgery room, a visitor center, a gift shop, staff facilities, and offices.

Every koala that arrives undergoes an initial examination and treatment before being placed in either intensive care or rehabilitation, depending on its condition.

The ultimate goal is to return recovered koalas to the wild. However, in some cases due to neurological issues, blindness, limb dysfunction, or other permanent injuries release is not possible.
These koalas remain in the Display area and, in their own quiet way, help support the center financially by being part of the visitor experience.

Many of the koalas in the Display section have been here since the devastating bushfires… and they continue to play a role in education and conservation.

How Many Koalas Are Left in Australia?

Since the arrival of European settlers, millions of koalas have been killed across Australia for their fur, leading to their classification as a vulnerable or endangered species in different regions either in 1999 or as late as 2022.

According to the Australian Koala Foundation (AKF), only 30,000 to 50,000 koalas remain in the wild. The Australian government, on the other hand, estimates the number at around 200,000. In 2010, the population was believed to be about 400,000 meaning that, in any case, the number of koalas has dropped dramatically in recent years.

What Are the Main Threats to Koalas in Australia?

In urban environments, koalas face serious risks from dog attacks and vehicle collisions. Much like wildlife in other parts of the world, they also suffer from habitat loss due to urban development and agriculture.

In the wild, koalas are vulnerable to infectious diseases, bushfires, and road accidents. Many of the koalas that arrive at the hospital are orphans or have been neglected.

From time to time, other types of wildlife are also brought in for treatment, rescued by concerned locals or volunteers.

The Daily Routine of Volunteers and Koalas

Almost everyone working at the hospital is a volunteer. In addition to the animal carers, there’s an on-call veterinarian, a shift supervisor, gift shop staff, visitor tour guides, and more.

Most local volunteers have been involved for years and come in for a regular morning or afternoon shift each week.
International volunteers can join for a period ranging from one week to several months, with preference given to those with a background or experience in animal care.

As someone who came for a relatively short time but took part in both the morning and afternoon shifts each day, I found it fascinating to observe how each shift manager carried out the same tasks slightly differently.

Each had their own specific methods and routines, which they followed strictly and sometimes they were even surprised to hear that things could be done in a adifferent way.
It felt a bit like stepping into parallel universes.

The volunteers’ daily routine includes cleaning the enclosures, carefully collecting and weighing the koalas’ droppings (small pellets that look like dried olives and smell pleasantly of eucalyptus), changing the water, soil, and eucalyptus branches, and providing a special nutritional formula to some of the koalas in rehabilitation.

Every day, each koala must be given a fresh bundle of eucalyptus branches, specifically the types it prefers. It’s truly heartwarming to see how happy they get, immediately starting to munch on the fresh leaves.

Some koalas enjoy human company and seek attention and play, while others need to be handled with care as they might bite.

The first koala I ever fed tried to steal my sunglasses…

In the afternoon, the branches are refreshed again, the enclosures are cleaned and tidied, everything is checked, and the koalas are wished goodnight… until the next morning.

Traveling in Australia? Come and Visit!

The coastal resort town of Port Macquarie is located on Australia’s east coast, in the state of New South Wales. It’s about a two-hour drive from Newcastle Airport or four hours from Sydney.

The Koala Rehabilitation Centre in Port Macquarie is one of the region’s top tourist attractions. Many visitors travel long distances to see it. Some even come to Port Macquarie specifically to visit the koalas.

Admission and Tours Are Free – But Every Donation Helps

Entry to the Koala Centre and the guided tours are free of charge, but donations are highly encouraged to help maintain and support the facility. During the tour, you can observe the koalas up close, take photos with them (though touching is not allowed), and learn the unique story behind each one.

The gift shop is another important source of funding—every purchase helps save a koala!

There’s also a sweet way to support the cause through virtual adoption: you’ll receive a newsletter and updates on your adopted koala’s condition.

The town and its surroundings also offer beautiful nature trails, including colonies of flying foxes (fruit bats) along the way.

Volunteers Save Koalas During Australia’s Devastating Bushfires

Kerry Freer, a volunteer at the Koala Hospital for six years, shared with me the challenging times they went through:

The summer of 2020 was extreme even before the fires began. High temperatures and drought created harsh conditions for all wildlife, and many koalas arrived at the hospital starving and dehydrated.

When the fires broke out, they spread rapidly, carried by strong winds. Some fires started underground and moved beneath the surface, making them impossible to control.

Because of the thick smoke, most of the town was shrouded in darkness. Even in the middle of the day, it was as dark as night. Only one street separated the raging fire from the hospital and the residents’ homes.

Volunteers who entered the fire zones to rescue koalas received training similar to that of firefighters, which allowed us to go deep into the burning areas to try to save as many animals as possible.

Alongside us were firefighters and a shooting squad who euthanized any animals that couldn’t be rescued or captured, to prevent them from suffering and dying in the fire.

Australia is accustomed to periodic local bushfires. After a fire, seeds and roots buried deep in the soil typically awaken, and new growth begins. But in this fire, nothing was left behind. Everything above and below ground was completely destroyed. Even cacti and seeds did not survive.

Only a few koalas managed to escape the flames. Most tried to climb to the treetops, and when the trees fell, they perished as well. Kangaroos, for example, couldn’t be saved because they wouldn’t allow themselves to be caught.

The hospital was completely full; we cleared every possible space and turned every corner into koala living areas. Due to their territorial nature, each koala needs its own enclosure, and it’s impossible to keep two koalas together. So we divided every available area and fenced off dozens of spots.

Out of all the koalas that arrived at the hospital, we managed to save about 50 percent and release them back into the wild. A few, however, suffered injuries that didn’t heal, and they remain at the hospital to this day.

Throughout that terrible time, we received immense support from the local community and residents of Port Macquarie, as well as donations from people around the world. People brought snacks, cakes, treats, donations, and medical supplies.

The scariest part for me was walking through the fire zone on burning ground, with trees burning and falling all around. It was a frightening and awful time. I hope never to experience anything like it again.

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