Today, the Native Americans who thrive in the Yucatan Peninsula and in parts of Central America encompass a group of people called Maya who share in a similar cultural and linguistic heritage. It is estimated that there are 7 million Maya living in South Eastern Mexico and Central America so it is interesting when people discuss the ‘disappearance of the Maya.’ While they speak Spanish – the Mayan language endures and many schools still teach in the Mayan language.
Known for their brightly colored yarn based textiles, each area has its own distinct design and it is possible to know where a person is from based on their dress. The largest group of modern Maya can be found on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula who speak Yucatec Mayan. In fact, it is estimated that between 750,000 and 1.2 million people speak the Mayan language. Because of their geographic isolation from the rest of Mexico – their traditions, food, language and dress have remained culturally distinct. Their economy blends farming with tourism.
The Yucatan boasts a diversity of colonial and indigenous towns with a variety of beaches that span the Gulf and Caribbean. The amazing flora and fauna of this region, once dwindling, is now thriving again because of Mexico’s environmental policies that protect species like: mangrove, flamingos, manatees, sea turtles, lagoons and coral reefs.READ MORE
