In the middle of this historic colonial city resides a modernist government building known as the UFO.

The walls of a colonial-era fort encircle a small, tropical assortment of plant life.

Half-hidden by grassy slopes, this striking Spanish colonial fort is now a museum of underwater archaeology.

This portion of a lovely Belize beach is infested with (harmless) sharks and rays.

At least seven hues of blue and turquoise make this freshwater lagoon unique.

The meteor that sealed the fate of the dinosaurs landed at this site, one of the largest impact craters in the world.

Iconic red and white plaques show the creative names invented to navigate the city streets.

One of the few places where you can visit a cenote and Maya ruins at the same time.

Cave where bat-eating snakes hang down from the ceiling.

A hacienda that features all things uniquely Yucatán.

Three sinkholes filled with warm, crystal-clear water reached by a horse-driven cart on an old train track through the jungle.

Its sunny hues are believed to have inspired the town's color palette.

No telescopes, no power, no gift shop: The Observatory of Chichen Itza, one of the world's oldest observatories, takes astronomy back to basics.

Every equinox this Maya pyramid puts on a spooky ancient light show.

Clap your hands at the base of the pyramid, and the song of a sacred Mayan bird will echo through the air.

A magical sinkhole on the Yucatán Peninsula is adorned with mini waterfalls and hanging vines.

Found down a long dirt road, a sacred Mexican cenote and 18th-century hacienda remain hidden.

If you can look past the nearby sewer pipes, this urban sinkhole grotto is a mini-paradise.

This popular cave pool is truly magical, despite the crowds.

Take a dip beneath the stalactites in this amazing cenote.

A flooded Mexican cave that hides a river beneath the water.

An ancient system of freshwater caves filled with animal bones, including that of species long-extinct.

The ruins of an important pilgrimage destination for worshippers of a Maya fertility goddess.

One of Mexico's least-visited archaeological sites is tucked away inside a theme park.