Famous for its Caribbean beaches and ancient Mayan ruins, the Yucatán Peninsula is one of the most popular destinations for first time visitors to Mexico. However, development of tourism has brought huge changes in recent decades, with 4-lane highways now sweeping down the coast from the Florida-style resort Cancún in the north to Chetumal (the gateway to Belize) in the south. Nevertheless, if you head off the beaten track away from the main tourist areas you can still find colourful Spanish colonial towns, sleepy fishing villages, quiet beaches and vast areas of undeveloped jungle that are a haven for tropical flora and fauna. The Yucatán is ideal for those looking for a relaxing self-drive holiday.