Although this typical Mexican town offers little in the way of tourist attractions, it's worth visiting for its historic value and for the insight it provides into contemporary Mayan culture.
Carrillo Puerto played an important role during the 19th-century War of the Castes, in which the Maya rebelled against the Mexican government. The town was home to a fabled talking cross, which supposedly inspired the Maya to revolt against their oppressors. Today, you can visit the Sanctuary of the Talking Cross, where there is a Mayan ceremonial center and a small church. You can also see some exhibits on the War of the Castes in the Santa Cruz Cultural Center, which is located on the pretty town plaza.
100 mi/160 km south of Playa del Carmen.
