Cancun, Mexico

Chichen itza

 About 125 miles away from Cancun, in the state of Yucatan, you will find the most appreciated Mayan archeological site: Chichen Itza. Its name means “mouth of the well of the Itzaes”. Chichen Itza was once the most important Mayan capital in the Yucatan Peninsula. Invaded by the Toltecs towards the end of the 10th century, the Mayan culture adopted a new series of elements from them, one being the representation of the snake-god Kukulkan.

Some of its outstanding buildings are The Temple of Warriors, The Group of a Thousand Columns, The Temple of Venus, The Ball Court, The Observatory and the Church. The magnificent Pyramid of Kukulkan deserves special mention: it is a four-sided pyramid that rises almost 100 feet and is crowned by a temple. There are 91 steps in each side, which together with the platform, represent 365 days of the solar calendar, reason why it is believed that the monument was erected to honor the sun. There is so much more to Chichen Itza; lose yourself in this magic, mysterious place and feel a part of the extraordinary Mayan civilization.

It is located on the Boulevard Kukulkan, on the km 17.5 of the Cancun Hotel Zone, very close to the Cancun International Airport. Its original name remains unknown and the site was called “El Rey” (The King), because archeologists discovered in that place the upper portion of a sculpture that seemed like a human face with an elaborate ornament in his head, resembling a king or an important functionary. Today the head is kept and preserved at Cancun’s archeological museum. It is believed that “El Rey” must have been the center of a city dedicated to sea commerce and fishing, due to its closeness to the Caribbean Sea and the Nichupte Lagoon. As you tour the site, you will be able to appreciate several buildings that surround two squares: palaces where the nobility might have gathered, celebrated political meetings and had their royal chambers and minor constructions where their servants might have settled.

Tulum

It is the best known Mayan ruin in the Cancun - Mayan Riviera zone with an awe-inspiring sea view, located 79 miles south of Cancun. Visitors get impressed by the beautiful constructions overlooking the beach, which provides for a refreshing swimming after touring the ruins. Tulum means “wall” or “palisade” in Mayan language, alluding to the wall that delimits all the buildings. When you face the ancient pre-Hispanic settlement, you will see the buildings that were the center of the city enclosed by the famous wall. The wall features five entrances and two observation towers, which gives a good idea of how well this city was protected and how difficult was for strangers to trespass the wall. The most outstanding constructions are: The Castle, The Temple of Frescos, The Columns House and The Halach Uinic House. Tulum is a must on the travelers’ itinerary and its archeological treasures together with the white sand beach makes it ideal for enjoying a cultural, as well as recreational trip.

Coba

It is located west of the town and archeological site of Tulum. The city is structured with sets of buildings, some for housing and others for ceremonial and funeral matters. Open to the public are the Coba, the Nohoch Mul and the Macanxoc groups. Within the Coba Group you will find a series of palaces and an 82-feet impressive temple, which proves the size and importance the city would have had on its time. The Nohoch Mul Group features one of the tallest buildings in the Mayan area, which is crowned by a temple, with a total height of 138 feet. The Macanxoc Group consists of a set of low platforms with small temples and altars. If you want to learn about the archeology in the area, you should visit Coba; on your tour you will also discover a wide variety of animal and vegetable species indigenous to the region.

Considered one of the most striking of all the ancient cities of the Maya, Uxmal dates from the Classic Period and is seen rising magnificently from the hills of the Puuc Range. The buildings and structures here are in excellent condition and one, the Piramide del Adivino (Pyramid of the Seer), offers the most breathtaking view in all the Yucatan.

The nightly Light and Sound Show will provide you with a different aspect of this mysterious and captivating archaeological site.

Kabah is a large classic site, reaching its highest period of development around 800 AD, that has been only sparsely excavated. A collection of structures designated Grupo de Palacio (Palace Group) is now completely uncovered and shows the architectural advancement of the Mayan builders called the korbel arch.

The edifice, 'Codz-Pop', is located here and has a facade which features 250 intricate masks representing the rain god 'Chaac'.

The ancient site of Kohunlich was an important part of the Mundo Maya in the Yucatan and was occupied largely between 300 AD and 1200 AD. Only a very small portion of the site has been uncovered but these excavations have revealed many intriguing sculptures.

The main structure at Kohunlich is called Templo del Sol (Temple of the Sun) and features huge, six foot tall masks of the Mayan sun god in exceptional detail.

Situated amongst a tangle of jungle trees, vines and palms, Xel-Ha dates back to the pre-Classic Period and has only been partially uncovered.

Once the largest living area in the Yucatan, structures of interest here are the palace with its tumble of columns, the 'muelle (dock) and jaguar' building groups, and the pyramid which contains a partially preserved mural.