Further south, Chiapas State has its own archaeological treasures. Here are the best sites of Mayan ruins in each state:. Tulum ruins - the most visited Mayan ruins after Chicken Itza, Tulum ruins are in a beautiful location overlooking the beach and sea. Explore the well-preserved temples and Castillo, appreciate the Mayan culture and take photos of this breathtaking spot. These ancient Mayan ruins were swallowed up by the jungle and lost for centuries until being rediscovered.
Coba ruins has many raised paths sacbes , pyramids and standing stones stelae. A huge site of Mayan ruins located one hour from Bacalar. Set among palms and tropical hardwood trees, this peaceful site has two large restored pyramids.
This 1. The political and cultural capital of pre-Columbian Maya civilization, Mayapan is still under excavation with cenotes, pyramids and over structures within the city walls. Chichen Itza is home to one of the most recognisable Mayan temples — this site attracts thousands of visitors every year partly due to its location close to Cancun which makes it a great day trip for holidaymakers and people on cruises.
You can also see lots of ancient sculptures and an old games arena. Lots of Mexico small group tours visit Chichen Itza. Go deep into the Mexican state of Campeche and you will come across Calakmul, an ancient Mayan site located in lush jungle.
This is one of the largest Maya sites in Mexico with over 6, ancient artefacts located. The tallest pyramid in Calakmul is over feet high and looms high over the stunning jungle below. Here you can see lots of well preserved old temples including the Nohoch Mul pyramid which is about feet high.
Archaeologists are still uncovering this site, most of the oldest temples still remain hidden in dense jungle. Palenque is one of the smallest Mayan cities in Mexico but it is also one of the most popular. Located in the state of Chiapas in Southern Mexico on the border with Guatemala, you will get to see some of the most incredible structures and sculptures in Central America.
Be sure to spend time at the Temple of Inscriptions which is beautiful. Uxmal is one of the most recognisable sites and very important in Maya culture. The temples here are very well preserved and the tallest structure is impressive at over feet high! The main pyramid temple which was built around the 6th century looks very different to others Maya temples with an oval surface rather than steps which makes it very distinctive. It's impossible to talk about Mexico's Mayan ruins and leave out Chichen Itza.
Located in the state of Yucatan, part of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Chichen Itza was a thriving Mayan city that dates back to around the 5th century. It was one of the largest cities in the Mayan world, spread over approximately two square miles.
It bustled as a hub of commerce, had residences, religious monuments, and even its own suburbs. One of the highlights of Chichen Itza is El Castillo, a mathematically and scientifically designed step pyramid that is the best manifestation of the Mayan's understanding of astronomy.
There are steps one for each day of the year , and twice a year on the spring and autumn equinoxes, a shadow appears on the pyramid that takes the shape of a serpent — a tribute to the most important Mayan god, Kukulcan, a feathered serpent.
Tulum ruins on the beach. Almost as recognizable as Chichen Itza are the coastal ruins of Tulum. The image of its largest structure, El Castillo, is iconic of the destination: perched on a cliff overlooking the magnetic turquoise Caribbean Sea. It is one of the most visited sites in Mexico, with more than two million visitors per year.
The original name of the site was Zama, which means sunrise. It's no wonder why — the sunrises here are spectacular, and certainly worth the early wakeup call to experience. At its height, around the 13th century, the city was a gateway to connect the Yucatan Peninsula with the people of Honduras and other places in the Gulf of Mexico.
Be sure to bring a bathing suit when visiting this site. The sugar-colored sand beneath the ruins is a popular spot to take a dip after touring the ancient city. The Mayan Nohoch Mul pyramid in Coba. Unlike its neighbors, Chichen Itsa and Tulum, Coba has drifted relatively under the radar in terms of popularity.
That's because it wasn't open to the public until the s because the surrounding jungle was too thick to penetrate. Today, only a small percentage of the site has been excavated, but it is one of the largest Mayan cities, spanning about 30 square miles.
Bicycles are available for rent to explore the four square miles that are open to the public. What's cool about Coba is that it is one of the last remaining archaeological sites in Mexico that visitors can still climb.
The pyramid to scale is Nohoch Mul, the main structure, which is ascended via steep, slippery stone steps. It's worth it for the view, though, which spans miles in every direction out over thick, green jungle. Temple of the Inscriptions, Palenque. Deep in the mist-shrouded jungles of the state of Chiapas lies one of Mexico's most impressive Mayan cities. The first written account of Palenque dates back to the 16th century, but its history dates back to about the 3rd century.
It is not the largest Mayan city, but it is one of the most important due to its sheer volume of inscriptions — a recorded history that has helped researchers truly understand the details of Mayan history and culture. The site is peppered with hundreds of ruins which, while a stony gray now, were once vibrantly colored with reds, blues, and yellows. The most impressive structure is the Temple of the Inscriptions, which contains hundreds of hieroglyphics.
For more than 1, years, the city of Calakmul was an integral part of the Mayan world. Today, the site is located within the state of Campeche on more than 7, acres of World Heritage property within the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.
It takes a hot, insect-laden 5-day hike to visit the great city. But man, what an experience! Where to Stay near El Mirador. Copan Ruinas lies just across the border from Guatemala. It has large, open plazas, as well as a number of altars and monoliths.
Like many Mayan ruins, this site centers around a main complex, with many other smaller developments around it. The central complex has five major plazas, including the Hieroglyphic Stairway Plaza, which has the longest known Mayan inscription consisting of over glyphs.
The ancient city functioned as an important locale and urban powerhouse for over years from to AD. As a tourist attractions today, Chichen Itza is a fun collection of mysterious designs and dazzling feats. There are numerous references to astronomy and the Mayan calendar hidden within the different structures. When visiting Chichen Itza, going early in the day will make for a much more intimate experience.
Now considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the site gets very busy and bustling by midday. Visiting during one of the equinoxes promises an amazing shadow serpent that displays just what talented designers the Ancient Maya were.
Where to Stay near Chichen Itza. In Chiapas the same state as Palenque , along the Lacanha River for which Palenque was originally named , Bonampak is a relatively small Mayan site by comparison. It dates back to the Early Classic period, with the bulk of its construction not happening until the 8 th century.
Rather than aweing people with huge temples and pyramids, this site is most notable for its magnificent murals. Covering the walls of three rooms, they offer a very unique look at the skilled fresco-style artwork of the Maya, as well as glimpses into the lifestyles of the ruling class. The paintings are highly regarded for their vivid colors, which is something rarely seen at other Mayan sites. Where to Stay near Bonampak.
The Mayan ruins are set deep in a jungle that is believed to have been settled as far back as BC. Thanks to of an abundance of soft limestone in the area, Palenque is notable for its intricately carved reliefs. Palenque has three temples for three different gods— an aquatic god, a lightning deity, and a sun god.
Two of the temples, the Temple of the Cross and the Temple of the Foliated Cross, have crosses that resemble those in Christianity. But they are, in fact, completely unrelated Mayan symbols. Where to Stay near Palenque. Tulum was one of the last big Mayan cities to be built, sometimes in the late s.
Unsurprisingly, Tulum acted as a seaport for trade mostly turquoise and jade. Consequently, it is one of the few Mayan sites that is surrounded by a protective wall. There are many well-preserved structures in Tulum, but its show-stopping feature is the location. The Caribbean backdrop and white sand beaches merge atop a limestone cliff dressed with remarkable Mayan temples. This is a unique site because it is the only one right on the coast, with its own beach. Other than the sand and surf, Tulum is special because it is so well-preserved and part of the post-Classic period of Mayan history.
Where to Stay near Tulum. It reached its height between and AD, after which nearby Mayan sites took the lead.
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