Best Mayan Ruins

For almost a millennium, the ancient ruins of great architecture lay buried beneath the jungle vegetation on the Yucatan Peninsula. Abandoned by their creators these ancient Mayan ruins are a stunning reminder of a powerful civilization that once ruled the people of Central America.

The Maya civilization consisted of a network of city states dominated by sacred lords. Centuries later the Mayan ruins were rediscovered by early explorers and archeologists who found them hidden away in the jungles of southern Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador and Belize.

Best Mayan Ruins-Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza in Mexico is probably the most famous and best restored of the Mayan ruins. It was founded in 445 B.C., and inhabited until 1204 A.D. when it was mysteriously abandoned. Despite of being extremely overcrowded, it still continues to attract foreign travelers.

Chichén Itza is located about 3 hours away from the Mayan Riviera, a stretch of green jungle and white sandy beaches that runs along the Caribbean coastline. The site's most impressive structure is the 75-foot pyramid, the Temple of Kukulcan, whose stairs lead to two large serpent heads.

Best Mayan Ruins-Tulum

Another popular Mayan site on the Mayan Riviera coast is Tulum while the Coba ruins are located some distance inland. It is just over 80 miles to the south of Cancun and is the only major Mayan archeological site to overlook the Caribbean.

According to the archaeologists, it is the most important ceremonial center of the Mayas. One of the highlights of Tulum is El Castillo (The Castle), an impressive pyramid perched on a 40-foot cliff and thought be one of a series of lighthouses that guided seafarers in the area.

Best Mayan Ruins-The Altun Ha

A large number of Mayan ruins are to be found in Belize. The Altun Ha ruins are one of the most well-preserved Mayan ruins in Belize. A great deal of jade and obsidian were excavated in Altun Ha, suggesting the Mayan site served as an ancient trading center.

Particularly notable was the 15-centimeter jade head of the Maya Sun God, Kinich Ahau. Nim Li Punit sits in the hills below Belize's Maya Mountains, and boasts panoramic views over Belize's coastal lowlands to the Caribbean.

Best Mayan Ruins-Nim Li Punit

Archaeologists believe the Nim Li Punit ruins served as a trading center in the ancient Mayan empire. The Lubaantun Ruins in southern Belize's Toledo District are particularly mysterious. Famously, Lubaantun is said to have been the discovery site of the Mitchell-Hedges Crystal Skull.

The Xunantunich Ruins are located in western Belize's Cayo district, right up against the Guatemalan border. The most striking feature of these Mayan ruins is the 130-foot-tall El Castilo temple.

Best Mayan Ruins-Coba

Three hours south of Cancun is Coba an early Mayan site yet to be fully reclaimed from the jungle. These ruins are all that is left of what could have been the largest Mayan city. There are estimated to be over 6,500 structures spread out over 50 square kilometers.

Archeologists have found many links between Coba and the Guatemalan city of Tikal, including similar architecture and carvings or stelae. They believe that the royal females of Tikal may have married the Coba royalty and formed a relationship between the Guatemala Maya. For some unknown reason the people of Coba left town around the year 900 AD.

Best Mayan Ruins-Uxmal

Uxmal ruins are in the state of Yucatan, south of Merida. They are large and impressively carved. Many archaeologists rate it to be one of the finest Mayan cities.

Best Mayan Ruins-El Rey

The ruins of El Rey are located in front of Playa Delfines in Cancun's hotel zone. ating back to the Mayan post-classical period, its name is derived from the skeleton discovered on the upper part of the larger mound. Just north of Cancun, on the avenue leading to Punta Sam, is the archeological zone of El Meco. There is a breathtaking view of the Chacmochuc Lagoon from the top of one of its pyramids.

Discovered less than three decades ago, Kohunlich is one of the finest sites in the south of Quintana Roo, especially for the enormous gargoyles on the main pyramid which are supposed to represent the Gods of the Underworld, rather like the Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Near the colonial city of Valladolid is one of the newest sites to open to the public, Ek-Balam, home to remarkably well-preserved Mayan ruins.

Located only 22 kms. from Merida, Dzibilchaltun holds an incredible amount of stone constructions. One of these, the House of the Seven Dolls, is the site of a beautiful light show every equinox.

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