About Mayan Archaeological Sites

Cancun and the Riviera Maya are the doorway to the Maya World. The renowned cities of Chichen-Itza, Coba, Tulum, Ek-Balam and the Puuc Route, were constructed on the northern area of the Yucatan Peninsula during the Classic and the Post-Classic periods of this fascinating culture.

The Mayan culture began around actual Guatemala and spread to the south to Honduras and El Salvador, to the north to Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula Mexican states of Campeche, Quintana Roo and Yucatan, and to the west to the Mexican states of Chiapas and Tabasco. The northern area of the Yucatan peninsula was about the last region to be inhabited.

Puuc Route means; all cities settled around the Puuc social group zone, south of Merida city. Renowned cities located in the Puuc zone are; Uxmal, Mayapan, Kabah, Labna, Sayil and Xlapac. Being Cenotes (open caverns of underground rivers) so important to the Mayan culture; the door to the infra-world, Loltun (stone flower) visit is a must.

Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Ek Balam and Coba are the leading standing cities of the Yucatan Peninsula. The once leading and most powerful city of Mayapan, was destroyed to the ground by the Uxmal people leaving very little to be seen nowadays.

Chichen Itza, Uxmal and lately Ek-Balam, have been very much restored and are really impressive sites to visit. Chichen Itza boasts the imposing Kukulcan Pyramid (named “El Castillo” by the Spaniards) selected to become one of the “New Seven World Wonders”. Ek Balam shows a different architecture from the all other Mayan sites and impressive stucco designs. Uxmal (built three times) the leading Puuc city, is one of the most well known of the Mayan cities, rated by many archaeologists as the finest. Coba, even though not exploited enough, boasts the most extended, largest population and tallest pyramid within the Yucatan peninsula.