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Mayan Ruins

Dzibilchaltun (Mayan for: The Place Where there is Writing on the Stones) only 10 miles from Merida is a true gem of an archaeological site. During the summer and fall equinox the sun rises directly through the doorway of the Temple of Seven Dolls. An astronomical wonder you can climb and explore.

The museum located at the entrance to the ruins features a complete lineage of the Mayan culture from antiquity to present day. 

Be sure to visit the Xlacah Cenote just 4km past the ruin site for a refreshing swim still frequented by the locals. 

Puuc Route

This relaxing one day trip includes various Unesco World heritage Sites and the famous Cacao museum. Just 80km south of Merida Uxmal (Óoxmáal) will be the first site you encounter followed by Kabah, Sayil, X-Lapak, Labna. 

If you choose to save Uxmal until the end and enjoy the light show at 7pm on Magician's Pyramid then a tour of the Loltún caves is where you will start. After the caves you will pass the town of Labná where in 750 - 1000 AD it was a bustling city of 1,500 to 2,500 people. Currently 4 buildings have been restored, one of which is the large palace containing 70 chultunes (water cisterns). On your way to Xlapak be sure to photograph the sacbé arch which once was the entrance to the Mayan highway.

Discover why this was the entrance to the Mayan highway when you step foot in the Cocoa Tikul Plantation. The traditional cacao drink is somewhat spicy prepared with annatto, cinnamon, allspice and chile which are all grown on the Tikul Plantation farm. The location of the farm is important reflecting the importance of cacao to the Mayans. 10 cacao beans could buy a rabbit  and value was measured in how many beans a person could carry on their backs. 

Xlapak in Mayan means "Unglued Walls". The site is basically uncovered with only 3 of the 14 ruins visible. It's a great way to see what the area looked like before they uncovered it. 

Sayil means "The place of the ants" and is right on the highway so you can't miss the huge palace. Sayil was a huge city and of the 3.5km surveyed around the palace some 80,000 - 10,000 structures are still underground. Many artifacts found by archaeologists show extensive trade throughout Central America. Half way between Sayil and Uxmal is the site of Kabah.

 Kabah is famous for its palace of Chaac masks. Chaac is Mayan for rain god who was very important in this area as there are no cenotes for fresh water to relay on. Important to the people of Uxmal as this city was once connected by a 18km long raised causeway which is also the last site.

Uxmal means "the trice built city". Very little excavation has been done. What is there though is spectacular. I actually thought it was better then Chichen Itza. The light show is not to me missed, sitting amoungst the stars, ruins and acient Mayan architecture at night is magical. You can have a nice dinner on site before your drive back to Progreso.

Chichen Itza

One of the 7 new wonders of the world.

With 2012 approaching visit one of the most important sites in Mayan culture. Only 80 km from Merida exploring the great pyramid and ruins easily fits as a day trip. 

Chichen Itza in Mayan means "at the mouth of the well of the Itza". The Itza tribe were the inhabitants of the city some 1,553 years ago. The site includes many grand structures the Kukulkan pyramid, Temple of the Warriors, Grand Ball Court, Nunnery and the Observatory. 

The Kulkulkan pyramid is an astrological wonder. During the Spring and Autumn equinox, the shadow from corner of the pyramid gives the appearance of a serpent making its way down to the large stone head at the bottom of the staircase.

Sylvanus Morley who is mainly responsible for unearthing more then half of the Mayan civilization also discovered the "Complex of a Thousand Columns". The arrangement and design of columns was nothing like local Mayan style but that of central Mexico. The Tolec culture said to be only myth extents over much of Mexico.

The Great Ball Court is the biggest in Mesoamerica. The game varied between fun and human sacrifice with a popularity reaching as far as Nicaragua. 

Other interesting discoveries are the Steam Bath complete with waiting room, bath and steam chambers, the El Mercado "Market" and the Tzompantli "wall carved of human skulls". 

Chichen Itza was a powerful economic site due to the abundance of water from cenotes. The Cenote Sagrado is a place of sacrifice during times of drought. Thousands of objects have been found in this cenote such as gold, jade, obsidian, shell, wood, cloth, as well as skeletons of children and men. Make sure to visit the cenote Ikkil and the Balankanche cave just down the road.

Kitesurfing in Progreso, Yucatan by Jessica Winkler. Calle 21 No. 36, Progreso Yucatan, Mexico.