Ch’el is a Maya archaeological site that sits inside a 19th-century hacienda property of the same name. Though it is best known by its contemporary name, Sihunchen, the site’s original name is thought to have been Ch’el — sometimes spelled Che’el or Chéel — which means “rainbow.” The Carnegie Institution conducted an archaeological survey of…
Caracol is a large ancient Mayan city located in Belize’s Cayo District and just a few kilometers from the Guatemalan border.
If you hear howls coming from the nearby jungle, don’t be alarmed. The howler monkeys that inhabit the jungle are very peaceful.
Explore Ek Balam for its famous Acropolis’ elaborate stucco reliefs, which are some of the most striking and well-preserved examples of artwork in all of Mesoamerica.
Tucked between five-star resorts along Cancún’s hotel zone sits the remains of the prehispanic settlement of San Miguelito.
The mountains and plains surrounding Oaxaca de Juárez are jam-packed with archaeological sites. Here are eight of our favorites.
Think of Uxmal as the Athens to Chichén Itzá’s Sparta, though this is a useful yet great oversimplification.
On Easter Sunday, among the ancient ruins of Aké, The Virgin of Aké was carefully taken from her altar to join the procession in her honor.
The Gran Museo de Chichén Itzá is now open and features artifacts dating from the earliest occupation of the city to its heights under the rule of the Itzá.
Dzoyilá was known to Spanish conquistadors as far back as the 16th century, who then turned to dismantle its large temples to build their constructions.
The centuries have not been kind to Acaquilpan, yet its wonders shine through.
Nohoch Caucel covers an area larger than Valladolid, Yucatán’s second-largest city.
Just before the conquest, the archaeological remains in the community of Dzilam González belonged to a large kingdom with its capital in Izamal.
Established in the 7th century BCE, Dainzú was, along with San José del Mogote, already going strong for centuries by the time of the founding of Monte Albán.
The cave system and archaeological site Aktún Usil are seldom explored by all but the most adventurous visitors to the Yucatán.
Acozac was first investigated by the INAH in the 1970s during an urban expansion project and the construction of a golf club.
A contemporary of several of the Olmecs’ most ancient settlements is the Zapotec ceremonial center of San José del Mogote. Founded around 1500 BCE, San José del Mogote is notable not only for its sheer antiquity but also for the size of its temples and inscriptions. During the last half of the 1960s, research teams…
One of the least-known urban archaeological sites is a cluster of Mayan structures located just behind a pair of gleaming luxury condo towers in the Altabrisa neighborhood.
The exquisitely preserved ruins of the ancient city of Acatitlán are just a short drive from Mexico City.
Tenayuca was a major regional power during the post-classic period and exhibits an architectural style heavily reminiscent of Teotihuacán.
The ancient city of Tikal is widely considered to be one of the most impressive in all of Mesoamerica. Its importance in the development of classical Maya culture is hard to overstate.
Meaning “place of reeds” in Yucatec Maya, Aké is 32 kilometers / 20 miles from Mérida in the municipality of Tixkokob. Just a few years ago the dirt road and overgrown vegetation leading to Aké made the trek rough for most vehicles and their paint jobs. Thankfully there is now a proper road and it’s…
Long before the hustle and bustle of mopeds and rickshaws arrived in town, Acanceh had already — for well over a millennia — established itself as a player in the region. Meaning “deer grunt,” Acanceh, 30 kilometers southeast of Mérida, likely had its origins in the 3rd-century C.E. and was likely an outpost of T’Hó (ancient…
An hour-and-a-half south of Mérida and 20 minutes from Uxmal is Kabah, a Maya archaeological site in the Puuc region of western Yucatán. Kabah, which means “powerful hand,” is one of the city-states directly referenced in the Maya text known as the Chilam Balam of Chumayel. On approach, the right hand side of the highway…
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