Tikal, the storied Petén capital of the classical Maya
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.
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The (almost) forgotten city of El Tabasqueño
Because El Tabasqueño is located in a fairly remote area that is jam-packed with archaeological sites, it is visited by only the most adamant lovers of Mayan archaeology.
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Hochob, the mysterious Maya city on the hill
Hochob was founded in the 3rd century CE, but it is likely that the area had already been settled by Maya farmers centuries before.
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Xelha, where fresh water springs life anew
Xelha is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization located on the coast of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The word Xelha comes from the Yucatec Maya roots xel (spring) and ha’ (water) and is usually translated as “water spring” or “where the water springs.” The site is located on the right-hand side of…
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El Rey: Archaeology in the heart of Cancun’s hotel zone
When visiting El Rey, it is impossible not to notice the towering hotels of Cancun’s hotel zone visible just above the tree line.
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The prosperous and beautiful Mayan city of Tulum
Tulum became an important trade hub for goods from across Mesoamerica, as it had easy access to well-established trade routes across both land and sea.
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Cobá, from tiny outpost to the Maya crossroads of commerce
During the late classical era, the city became an important trading hub, as several roads or sacbé converged in its territory.
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A new power rises in the mountains, the mighty Toniná
In the Maya Tzeltal language, Toniná means house of stone, however, the original name of the city found in ancient texts appears as Po or Popo.
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Journey into the wonderous Kohunlich and its exotic jungle
If you hear howls coming from the nearby jungle, don’t be alarmed. The howler monkeys that inhabit the jungle are very peaceful.
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The new and the old meet in Acanceh
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…
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Kabah, the powerful hand of the Puuc valley
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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Discover Xcambó, Yucatan’s great Maya port
The ride to Xcambó, just off Yucatán’s Gulf coast in Dzemul, is half the fun. To get to the site from Mérida, take the highway north and then make a right at the large roundabout just before you enter Progreso. From there it’s another 30 minutes or so, but you may want to take it…
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Archaeology | Lodging | Monday
Exploring Dzibilchaltún is easiest for early birds
When thinking of the Yucatán, for many the first image to come to mind is the pyramid of Kukulkán in Chichén Itzá. Although Chichén Itzá is by far the most visited historical attraction on the peninsula, there are another 54 interesting archaeological sites spread across the Mexican states of Yucatán, Quintana Roo and Campeche. Located roughly…
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Lodging | Archaeology | Monday
New findings shed light on ancient Maya royal house
New research identifies inscriptions found at Chichen Itza as referring to individuals belonging to the royal house of Cocom, a common surname to this day in Yucatán. The discovery was made by the archaeologists Eduardo Pérez de Heredia and Peter Biró, who correlated existing information with hieroglyphs found in the structure known as the Temple…
That’s all for now
That’s all for now