The ancient city of Uxmal is known as the capital of the Puuc region and is the second-most-visited archaeological site in Yucatán — second only to Chichén Itzá.
Ready to explore El Palomar for yourself? Join us Dec. 18 for a tour of Uxmal and other fascinating attractions! Contact yesicabenitez@roofcatmedia.com
Like several other sites, most notably Chichén Viejo, Uxmal has recently had considerable resources devoted to it, including much-needed basic maintenance and the restoration and opening to the public of entirely new areas.
The largest and most striking section of Uxmal, recently opened to the public, is El Palomar.
It used to be that only the crest of El Palomar could be seen from the top of Uxmal’s Grand Pyramid. But now, the entire quadrangle of El Palomar is open to visitors.
Along the path to El Palomar, visitors who have not been to Uxmal for a while will notice several structures they have never seen before.
From inside the plaza, the splendor of El Palomar can be appreciated in all of its glory.
Flanking the main temple are several structures, some of which were likely elite residential complexes, while others likely served as religious and administrative buildings.
Surrounding the quadrangle are several other structures, some of which have been restored up to a point, and others still awaiting their time to shine.
After taking in the beauty of the plaza itself, visitors are allowed to climb El Palomar’s main temple for a closer look at its impressive architecture.
From atop El Palomar, visitors are treated to a wonderful view of La Gran Pirmaide, Uxmal’s tallest structure. It is temporarily off-limits to folks wishing to climb its summit.
But the improvements to Uxmal do not stop at El Palomar, as several structures have received a good deal of TLC and now look more impressive than ever.
The restoration of several structures atop the platform which houses the Governor’s Palace, allows some truly magnificent views.
But it is not just the exteriors of the structure that have been restored. The interiors of many structures have also received a good amount of care.
The clearing of weeds on the site has also made visible other unrestored structures one would have never known were there.
For more information on Uxmal, check out our main overview of the site here.
If you go
Driving to Uxmal is fairly straightforward as the highway is excellent. But if you rather take a tour there are plenty of options to be found at tour agencies in downtown Mérida.
Uxmal is of course just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the Puuc region, with other highlights including the ancient cities of Kabah, Labna, and Sayil, as well as other sites off the beaten path.
Ready to explore El Palomar for yourself? Join us Dec. 18 for a tour of Uxmal and other fascinating attractions! Contact yesicabenitez@roofcatmedia.com
