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Mayan Ruins

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456kat
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4 out of 5
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Ruins along the Puuc Route

  • July 4, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by wanderluster from Evansville, Indiana
Ruins along the Puuc Route

A trio of Mayan ruins Kabah, Sayil, and Labna are found on the Puuc Route heading east from Uxmal in the southern region of the Yucatan.

Kabah’s Kodz-Poop structure is best known for the riot of noses protruding from intricately carved stones. This large façade of 250 Chaac masks (rain god) become wonderfully illuminated in the late afternoon sun. The Great Pyramid and Palacio, also built between 700 A.D 900 A.D., exhibit traditional Puuc architectural style: plain lower walls topped by decorative friezes. Two giant sculptured kings perched high on the backside of the Palacio are unusual among Mayan ruins.

Sayil, the place of red ants, is a small but fascinating site. The Great Palace, a Greek-looking three-story structure with 98 rooms, numerous columns, and Puuc styled friezes, commands attention in a clearing. But paths into the forest seem more intriguing, leading to stone fragments and decaying temples tangles in brush. Step inside deserted niches where shafts of sunlight stray through narrow openings. Gnarly roots, and vines are entwined around many of these structures. Such overgrowth gives us an idea of what early explorers saw throughout the Yucatan. Its abrupt downfall in 1000 A.D. was likely due to invading warriors from Chichen Itza. Among the small ruins that ist amid steep hills are palaces, a ball court, altars, stelae with hieroglyphics and small dwellings. Turquoise colored mot-mots with their distinctive long tails are often seen in the canopy.

Labna boasts the prettiest ornamented arch among all Mayan ruins. Chaac masks, Mayan huts, serpents, and quetzals are represented on this carved façade, nicely restored. An ancient sacbe, a white limestone road that once connected important Mayan cities, is visible here. Late afternoon is also good for photographing the Great Palace, as the sunlight hits the geometric friezes in narrow passages and makes them glow. Sixty chultuns (cisterns that held rainwater in this place void of water) are scattered throughout the site.

These ruins are located within ten miles of one another and can easily be explored in a single day. Some people like to combine a visit with Loltun Cave (touristy, claustrophobic, hot, and led in Spanish) which is further north about ten miles from Labna. Oxkutzcab, a village beyond the cave, is known for its citrus. The morning market in the plaza features citrus fruit sold in cups sprinkled with chili powder and lime Delicioso!

From journal Mayan's Glorious Yucatan

Ek Balam Ruins

  • July 4, 2007
  • Rated 4 of 5 by wanderluster from Evansville, Indiana
Ek Balam Ruins

Occupied from 100 B.C. to 1200 A.D., these ruins combine many architectural styles, but are best known for the wonderfully preserved winged sculptures (Mayan angels) and Witz Monster Mouth recently discovered halfway up the Acropolis pyramid. Now under thatch protection, this Mayan entrance marked the burial place of the king and the portal to the underworld where blood-letting rituals, self-inflicted by the priest, and human sacrifices were made to appease the gods.

The Acropolis Palace has 6 levels. Climb to the top of the 100 foot pyramid for a surrounding view of the jungle. From here it’s easy to see how the Palacio Oval temple, a ball court, and Las Gemelas twin pyramids across the plaza were completely swallowed by dense brush until 1997. Sections are roped off as this site is undergoing extensive excavation and restoration.

Allow a couple of hours to explore this compact site, best seen in late afternoon light. As elsewhere in the Yucatan, this site is open from 8am to 5pm daily. Guides are available for $25-$50 depending on the size of your group. 

Valladolid is a 30-minute drive south. If you’d rather stay here, an interesting place to stay nearby is the Genesis Retreat in the tiny village of Ek Balam. Behind a private door, Mayan decorated cabanas with shared bathrooms sit in a peaceful garden setting. Abseiling into a cenote is an option here, but the real treat is taking the village tour where you’ll visit homes and watch the local Mayan women embroider huipiles, make tortillas from scratch or weave their colorful hammocks.

From journal Mayan's Glorious Yucatan

Mayan Ruins

  • February 4, 2004
  • Rated 5 of 5 by AmyR from Eau Claire, Wisconsin
We went on a tour to Tulum through our resort the Aventura Spa Resort. It was a great tour. What a great place to visit and the history in the place is amazing.

Make sure to go on a tour because I don't think you would get as much out of it just walking around by yourself. It is much more interesting with someone explaining what is what.

The ocean view from on top of the cliffs is amazing. It is one of the most beautiful I have seen.

Make sure to wear light clothing because it is very hot in June. The ocean gives a nice breeze and there is a little beach you can swim at. There are some little shops on the way in so you might want to grab a water.

From journal Mexico Retreat

Mayan ruins

  • October 19, 2003
  • Rated 3 of 5 by 456kat from Petersburg, Virginia
I was unable to take any of the tours because they required a minimum number of people, and the resort was pretty much empty while I was there. The guide will take you to some ruins that few people get to see, including some that have been excavated and some that are still in the process of being excavated.

From journal Mexico Highlights

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