Mayan Ruins of Yucatan

Sun and sand, pink flamingoes and colorful colonial cities, and of course, the Mayan ruins – the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico has indeed got it all! I got back from a trip there a couple of weeks ago and I am still going gaga about it.

In this post, I am going to talk about the Mayan ruins I visited and would absolutely recommend. There are numerous Meso-American archaeological sites – the Mayan ruins – throughout the Yucatan region. These sites were once bustling cities, dating all the way back to over 2000 years, occupied up until the Spanish conquest of Mexico in the 16th century. The Mayan civilization was built around these autocratic city-states and formed a complex trading network. These cities demonstrate advanced urban planning, architecture, and engineering. Their impressive architecture is characterized by step platforms, temple-pyramids and ornate palaces, many of which are still standing.

Really, there are too many to choose from. These are the ones I visited:

1. Uxmal

I dare say these are my favorite of all!

Located a little over an hour’s drive away from Merida, the Uxmal (pronounced “oosh-maal”) ruins are a must-do day trip. It is a fairly easy drive on the ‘Ruta Puuc’ which loosely translates into the route that goes through the hills.

I suggest arriving at the ruins first thing in the morning. That way you can have the grounds all to yourself and you can also beat the intense afternoon heat.  Maybe because it isn’t as close to Mayan Riviera or as easily accessible, Uxmal does not get crowded like the other ruins. However, don’t let the relative lack of crowds mislead you into thinking that these ruins are in any way less than the more popular ones, like Chichen Itza. They are just as impressive and well-preserved. We were late; we reached there around noon owing to our rental car acting up. It was unbelievably hot, and yet, we ended up spending some 4 hours here. In fact, we initially thought we could do without a guide, but we were so intrigued that we doubled back outside and hired one to really understand the grandeur before us.

Oh, and the iguanas! They are initially difficult to spot due to their impressive camouflaging skills, we realized they were everywhere once we figured out what to look for.

In the end, our rumbling stomachs won out, and we left the ruins, thoroughly impressed.

*Click on any image to enlarge and see description

‘The Temple of the Magician’ is about the first thing you will see. It is imposingly huge; a man-made hill. For a sense of its size, notice the information board near the base.

The unusually-shaped oval pyramid quickly draws you in. We were told that during its heyday, it was painted a brilliant shade of blue. It must have looked awesome, isn’t it?

Front view of ‘The Temple of the Magician’

The Nunnery Quadrangle is behind the pyramid. It is a rectangular open field, surrounded by buildings. It was used for performances, speeches, and this is where travelers from afar greeted the kings and queens and presented gifts they brought with them.

Ornate lattice work around the Nunnery Quadrange

Nunnery Quadrangle – richly decorated facade with numerous face masks of Chac, the Rain God. For the agrarian Mayan people, Chac was the most important deity.

A panoramic view of the Nunnery Quadrangle, with its 74 individual rooms

Pok ta pok – the Mayan ball game court. This lies on the route from the Nunnery Quadrangle to the Governor’s Palace. I was beyond amazed to know that ball games existed even back then!

The Governor’s Palace. This used to be the king’s residence. Notice the pyramid in the distance?

View from the Governor’s palace

Iguanas, the Guardians of the Ruins!

2. Ek’ Balam

Hidden deep inside the dense jungles north of Valladolid, these ruins are truly a treasure.

‘Ek Balam’ translates to ‘black jaguar’ or ‘star jaguar’. This Black Jaguar city was the capital of an ancient kingdom and was inhabited as early as 100 BC. It was slowly reclaimed by the jungle after it was abandoned by the Maya people, and was discovered relatively recently, in the 1980s. Only a small portion of the city has been excavated so far and very little of which has been rebuilt; most structures are still in ruins and covered in vegetation. Maybe because of this, these ruins do match the image of “ruins” one has in their minds.

Oh and one more thing – unlike other more popular sites, the structures at Ek’ Balam are not cordoned off. These ruins thus offer an intimate experience. Climbing the steps of the main pyramid and looking at the vistas from the top, it is very easy to imagine the city that once was, the people that lived there and how their life used to be.

*Click on any image to enlarge and see description

The entrance arch

The Oval Palace. This used to be the king’s residence.

View from the top of the Oval Palace. Notice the pyramid in the distance?

The Acropolis – the main pyramid of Ek’ Balam.

Amazingly detailed and intricate stucco work in the pyramid. Possibly jaguar teeth.

Views of the unbroken horizon from the top of the Acropolis.

Panoramic view of the Ek’ Balam ruins

3. Chichen Itza

Of course, the Chichen Itza ruins had to make it to this list!

I am going to go out on a limb here; the popularity of the Chichen Itza ruins has a lot do with how easily accessible they are. The ruins are grand but not the grandest, they are beautiful but we did visit more picturesque ones; these score ‘meets expectations’ on all the criteria – if such criteria did exist!

Don’t get me wrong – I am also saying that Chichen Itza is a great choice if you are in the Cancun area and have room in your plans to visit only one site. If you do have time, definitely consider the previous two. Particularly, Ek’ Balam would be a great addition to a day trip to Chichen Itza as the two sites are close by and would together offer a more complete experience.

Honestly, we had no plans to visit Chichen Itza and decided to take the exit at the last minute. We were also late, it was almost 4 PM by the time we parked our car. As the sites usually close for the day at 5 PM, the entry is closed by 4 PM, and we were advised to just turn back and leave by the street vendors. Luckily, we chose to inquire at the information desk and were told that the site would reopen for an additional hour at 5 PM to accommodate the clueless wanderers like us. In the end, we did not get a lot of time at the ruins as it got dark pretty soon, but, on the flip side, we skipped the usual throngs of tourists, had the site almost entirely to ourselves, and got some truly spectacular photos.

*Click on any image to enlarge and see description

Temple of Kukulcan, the main pyramid. Also known as El Castillo.

The nine step structure of the pyramid acts as the platform for a two-story temple.

The steep steps of the pyramid

Ball court

The Temple of the Warriors and the thousand columns

El Castillo, with the rays of the setting sun

4. Tulum

Perched high atop a rocky cliff, overlooking the azure Caribbean sea, the ruins of Tulum are a testimony to Maya’s aesthetic sense. The location made a lot of practical sense too; it was a major hub for the Maya’s extensive trade network with both land and sea routes converging here.

It is a fairly compact site and the different structures are well illustrated. As such, hiring a guide isn’t strictly necessary. There is a small, secluded beach right below the cliff that you should definitely check out. Do note that they close entry to this beach about an hour before the closing time for the ruins. However, the Playa Paraiso public beach right next to the ruins doesn’t have any access restrictions and can be a great choice for enjoying the sunset, which is exactly what we ended up doing.

I feel compelled to mention that Tulum is a highly touristed and commercialized place. Be prepared to come across hordes of people, touts forcing tours on you and endless markets selling souvenirs. It can be extremely off-putting for some as it was for me. Go early in the morning or just before closing and you can somewhat keep the madness in check and get rewarded by the views.

*Click on any image to enlarge and see description

Tulum ruins

Temple of the Wind – it served as a lighthouse to Maya merchant ships

Temple of the Wind

El Castillo – the main pyramid of Tulum

The palace

Current residents of the palace!

Iguana again. Can’t get enough of these guys!

And some useful tips

1. Carry water… lots of it! We visited in December and still, the heat was unbearable- especially between 10 PM and 3 PM
2. Wear sturdy footwear as exploring the ruins involves a lot of walking and climbing
3. Plan to be there early just when the ruins open
4. Wear insect repellent. The ruins are situated in tropical jungles and there are mosquitoes