As one of the first indigenous groups to settle in Mesoamerica, Mayas established many cities across a large territory. They spread across Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and north into the Mexican states of Tabasco and Chiapas. They went south into Guatemala and Belize as well as parts of El Salvador and Honduras. Today there is a large selection of Maya sites in Mexico and Central America where you can explore their wonderful pyramids, palaces and temples.
About The Mayas
The Maya people were very advanced, excelling in math and astronomy. Using this knowledge, they developed one of the most accurate calendars with 365 days separated into eighteen 20-day months and one 5-day month. They wrote their stories and legends on walls and stone tablets using hieroglyphics with 800 characters. Because of this a lot is known about this culture today.
Unlike many civilizations they were not empire builders, but instead built independent cities and states. They shared common religious beliefs, customs and language with each other but remained independent. Communities developed cooperative relationships with some of their neighbours while being at war with others.
This map shows not only the Maya cities, but also of other pre-colonial cities in Mesoamerica.
Exploring these cities is a great way to further understand this fascinating culture. The following are brief descriptions of some of the Maya sites in Guatemala, Mexico, Belize and El Salvador.
Guatemala
Tikal
Famous for its five tall temples that soar high above the jungle canopy, Tikal archeological site is bound to impress anyone who visits. Established in the 4th century BCE, Tikal is one of the earliest known Maya settlements. Located in northern Guatemala, visitors will feel as if they’ve travelled through time while exploring the ancient wonders of the Mayan world.
You can read about Tikal in our post Mayan Ruins of Tikal & Yaxha.
Yaxha
Not far from the famous Mayan city of Tikal, is another site that should not be missed. Yaxha (pronounced Ya-Sha) was established a few hundred years after Tikal, around 200 BCE. Not only are the pyramids of Yaxha impressive for their grandeur, their jungle setting adds another component to the site. There is a good chance to see howler and spider monkeys as well as exotic birds such as Toucans as you walk between the towering pyramids.
You can read about Tikal in our post Mayan Ruins of Tikal & Yaxha.
Mexico
Chichen Itza
Originally founded by the Maya Itza people in the 5th century, Chichen Itza grew to become one of the largest Mayan cities of its time. It is best known for its tall, prominent pyramid, El Castillo, but there is more to see than one pyramid. Details in the bas reliefs and intricate designs on other buildings in Chichen Itza are as impressive as the pyramid and shouldn’t be missed.
To read more about Chichen Itza, visit our post Explore The Wonders Of Chichen Itza.
Uxmal
The decorative detailing on the buildings in Uxmal make this site stand out amongst all of the other Maya ruins. The buildings were designed with a new architectural style called Puuc. They used concrete to make walls rather than large stones that were typical at that time. The concrete was then inlaid with thinly cut strips of stone in a variety of decorative geometric patterns. The result is the most unique collection of temples and palaces in the Maya world and a must see for anyone interested in early Mesoamerica civilizations.
Find out more about Uxmal in our post Best Day Trips From Mérida – Uxmal & Izamal.
Palenque
Palenque was originally built as an agricultural village but soon became the capital of a region that included the present-day states of Chiapas and Tabasco. Ruling Mayan kings in Palenque were frequently allied with another Mayan powerhouse Tikal, over 300 km (180 miles) away. The buildings in Palenque have a different style than other Mayan cities we’ve seen. Temples were built on pyramid bases, but the stone buildings on top have their own style and look more like regular stone buildings. It is not a large site, but its unique buildings and jungle setting make the trip to Palenque, more than worthwhile.
To read more about Palenque, read our post Day Trips From Palenque – Agua Azul & Maya Ruins.
Tulum
Tulum was one of the last Maya cities to be built, reaching its apex between the 13th and 16th centuries. While most Maya sites were settled deep in the jungle, Tulum was built on cliffs above the Caribbean Sea. Palm trees and an ocean view make Tulum the prettiest Maya city.
For more information on Tulum, visit our post Tulum – Cenote Diving & Maya Ruins.
Belize
Xunantunich
Translated in English to Stone Woman, Xunantunich was one of the largest Maya cities ever built. Today its temples, palaces, residences and burial chambers are separated by green lawns and surrounded by a lush jungle. This garden like setting makes Xunantunich very scenic. Its location close to the cute town of San Ignacio makes it easy to visit.
You can read more about Xunantunich in our post Sacrificial Caves and Stone Pyramids – Maya Ruins In Belize.
Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM cave)
A tour to ATM Cave is touted as being adventurous and historical all at the same time. We can attest, it really is both of those. Swimming, wading, climbing and squeezing. All of those are done as you make your way through the Maya ATM Cave. It was one of the best tours we have ever done.
You can read more about ATM Caves in our post Sacrificial Caves and Stone Pyramids – Maya Ruins In Belize.
Cahal Pech
This small site dates back to 1200 BCE making it Belize’s oldest Maya city. Cahal Pech is perched atop a small hill overlooking the city of San Ignacio and is believed to have been a palace for an elite family. Today the site includes the remains of a large stone temple surrounded by residential buildings and open grassy courtyards. It has a serene peaceful setting in the middle of a jungle. This small site doesn’t get as many visitors as the other sites which further adds to the peaceful setting.
You can read more about Cahal Pech in our post Sacrificial Caves and Stone Pyramids – Maya Ruins In Belize.
El Salvador
Joya de Cerén
A truly unique Maya site is Joya de Cerén. In 650 AD Loma Caldera erupted, covering this farming village in 4 – 8 metres (13-26 feet) of ash. For this reason, it is also called the Pompeii of El Salvador. The volcanic ash did a great job preserving the buildings of this community. While there are many stone Mayan temples and palaces that can be visited throughout Mesoamerica, everyday buildings were made of wood and clay so none survived. That is none, except for those in Joya de Cerén. It is one of the only Maya sites that allows you to see how the common people lived.
To read more about this fascinating site see our post How To Spend A Day In San Salvador.
El Tazumal
Although El Tazumal is not a large site, it is worth a visit if you’re in the region. It is believed that the Maya shared parts of the city with Pipils who migrated to the area from Mexico, which is not very common.
To read more about El Tazumal, visit our post Day Trips From Santa Ana.
Other Indigenous Sites in Mesoamerica
In addition to these Maya sites, Mesoamerica was inhabited by many other cultures. Here is an example of other sites you can visit in Mexico.
Teotihuacan
In the 1st century AD Teotihuacan was only a small settlement. For the next several hundred years, the city grew and grew until it was the largest city in the Americas. At its height, between the years 300 and 600, the population was an estimated 175,000. Unfortunately, the people of Teotihuacan did not keep written records. As a result, even though it was such a large and important civilization, not a lot is known about the people or the city. Even without knowing a lot of the details, you can still enjoy wandering through the ancient streets and be amazed by their pyramids, palaces and ceremonial plazas.
You can read more about this site in our post Explore The Pyramids Of Teotihuacan.
Monte Albán
As one of the earliest settlements in pre-colonial Mesoamerica, Monte Albán is a must-see site. This mountain top location is filled with with ancient pyramids supporting elaborate temples, observatories, palaces and tombs built by the Zapotec people. You can still some some of the carvings that decorated their walls showing you how beautiful this city must have been. Located near the popular city of Oaxaca, makes a visit to Monte Albán very easy.
You can read more about this site by reading our post, The Pyramids Of Monte Albán.
Mitla Archeological Site
Around the time the Zapotecs abandoned Monte Albán, they built a ceremonial centre in present day Mitla. What remains of this centre are beautifully decorated stone buildings that were once religious buildings and palaces. There were likely people living in this region since 900 BCE, but the buildings we see today were built by the Zapotecs between the years 900 and 1520 AD.
To find out more about these beautiful buildings read our post Zapotec Mosaics & Frozen Waterfalls In Mitla.
Coming Next – Visit Historic Lisbon
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