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Kabah is a large classic site, reaching its highest period of development around 800 AD, that has been only sparsely excavated. A collection of structures designated Grupo de Palacio (Palace Group) is now completely uncovered and shows the architectural advancement of the Mayan builders called the korbel arch. The edifice, 'Codz-Pop', is located here and has a facade which features 250 intricate masks representing the rain god 'Chaac'. Kabah is situated on highway 261 about 2 hours drive south of Merida. |
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The Tulum Ruins are found south of Cancun on highway 307 about 80 miles.
An important coastal trade city in the Mundo Maya, Tulum was a walled settlement inhabited from the 3rd century AD to the 10th century AD.
Here, the edifice, El Castillo (The Castle), is built on a high cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea and creates a stunning vista, especially at sunrise. |
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Dzibilchaltun, located to only 20 Kms. of Merida's city, this archaeological zone hoards an incredible quantity of constructions of stone, like "The Palace" and "The Temple of the Pedestal", besides " The House of the seven wrists", where a beautiful spectacle can be observed that the sun gives during the equinoxes of Autumn and Spring.
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The Coba ruins are located 42 km.
west of Tulum. With many buildings still covered by jungle, Coba is over
80 sq. miles with 5 lakes. Nohoch Mul is the tallest pyramid in the
Yucatan peninsula. It is 12 stories tall and has 120 steps to the
top! But from the top you can view a magnificent span of jungle with
the tops of other ruins reaching above the jungle canopy. |
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Labna is located 18 miles from Uxmal and, like its neighbor Kabah, is built in the Classic Puuc style. Labna dates between 600-900 A.D. A small and intimate site, it is filled with exquisite and intricate details. The Puuc Maya style of building is astounding for its incredible artistry. Without the use of iron, the builders seem to have accomplished the impossible.
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The
Chichen Itza ruins in Yucatan are the most visited Mayan ruins on
the peninsula. Eighteen structures have been restored
over the years. Pyramid Kukulcan is the tallest of them and allows
a view from the top of all Chichen Itza. During the Spring and Fall equinoxes,
the setting sun creates shadows down the steps
of the pyramid that resemble a snake descending. This is a popular
event to see and usually draws big crowds. Chichen Itza is located along side Hwy. 180, 121 km east of Merida.
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The Uxmal ruins in Yucatan are some of the best on the peninsula. The name Uxmal means 'thrice-built' in Mayan, referring to the construction of its highest structure, the Pyramid of the Magician. The Maya would often build a new temple over an existing one, and in this case five stages of construction have actually been found. Uxmal was one of the largest cities of the Yucatán peninsula, and at its height was home to about 25,000 Maya. Uxmal is situated about 50 miles directly south from Merida on highway 261.
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Deep within the jungles of Mexico and Guatemala and extending into the limestone shelf of the Yucatán peninsula lie the fabled temples and palaces of the Maya. While Europe still slumbered in the midst of the Dark Ages, these innovative people had charted the heavens, evolved the only true writing system native to the Americas and were masters of mathematics and calendrics. Without advantage of metal tools or even the wheel they were able to construct vast cities with an astonishing degree of architectural perfection and variety. Their legacy in stone, which has survived in a spectacular fashion at places such as Kabah, Laba, Tulum, Chichén Itzá, Coba and Uxmal, lives on as do the seven million descendants of the classic Maya civilization.
