Chichén Itzá

One of Mexico's major archaeological sites and perhaps the best known, Chichén Itzá is an extensive site featuring the El Castilo Pyramid, balls courts, a variety of Mayan temples and the sacred cenote, a deep, natural well and place of offering surrounded by massed vines and vegetation.

In El Castillo, at the spring and fall equinoxes, the postioning of lights and shadows coming through a series of small triangles projects a writhing serpent onto the walls of the pyramid.

Chichén Itzá is located on Highway 180 between Merida (118 km. away) and Cancún (168 km. away). Buses run from both cities, as well as from Valladolid, to the small town of Piste, 2 1/2 km. from the site.

The site is open to the public from 8 a.m. till 5 p.m. daily.

Maya Explorer: John Lloyd Stephens and... find out more information

Birder's Mexico (Louise Lindsey Merrick... find out more information

Lonely Planet Yucatan (Yucatan, 1st Ed) find out more information

The Grutas de Balankanche

These grottoes are located a mere 2 km. from the Chichén Itzá archaeological zone and easily accessible by local bus or taxi. The grottoes are the site of massive offerings to the Toltec Rain God, Tlaloc as well as fabulous stalagtite and stalagmite formations.

The Puuc Route: Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak, Labná, Loltún Caves

Located 22 km. from Uxmal, Kabah includes several temples on the site which extends on both sides of the highway, and most particularly the Codz Pop temple, covered with the masks of the rain god, Chac.

Sayil is located a short 5 km. south of Kabah. Some of its structures are El Palacio and El Mirador temples.

Continuing south another 5 1/2 km. are the ruins of Xlapak, one building of which has been restored and on which can be seen masks of Chac as well as geometrical designs.

Carry on 3 km. down the road and you´ll arrive at Labná, with an impressive 6-meter-high arched as well as a temple known as El Mirador.

The caves of Loltún complete this small route, lying 18 km. east of Labná. These caves fabulous natural formations, stalagtites and stalagmites, as well as artifacts from the Mayans who apparently held rituals and ceremonies in the immense caverns.

Uxmal

Uxmal's smooth, elliptical Pyramid of the Magician is particularly interesting, and is composed of a conglomeration of separate pyramids and temples constructed at different times. It is steep and towers 39 metres into the air, affording a splendid view of the Uxmal archaeological zone. Other structures in this site include a ball court, the Nun's Quadrangle - a 74-room complex with many depictions of Chac - the 100-meter-long Governor's Palace, the Great Pyramid - only partially restored - and a number of lesser temples and houses.

Mayapan

The last dominant Mayan settlement of the Empire from 1200 to 1450, Mayapan is a conglomeration of some 3600 structures, including many elongated and colonnaded buildings surrounding the Kukulcan Pyramid, hub of the ceremonial center.