COBA

It is located 43 Km. from Tulúm or 57 Km. from Valladolid. Cobá stands for Waters stirred by the wind, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the area.
Built between two lakes during the Classic Period (600-900 A.D.), it was at one time a very large city, with nearly 50,000 inhabitants and an extension of over 80 square kilometers.

The main group at Coba is dominated by the Castillo complex. From this area a series of "white roads" or sacbeob radiates in five directions. Coba is famous for these raised roads, of which 16 are known, also has a large late Post Classic temple known as Nohoch-Mul, it is one of the tallest structures in the Northern Yucatan. The view from the top is stunning. You can see the outline of the city in the jungle. This site is currently under excavation and is mostly covered by vegetation. Good bird watching and great
photo opportunities.

CHICHEN ITZA

It is located 120 Km. from Mérida or 220 Km. from Cancun.
Chichén Itzá, the ancient city whose name means "in the mouth at the Itzáe's Well", was, in its time of grandeur (between 800 and 1200 A.D.).

Possibly the best known construction on the site is Kukulcan's Pyramid. El Castillo (Kukulkan-Quetzalcoatl), a square-based, stepped pyramid that is approximately 75 feet tall. This pyramid was built for astronomical purposes and during the vernal equinox (March 20) and the autumnal equinox (September 21) at about 3 P.M.. the sunlight bathes the western balustrade of the pyramid's main stairway. This causes seven isosceles triangles to form imitating the body of a serpent 37 yards long that creeps downwards until it joins the huge serpent's head carved in stone at the bottom of the stairway. Mexican researcher Luis El Arochi calls it "the symbolic descent of Kukulcan" (the feathered serpent), and believes it could have been connected with agricultural rituals.

In 1194, Mayapan broke the alliance and subdued Chichen and Uxmal. The city was gradually abandoned.

tulum ruins

TULUM

Tulúm is located 123 Km. from Cancun. It means fence or wall, but its ancient name was Zamá (or Tzamá) meaning Sunrise.

The site was probably occupied from the Early Classic period (AD 250-600), but most likely did not develop into an important city until the Late Post classic (1200-1530). In the 13th century Tulum had links with Mayapán, and was still a thriving trading community when the Spaniards arrived. The first Spanish sailors to see Tulum reportedly were so impressed that from sea they said it looked as big a city as Seville.

Tulum remained occupied for several decades after the Conquest, longer than other places on the coast. It was actually reoccupied in 1890 - 1910, by a breakaway sect from the Talking Cross Maya. They were led by a woman "high priestess" who held rituals in the temples of the castillo.

As you enter the ruins you notice the walls that surround it. In fact, Tulum was one of the few walled Mayan cities. Opinions differ if this was a defensive measure or a barrier to separate the royalty and the ceremonial center from the rest of the city.

Tour Information

UXMAL

It is located 78 Km. from Mérida. It means three times built or occupied or abundant harvest. It has an area of 12 square Km.

This is the most relevant site of the Puuc region and perhaps one of the most well-known Mayan cities in the world, Uxmal is famous for the purity and delicacy of its architecture and decorative art. It reached its maximum splendour between the 600 and 900 after Christ.
It is highly recommend a visit at night to enjoy the light show, a reminder of the Mayan cosmogony.

Uxmal lies next to a series of hills called "Puuc", which in Maya means "mountainous", and from which the architectural style of this region derived its name. Uxmal represents the best example of this style.

The city seems to have been planned carefully. It has 15 groups of buildings spread out from north to south in an extension of about 2 Km. Several units have a distinct orientation which might have been for astrological reasons.


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COBA It is located 43 Km. from Tulúm or 57 Km. from Valladolid. Cobá stands for Waters stirred by the wind, is one of the most important archaeological sites in the area. Built between two lakes during the Classic Period (600-900 A.D.), it was at one time a very large city, with nearly 50,000 inhabitants and an extension of over 80 square kilometers. The main group at Coba is dominated by the Castillo complex. From this area a series of "white roads" or sacbeob radiates in five directions. Coba is famous for these raised roads, of which 16 are known, also has a large late Post Classic temple known as Nohoch-Mul, it is one of the tallest structures in the Northern Yucatan. The view from the top is stunning. You can see the outline of the city in the jungle. This site is currently under excavation and is mostly covered by vegetation. Good bird watching and great photo opportunities. Tour Information		CHICHEN ITZA It is located 120 Km. from Mérida or 220 Km. from Cancun. Chichén Itzá, the ancient city whose name means "in the mouth at the Itzáe's Well", was, in its time of grandeur (between 800 and 1200 A.D.). Possibly the best known construction on the site is Kukulcan's Pyramid. El Castillo (Kukulkan-Quetzalcoatl), a square-based, stepped pyramid that is approximately 75 feet tall. This pyramid was built for astronomical purposes and during the vernal equinox (March 20) and the autumnal equinox (September 21) at about 3 P.M.. the sunlight bathes the western balustrade of the pyramid's main stairway. This causes seven isosceles triangles to form imitating the body of a serpent 37 yards long that creeps downwards until it joins the huge serpent's head carved in stone at the bottom of the stairway. Mexican researcher Luis El Arochi calls it "the symbolic descent of Kukulcan" (the feathered serpent), and believes it could have been connected with agricultural rituals. In 1194, Mayapan broke the alliance and subdued Chichen and Uxmal. The city was gradually abandoned. Tour Information

TULUM Tulúm is located 123 Km. from Cancun. It means fence or wall, but its ancient name was Zamá (or Tzamá) meaning Sunrise. The site was probably occupied from the Early Classic period (AD 250-600), but most likely did not develop into an important city until the Late Post classic (1200-1530). In the 13th century Tulum had links with Mayapán, and was still a thriving trading community when the Spaniards arrived. The first Spanish sailors to see Tulum reportedly were so impressed that from sea they said it looked as big a city as Seville. Tulum remained occupied for several decades after the Conquest, longer than other places on the coast. It was actually reoccupied in 1890 - 1910, by a breakaway sect from the Talking Cross Maya. They were led by a woman "high priestess" who held rituals in the temples of the castillo. As you enter the ruins you notice the walls that surround it. In fact, Tulum was one of the few walled Mayan cities. Opinions differ if this was a defensive measure or a barrier to separate the royalty and the ceremonial center from the rest of the city. Tour Information		UXMAL It is located 78 Km. from Mérida. It means three times built or occupied or abundant harvest. It has an area of 12 square Km. This is the most relevant site of the Puuc region and perhaps one of the most well-known Mayan cities in the world, Uxmal is famous for the purity and delicacy of its architecture and decorative art. It reached its maximum splendour between the 600 and 900 after Christ. It is highly recommend a visit at night to enjoy the light show, a reminder of the Mayan cosmogony. Uxmal lies next to a series of hills called "Puuc", which in Maya means "mountainous", and from which the architectural style of this region derived its name. Uxmal represents the best example of this style. The city seems to have been planned carefully. It has 15 groups of buildings spread out from north to south in an extension of about 2 Km. Several units have a distinct orientation which might have been for astrological reasons.