Discovering the secrets of the ancient Maya civilisation across Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. From Tulum’s coastal fortress to Chichén Itzá’s famous pyramid and the hidden jungle temples of Ek Balam, the remarkable archaeological sites that reveal one of the world’s greatest ancient cultures.
Tulum: Where iguanas rule the ancient Mayan ruins
The ropes are there to keep the humans out, but the iguanas have no intention of paying attention to them. They roam the ancient Mayan city of Tulum with impunity, scuttling up the steps if they wish, but mainly lying out on the grass to catch the sun.
Tulum is a beginners’ Mayan ruins, handily positioned on the Riviera Maya coastal resort strip. But it has always been the introduction to the Mayan world – it was the first city the Spanish saw when sailing past in 1518.
Understanding Mayan architecture and social structure
Many of the key features that can be found in other Mayan cities can be found at Tulum. The stone-built main area was reserved for the ruling and priestly classes, while ordinary folk lived outside the walls.
Entrance is through a false arch, which uses a capstone rather than a keystone, and the steep-stepped edges of the arch mirror those of the key temples. If the walls were too far apart, the whole structure would collapse.
So rooms, even for the kings, were surprisingly narrow. And to build upwards, previous temples had to be filled in to act as supports for the new, grander efforts built around and above.
Tulum’s unique coastal position in Mayan trade
By Mayan standards, the buildings at Tulum are modest, a sure sign that they were built in around 1200AD. This was in the post-classic period when the civilisation’s great cities had collapsed and smaller, fragmented settlements became the norm.
Tulum is, however, the only Mayan city on the coast. Boats carrying jade, obsidian and other precious materials would pull up on the white sand beach after passing through the second longest barrier reef in the world.
It’s when you learn how that the ancient Mayans’ extraordinary design and mathematical skills hit home. The gap in the reef lines up with the main temple – if you could see directly through the main window from the sea, you knew you were in the right place.
Why book a Tulum ruins express tour?
- 🏝️ Visit the famous coastal ruins perched above the Caribbean Sea.
- 🌿 Learn about the Mayan civilisation and its fascinating history.
- 📸 Capture stunning panoramic views of turquoise waters and beaches.
- ⏳ Enjoy a short and convenient tour ideal for travellers on a schedule.
- 🚐 Benefit from round-trip transport for a stress-free experience.
Exploring the diverse Maya sites across Yucatán
Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula is liberally dotted with Mayan sites, many of which have something to mark them out. Coba wins on height of towers, Uxmal on level of decoration and Calakmul on power of the state that once called it capital.
But for sheer bulk, it’s tricky to look past Ek Balam. Most of the site is still under jungle – the hillocks are actually unexcavated buildings – but the Acropolis is mostly cleared and absolutely enormous.
160m long, 70m wide and 31m high, it’s a classic example of building on top of previous structures.
Why book a Chichén Itzá and Ek Balam with Cenote Hubiku tour?
- 🏛️ Explore the UNESCO World Heritage site of Chichén Itzá, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
- 🌄 Discover the ancient Mayan city of Ek Balam, famed for its well-preserved structures and carvings.
- 💧 Refresh with a swim in the stunning Cenote Hubiku, a natural underground sinkhole.
- 📚 Learn about Mayan history and culture with expert guides throughout the day.
- 🚐 Enjoy a full-day excursion with transport included from Playa del Carmen.
The incredible tomb discovery at Ek Balam
When excavating, archaeologists found an almost perfectly preserved chamber shaped like a monster’s mouth, with teeth and all. Glyphs carved nearby revealed the body found in there to be the one-time king – and it is thought that his son had the tomb covered and sealed to protect it from enemies who’d break in and scatter the bones.
More to the point, this is one of the few major Mayan structures that isn’t roped-off. The steep, sweaty climb up takes you above the treeline – and the horizon is just green with the odd temple top peeking out.
Chichén Itzá: The crown jewel of Maya civilisation
Everything’s much clearer, however, at the most famous Mayan site (albeit one with heavy Toltec influence). Chichén Itzá’s grandest buildings stand on a cleared lawn.
El Castillo – the one from all the photographs – is the crowning glory, full of hidden tricks and meanings. During the autumn and spring equinoxes, the light makes a snake shape down the edge of the grand pyramid, while the 91 steps on each side plus the one on top add up to 365, representing the days of the year.
Clap outside the pyramid, and the acoustics make for a squawk-like sound – designed to be similar to the call of the quetzal bird that was so admired for its feathers.
Why book an early access Chichén Itzá tour with a private archaeologist?
- 🌅 Experience Chichén Itzá at sunrise, before the crowds arrive.
- 🏛️ Explore one of the New Seven Wonders of the World with special early entry.
- 👨🏫 Gain unique insights from a private archaeologist guide.
- 📸 Enjoy rare opportunities for peaceful photos of the ancient ruins.
- 🚐 Travel in comfort with round-trip transportation included from Cancún.
The mysteries of the Mayan ball game
There’s also the huge ball game court, 96m long with the hoops the players had to hit the ball through still intact. Nobody quite knows what the rules are – Spanish interpretations came from seeing the Aztec version of the game, but that could have been as different as Australian Rules Football is to global football.
There are theories that winning or losing captains may have been sacrificed afterwards, but as with so many aspects of the ancient Mayans, they are just that: theories.
Why did the Mayan civilisation collapse?
And as for the theories why the great civilisation collapsed, guide Abel Parilla has one. “To build this, they had to clear so much forest,” he says outside El Castillo.
“And the deforestation changed weather patterns. So when the priest predicted rain and it didn’t come, the people lost faith and the priests lost control.”
It’s as good a guess as any. But it’s not a bad place to be stood, staring in wonder at the possibilities.
Five non-Maya adventures on the Yucatán Peninsula
Swim with whale sharks
They make an appearance off the north-east coast between June and September. Cancun Adventures takes visitors out there with snorkels for an unforgettable underwater experience with these gentle giants.
Go flamingo-spotting
The massive Ría Lagartos estuary is a haven for the gorgeous pink birds. Boat trips through the mangroves will take you out to see them in their natural habitat amongst the coastal wetlands.
Dive in cenotes
Sinkholes all over the peninsula are the gateway to an underground river system. Many are open for swimming, but more adventurous explorers can take on diving expeditions through these natural limestone caves.
Get gum
Discover how chewing gum is harvested from trees at a traditional camp in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. Learn about this ancient Maya tradition that gave the world chicle.
Go colonial
The cities of Valladolid and Mérida have plenty of gorgeous Spanish colonial buildings, but the Hacienda Yaxcopoil is an impressive and faithfully maintained example of the peninsula’s wealthy European-era estates.
Self-driving advantages
Self driving gets you to the ruins before the tour buses arrive. International firms such as Alamo, Europcar and Avis have outlets at Cancun airport, making it easy to create your own Maya trail itinerary.
