Unveiling 10 Mesmerizing Mayan Ruins of Central America

For almost a millennium, ancient ruins of extraordinary architecture lay buried beneath the jungle vegetation on the Yucatan Peninsula. These abandoned temples and pyramids are stunning reminders of a powerful civilization that once ruled Central America. Although the achievements of the ancient Mayans are awe-inspiring, no city could escape the inevitable collapse. One by one, these impressive Mayan ruins were swallowed by the rainforest, waiting to be rediscovered.

1. Lamanai 🌿

Located in northern Belize, Lamanai was once a considerably sized Maya city. The ancient ruins aren't fully uncovered yet, but archaeological work has focused on the larger structures, such as the High Temple, a 33-meter tall temple. Since it was still occupied by the Maya when the Spanish arrived, Lamanai, which means “submerged crocodile” in Maya, retains its traditional name.

2. Coba 🏛️

Coba, situated in Mexico, was a large ancient Maya city that housed around 50,000 inhabitants at its peak. Most of its monuments were built between 500 and 900 AD, with new temples continuously built and old ones maintained until at least the 14th century, perhaps as late as the Spanish arrival. Coba contains several large temple pyramids, the tallest reaching about 42 meters high. Today, only a small portion of the site has been cleared and restored by archaeologists.

3. Copan 🗿

Situated in western Honduras, Copán is a relatively small Mayan city well-known for its remarkable series of portrait stelae. The stelae and sculptured decorations of the Copán buildings are some of the finest surviving art of ancient Mesoamerica. Some stone structures at Copán date back to the 9th century BC. The city rose to prominence by the 5th century with over 20,000 inhabitants but was mysteriously abandoned a few centuries later.

4. Caracol 🌋

Perched high on a plateau, 500 meters above sea level, Caracol is the largest Maya site in Belize. It was once one of the largest ancient Maya cities, covering approximately 168 square kilometers. Around 650 AD, Caracol’s estimated population was about 150,000—more than twice as many as modern-day Belize City. Standing at 43 meters high, the largest pyramid in Caracol remains the tallest man-made structure in all of Belize.

5. Tulum 🌴

An hour’s drive from Cancun, the Tulum ruins are remnants of an ancient clifftop fortress built by the Mayans. Walled on three sides, with the fourth open to the Caribbean Sea, the views from Tulum are simply incredible. Even though it dates back to 564 AD, Tulum was at its prime during the 13th and 14th centuries. This powerful trading hub dealt in jade, cotton, and cacao beans. Apart from the El Castillo pyramid, do not miss the beautiful murals inside the Temple of the Frescoes and take a swim at Tulum’s secret beach, surrounded by palm trees and sunbathing iguanas.

6. Calakmul 🌿

Hidden deep within the jungles of the Mexican state of Campeche, Calakmul is one of the largest Maya cities ever uncovered. Calakmul was a powerful city that challenged the supremacy of Tikal and engaged in strategies to surround it with its network of allies. From the mid-6th century AD through to the late 7th century, Calakmul gained the upper hand, although it couldn’t completely extinguish Tikal’s power. Eventually, both cities succumbed to the spreading Maya collapse.

7. Palenque 🌲

Rising from the dense jungle, Palenque is an archaeological site located on the western edge of the Maya civilization in the present-day state of Chiapas, Mexico. While Palenque is smaller than some of its Mayan neighbor cities, it boasts some of the finest architecture and sculptures produced by the Maya. Most structures in Palenque date from around 600 AD to 800 AD, including the Temple of Inscriptions, the only Mesoamerican pyramid built as a funerary monument.

8. Uxmal 📜

Known as “built three times” in the Mayan language, Uxmal is one of the best-preserved Mayan sites in Mexico. The most recognizable and tallest structure, reaching 115 feet, is the Pyramid of the Magician. Unlike the rectangular or square layers of other Mayan pyramids, the temple pyramid's layers are oval. It appears to have been constructed in five phases, starting from the 6th century and continuing intermittently through the 10th century.

9. Tikal 🌄

With its grey temple tops protruding through the lush canopy of the Guatemalan jungle, the ruins of Tikal offer a mesmerizing sight. It is a popular day trip from Flores and is rich with pyramids, temples, and palaces. Tikal was the largest and most powerful of the Mayan cities around 600 AD, making it one of the largest archaeological sites in Mesoamerica. Don’t miss the Temple of the Two Headed Snake, one of the tallest pre-Columbian structures in the Western Hemisphere, which offers incredible 360-degree views of the rainforest when you climb to the top.

10. Chichen Itza 🔥

Chichen Itza, one of the most famous archaeological sites on Earth, was a thriving city on the Yucatan Peninsula built by the Mayans in 600 AD. It was abandoned in 1221 when Mayapan became the region’s new capital. Highlights include the Temple of Kukulkan, a giant stone pyramid with four stairways representing a compass and 365 steps for each day of the year. The site is best visited during the spring or fall equinox when the sun creates a light show on the pyramid’s stairs. Other must-see attractions include the Ball Court, the Wall of Skulls, and the Sacred Cenote, once a site of human sacrifice. Unravel the stories and marvel at the architectural genius of these ancient Maya cities, each whispering echoes of a civilization that once thrived amidst the dense jungles of Central America.

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