EK-BALAM
The entrance to the archaeological site of Ek Balam, a Mayan word meaning “black Jaguar” or “black star”, was protected by two walls and an arch. It has 45 structures and numerous stelea; An Acropolis is located inside, and there are shrines such as the Mouth of the Jaguar and the Winged Warriors, The Oval Palace, the Ball court, Twin Pyramids, among the most important.
It is located at only 26 miles north from Valladolid and can be visited daily from 8:00 to 17:00 hrs. As in Chichen Itza, the Sunday admission is free for domestic tourism. Just off this area is Cenote X-court, which invites visitors to various activities and keep in touch with nature. Access is through a bike riding, and once you are there, it is possible to practice rappelling and zip lining, kayaking and swimming.
Visiting hours are from 8:00 to 17:00 and has service areas and space for relaxation.
COBÁ
Coba means “muddy waters”. This city became one of the most important of the Mayan civilization in the Yucatan peninsula and reached its peak during the years 600-900 AD. When the Spanish arrived, it had already been vacated, probably displaced in importance by other sites such as Chichen Itza and Tulum.
This site located in Q Roo, consists of five groups of buildings or complexes, with a network of roads that interconnect with each other and facilitated the trading of goods and services with the rest of the peninsula of Yucatan. It also has 45 sacbes (roads) that connect the various sets of the site and other smaller communities. The most famous groups are: The Coba Group, including the Pyramid Temple known as “The Church” because it contains many figures and symbols, and the restored Nohoch Mul Group, where one of the largest mounds throughout the Maya area known by that name, because it has a height of 42 meters. After many studies, it is understood that there are more than six thousand structures buried in the dense jungle and around the archaeological site of Coba, which is the classic example of the supremacy of the first millennium of the Maya in Mesoamerica.
Visiting hours are Monday through Sunday from 8:00 to
19:00 hrs during the summer, and from 7:00 to 18:00 hrs
CHICHÉN ITZÁ
The sacred city of the Itzaes, is located 40 kilometers (30 min. drive) from the city of Valladolid. The archaeological site was registered in 1988 on the list of World Heritage by UNESCO, and on the July 7, 2007 was recognized as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
On this splendid site, Mayan Puuc architecture is found, well represented on the great Pyramid of Kukulcan, also found on the Observatory, the Ball Court and Temple of a Thousand Columns. Deep inside the forest is the Sacred Well or Cenote, where human sacrifices were held, as offerings to the gods.
Visiting hours are Monday through Sunday from 8:00 to 17:00 hrs. There is a sound and light show where the history of this Mayan city is performed. Schedules for the show are at 20:00 hrs in summer and 18:00 hrs in winter. For domestic tourism, Sunday admission is free.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL TOURISM
ESPAÑOL
