Mayapan

Mayapan

Ancient center of lowland Maya culture, cultural and political capital of the region in the 1220ies – 1440ies. Remnants of more than 4000 structures, most inside 9 km long defensive wall. Most impressive structure – El Castillo pyramid (Kukulcan Temple).

Labna

Labná, Gateway Arch

Important ceremonial center of ancient Mayan civilization. Comparatively small city that flourished around the 9th century AD. Renowned due to elaborate Puuc style architecture represented in such structures as Gateway Arch at the ancient road to Uxmal and the 120 m long palace (El Palacio).

Kabah

Kabah, Palace of the Masks

Remnants of an ancient Mayan city, flourished in the 7th – 11th century AD. Contains the unusual Palace of the Masks – facade of this building is adorned with hundreds of masks of rain god Chaac.

Chichen Itza

El Castillo pyramid, Chichen Itza

A major urban center of lowland Maya culture with numerous monuments of world importance and fame. Chichen Itza became an important center around 600 AD and remained such a center until its fall around 1000 AD. Some of the best-known monuments are the El Castillo pyramid, the Great Ball Court, Temple de Los Guerreros, El Caracol observatory, Ossario pyramid.

Calakmul

Calakmul

One of the largest cities of ancient Maya with remnants of nearly 7000 structures still existing. Largest building – 55 m high pyramid. 117 steles and numerous other important monuments of history and art.

Bonampak

Balankanche, painting in the Temple of the Murals

Remnants of an ancient Maya city built sometime around 580 – 800 AD. Contains numerous valuable murals of high artistic value.

Tres Zapotes

One of the colossal heads from Tres Zapotes (Monument A)

Important center of the ancient Olmec culture, founded around 1000 BC and flourished in 900 – 800 BC. Here have been found such unique monuments of Olmec art as two colossal heads, monuments of some of the earliest writing system and the earliest calendar in the Western Hemisphere.

La Venta

Pyramid in La Venta

Impressive achievement of ancient urban planning, art, and architecture, one of the important centers of the ancient Olmec culture. Inhabited since 1200 BC and turned into an important center 900 – 400 BC. The complex of clay buildings extends for some 20 km, includes 33 m tall pyramid. Renowned monuments of ancient art – four colossal sculptures of heads.

San Lorenzo

Olmec stone head from San Lorenzo No. 1.

The largest city in Mesoamerica in 1200 – 900 BC, a major center of Olmec culture. Important ceremonial center with extensive, elevated central part that has a sophisticated drainage system.

Loltun Cave

Engravings in Loltun Cave

Cave with some of the best Mayan cave paintings as well more ancient carvings and remnants of prehistoric animals hunted by Paleoindians.