The Riviera Maya boasts some of the finest and best-known structures of ancient Mayan civilization. Dynamic and prosperous from 400 B.C. – 1500 A.D., the Riviera Maya was a vital commercial, religious and cultural center for the Mayans. One of the most advanced and forward-thinking societies, the legendary Mayans built elaborately carved temples and tombs, the remains of which still stand today, giving visitors a glimpse into this majestic civilization. Also remaining throughout the region are the people’s beliefs and spiritual ties to the traditions of the ancient Mayans.

Tulum

The ancient Mayan port of Tulum sits high on a bluff overlooking the Caribbean Sea and facing the rising sun. One of the most historically rich sites in the Maya World and Quintana Roo’s most famous site, Tulum is a walled city that became important during the post-Classic period (1000 – 1500 A.D.). A major site in the Maya’s extensive trade network, Tulum centers around a plaza or ceremonial center, which was used for rituals and ceremonies, and El Castillo (the castle), the most impressive building at Tulum. Standing on the bluff, the castle offers a view of the ocean and coastline for miles in both directions. The Temple of Descending God, Temple of the Frescos, which contains a number of murals, and the House of the Columns are other important buildings at Tulum.

Cobá

Set inland, deep in the jungle, surrounded by shallow lakes and accessed by sacbes, a network of formal limestone roads built by the Mayans over 1,000 years ago, is the ancient city of Cobá. Located about 25 miles from Tulum, Cobá served as a ceremonial center that flourished during the Classic period (300-1000 A.D.), at which time it was home to 50,000 inhabitants. The capital of the largest Late Classic Empire in the Northern Lowlands, the city’s most important structure is the Nohoch Mul, which is the tallest ancient building in northern Yucutan, standing 138 feet tall. Chumuc Mul and the Macanxoc Group, eight stelae and nine circular altars, are also important structures, exemplifying the architecture of the Maya of Petén (Guatemala) and the ‘east coast.’

Xel-Há

Occupied during the Classic and post-Classic period, Xel-Há was a port and trading station. The minor archeological site of Xel-Há, located in the jungle across the road from the Xel-Ha eco-park, exemplifies the same architectural style as in Tulum. Structures include the Castillo, El Palacio, El Mercado, the Structure of the Columns, the Temple of the Birds, where visitors will find one of the best preserved frescos or Mayan paintings, Temple of the Jaguar, which contains the red handprints of a holy Mayan priest, and altars dedicated to Yum Chac, the God who appeared in the form of water in cenotes, lagoons and bays.

Xaman-Há

The ancient city of Xaman-Há, known today as Playa del Carmen was the embarkation point for the sacred island of Cozumel, the site of a shrine dedicated to the goddess Ixchel, the goddess of fertility. Women from all over the Yucatan came to Xaman-Há to make the voyage to the island in canoes. Few structures still stand in Playa del Carmen, with the temple in Playacar the most accessible.

Muyil

One of the oldest cities in Northern Yucutan, the Mayan ruins of Muyil are located 15 minutes south of Tulum and are situated around a beautiful blue fresh water lake called La Laguna. Although surrounded by thick vegetation, visitors are still able to view the ruins’ three temple groupings, where some still believe the spirit of Ixchel remains.

Xcaret & Tankah

Known as Polé during the post-Classic period, Xcaret was a major port of commerce for the Mayan. Small archeological sites can still be found in the eco-park. Another site, located on a small bay between Xel-Ha and Tulum, is Tankah. Portions of a small temple are all that remains of what once was one of the Mayan’s most important port cities and ceremonial centers. Once occupying a much larger area as evidenced by the architectural remains scattered throughout the jungle.

Sian Ka’an

Chunyaxché, which contains several pyramids and small temples, and other minor ruins are plentiful throughout the protected area of the Sian Ka’an with more than twenty sites already identified. Covering 1.5 million acres, this protected area encompasses most of the ecosystems present in the Yucatan Peninsula including jungles, beaches, marshlands and mangroves. The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve was founded in 1986 and a year later was named an UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Information courtesy Riviera Maya Tourism