GUIDE TO VISIT THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONE OF UXMAL (MEXICO)

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The ruins of the ancient Mayan city of Uxmal, to the south of Mérida, they are the most impressive of the Yucatan Peninsula, and an undoubted visit on your trip through Mexico. Here we tell you more about this incredible historical site (for us, the best!).

Uxmal was inhabited since 500 BC. and according to the etymology of his name, he had to be re-founded 3 times. It is located in the so-called "Puuc Route", where there are other sites of this architectural style, although Uxmal is the greatest exponent. Traces of other styles from the interior of Mexico, such as Toltec or Olmecs, are also distinguished in their buildings.

The city was inhabited by the Mayan people of the Tutul Xiues, who, together with the Itzaes of Chichen Itza and the cocomes of Mayapán, controlled the entire Yucatan Peninsula. Before the Spaniards arrived, in the 16th century, it was abandoned like the rest of the Mayan cities.

* Video from inah.gob.mx

Uxmal is located 90 km south of Mérida. The road is in very good condition, it is a freeway where there is almost no traffic.

At the entrance you will see a map where they are drawn two routes Recommended: the short and the long. Actually there is not much difference between the two, simply the length reaches the area of the Cement Group. We did a short tour, with this order of visits:

- As soon as you cross the entrance winches, there is a path that goes directly to the Pyramid of the Fortune Teller. What you have in front is its east facade.

- You can border it on the right to give the Quadrangle of the Birds and contemplate the west facade, the main and most spectacular.

- From there it crosses a typical Mayan triangle door and walks on a wide ledge, until it reaches the entrance of the Nun's Quadrangle, in its southern part. This is probably the most interesting building of all. Spend a good time analyzing your four different facades and their reliefs. You can climb to the middle part of one of the walls.

- Exit again through the south door and head towards the Ball game, that you will go through. One of the hoops is preserved where they had to introduce the ball into the game, on the wall to your right.

- Right in front of you, and behind a wooded area, rises the huge Governor's Palace, another of the most important buildings. But before going up, look at a temple near one of its corners, it is the Turtles House.

- Now, go up the first steps and go to the east side, where you will see another staircase that ascends to the Governor's Palace. From its terrace you will have the ancient city of Uxmal under your feet, just as the chief boss had in his day.

- As in the rest of the buildings, in this one you can also see beautiful reliefs of gods on its walls. Go back down the eastern staircase and look at two elements in the esplanade: one of them is the Pillory Shrine (with a column-shaped altar) and the Throne of the Jaguar (with the sculpture of a two-headed jaguar).

- Now do not return where you came from, but continue to surround the Governor's Palace in its southern area until you reach the Great pyramid. The face where we are, which you can ascend, is the one that is restored and therefore the one that is worth visiting. From the top, the panoramic views are not as impressive as those on the Palace, but hit the heat to climb, maj @! Before reaching the Pyramid, there is a path to your left that reaches the Old House. We did not do it.

- And again come down, and before returning, you can visit the House of the Doves and if you feel like it, also the cemetery group. Back at the entrance, leave the Ball Game on your left and go through a beautiful grass meadow that directs you to the face of the Pyramid of the Fortune Teller that you still had to see, passing through the a temple with columns and finally arriving at the exit, starting point of the visit.

In total we take about two hours in doing this tour, without a guide.

The total entry is from 234 pesos (about € 10), divided into two tickets: one of 70 pesos from the entrance to the park and another 164 pesos for the Yucatan government.

If you attend the light and sound show, the price is from others 92 pesos (about € 4).

These are the buildings that you cannot miss on your visit to Uxmal:

Pyramid of the Fortune Teller

It is the largest building on the premises, with a height of 35 meters, and the most important. It has a characteristic that makes it unique in the Mayan world: its oval plant. This fact makes it only have two important faces, the one that faces east and the one that faces west, the most ornate of the two, with geometric elements and mosaics. On this facade a staircase was built that ascends to the upper temple, flanked by masks of the god Chaac, the god of rain. The main access to the upper temple is through a huge door, which symbolizes the open mouth of the god Chaac, full of decorative mosaics.

Quadrangle of the Nuns

It is probably the most peculiar construction we have seen in a Mayan site. It is a kind of square courtyard raised on a huge platform about 120 meters side. Facades with different decorative elements and small rooms are raised on each side. The north side is the highest of all, and from the top of its stairs you can see how the Governor's Palace stands on the other side. It is the best ornate of all, but do not lose sight of the decoration of the entire enclosure: masks of gods, heads, monkeys, snakes, human figures ...

Ball game

As in every Mayan city, you could not miss a court to practice the ball game. It is a flat terrain on whose sides two parallel walls rise, on which a stone ring is placed on top. Each team was arranged at one end and the game consisted of trying to introduce a solid rubber ball through the hoop, using only hips, elbows and knees. Although at first glance it seems harmless, the heads of the participants depended on the success or failure in this game.

Turtles House

At first glance it looks like a simple temple, yes, very well preserved. The interesting thing about him are the decorations that are in his friezes. If you pay attention you will see lots of turtle shells. Now you know where his name comes from.

Governor's Palace

In the highest part of the enclosure is this palace divided into three structures, placed on a gigantic platform of almost 100 meters in length. A central staircase reaches a large ledge where you can walk, and where the three main buildings rest. The best examples of Mayan sculpture are probably contemplated in the friezes. Look at the figure above the main entrance, corresponds to a ruler who wears an imposing headdress crowned with two-headed snakes.

This building would be the house of the rulers of the city, from where they could contemplate every corner of their domains. In fact, from here you have the best views of the Mayan archeological zone of Uxmal.

Shrine of the Picota and Throne of the Jaguar

In the esplanade in front of the Governor's Palace we find these two very interesting elements. The Adotorio de la Picota is a phallic-shaped monolith that stands out on a square stone base, although it actually represents the ceiba's trunk, the sacred Mayan tree, that connects the underworld with the underworld. The Throne of Jaguar is a small sculpture of two jaguars joined by the trunk of his body.

Great Pyramid andHouse of the Doves

It cannot compete with the rest of the buildings, but climbing its steep facade to the top is a whole adventure (although you will start more or less in the middle). This staircase is the only one accessible, as it is the one that has been rehabilitated. On the upper level, 30 meters high, there is a temple, called the Temple of the Macaws, for having decoration of this bird. Although it is strange, the views from up here are not much, yet we recommend the climb.

In the rear part of the Pyramid is the so-called Casa de las Palomas, the only side that is conserved of what would be a patio of 140 meters side. Its design is very peculiar, the name makes it clear.

Last temple with columns

Although there is no information about this last building, the photo is cool, isn't it?

- Uxmal it doesn't even have the concentration of people What is in Chichen Itza. Nor does it become a flea market in the middle of the morning, with the stalls selling souvenirs. It is all much quieter and can be enjoyed in peace. By this we mean that, although the ideal thing would be to arrive early (if you do it at 8 in the morning that is when they open it, better than better), nothing happens if you come at other times, beyond which you will spend heat.

- We arrived at 9:30 in the morning and when we left, about 11:30 if more people were entering, but as we say, nothing excessive.

- The schedule It is from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon, every day of the year.

- At dusk of each day there is a Sound and light show (92 pesos) that is projected in the Quadrangle of the Nuns and tells the stories and Mayan legends related to this place. It lasts 45 minutes and can be interesting to better understand the Mayan culture. We did not go.

- Before entering the park there is a shopping area where you can buy cool water, although you already know that in these places the prices are higher, so bring your own water!

- The parking It is very close to the entrance and costs 30 pesos.

- The best views They are obtained from the Governor's Palace, no doubt. There are also cool views of another Uxmal perspective from the top of the north facade of the Nun's Quadrangle. On the other hand, from the Great Pyramid, oddly enough, the panorama is not entirely clean, even if you climb yourself to discover it.

- If you visit Mérida and you have to return, an interesting idea is to do it for the convents route after passing through Uxmal, or doing the Puuc Route. There are also other road ruins, those of Mayapán, less known and important, but we were very surprised (among other things because we were alone).

- More information on its official website.

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Up to here our guide to visit the archaeological zone of Uxmal, one of the most important Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. We hope it helps you to plan your trip!