Archeological Sities in Yucatan.. Route Puuc tourist Information of Yucatan, Mexico.

The sites include Uxmal, Kabah, Sayil, X-Lapak, Labna and the cave of Loltun. The Puuc Route has something for everyone.El explorador no admite los marcos flotantes o no está configurado actualmente para mostrarlos.

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YUCATAN ARCHEOLOGICAL ZONES

The Puuc Route. An interesting varied overview of the Mayan civilization awaits you just 50 miles (one hour) from Merida. Known as the Puuc Route (Puuc means “hilly”). The sites include Uxmal, Kabah, Sayil, X-Lapak, Labna and the cave of Loltun. The Puuc Route has something for everyone. Each of the sites has restored Mayan pyramids covered with brush, tree and jungle much the way early explorers and archaeologists found them. To begin the trip, follow the sign to Uxmal.

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At Muna, turn left and follow the sing to Loltun. We like to start in Loltun. This way you can do a guided tour of the caves in the morning (Check the schedules for tours the only way you can get into the caves), do the rest of the circuit and end up at Uxmal, for light and sound and the only place in the route with hotel accommodations.

The next stop (30 kilometers down the road) will bring you to Labna, once a city of some 1,500 to 2,500 people, inhabited between 750 to 1,000 Ad. Presently 4 buildings are in a restored state. Notice the caretakers open thatched roof home as you enter the site.

The palace at this site has 70 “Chultunes” (water cisterns) that are not visible. There is also a much photographed, artistically intricate arch at this site.

17 kilometers down the windy road you will come to X-Lapak (unglued walls), a site of some 14 mounds and 3 somewhat restored pyramids. This site and the following are less restored and manicured so you can see how this sites were found. Notice the many carved stones just laying around on the ground.

13 kilometers from this turn is Sayil “the place of the ants”. There are bathrooms here. At the entrance you will see an outdoor museum under a thatched roof. Check out the huge stellae. Dating from 800 1,000 Ad. This site is home to the interesting palace that included 90 bedrooms for some 350 people…

From the top level of the palace you can see the church at Santa Elena and across the way a tiny ruin on the side of a mountain, which is called “The nine masks”. Continuing on with the route, your next stop will be Kabah. You will have to turn right 5 kilometers out of Sayil at the “T” in the road. The road are very well marked, so have no fear.

Kabah is famous for its “Palace of Chaac Masks” (The rain god). Also here is the much photographed arch that is thought to be the center of the city and the entrance to the “sac-be” (white road Mayan highway) that went to Uxmal. Kabah has no restrooms.

Just a few kilometers down the road on the way is Uxmal. On the course you will pass Santa Elena. Notice the enormous colonial church that sits on a hill. The most “manicured” od the sites and last stop in this route, is uxmal, the thrice built city with the colossal “Magicians” pyramids”, impressive “Governor’s Palace”, intricate “Doves Temple “and Grand Nuns Quadrangle”.

Uxmal has a tourist center with shops, restaurants and bathrooms. Uxmal is the only place in the route that has a hotel. We recommend the delighful Hacienda Uxmal (just across the steet from the site) or Posadas Uxmal 8that is right smack at the entrance).

Run by the Mayaland Resorts, you are guaranteed a memorable stay, in a tropical, colonial, jungle atmosphere. Healthy food and large refreshing swimming pools also await you even if you are not staying the night for the light & sound show, stop by Posadas Uxmal for a wonderful buffet lunch and refreshing dip in the huge, swimming pool.

Dzibilchaltun. The closet site to Progreso & Mérida is Dzibilchaltun. Located 7 kilometers off the Progreso-Merida highway, site is noteworthy because it was inhabited for the longest period of time. There is a cenote where you can swim.

Chichen Itza. Dated back to 1553 years ago, the famous Mayan pyramids of Chichen Itza are located a mere 1 ˝ hours from Mérida. You can travel to Chichen tza (75 miles east from Mérida), by daily travel agency tours (approx. $120.00), rental car, or public bus lines that have trips approximately every hour.

You can do the trip in one day (the site is open 8:00 a.m. To 5:00 p.m.) Or preferably stay overnight. There are hotels at Chichen Itza, Piste (Village 1 mile beyond the ruins), and Valladolid (25 miles beyond the ruins) The name “Chichen Itza” is derived from the Mayan language: “Chi” mouth, “Chen” well, and “itza” the tribe that inhabited the area. This site is divided into three areas: the North group distinctly Toltec, the central group from the early period and the area known as “The old chichen”. All three can be seen comfortably in one day.

Balancanchen Caves. These beautiful and mysterious caves, located 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) from Chichen Itza, are the site where the Mayas performed their secret ceremonies. Rediscover a mere 30 years ago by a tourist guide from Chichen, the caves are now open to the public.

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LABNÁ

“The City of the Old Houses” is the meaning of Labna, considered a religious center for ceremonies within the Puuc style, belonging to the Puuc Route because it is located in the south eno between Kabah and Uxmal, 30 kilometers approximately from Mérida. Labna was inhabited in the year 750 through 1000AD. The Palace has about 70 “Chultunes” (water cisterns).

The drawing in the top of this page represents the “Labna Arch” and it’s maybe the most significant building and for sure it is the most known in this Mayan complex. It’s part of a group of buildings that form a small closed square that measures about 42 feet in the front by 13 feet on the side.

The decoration of this arch is very peculiar, and that is because on each side or facade it has different subjects or composition.

The front facade is looking toward the north east and it has little houses that form vaulted niches that in the beginning had statues; you can also see architraves, a serpent that symbolizes a terrestrial monster (symbolic access to the underground world), a frieze with lattice panels and a Mayan mask in each corner.

The general structure of Labna also includes other buildings like “El Mirador” known as “The Castle”, it has a pyramidal basement looking south and with stairs that take you to a temple with simple decoration and a huge crest that is well over 13 feet high.

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