Over the past week I have been to three ancient Mayan ruins sites.
We visited the Tikal, Tulum, and Coba ruins.
Tikal:
Tikal is located in the jungle of northern Guatemala.
During our visit to Tikal we heard howler monkeys and saw parrots in the jungle.
If you clap your hands while standing in front of the King’s Temple,
the echo sounds like a Quetzal bird.
the echo sounds like a Quetzal bird.
Tikal is the biggest Mayan ruins site.
Tikal is grandiose; it has the highest temples in the Mayan world (70m).
Kings and queens lived near the pyramids and were buried beneath them.
The temples were also used for religion.
Tikal’s golden years were from 300 to 900 A.D.
A recent LIDAR scan showed 60,000 buildings in the vicinity of Tikal.
The Mayans may have abandoned Tikal due to a food shortage.
Tulum:
Tulum is located by the sea in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
During our visit to Tulum, we felt the Caribbean Breeze
and heard the crashing of waves on the beach.
We visited Tulum after a rainstorm so it was cooler and there were less crowds.
Tulum is unique because it is situated high up on a cliff.
While Tikal was a religious site, Tulum was a town and a trading port.
It was built like a fortress with a stone wall around it.
and heard the crashing of waves on the beach.
We visited Tulum after a rainstorm so it was cooler and there were less crowds.
Tulum is unique because it is situated high up on a cliff.
While Tikal was a religious site, Tulum was a town and a trading port.
It was built like a fortress with a stone wall around it.
Tulum was the smallest ruin site that we visited;
it was also the most scenic because of its location near the beach.
it was also the most scenic because of its location near the beach.
Tulum was most powerful between 1200 and 1450.
It was built by the Mayans, added to by the Toltecs and conquered by Spain.
It was built by the Mayans, added to by the Toltecs and conquered by Spain.
Coba:
Coba is located in the jungle, near a lake in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.
During our visit to Coba we heard cicadas and birds.
During our visit to Coba we heard cicadas and birds.
Coba was built by the Mayans between 800 and 1100 AD.
This was later than Tikal but earlier than Tulum.
Coba disappeared because Tulum and other Mayan sites became more powerful.
This was later than Tikal but earlier than Tulum.
Coba disappeared because Tulum and other Mayan sites became more powerful.
Coba was unique because it had two Mayan ball courts, a network of old white roads,
and a rounded temple. The ruins at Coba were partially excavated.
It felt more mysterious than the others, because some of the ruins were
covered up by rocks, trees, and jungle.
Coba was fun because we got to ride bikes between the ruins.
It was the only site where you could still climb up the face of the pyramid.
and a rounded temple. The ruins at Coba were partially excavated.
It felt more mysterious than the others, because some of the ruins were
covered up by rocks, trees, and jungle.
Coba was fun because we got to ride bikes between the ruins.
It was the only site where you could still climb up the face of the pyramid.
Good writing.
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