A Guide To Visiting Uxmal
An Overview of Uxmal
Uxmal is a massive Mayan temple complex found in the Yucatan state of Mexico. The site is wonderfully preserved and serves as a less-crowded alternative to visit than Chichén Itzá. Scattered across the back of the main pyramid, ruins flatten themselves close to the ground, with ancient walls retaining their millennia-long shape. The site is home to uniquely pointed arches across the ground and numerous skittering and basking Mexican iguanas. Unrelenting grass shoots form cracks in the stone, vibrantly trying to live and tear down the ancient structures, now exposed to the elements after extensive excavations. The site is the best preserved of all Maya sites.
A Guide To Visiting Uxmal From Merida
Most visitors attempting to see Uxmal do so from the city of Merida. Travelers simply rent vehicles and head south out of the city heading south on Highway 180 before turning onto Highway 261. The route takes about an hour to drive and passes several other minor ruins sites and the small town of Muna.
Once at Uxmal, there is are two mandatory fees. One of for the general admission entrance into the site (381 pesos) and the other is a federal preservation fee (85 pesos). There’s also a small fee for parking, however, some guests can park at nearby hotels and simply walk to the complex.
The complex is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM with the exception of federal holidays.
Visitors can also continue following the road to other archeological sites which are far more obscure and covered in jungle foliage. This includes Zona Arqueológica de Anya and Zona Arqueológica de Chelem San Simón.
It’s also possible to take a bus to Uxmal from Merida. Visitors can take a Sur company bus to Uxmal from the ADO bus station in Merida. Bear in mind that Sur doesn’t have a set counter for their company, so a standard ticket counter in the station is fine.
A Guide to Visiting Uxmal Major Ruins
Pyramid of the Magician/Diviner
Found directly at the main entrance, this is the tallest and most recognizable pyramid in Uxmal. The name is translated several ways, often associated with a diviner, fortune-teller, magician or seer.
Cuadrangulo de los Pajaros
Translated to the The Quadrangle of the Birds, this plaza space is named for the macaw figures that decorated the western building. The carvings found here are profound, with stone being shaped to give the impression of palm roofs of traditional Mayan huts, as well as crescent decorations and corners akin to a stylized snake.
Governor’s Palace
Built as a shrine to the gods, this locations has numerous sculptures depicting figures such as Chaac, the Maya God of Rain. The Palace has evidence of being used to harvest medicinal, cultivated plants. The structure’s orientation is directly aligned with the celestial motions of Venus.
Pok-Ta-Pok
Within the temple complex, there’s a large stone space which was used as the stadium for Pok-Ta-Pok, a traditional Mayan ball game where players would strike a ball through a sideways stone hoop elevated on a wall. The site is called Juego de Pelota on several maps of Uxmal.
A Guide To Visiting Uxmal Nearby Attractions
Choco-Story Ecoparque Museo del Chocolate
This is a wonderful, tasteful, educational and visually appealing museum. The blue, well-painted building-front hides numerous aspects of Maya culture, most notably their contributions to making hot chocolate a premium drink of the colonial and modern age. The museum is home to numerous rescue animals, artifacts from Mayan cultures and recreations of traditional Mayan ceremonies as performances.
Read more about points of interest around Uxmal and seeing the world by visiting Leftfade Trails Blog.
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