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Mayan History Alive and Well in Cancun

Steeped in Mayan history, Mexico has always been proud to be the home of one of the western hemisphere before highly evolved civilizations. The great Mayan city-states reached their zenith Yucatan 600 to 900 AD, to excel in areas such as astrology and architecture while Europe was asleep in the dark ages.

While some Mayan temples and relics found in Cancun, the major sites are outside outside the city, including Chichen Itza, Coba and Tulum, but to make excellent day trips.

The Mayan ruins in Cancun are ruins of the King is in the Hotel Zone next to the lagoon. These ruins are now part of the Hilton Resort complex, but open to the public for a small fee. Skeletons excavated at the site suggest it may have been a real Mayan cemetery.

El Meco, located just north of Cancun, is an ancient coastal city is home to many Pyramids Maya, from the top of which you can take in spectacular views of Laguna Chacmochuc. Recently opened to the public, wwill not have to worry about the crowds tourists. To get there, your best option is to take a taxi from downtown El Centro.
Out of the Mayan ruins in Cancun

Chichen Itza is some 120 kilometers from Cancún, this huge, magnificent capital of the Itza is accessible by four-lane toll road. Recently proclaimed a World Heritage Site, learn a lot about Maya history here. Of particular note: The Sacred Cenote, where the unfortunate victims of Mayan sacrifices were eliminated.

The fascinating Mayan astronomical observatory known as El Caracol. The area of immense ball court, the largest in Mesoamerica. A great pyramid cracked revealing the different stages of construction
The majestic castle (also known as the Pyramid of Kukulcan), a stone calendar. The sound and light spectacular every evening at dusk.

The spring equinox, when people around the world gather to watch a tonnage rate astronomical phenomenon as the body of the Kukulcan serpent descending from the top of a pyramid with the triangular shape of light and shadow, legend has it, fertilize the soil

Isone of Tulum, the most popular Mayan ruins in Mexico, the wall of the city of Tulum is about 80 kilometers from Cancun and one of the lateral structures only known cliff overlooking the Caribbean. In fact, once called Zama, which means sunrise in the Mayan language. Tulums castle and temple are decorated with figures of descending god, a deity ubiquitous in the city associated with the god of bees and the planet Venus, guardian of trade and the coast.

Coba: Approximately 100 miles Cancun, this ancient Mayan city located in the heart of a rainforest, stands among the five lakes. More than 50,000 people lived in this important city, to economically control the entire region with the help of a complex network of roads called sacbeob.

In fact, the longest in the Mayan world sacbeob related Yaxuna Coba with a distance of 62 miles. Coba was once comprised of several communities, including Chumuc Mul, Nohoch Mul, Paints, Macanxoc, and Kukulcan. Do not miss the incredible view from the top of Muls Nohoch tallest pyramid, with seemingly endless views of the surrounding rainforest.

Ek Balam is 90 miles Cancun is the most recent Mayan city opened to the public, the secrets which are just beginning to emerge. Cities most important buildings, temples and palaces are located within a large walled enclosure, which serves to protect this sacred center and seat of power in governors and priests once lived.

Kohunlich is over 200 kilometers from Cancun, construction Kohunlichs took hundreds of years to complete. The Temple of the Masks, a stone pyramid under a thatched roof (to prevent spoilage), dedicated to the Mayan sun god, flanked by giant stucco masks standing up to nine feet.

Besides these ancient Maya cities, the theme park Xcaret in Riviera Maya, 45 minutes from Cancun on the coast, with the Mayan culture and archaeological tours, and such as diving, snorkeling, and a chance to swim with dolphins.

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Eco Paraiso Hotel, Celestun, Yucatan, Mexico