Mayan Ruins Near Akumal
TULÚM
Tulum, in Quintana Roo near the town of El
Crucero, is the place to go for ruins on the beach. It is the
most visited Maya ruin and is the biggest attraction on the coast. The ruins
are from the post-classic era of Mayan civilization, and are not as fine as those at
Chichen. It was the only Maya city built on the coast,
possibly having housed 2000 people and once functioned as a trade center. Tulum was
used by the city of Coba to connect to the sea and to control the commerce of
Central America. This port city was never conquered by the Spaniards and was
one of the last Maya outposts left standing during their revolt against Mexican rule in
the War of the Castes during the 1840's. There is no question why Tulum holds great
significance to the Mayans. An impressive sight at Tulum is an imposing castle standing on
the edge of a 12 meter cliff at the top of the ruins. Visitors may wish to bring a swim
suit to cool off in a cove at the bottom of the site but there are no facilities. The
area prime trekking ground for those who want to experience jungle wildlife living amidst
pristine rain forest and unrestored Mayan ruins. |
COBA
Cobá, north of Tulum in Quintana Roo,
was once a stately city which controlled the economy of the entire Maya
region. It prospered between AD 400 to 1100 and in its heyday, 40,000
people lived within its confines. Large temple pyramids still
stand above the jungle, one of which is 138 feet tall, the highest in Northern
Yucatan. Because Coba is isolated and off the coast, it is not visited as frequently
as it should be. It is a 35 minute drive from Tulum and for those who want to fully
explore the abandoned city, accommodations are available for overnight stays. Mysterious
ancient roads through the jungle radiate out from Cobá leading, it seems, to nowhere in
particular. |
CHICHÉN ITZÁ
Chichén Itzá, translates to mean "mouth of the well of Itza", is the most impressive Maya ruin in the Yucatan. Chichen is the best known, best restored, and arguably most impressive Mayan
ruin. Since its first settlement at about
AD 432, the city had been inhabited and abandoned by different groups of people, each
bringing with them a distinct architecture and culture. The structures are enormous
and awesome. The largest ballcourt in mesoamerica, stone sculptures of gods
associated with human sacrifice, steam baths for ritual purification and the 98 foot tall
El Castillo all reside here. Chichén Itzá is a three hour drive from Cancun.
Chichen had two principal wells, or cenote: one sacred
and the other profane. The profane well was used for everyday needs. The sacred well, a
largish 195 feet across by 120 feet deep, was used in worship, and offerings were
continually made to it. Divers have retrieved skeletons and many ritual objects from its
depths. Chichen got off the ground around 550 AD. Like most Mayan cities, Chichen was
abandoned in the 10th century, then resettled around 1000 AD. Abandoned again in the 14th
century, but it remained the site for pilgrimages for many years. At some point
around 800 the city was invaded by Toltec people from the north, who exerted a strong
influence of the subsequent building styles. The Toltecs are the people who built
Teotihuacan near Mexico City. Besides using round buildings and pillars, the Toltecs were
more warlike than the Mayan and seemed to have a stronger propensity to employ human
sacrifice. This fierceness and ritual difference speaks through the art and architecture
of Chichen. |
X-CARET
Only 6 km. south of Playa Del Carmen is the Mexican version of
Disneyland, X-Caret. X-Caret is a 250 acre ecological theme park with a number of
attractions. Archaeologists are still excavating the area and several ruins have
been restored. One of the main attractions is the educational Dolphinaruim with
workshops and dolphins with whom visitors can swim with for a fee ($60). Another
main attraction is the underground river ride that floats visitors past coralline deposits
and unusual fish in the river and lasts for about 25 minutes. Other park attractions
include a botanical garden, a museum, a turtle farm, a butterfly garden, horseback riding,
a lagoon great for young snorkelers and a beautiful beach. The park also has
dive shops on site, a restaurant and a gift shop. Park fee is $25. Public
transportation is available from Playa Del Carmen but many tour operators offer day
excursions to the park.
Back to Akumal, Mexico
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