Mexico Map - Cities Visited
This map shows the cities in Mexico that I visited:
This map shows the cities in Mexico that I visited:
The Plaza de Santo Domingo, named after the church, is located at the intersection of Belizario Dominguez and República de Brasil, Mexico City. This has, in the past, been a gathering place for document forgers.
A traffic jam in Mexico City. Unfortunately, this is normal; I found that taking the Metro (subway) was the most reliable way, from a scheduling perspective, to get around CDMX.
There is interesting architecture in CDMX. Here is El Palacio de Hierro, a high end department store.
Another interesting looking building in CDMX is the Museo Soumaya, a private museum designed by the Mexican architect Fernando Romero and built in 2011. It has over 66,000 works from 30 centuries of art.
The Aztec Dancers of Mexico City were dancing to the beat of the drum at the Zocalo of CDMX. The dance has survived attempts by the Christian Church of the past to eliminate it.
I visited the Palacio de Bellas Artes, home to the Fine Arts in CDMX. Its white-marble exterior features Art Nouveau and Neoclassical styles, while its interior is a masterpiece of Art Deco. The palace is famed for hosting the Ballet Folklórico and for its monumental murals by Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and other Mexican masters. Its crowning glory is the stunning stained-glass curtain by Tiffany’s, depicting the Mexican volcanoes. As both a theater and museum, it stands as a monumental symbol of Mexico's artistic heritage.
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At the Palacio de Bellas Artes, what
caught my eyes were the murals painted by Mexican artist Diego Rivera. Pictured
here is the mural "Dictadura" (Dictatorship) and
México Folclórico y Turístico (Folkloric and Tourist Mexico), one of a series of murals under
the "Carnaval de la vida mexicana" (Carnival of Mexican Life) collection.
La Dictadura critiques authoritarianism and corruption,
featuring grotesque figures like a pig-faced military officer,
a swastika-adorned flag, and symbols of power-hungry elites oppressing the masses.
México Folclórico y Turístico satirizes tourism and folklore,
depicting exaggerated Mexican traditions alongside caricatured foreign tourists in a circus-like scene,
poking fun at cultural exoticism and exploitation.
The first ruins I visited on this trip is Templo Mayor, located in the center of Mexico City.
The Templo Mayor was one of the main temples of the Aztecs in their capital city of Tenochtitlan.
At the base of the temple is an "undulating serpent";
flanking the staircases, they served as powerful guardians of the temple.
Its dynamic form exemplifies the Aztecs' masterful stonework
and the profound spiritual significance of serpents in their cosmology.
The Tzompantli Altar at Templo Mayor is a ritual platform decorated with hundreds of carved stone skulls. It represents the "skull rack" where the heads of sacrificial victims were displayed to honor the gods and maintain cosmic balance. In Aztec cosmology, these altars symbolized the cyclical nature of life and death. Politically, they served as formidable displays of military power, signaling the Mexica Empire’s dominance to both citizens and rivals.
Leaning against the stairway to the Huitzilopochtli shrine are three statues. It is believed these statues represent the Centzonhuitznahua (the "Four Hundred Southerners"), who fought against Huitzilopochtli. In Aztec mythology, these were the stars of the southern sky and the brothers of the moon goddess, Coyolxauhqui.
This life-sized ceramic sculpture depicts Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of death and ruler of Mictlán. Found in the north side of Templo Mayor, the skeletal figure features clawed hands and a protruding liver, symbolizing the underworld. The sculpture embodies the Mexica’s complex relationship with mortality, serving as a powerful representation of the soul’s journey. Its visceral detail and imposing presence make it one of the Templo Mayor’s most significant and haunting archaeological finds.
Located 40 km northeast of CDMX is the Teotihuacán Archaeological Site. Pictured is the Pyramid of the Sun, a 65 meter high pyramid completed in the second century AD. It was worth walking up the 248 steps to the top of the pyramid, with great views to be had.
Also at the Teotihuacán Archaeological Site is the 43 meter high Pyramid of the Moon. Here it is shown at the end of Calz de los Muertos (Avenue of the Dead), the main ancient roadway that connects the various structures at Teotihuacán.
The Mural del Puma (Puma Mural) is a well-preserved Classic period (ca. 200–650 CE) fresco discovered in 1963 along the Avenue of the Dead, near the Pyramid of the Moon. It depicts a fierce profile puma (or cougar) in dynamic stride, with open mouth, extended claws, and tail curved, symbolizing power and possibly ritual significance. Vibrant red, green, and white pigments feature undulating aquatic-like bands and a frame of green "chalchihuites" (precious stone circles) on red background.
The Palacio de Quetzalpapálotl (Palace of the Quetzal Butterfly) at Teotihuacán is an elite residential and possibly ceremonial complex southwest of the Pyramid of the Moon, near the Plaza de la Luna. Dating to ca. 450–500 CE (built over earlier structures from 250–300 CE), it features a striking inner courtyard with pillars adorned by intricate bas-reliefs of quetzal-butterfly hybrid mythological birds (quetzalli for precious feather, papalotl for butterfly), symbolizing divinity, fertility, or elite status. The palace likely housed high priests, with painted elements and geometric designs highlighting Teotihuacan's architectural sophistication.
Located within the Palace of Quetzalpapálotl at Teotihuacán, the Conjunto de los Jaguares (Jaguar Complex) is renowned for its vibrant frescoes. The murals depict processions of green-plumed jaguars, some blowing conch shell trumpets, symbolizing celestial music and rituals. These powerful felines, adorned with aquatic symbols, are believed to represent water deities or elite military orders. The vivid imagery, set against a vibrant red background, highlights Teotihuacán's sophisticated artistry and cosmology. This complex offers a direct glimpse into the spiritual and ceremonial life of the ancient city.
The Pirámide de la Serpiente Emplumada (Feathered Serpent Pyramid), also known as the Temple of Quetzalcóatl, is the third-largest structure in the ancient city of Teotihuacan. Built around 150–200 CE, this six- or seven-tiered step pyramid features richly decorated facades with carved heads of the feathered serpent deity Quetzalcóatl, alternating with storm god (Tlaloc) motifs, seashells, and aquatic symbols representing fertility and cosmic order. Situated in the Ciudadela plaza, it was a key ceremonial site, later partially covered by an attached platform (Adosada). Excavations revealed sacrificial burials and tunnels with offerings beneath it.
The centerpiece of the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City is the Sun Stone. Originally thought to be a calendar for the Aztecs, it is believed to be solar disk, which for the Aztecs and other Mesoamerican cultures represented rulership. It had a commanding feel to it as it hung in an atrium in the museum.
At the National Museum of Anthropology, this is a Jade Maya Funerary Mask and dates back to 600 - 900 CE.
Located at the foot of Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City,
the Basílica de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe is the world’s most visited Catholic shrine.
The modern circular basilica, completed in 1976,
was designed to house the most sacred relic in Mexican culture: the tilma (cactus-fiber cloak) of Saint Juan Diego.
The story is, in December 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to indigenous peasant Juan Diego
on Tepeyac Hill near Mexico City.
She asked him to request that Bishop Juan de Zumárraga build a church there.
Skeptical, the bishop demanded proof.
On December 12, after Mary's assurance that Juan Diego's ill uncle was healed,
she directed him to gather out-of-season roses from the hilltop.
She arranged them in his tilma.
When Juan Diego opened the tilma before the bishop, the roses cascaded out,
revealing Mary's image miraculously imprinted on the fabric.
This sign convinced the bishop, leading to the church's construction and widespread devotion.
The cloak remains the focal point of the basilica,
displayed behind bulletproof glass above a moving walkway.
Believers and scientists alike find it remarkable for several reasons:
Mexico City’s Palacio Nacional (National Palace) is the historic seat of the federal executive branch, standing on the east side of the Zócalo. Built over the ruins of Moctezuma II’s palace, it houses presidential offices, the Federal Treasury, and Diego Rivera’s famed murals. Within it is the Recinto Parlamentario — the semicircular chamber that served as the main meeting hall for the Mexican Congress from the early 1800s until 1872. This preserved, neoclassical room witnessed pivotal debates and legislation. Today, it is a museum commemorating the nation’s parliamentary history, no longer used for government sessions but open as a key historic site.
Created between 1929 and 1935, Diego Rivera’s monumental mural cycle, "The Epic of the Mexican People," wraps around the Palacio Nacional’s grand staircase. This sprawling triptych tells Mexico’s story through a Marxist lens:
While riding the bus, I noticed what appeared to be a volcano erupting. Apparently it was the volcano Popocatepetl, located 80 km southeast of Mexico City, which has been erupting regularly.
In the background beyond the Oaxaca sign is the Templo de Santo Domingo. The church and monastery were founded by the Dominican Order. A fine example of baroque architecture, contruction began in 1575 and continued over a period of 200 years.
In the background beyond the Oaxaca sign is the Templo de Santo Domingo. The church and monastery were founded by the Dominican Order. A fine example of baroque architecture, contruction began in 1575 and continued over a period of 200 years.
The Zocalo in Oaxaca is a public space where people meet. There are restaurants surrounding the Zocalo and street vendors plying food and trinkets. Pictured here are people dancing; on this trip, there always seems to be music playing somewhere and people looking for a reason to dance.
The markets in Oaxaca were vibrant and colourful, and basically all your household needs can found at the mercado. This is the Mercado Benito Juárez, a large market located in the middle of town.
There was a large selection of Mezcal available at the market!
I noticed these Piñatas being sold in the market. Many Piñatas take the form of well known cartoon characters. For Christmas, the colourful star or ball with points piñatas were very popular and used as decorations.
I visited the Monte Albán Archaeological Site, located 9 km west of Oaxaca. Inhabited over a period of 1,500 years by a succession of peoples Olmecs, Zapotecs and Mixtecs the terraces, dams, canals, pyramids and artificial mounds of Monte Albán were literally carved out of the mountain and are the symbols of a sacred topography. Shown is a view of the Gran Plaza from the North Platform.
At Monte Albán, there are still many structures that have not yet been excavated and/or restored. Here is an example of an unexcavated pyramid on the South Platform.
View of the west side of the Gran Plaza at Monte Albán site from the South Platform. The Edificio de los Danzantes (Dancers) is in the middle of the picture; this building contained many bas-reliefs on large stone slabs of nude male figures in limp or distorted poses, implying they are dead.
I visited the Mitla Archaeological Site, located 44 km east of Oaxaca. Mitla is the second most important archeological site in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico, and the most important of the Zapotec culture.
A characteristic of Mitla is the intricate patterned and precise stonework in the structures. Thousands of cut, polished stones are fitted together without mortar. The stones are held in place by the weight of the stones that surround them. This, in a sense, allows the structure to be "earthquake resistant".
Pictured is Hierve el Agua, a natural rock formation that resembles a waterfall. The site is located approximately 70 km east of Oaxaca. Due to local conflicts with the government, the locals applied "tolls" to the mountain roads that lead to the site.
I am pictured here in Parque la Paz, Villahermosa. Villahermosa is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Tabasco.
I was staying in downtown Villahermosa. The sidewalks were crowded with vendors. Here is a hot dog vendor, selling three hot dogs for 20 pesos. It was good!
Located in Villahermosa, Parque Museo La Venta is an open-air museum that blends archaeology with nature. Designed by poet Carlos Pellicer Cámara, the park serves as a sanctuary for colossal artifacts rescued from the ancient Olmec city of La Venta. The park's main attraction is its impressive collection of colossal Olmec heads, carved from basalt.
This is "Colossal Head" (Monument 1), the most iconic colossal head at the park. Carved from a single basalt boulder, it stands nearly 8 feet tall and weighs approximately 20 tons. The individual depicted, wearing a helmet, presents a harsh facial gesture, carved with a prominent frown and furrowed brow.
The "Young Warrior" (Monument 3), is distinguished as the only colossal head depicting a youthful figure. Its features are less stylized and more naturalistic than others, with smooth cheeks and a serene, almost smiling expression. This unique portrayal suggests it may represent a specific young ruler or deified ancestor, offering a poignant contrast to the typically stern, helmeted visages of the other monumental Olmec sculptures.
The "Old Warrior" (Monument 4), powerfully contrasts its counterpart, "The Young Warrior." It is renowned for its deeply carved, aged features—sunken eyes, prominent cheekbones, and a furrowed brow that suggests wisdom and solemn authority. Its damaged helmet and weathered face reinforce the interpretation of an elder ruler, making it one of the most expressively human and evocative portraits among the ancient Olmec colossal heads.
Parque Museo La Venta showcases a rich array of Tabasco’s native wildlife, blending Olmec history with a living sanctuary. Highlighting the park's predators is the majestic black jaguar, a rare and symbolic feline deeply tied to ancient Mesoamerican culture. An enclosure houses a group of spider monkeys, a species native to the surrounding area. The park's aquatic enclosures are home to various freshwater turtles, most notably the Meso-American Slider Turtle. This striking turtle is easily identified by its vibrant green skin and the distinct green and yellow highlights running in fine lines down its neck. Along with endangered "white turtles" and crocodiles, these species offer a fascinating look at the biodiversity that once inspired the Olmec civilization.
To visit the Palenque Archaeological Site, I made a day trip by bus to the town of Palenque, located in the
Mexican state of Chiapas. Once in Palenque, I had to flag down a colectivo (public minivan bus) to get
to the ruins (which are 8 km from town).
Colectivos in Mexico are affordable shared minibuses or vans (often white) that function like a hybrid of taxis and buses.
They follow fixed routes, pick up and drop off passengers along the way, stop on demand,
and are popular for local/short trips, especially in rural areas, towns, and tourist zones.
Cheap, frequent, and used mostly by locals.
Typically, they wait until they are reasonably full (or completely full) before departing.
The Palenque Archaeological Site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Palenque ruins date from circa 226 BC to circa AD 799. After its decline, it was absorbed into the jungle of cedar, mahogany, and sapodilla trees. Pictured is the Temple of the Inscriptions. The temple superstructure houses the second longest glyphic text known from the Maya world.
The Templo de la Cruz Foliada (Temple of the Foliated Cross) is a key structure within Palenque's sacred Cross Group. Dedicated by King K'inich Kan B'alam II, it honors the deity of corn and agricultural abundance. Its famed central tablet symbolizes the maize plant as the World Tree, depicting it sprouting from a vision serpent. This imagery connects the king directly to divine sustenance and the cyclical renewal of life.
Here I am at the Temple of the Foliated Cross, with the Temple of the Cross to the right and the Temple of the Sun to the back left of the picture, at the Palenque Archaeological Site. These temples sit atop pyramids, and are located on the high ground of the site.
At the heart of the ancient Maya city of Palenque stands the Templo de la Cruz, a sublime architectural and spiritual monument constructed under the reign of K'inich Kan B'alam II to honor his father, the great Pakal. This elegant temple, part of the Cross Group, is crowned with a distinctive roof comb and houses a central sanctuary. Within, an intricately carved stone panel depicts the deified Pakal presenting symbols of power to his successor, framed by a sacred world tree rising from a monstrous earth portal. This iconography is a masterful representation of Maya cosmology, intertwining themes of royal lineage, divine accession, and the perpetual cycle of death and rebirth. The temple remains a profound testament to the theological sophistication and artistic achievement of the Palenque dynasty.
El Palacio at the Palenque Archaeological Site is the largest and most complex structure in the ancient Maya city. This sprawling civic-residential complex, measuring about 97 by 73 meters at its base, was constructed and expanded over roughly 400 years starting from the 5th century AD. It served as the royal residence, administrative center, and ceremonial hub for Palenque's elite rulers, including the famous King Pakal the Great. Organized around four main courtyards with a maze of corridors, rooms, and buildings, its standout feature is a unique four-level square tower offering panoramic views. Intricate stucco reliefs and inscriptions adorn the structure, reflecting Maya artistry and power.
The Palenque Archaeological Site is located in the jungle. Here I found an iguana among the ruins. The noise of the jungle can be heard when visiting the site.
The Plaza Grande, in Mérida, is the main square in town. Mérida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán as well as the largest city of the Yucatán Peninsula.
Gran Museo del Mundo Maya de Mérida is a museum celebrating the Maya culture, with over 1100 artifacts recovered from Mayan ruins.
Located in the Puuc region of the Yucatán, the Kabah Archeological Site, site of the ancient city of Kabah is one of the most significant Mayan archaeological sites, famously connected to Uxmal by an 18 kilometres long raised pedestrian causeway. Its most breathtaking feature is the Codz Poop, or "Palace of the Masks," which boasts a facade adorned with over 250 stone masks of the rain god, Chaac. These intricate carvings represent the critical importance of water in this arid landscape. Kabah is the second largest ruin (after Uxmal) of the Puuc region.
The Codz Poop, meaning "Rolled Mat" in Mayan, is the iconic structure of the Kabah Archaeological Site
in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.
This magnificent palace, dating to the Late Classic period (c. 7th-11th centuries AD),
is famed for its entirely sculpted west facade.
It is covered by over 250 nearly identical stone mosaics depicting the hooked-nose rain god, Chaac.
This repetitive, awe-inspiring design is unique in Maya architecture and represents a profound dedication
to ensuring agricultural fertility through divine invocation.
The sheer number of masks emphasizes Kabah's significance as a major Puuc-style ceremonial center,
making Codz Poop one of the most extraordinary surviving works of pre-Columbian art.
El Arco (The Great Arch) marks the ceremonial southern boundary of the Kabah Archaeological Site in Yucatán, Mexico.
This 6-meter-tall freestanding monument, with its central vaulted passage, is a rare example of an isolated Maya arch.
Its primary function was as a grand gateway to Kabah.
It served as the terminus for the 18-kilometer raised stone causeway (sacbé)
that connected the city directly to its more powerful neighbor, Uxmal.
This architectural link physically and symbolically united the two major Puuc centers,
emphasizing their political and ritual alliance.
The arch framed the ceremonial entrance for processions traveling between the cities,
underscoring Kabah's role within the regional network.
Pictured is the Pyramid of the Magician, at the Uxmal Archeological Site. Legend has it that the pyramid was built overnight by the magician.
Here is a view of the Pyramid of the Magician rising above the jungle, Uxmal Archeological Site.
Standing atop a massive three-tiered terrace at Uxmal, Palacio del Gobernador (Governer's Palace)
is widely considered the crown jewel of Puuc-style Maya architecture.
This 320-foot-long limestone building is renowned for its intricate upper facade,
which features nearly 20,000 hand-carved elements.
Key highlights include:
The Uxmal Ball Court is an example of a Classic Period Maya ritual space. Its two parallel 34-meter-long structures, each with a sloping lower wall and a vertical upper facade, create the traditional I-shaped playing alley. While less ornate than at other sites, its elegant proportions and the prominent central marker, carved with intertwined serpents, highlight the sacred significance of the ballgame. It stands as a core ceremonial structure within the grand Puuc-style city.
The Cuadrángulo de las Monjas (Nuns' Quadrangle) is a defining complex at Uxmal. It consists of four long, palatial buildings with over 70 rooms, enclosing a large central plaza. Despite its Spanish name, it was likely a governmental or elite academy (and not a nunnery). Its architecture is Puuc-style perfection, featuring elaborate facades with intricate latticework, geometric mosaics, and repeated motifs of Chaac (the rain god) and serpents, showcasing the pinnacle of Maya stonework and cosmological symbolism.
Here is a view of the Uxmal Ruins, as viewed from the Governer's Palace. From left to right, one can see the Ball Court, the Nunnery, and the Pyramid of the Magician.
Christmas is widely and enthusiastically celebrated in Mexico. In Parque La Mestiza, Valladolid, a stage is set up and Christmas songs and dance are performed
Cenotes are natural sinkholes formed from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes the groundwater underneath. Located in the center of Valladolid is Cenote Zaci. I went for a swim in this cenote; an intereresting feature of this cenote is that there are small fish in there that will nibble on your feet. Very tickly.
Located 25 km north of Valladolid is the Ek Balam Archeological Site. Ek Balam was at its height from 770 to 840 AD. The tallest structure on site is the Acropolis at 31 meters; here is a view looking down the stairs from the top of the Acropolis.
Here is a view from the top of the Acropolis of the buildings "The Oval Palace" and "The Twins", at the Ek Balam Archeological site.
Ek Balam is Mayan for "Black Jaguar"; pictured here is the tomb of Ukit Kan Lek Tok, one of Ek Balams rulers, located in the Acropolis.
Structure 17, famously known as The Twins (Los Gemelos), is a massive semi-detached platform located on the west side of Ek Balam’s Main Plaza. It consists of two nearly identical mirrored temples sitting atop a single elevated base. It showcases Late Classic Maya design with distinct stairways for each temple. The temples may have been used for religious ceremonies or elite residences.
Ek Balam's Ball Court is a classic I-shaped alley located between the city's two main plazas. Completed around 841 AD, its sloping parallel walls, characteristic of the Late Classic period, defined the playing field for the sacred ritual ballgame. While smaller and less ornate than those at major sites like Chichen Itza, its central placement highlights its civic and ceremonial importance. The game, a reenactment of mythic conflict, was believed to maintain cosmic order.
Near the Ek Balam Archeological site is Cenote X’Canche; this was a great place to go for a swim after exploring Ek Balum on a hot day!
Located 42 km west of Valladolid, Chichén Itzá is a major ancient Maya archaeological site in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988 and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Flourishing from around AD 600–1200, it blends Maya and Toltec influences. Iconic structures include the towering El Castillo pyramid (Kukulkan Temple), the Great Ball Court, the Temple of the Warriors, and the Sacred Cenote. It served as a key religious, political, and commercial center.
Arguably the most famous or well known of Mayan pyramids is El Castillo, the iconic step pyramid at the Chichen Itza Archeological site. Dedicated to the feathered serpent god Kukulcán, it exemplifies Maya astronomical genius. Its 365 steps align with the solar year. During equinoxes, a shadow creates the illusion of a serpent slithering down the staircase. This masterpiece of architecture served as both a temple and a precise celestial calendar.
El Gran Juego de Pelota (Great Ball Court) at Chichén Itzá is the largest Mesoamerican ball court, measuring about 168 m long by 70 m wide (551 × 230 ft), with 8 m (26 ft) high parallel walls. Built in the Maya-Toltec style, it hosted the ritualistic Pok-ta-Pok game, where players used hips to strike a rubber ball through high stone rings, symbolizing cosmic battles between light/dark or life/death. Bas-reliefs depict players and sacrifices, likely of losers. Remarkable acoustics allow whispers to echo across the field. Temples flank the ends.
Casa Colorada (the Red House, or Chichanchoob)) is a classic Puuc-style Mayan temple built atop a rectangular platform. Named for its red-painted interior, it features a vaulted roof with a prominent roof comb—a decorative crest typical of the Terminal Classic period. The structure contains three parallel rooms and an inscribed hieroglyphic text detailing ritual events from 869 AD, making it one of the best-preserved and historically significant buildings at the site.
The Plataforma de las Águilas y los Jaguares (Platform of the Eagles and Jaguars) is a small, square, low-lying structure in Chichén Itzá's central plaza, east of the Great Ballcourt and near the Pyramid of Kukulcán. Built in Maya-Toltec style (ca. 900–1200 AD), it features four stairways (one per side) with serpent-headed balustrades. The vertical walls display bas-relief panels alternating eagles and jaguars clutching or devouring human hearts, symbolizing warrior orders or sacrificial themes. It likely served ceremonial or ritual purposes, possibly for elite or military rites.
The Plataforma de Venus (Platform of Venus) is a square, low platform in Chichén Itzá's main plaza, directly north of El Castillo (Pyramid of Kukulcán). Measuring about 25 meters (82 feet) per side, it features four stairways (one per side) with balustrades ending in feathered serpent (Kukulkan) heads. The structure's vertical panels display well-preserved bas-reliefs depicting the planet Venus as a "knot" or bundle of years, alongside serpentine motifs and symbolic carvings tied to Maya astronomy and the Venus cycle. Dedicated to Venus observations and rituals, it exemplifies Toltec-influenced Maya architecture from the Postclassic period.
The Cenote Sagrado (Sacred Cenote) is a massive limestone sinkhole at Chichén Itzá, vital to the ancient Maya. Unlike other cenotes used for drinking water, this "Well of Sacrifice" was a primary site for religious rituals. Archeologists have recovered gold, jade, pottery, and human remains from its depths, offerings intended to appease the rain god, Chaac.
El Caracol (the Observatory) at Chichén Itzá,
is a distinctive round tower (meaning "snail" in Spanish) atop a square platform, built circa AD 906.
One of the rare circular Maya buildings,
it features a spiral staircase inside and multiple aligned windows/doors for tracking Venus,
solstices, equinoxes, and stars, observing roughly 20 major astronomical events to support calendars,
rituals, and farming in the Yucatán.
I found the Chichen Itza site to be crowded
with tourists and vendors and thus a bit commercialized. We were not allowed to
touch or climb anything at this site.
Here I am in the coastal town of Tulum. It is a bicycle friendly town, and the bike is a good way to get to the Tulum ruins and see the city. My red rental bike can be seen resting on the Tulum sign.
Perched on coastal cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the Zona Arqueológica de Tulum is a stunning, walled Maya city from the Late Postclassic period. It served as a major port and trading hub, with its iconic "El Castillo" pyramid acting as a landmark for canoes. Blending Mayan architecture with a breathtaking natural setting, Tulum's primary allure is its strategic and scenic location, making it one of Mexico's most photographed archaeological sites.
The Temple of the Wind (Templo del Dios del Viento) is one of Tulum’s most photographed structures, perched precariously on a cliff edge. Dedicated to the wind god, its unique rounded base was designed to deflect strong coastal gusts. Legend suggests the building functioned as a natural hurricane siren; the wind whistling through specific openings warned the Maya of approaching storms. It served as both a spiritual shrine and a practical safeguard for the maritime community.
Perched on Tulum's highest coastal cliff, El Castillo is the site's largest and most important structure. This stepped pyramid served as a temple, a ceremonial center, and a vital navigational lighthouse for Maya traders. Its central staircase leads to a temple with serpent columns, and a small window may have guided canoes through the reef. Its commanding position over the Caribbean symbolizes Tulum's dual role as a fortified city and a prosperous sea port.
La Casa del Cenote (House of the Cenote) is a Postclassic Maya structure (ca. 1200–1500 AD) built directly over a natural freshwater cenote near the site's center. The rectangular building features multiple rooms flanking a central tomb/altar area, with later additions constructing a platform and small sanctuary over the cenote's opening. The cenote, once vital for water, symbolized a sacred portal to Xibalba (the underworld), making the structure a site for rituals and offerings.
Remnants of foundations of houses in the Tulum Archeological site. Tulum served as a major trading post for neighboring city-states such as Chichen Itza, Ek Balam and Cobá.
Located 48 km northwest of Tulum is the Cobá Archeological Site. Shown here is the tallest structure on site, Pyramid Ixmoja, rising 42 meters above the jungle.
Here is the view from top of Pyramid Ixmoja at the Cobá Archeological site. I never tire of the views from the top of the various structures I've climbed on this trip. It is always a bonus when one is allowed to climb the structures.
The Ball Court, Cobá Archeological site. It is believed that in some cases, the captain of the winning team is sacrificed!
The ruins at the Cobá Archeological site are widely dispersed. Renting a bike to get around the site is a good way to get around.
While staying in Cancun, there was a concert put on by the Quintana Roo Youth Symphony in the local park. They played classic, contemporary, pop, and Christmas music.
An interestingly decorated food cart for elotes and esquites (Mexican style corn on the cob and kernels)
After 23 days of travelling in Mexico, it was time to go to the beach! Here is Playa Caracol, a beach in the Cancun Hotel Zone. Not being a guest in the hotels here, I had to use my ninja skills to utilize the facilities provided.
For my second beach day, I visited Playa El Niño, a beach located far from the hotel beaches and primarily used by the Cancun locals.
Here is a crocodile warning on the Cancun lagoon. If you look closely, you can see the crocodile lounging on the shore!
Enchiladas: An enchilada is a corn tortilla rolled around a filling and covered with a chili pepper sauce. Enchiladas are a standard offering found all over Mexico in restaurants and with street vendors.
Chapulines: grasshoppers that are roasted and seasoned in chili powder. I found them to be a surprisingly tasty snack item, once you get past the fact they are insects. They can be found in the markets of Oaxaca as shown in the picture, sized as small, medium, or large grasshoppers. I preferred the large grasshoppers!
Mezcal: Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from any type of agave plant native to Mexico.
The word mezcal comes from Nahuatl mexcalli and ixcalli, which means "oven-cooked agave". Tequila
is technically a type of Mezcal.
Some mezcals are "con gusano" (with worm). The worm is actually a moth larvae that feeds on agave plants.
The inclusion of the worm in the mezcal was a marketing gimmick and became a challenge
for those brave enough to eat the worm!
If you were wondering, I thought the worm tasted like mezcal!
Taco: A taco is a traditional Mexican dish composed of a corn or wheat tortilla folded or rolled around a filling. In the picture, I had ordered tacos with pork and tripe. Tacos are a standard offering found all over Mexico in restaurants and with street vendors.
Pozole: Pozole is a hearty soup made with hominy, which is processed corn with the germ removed, and meat, traditionally pork. In my case, my pozole was ordered with pollo (chicken). It was very tasty and filling.
Quesadillas: A Quesadilla is a tortilla, which is filled with cheese and then grilled. Other items, such as a savoury mixture of spices or vegetables or meat, are often added. Quesadillas are a standard offering found all over Mexico in restaurants and with street vendors.
Mexican Pizza: a pizza with cheese, green peppers, onion, bacon bits, ham, and jalapeños.
Marquesitas: Marquesitas are a crunchy rolled crepe with a filling and shredded cheese inside. This is primarily a snack made and sold by street vendors in the Yucatan. My marquesita was made with Nutella. Mmmm!
Burrito: a Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla rolled around a filling, typically of beans or ground or shredded beef. Shown is the Burrito Gigante a Res (Giant Burrito with beef).
Elotes: Basically, it is corn on the cob sold by street vendors. The boiled corn is first covered with mayonnaise, then covered in shredded cheese, and then chili powder is liberally sprinkled on it. The mixture of sweet, salty, and spicy flavours are magical. Mmmm!
This turned out to be a very good trip. It was nice to escape the wet and cold of Vancouver, Canada (albeit for only 24 days).
I've always found it fascinating to see the remnants of ancient civilizations and how they coped with life and
questions about their surroundings. The food in Mexico was great, and I did not experience any gastrointestinal issues.
The people I've encountered in Mexico were friendly and helpful, and generally, they are no different from you or me.
Feel free to
contact me
if you have any questions or comments about this trip or travelling in general!
Contact Chany