Mayan Heritage: A Guide

Written by Viator, August 2010

RECOMMENDATION Keywords:
Cultural Experience, Holy Place, Must-Do Experience, Nature & Wildlife, Religious Experience

The Pre-Columbian civilization of the Maya was a famously advanced culture that peaked in around 250 to 900 AD, with a fully developed written language, architecture, astronomical and mathematical systems.

Mayan influence spread from central Mexico to Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, and the descendants of this civilization continue to live in the Maya area.

The most famous site within the Riviera Maya is Tulum, in a peerless cliff-top setting overlooking the Caribbean. You won’t find many better-preserved coastal sites, and the mix of mysterious history and idyllic beach setting complete with palm trees is hard to beat.

Tulum was a defensively constructed fort settlement, protected by rugged cliffs and steep walls with watch towers. The walls of the main temple may have crumbled a little, and some of the surrounding perimeter walls have disappeared, but a visit to Tulum transports you to another age. Traces of murals can be seen, including examples of the "diving god" to whom the temple was dedicated.

The Yucatan’s most famous site is the ceremonial center of the Maya, Chichen Itza, guarded by the Toltecs’ plumed serpent. With its stepped pyramids, ball courts, temples and platforms, Chichen Itza draws scores of visitors from Cancun, particularly during the spring equinox when a trick of the light reveals a serpent crawling down the Temple of Kukulcan.

The largely unexcavated sites at Coba also draw visitors, though in much smaller numbers. The peninsula’s tallest temple pyramid, the Nohoch Mul, is at Coba, with spectacular views of unexplored jungle surrounding the site.

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All Mayan Heritage: A Guide Reviews

Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Coba Ruins Day Trip from Cancun or Riviera Maya

There is more to this trip than is quoted in the flier. We went to a Mayan village and a cave to swim. It was a very interesting day.

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Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Coba Ruins Day Trip from Cancun or Riviera Maya

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME --WE WERE PICKED UP AND DELIVERED WITH PERCISE ACCURACY --EXTREMELY KNOWLEDEABLE AND A PASSION FOR THE MAYAN CULTURE. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS EXCURSION.

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Reply by Viator, April 2013
Doing what: Chichen Itza from Riviera Maya

The tour bus and guides were very well-informed and entertaining.
The continental breakfast was very good, and the snacks were good as well.
The restaurant where we had lunch was excellent!

I highly recommend this tour and tour company.
I must say though that I could not use the booking confirmation on my iPhone App - they wanted a hard copy, for future reference.

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