#708 Flores, Guatemala

Most people in this part of Guatemala are here to visit the famous Tikal (#954), but it would be tragic to pass by Flores without a stop. Where else in the world is there a highly developed colonial island town in the middle of a lake? Lago Petén Itzá is in El Petén Province in North Eastern Guatemala, and Flores is separated from the twin towns of Santa Elena and San Benito by a causeway. The village just north across the lake is San Miguel.

In Pre-Columbian times, Flores was the Maya city of Nojpetén. The Itza left the Yucatán region in the 13th century and built the city later known as Tayasal as their capital. They called it Noh Petén, literally "City Island". It was also called Tah Itzá, or Place of the Itzá. It was on this island that the last Maya held out as an independent Maya state against the Spanish conquerors despite Hernan Cortes visiting the island in 1541. It was not conquered until 1697, when they attacked via boats. Many Itzá people fled and hid in the jungle for years. 

www.famouswonders.com

www.destinosviajerosporelmundo.com

www.yutmografim.com

Source: http://wikitravel.org/en/Flores_(Guatemala)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flores,_El_Pet%C3%A9n

#713 Tulum, Mexico

One of the most remarkable Mayan ruins is in the picturesque, holiday-esque Tulum, not far from deep cenotes (see #953) and stunning beaches, an ideal holiday destination. At the southern end of the Yucatan peninsula, close to the border with Belize, the town itself is not much more than a blip of the highway, and the ruins are not the spectacular pyramids of Chichen Itza (or those near Mexico City), but the location can't be beaten, as it lies on 12 foot high cliffs right above the sea. 

Lonely Planet introduces it well: "Seeing Mexico's most-visited Maya site atop surf-splashed Caribbean cliffs, it's not hard to imagine a Postclassic Maya or two requesting a transfer here." Called Zama, "Dawn" by the Maya (Tulum means 'wall' in Maya and was likely misinterpreted by the Spanish), it is believed that the ancient city was an important port town between AD1200 and 1521 and one of the last to be abandoned, around 70-75 years after the Spanish conquest.

Famous points within the ruins include the House of the Cenote (for its small pool), the Temple of the Wind God (also known as the descending god -- which sits on the bluff), the pyramid shaped Castle which has plumed serpents and can be seen clearly and impressively from the sea, and the Temple of the Paintings/Frescoes (the first image below) with relief masks and murals on its inner wall. It is thought that the worship of the diving or descending god was particularly prominent here. It's wall helped to make it one of the most well-fortified of the Mayan cities. I particularly loved the many iguanas and lizards all over the site, though some are of size to be quite intimidating!

Map of site from Wikipedia

Source: Lonely Planet Central America 7th Edition 2010
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulum

#875 Chichen Itza, Mexico

In the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula likes Mexico's crowning historical glory of Mayan traditions: Chichen Itza. With one of the largest, most beautiful pyramids (El Castillo or the Temple of Kukulkan) that at equinoxes reflects a twisting serpent in its shadows, it is rare to see it without a swarm of tourists from nearby Cancun. Typical of most Mayan buildings it was a structure built over top of an older building, with that built on top of something else.


Near to the main square is the great ball court, one of thirteen such structures on the site, but an impressive structure in its own right, flanked by the Temple of the Jaguar and the Temple of the Bearded Man. You can see the "goals" in the walls, at a very high level above the ground making you wonder as to the complex rules of such a sport.

The skull carvings on the Skull Platform (Tzompantli) are an appropriate reminder of the frequent human sacrifices that took place during the Mayan era, evidence of which can be found at the bottom of the 60m wide Cenote Sagrada, where along with gems, pottery, wood and cloth were the skeletons of men and children.

Beautifully decorated buildings, the impressive complex known as the Group of a Thousand Columns, and the El Caracol Observatory all provide testament to the Mayans engineering, learning, arts and culture. I think I love the connection to the jaguar the most!

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichen_itza

#954 Tikal, Guatemala

The glory of the Mayan crown, Tikal is a pilgrimage site for history buffs, archaeologists, and tourists alike. Situated deep in the northern Guatemalan jungle and only 'rediscovered' in the 1800s, its uniqueness lies in the sense of rediscovery for visitors.

The only temple still able to be climbed by visitors due to deaths on the others, Temple IV offers a spectacular view over the jungle landscape with a vision of the other temples peeking through the tree tops while monkeys cackle, birds cry, and cicadas shriek, a reminder that the jungle is very much continuous and alive. Wandering the ruins and seeing the reconstructed temples and walls, and then seeing the upright jungle that is Temple III, left untouched to show how the whole complex was found gives perspective on the enormity of recovery of the site still to be done.

Tikal is an awesome place with modern and old, jungle and nature, picturesque and impressive. Loved it!