Calakmul Mayan Ruin Videos:
Exploring the Mayan Calakmul Ruins in Yucatan
Are the Calakmul Ruins worth visiting?
The Mayan Ruins of Calakmul are some of the best preserved and remote Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula. Nestled inside a rainforest near Mexico’s border with Guatemala, the ruins are sure to delight not only fans of Mayan architecture and culture, but also ornithologists since the rainforest is home to many incredible tropical birds. The great pyramid at Calakmul is one of nearly 7,000 structures that have been uncovered by archaeologists. At 147 feet, it is one of the largest Mayan ruins to be discovered in the Yucatan. Calakmul is known as the former seat of power for the affectionately named Kingdom of the Snake which at its peak boasted a populace numbering 50,000.
Four tombs have been discovered in Calakmul which date back to at least 800 AD. Tomb 4 is the more famous tomb of the four, as it contained a well preserved skeleton and offerings including jade ornaments, beads, obsidian blades, and jaguar pelts.
Getting to Calakmul
The drive can be tedious, but well worth it. The ruins are located deep inside a jungle, 2 hours drive from the neighboring town of Xpujil. Don’t even think about making a day trip from Tulum as a one way trip will take you the better part of the entire day; 8 hours if the traffic is perfect, which it never is this close to the Guatemalan border. If you are traveling from Chetumal, the drive will take roughly 6 hours. For reference, a trip to Belize City from Chetumal will only take 2.5 hours.
What I’m trying to say is, Calakmul is definitely worth your time, but you should stay overnight in Xpujil if you do. From there, you can also visit the ruins of Xpujil (or Xpuhil), which are some of the most intricate examples of Rio Bec Mayan architecture.
