Mayan Ruins Ek Balam Near Cancun

Tue, July 20, 2010 at 8:25 am

Just 20 minutes North of Valladolid, Mexico and roughly 3 hours East of Cancun lies the mystical and majestic Ek Balam ruins. If you are a Mayan archeological enthusiast, it is a must see. This little known jewel of ancient Mayan culture has some of the most elaborate and breathtaking facades and architecture of the entire Mayan civilization.

Ek Balam was originally constructed in late Pre-Classic period (100 BC to 300 AD) and was still thriving well into Late Classic period (700 to 900 AD). Some even speculate that it may have been inhabited at the time of Spaniards arrival to Mexico in the late 16th century. The city of Ek Balam gets its name from one of its great rulers and means “Black Jaguar” in Mayan.

Within the city there are various structures including roads, arches, and Mayan ball courts. But none is more impressive than “La Torre,” which is the central structure of the city and measures more than 500 feet long, 200 feet wide, and 100 feet tall. Archaeologists believe that it may have been the agricultural center of Northwestern Yucatan, as it has many ancient roads that lead to and from it.

Another amazing feature of Ek Balam is the tomb that boasts an entire wall of sculptures that range from full sized figures of rulers to the jaws of a jaguar, which runs the length of the tomb. It is riddled with hieroglyphs and wall paintings that are still awe-inspiring after nearly a 1000 years.

No doubt, stay with us in Cancun at either the Ocean Spa hotel or the Laguna Suites and we will arrange a rental car for you to travel to Ek Balam. The park is open daily from 8 am and 5 pm. It is $4.00 USD to enter, and authorized guides are available to give you informational tours. There are signs in English, restrooms, and parking for your convenience. It takes roughly a couple hours to really experience Ek Balam as it should be.
Hope to see you in Cancun Soon...

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