What is not shown to tourists in the ruins of Mayan cities

The Mayan civilization left behind many mysteries that are still hidden in grandiose structures and hundreds of symbols. And not all of these secrets have been thoroughly investigated. Every year, archaeologists and researchers, with the help of super modern devices, try to uncover what is hidden between the walls of Mayan temples or resting in the depths of sacred caves.

O awesome.club analyzed up-to-date information about this ancient civilization and discovered that some secrets of Mayan ruins are not revealed by tour guides to ordinary visitors.

Before traveling to Cancún (a region that houses most of the ruins), read this post.

The famous pyramid was like this, almost completely hidden by the jungle, as in this photo from 1880. Kukulcán had 9 platforms and 4 stairs, and the total number of steps corresponded to the number of days in the year.

On autumn and spring equinox days, starting at 5 pm, it is possible to observe the shadow of a serpent on the stones of part of the pyramid. In March, the shadow is transferred to the top, and in September, to the bottom. The illusion continues for 3 hours and attracts the attention of tourists who go to the place to see this unique phenomenon.

Another mystery of this ancient Mayan structure is hidden inside. Removing the top layer of stones, it is possible to find a smaller pyramid and, inside it, a third, the smallest of all, with a secret room. More recently, a tomographic study of the soil revealed an underground lake 20 meters under the base of the pyramid. Archaeologists believe that, in the near future, the lake could erode the soil, leading to the destruction of the pyramid.

The pyramid also serves as a kind of amplifier. When people climbed the stairs, inside the building, sounds were heard reminiscent of the cries emitted by the quetzal birds, considered sacred by the Mayans and that inhabit that region. But after 2006, when an accident occurred with a tourist who fell down the stairs, the pyramid was closed to the public. Today, it is only possible to admire it from the outside.

The famous pyramid is about 2 hours by car from Cancun and is a must-see for anyone visiting the famous Mexican resort.

A place that is not usually included in the classic tourist route in Chichén Itzá, but that stands out for its mystery, like the pyramids, are the caves of Balancanché. They are 3 kilometers from the Mayan temples. The name of the place translates as “the throne of the Holy Jaguar”, where the ancient residents celebrated their religious rituals more than 3 thousand years ago.

In 1959, the guard at the Chichén Itzá site José Umberto Gómez found a hidden entrance in one of the cave’s galleries. Behind this entrance was the Mayan shrine, which houses the Altar of the Jaguar and various ancient artifacts.

One of the most famous caves in the cave is the World Tree Room. In the three-dimensional model above, you can see the entire cave, with a huge limestone column in the middle, symbolizing the Mayan tree, believed to be the axis of the world, which would connect the subterranean and celestial worlds.

On the way back from Chichén Itzá to Cancún, tourist buses often stop at the sacred Mayan cenote of Ik-Kil, which ancient natives used as a place of sacrifice.

At a depth of 40 meters, archaeologists discovered human bones and decorations from ancient Mayan temples. Today, several visitors bathe there quietly.

It’s impossible to plan a trip to the Mayan ruins without including climbing the dozens of pyramids and taking amazing photos. Therefore, the city of Cobá is a mandatory stop. There, you will find the 42 meter pyramid called Nohoch Mul. To reach the top, you have to climb 120 very steep steps.

If you manage to climb the pyramid, you will have before you an enchanting view of the ancient Mayan city, as well as a small ritual room with an altar, where sacrifices were performed.

The only Mayan city built on the shores of the Caribbean Sea sits on the 12-meter cliffs on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. Tulum was formerly known as Sama, which means “city of dawn”. Unlike other ancient Mayan cities, Tulum was surrounded by an impassable wall, which defended the nomadic populations of the north.

In addition to the ancient monuments, tourists are attracted to the place by the extensive white sand beaches, with turquoise water and mild weather throughout the year.

At 4 meters high, the Pyramid of the Diviner is the place of greatest tourist interest in the ancient city of Uxmal. It is also known as “Dwarf Castle”. In fact, it is not a pyramid, but 5 of them, built on top of each other over the course of several centuries. According to ancient Mayan tradition, the wizard Itzamna erected a pyramid in just one night, becoming the local ruler.

The temple was built over the tomb of the ancient local ruler, and is decorated internally with 617 hieroglyphics, some of which have not been deciphered to this day. At the top of the pyramid is a large structure with three rooms. In one of them, in 1949, a secret tunnel was discovered that leads to Pakal’s tomb, full of ancient relics and treasures.

Entry to the tomb is prohibited, but an exact copy of the chamber has been recreated in the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico.

The ruins of the city of Yaxchilán are 4 hours from Palenque, on the border with Guatemala, in the heart of the forest. Until recently, there were no roads within 150 kilometers of the city. People could only get there by plane, but in 1990 the Mexican government built a highway and made it easier for tourists to get there. There, you can explore around 50 ancient buildings, see a collection of sculptures and try to decipher the mysterious hieroglyphs on your own.

Another ancient city near Yaxchilán was discovered in 1946 by American photographer Giles Hill. “Bonampak” means, in the Mayan language, “painted wall”, which perhaps gave the city its current name. Today, the place is known around the world for its ancient murals, which are in one of the temples in the complex. They represent Mayan rulers, dancers, musicians, scenes of war and sacrifice.

The ancient city was discovered in 1848, and the hidden entrance to the tomb of one of Tikal’s rulers was not found until 1962, in the Temple of the Great Jaguar. Archaeologists entered the tomb through the temple roof, where there was a secret tunnel. There, researchers found jaguar skins, pearls and jewelry, including a 4-kilogram necklace.

To celebrate the end of the year according to the Mayan calendar, on December 21, 2012, the descendants of that people held a fire ceremony in front of the city’s main square, which was visited by over 3,000 people at the time.

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