Cancun A World History

Cancun--A vacation rich in history

Aside from the beautiful beaches, Cancun is a place surrounded by sacred history. Before this land gave way to modern day tourism, it was home to lost civilizations. Once you have arrived in Cancun, take a day trip outside the city to explore Mexico’s archeological ruins. History can be touched at the ruins of the ancient Mayans. The Mayan people known for their religious practices and accurate calendar forecasts have left behind clues to their existence. Inland from Cancun, archeological sites are scattered for the inquisitive traveler to explore.

Chichen Itza, an ancient Mayan colonization, lies untouched within the jungles of Mexico. The pyramid known as El Castillo, sits mysteriously reaching for the sky. The tourist is welcomed to the steps of the pyramid willing them to climb towards the heavens. El Castillo is a haunting reminder of the brilliant humans who lived before us. A guided tour of this ruin is a personal life experience into truths we have yet unveiled.

More complex and majestic is the ruins in the lost city of Uxmal. If you venture here, plan on spending a least a day. This is considered to be one the best archeological finds ever. Uxmal was thought to be one of the largest cities ever during the Late Classic period. The Pyramid of the Magician towers over all the trees and has five temples built into it. There are many structures surrounding this pyramid, defining Uxmal as a lost city. Other places for travelers to capture here include The Nunnary Quadrangle, The Palace of the Governor, House of turtles and House of doves. The Great Pyramid and the Temple of the Phalli both command the attention of the inquisitive tourist. It is said that human sacrifice was ritualistic in the city of Uxmal.

A smaller Mayan site called Xel-Ha is located on the inland highway of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is surrounded by an ecological park given the same name. A beautiful drive along the coast will take you by a temple ruin where a painted picture of the god, Tlaloc, reigns over the seas. If you are headed down the coast to Xel-Ha, a little ways further will lead you to Tulum, another Mayan mystery. There you will discover ruins overlooking the Caribbean sea, guarding the secret religious rituals of the ancient Mayan culture. The Temple of the Descending God decorates the landscape with ornament masks of lingering secret world.

This region is known as Maya World, and is home to over 3,000 archeological sites left by this historical civilization. Cancun hosts a variety of tours taking the traveler in every direction to places of the past. Cancun offers the tourist adventures and activities unlike any other vacation. Yet, without venturing far, you can enrich your vacation experience with a walk through history. The Mayan culture left a little of themselves behind, from the calendars we use today to the ancient cities where they lived. There is still so much to learn and understand about these people. A visit to their ghosts enriches our own world.