Explore the Magical Mayan Ruins of Palenque: Yucatan Mexico

During the early part of the last century, excavations began to uncover the hidden mysteries of the ancient Mayan ruins of Palenque in Yucatan, Mexico. Since then, millions of people worldwide have traveled to the area to experience firsthand the architectural wonders of such ancient cities. Each of the different sites can take more than a day to walk through and most have large visitor centers and guides who can be hired and who speak both English and Spanish. However, in order to appreciate the settings, a guide really isn’t necessary as there are guidebooks available and maps that detail the ruins you will be traversing. On the other hand, a guide may be able to tell interesting bits of folklore and stories that aren’t included in the tour guides so you just might miss out on some interesting bits of history.

When visiting Chichen Itza you will certainly want to see El Castillo, translated as ‘the castle,’ that rests across from the main entrance which is actually in the center of an open courtyard. Sometimes it is referred to as the Pyramid of Kukulcan, the serpent god. There is a great deal of symbolism in the ancient ruins which includes the stairway of El Castillo that has stairs equaling 364 steps with the central platform adding the 365th day of the Mayan calendar year. This amazes historians and archeologists alike as there is so much science behind a civilization that thrived so far in our past. Whether you are a history buff or just a person who is curious about the Mayan mysteries held in these ancient temples, Palenque, Yucatan is a place you will want to visit.