Uxmal

"The three times built"

Located in the south of the state of Yucatán, 80 kilometers from the city of Mérida, it is one of the main archaeological sites in the Mayan world. Due to its importance, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996.

The findings in this archaeological site indicates that this city was founded by the Xiues tribe, its occupation dates from the late classical period (600- 1000 AD) and had a population of approximately 20,000 inhabitants.

The political and economic power was ruled by selected groups of people because they were considered intermediaries between men and the deities. Religion was a factor that allowed the leaders to monopolize the main activities. Uxmal gradually became one of the main regional capitals of the northern Maya.

The livelihood of this city was maintained by the fertility of its soil for agricultural activities.

They mainly worshipped deities of water, earth, the sun and Venus, which are present in the orientation and decoration of their structures. More than 160 chultunes or cisterns have been found to collect water from the rain, as this area did not have any cenotes (underwater rivers), and there was no other source of supply of this indispensable liquid.

This archaeological zone has 15 groups of buildings, distributed from north to south, over an area of approximately 2 km.

Among the most representative buildings, due to their impressive architecture and ornamentation, the Pyramid of the Fortune Teller, the Governor's Palace, the quadrangle of the Nuns, House of the doves; the Ball Court (Mayan ball game), the Cemetery. These buildings show that it was an important center of political, economic and religious activities.

Uxmal was abandoned by its inhabitants around 1080 A.D., believed to be due to a social uprising which ended the ruling elite.

At night you can witness the light and sound show from the quadrangle of the Nuns, with translations into 4 languages where they narrate Mayan legends and customs and invocations to the God “Chaac” who is the god of rain.