Cities in the Forest
Remote Maya cities approached through distance, landscape, and architectural presence.
Introduction
These are the Maya cities that lie beyond the main circuits — deep in the forest, far from resort corridors and mass tourism. Reached by long roads and slow approaches, they reveal architecture that rises directly from the landscape. Their isolation is part of their meaning.
In this context, “forest cities” refers to major or medium-sized Maya centers located in sparsely inhabited biosphere zones or low-access forest regions. Their scale can rival more famous sites, but their experience is shaped by distance, silence, and environmental immersion rather than crowds or infrastructure.
Cities in the ForestCalakmul
coming Spring 2026
The Maya worldArchitectural styles
Across the Maya world, architecture shifts with geography, materials, and political context.
From the Puuc mosaic façades to the towered compositions of the Río Bec region, each area developed its own visual language.
These pages trace those differences through sites visited on the ground.
The Maya worldTravel Itineraries
Suggested routes connecting major sites across regions of the Maya world.
Each itinerary reflects actual journeys on the ground, balancing distance, landscape, and architectural coherence.
Designed for travelers who want to move deliberately rather than simply check sites off a list.
Featured articles
A quiet detour into the brilliance of Maya architecture.
Chicanná
Two Southern Yucatán Maya settlements home to the powerful Kaan dynasty.
Dzibanché & Kinichná
Cultural Regions
The Maya worldRio Bec
A remote architectural tradition of southern Campeche, where tall, sculpted towers rise above low forest platforms. These sites reward slow exploration and a tolerance for distance and silence.
The Maya worldPuuc hills
coming Spring 2026
The Maya worldChenes cities
coming Spring 2026
Paths into the Maya world
The Maya worldAround Mérida
From Mérida, explore the Puuc hills and western Yucatán’s major ceremonial cities — Uxmal, Kabah, Sayil and beyond — with itineraries and reflections rooted in landscape and architecture.
Coming Spring 2026
The Maya worldAround Bacalar & Chetumal
Lagoons, river routes, and southern Maya sites near the Belize border — including Kohunlich, Dzibanché, and the quieter forests of southern Quintana Roo.
The Maya worldAround Campeche
Forest cities, long approaches, and some of the most remote Maya sites in Mexico.
Coming Spring 2026
All articles
Browse the entire library of Maya world posts.
