The Maya world

A close up view of the Quadrangle of the Nuns, a beautiful Maya building in Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico.

Contemplative journeys through remote Maya cities and archeological landscapes.

Introduction

Across southern Mexico and Guatemala, the Maya world unfolds in pieces: temples emerging from the jungle, ceremonial cities shaped by vegetation, and present-day villages living alongside ancient stone.

These journeys follow that civilization through landscapes that remain remote and often difficult to reach.

The Maya world at a glance

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The Maya world

Cities in the Forest

These are the cities that lie beyond the main circuits — deep in the forest, far from resort corridors, reached by long roads and slow approaches.

From Calakmul to Becan, their scale is monumental, but their setting is intimate: architecture emerging directly from the landscape.

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The Maya world

Travel Itineraries

Suggested day trips connecting major sites across regions of the Maya world.

Each itinerary reflects actual journeys on the ground, designed for travelers who want to move deliberately rather than simply check sites off a list.

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Featured articles

Entering the Zoomorphic Language of Chenes Architecture

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Hochob

An overlooked site in Campeche that feels even more arresting than Chichen Itza.

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Edzna

Cultural Regions

The Maya world

Rio 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.

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The Maya world

Puuc hills

The Puuc hills define a distinct architectural region of the Maya world, known for mosaic stone façades and refined palace compositions.

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The Maya world

Chenes cities

A distinct architectural tradition known for elaborate façades and mask-like temple entrances.

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Paths into the Maya world

An old corner building with peeling paint and the words 'La Botillería' painted on the upper walls, potted plants outside, and street signs indicating it's at 56 street, in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

The Maya world

Around Merida

From Merida, explore the Puuc hills and western Yucatan’s major ceremonial cities — Uxmal, Kabah, Sayil and beyond — with itineraries and reflections rooted in landscape and architecture.

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Tropical water scene in the Laguna de Bacalar, with lush green palm trees in the foreground, turquoise water, and several boats, under a partly cloudy sky, in Quintana Roo, Mexico.

The Maya world

Around Bacalar & Chetumal

Lagoons, river routes, and southern Maya sites near the Belize border — including Kohunlich, Dzibanche, and the quieter forests of southern Quintana Roo.

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Colorful colonial buildings painted in yellow, blue, and red with ornate architectural details, a street with a few pedestrians, and church towers in the background under a clear blue sky in San Francisco de Campeche, Campeche, Mexico.

The Maya world

Around Campeche

Forest cities, long approaches, and some of the most remote Maya sites in Mexico.

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All Maya articles

The Maya world

Blog library

From small forest compounds to major ceremonial centers, browse full library of field-based articles on the Maya cities, regions and architectural traditions.

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