Travel
Mexico Archeological and Cultural Sites
Click on picture to view the album.Oaxaca
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- Monte Albán | Oaxaca
17 April, 2003
The ancient Zapotec capital Monte Albán, located spectacularly 10 km west of Oaxaca city on an artificially leveled mountain top, is the second largest ceremonial site in Mesoamerica, only exceeded in size by Teotihuacán near Mexico City. The ruins extend over the peaks of 3 mountain ranges that converge in Oaxaca's central valley. The first occupation started about 500 BC by the Zapotecs, and later the Mixtecs reused old tombs to bury their own dignitaries from 1000 to 1350 AD.
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- Mitla | Oaxaca
18 April, 2003
Mitla, from the Náhuatl word Mictlan which means place of the dead or underworld, may have been occupied as early as 900 BC although the earliest visible structural remains date from the epoch of Monte Albán II (1-200 AD) to between 200 and 900 AD when the Zapotecs were present. The Mixtecs took control from 1000 AD until at least 1200 AD, after which the Zapotecs took back control until the Aztecs arrived in 1494.
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- Yagul | Oaxaca
18 April, 2003
The ruins of Yagul, whose name translates as tree or old stick in the Zapotec language show evidence of human occupation from 3000 BC, although the construction of the city took place in the Monte Albán IV period from 750 to 950 AD. It was probably built by the Zapotecs, but with Mixtec influence, and became a leading settlement in the Valles Centrales sometime after the decline of Monte Albán. The beautiful Juego de Pelota (Ball Court) is the second largest found in Mesoamerica after the one at Chichén Itzá.
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- Hierve El Agua | Oaxaca
18 April, 2003
At Hierve El Agua, whose name means The Water Boils, mineral springs run into bathing pools cut from the rock atop a cliff with expansive panoramas of the mountain countryside. The two cliffs are mineral-encrusted from the water, which give them the appearance of huge frozen waterfalls over 50 meters (160 feet) high.
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- El Árbol del Tule, Santa
María del Tule, Oaxaca, Mexico
17 April, 2003
The immense 2000 years old Árbol del Tule in the Santa María del Tule 17th century churchyard is the largest-girthed tree in the world — 35.8 meters or 117.6 feet at 5 feet above the ground.
Chiapas
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- Palenque | Chiapas
01 September, 2002 and 07 February, 2003
Palenque represents the western regional variant of Classic Maya civilization. Although the earliest occupation of the site dates to about 100 BC, it becomes a major population center only at about 600 AD and all construction at the site has ceased by about 800 AD.
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- Chan-Kah Resort Village |Palenque |
Chiapas
30 August - 01 September, 2002 and 07-08 February, 2003
Chan-Kah Resort Village is one of the most attractive and interesting lodgings in Palenque. The palapa-topped restaurant, enormous stone lined swimming pool, lush jungle gardens enhance the handsome wood and stone cottages with Mayan traditional accents.
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- Misol-Ha | Chiapas
31 August, 2002 and 08 February, 2003
The falls of Misol-Ha (Misolhá) are located north of the town of Ocosingo, Chiapas, just 19 kilometers from Palenque. The spectacular 30-meter falls empty into a deep pool at the base of the drop.
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- Cascadas de Agua Azul | Chiapas
31 August, 2002
The cascades of Agua Azul (literally "Blue Water") on the Tulija River are located 56 kilometers south of Palenque. The water cascade hundreds meters over limestone rock terraces between basins of turquoise clear water.
Tabasco
- La Venta | Tabasco
06 September, 2002 and 31 January, 2003
The Olmec city of La Venta was originally constructed in about 100 BC, and flourished in the last centuries before 600 BC. It is a mystery how the Olmecs managed to move these weighty religious statues some 100 km without the use of the wheel.
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- Comalcalco | Tabasco
10 November, 2002 and 01 February, 2003
Comalcalco flourished during the Mayan Late Classic period between 500 and 900 AD. Though it resembles Palenque in architecture and sculpture, Comalcalco is unique because it is built of bricks made from clay, sand and oyster shells, with mortar was made with lime from the oyster shells.
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- Tapijulapa | Tabasco
05 February, 2003
Tapijulapa, meaning 'Place where you break pitchers', is a small town with natural landscapes and an antique church 90 km southeast of Villahermosa at the confluence of the Oxolotan and Amatan Rivers. The rivers provide access to Villa Luz with its hot sulfur springs and small waterfalls, a cave and the former residence of former Tabasco Governor Tomás Garrido Canabal.
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