Yucatan’s peninsula is a land extension between Mexico’s Gulf and the Caribbean Sea. It is formed by three States of Mexico: Yucatán, Campeche, and Quintana Roo. It is one of the areas with the most number of archaeological zones from all the country. In such peninsula, Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, Coba, Tulum, El Meco, among many other zones considered as cultural patrimony of the nation, given its historic importance, are located. In one of these, the second Mayan tallest pyramid is found.
A lot is said about ‘El Castillo’ (‘The Castle’), in Chichen Itza. With the pass of years, became a great touristic attraction for worldwide visitors.
El Castillo is the tallest pyramid of Chichen Itza archaeological complex. It is also the pyramid where, during equinox, the shadow of the Mayan deity Kukulcan, the feathered snake, can be seen. However, despite its 24 meters of height, El Castillo is the third tallest pyramid of the Yucatan’s Peninsula.
Within Quintana Roo State, Coba is located, another great archaeological complex which holds Pok Ta Pok courts (Mayan ball game), temples, observatories and the second tallest Mayan pyramid of the whole Yucatan’s Peninsula. It is the Nohoch Mul pyramid (Nohoch: very large; Mul: mountain), same that uplifts to 42 meters height over the Mayan jungle. Some archaeologists believe that this pyramid, given its orientation to the south, it is devoted to a Sun related Mayan deity.
Many tourists visit this archaeological zone looking for Mayan purifying rituals. If you talk to the correct people, you may witness and even be part of one of these ceremonies, in which a resin named Copal is burned while a Mayan priest is reciting words to spiritual beings in order to obtain the proper permission and purification to all the ceremony participants.
If you are interested in visiting Coba, the lost city, but you don’t feel sure about your physical condition to explore, you should not worry. In this place, there are some “Mayan-taxis” (actual tricycles) and bicycle rental for you to get to know as much as possible without big efforts.
It is said that only 5% of this ancient city has been discovered so far, while the rest remains hidden in the jungle. You have chances even to make a new discovery! Don’t miss the second tallest Mayan pyramid.