The archaeological sites are one of the best highlights to explore around Mesoamerica. At Lupita, with a splendid selection of sites included in our adventures, we are specialists in visiting in detail these wonders. In most cases, the best local experts guide us to get the most out of these wonderful experiences!
With over 4,400 Maya sites throughout southern Mexico and Guatemala, one could easily spend a whole lifetime exploring. However, since you probably don’t have a lifetime to spare, we have selected for you the most interesting ones in our opinion.
From south to north, we begin our Mayan venture with Tikal in Guatemala and the ATM Cave in Belize. Once in Mexico, the Yucatán peninsula contains sites such as Tulum, Chichen Itzá, Uxmal and Calakmul. Finally, the State of Chiapas hides amazing gems like Yaxchilán, Bonampak and Palenque. Learning from the Mayan culture is an amazing way of better understanding our modern world. Check Lupita’s visited Mayan sites!
Tikal is the most impressive Mayan ruin of Guatemala. This kingdom was one of the most powerful of the ancient Maya and dominated much of the Mesoamerican region. Today, it’s one of the most fascinating sites to visit, due to its remoteness jungle setting.
The UNESCO World Heritage site of Chichen Itza is one of the most iconic attractions out of all of the Mayan ruins. Moreover, it is one of the largest cities of ancient times. Throughout the site, there are some structures that stand out, such as the Kukulcan Pyramid, one of the seven wonders of the world.
Deep into the jungle, Palenque may be Mexico’s most impressive archaeological wonder. Additionally, the National Park surrounding the ruins teems with exotic wildlife, including panthers, parrots and howler monkeys. The best way to explore this jungle is to hike back from the ruins to our campsite after the visit.
Visiting the remains of the ancient Mayan city of Calakmul is a truly off-the-beaten-path experience. Moreover, Lupita is one of the few companies including this activity. This wonder of the State of Campeche is part of one of the largest reserves in Mexico, counting with many species of flora and fauna. Through our adventures, we will explore the archaeological site and hike through the dense jungle in search of intriguing wildlife.
While touring around Belize’s mainland, we will explore the Mayan sacrificial site of Actun Tunichil Muknal (aka ATM Cave). Once you complete a long passage through the jungle and swim through the cave, you’ll find beautiful examples of pottery. In addition, you’ll witness the ‘crystal maiden,’ a skeleton of a female adolescent covered entirely in limestone crystals.
Apart from the famous Mayan civilization, Mesoamerica is rich in amazing ancient cultures. Olmec civilization was the earliest in the Americas and is well-known for its stunning colossal heads. Moreover, the Zapotecs ruled the area of Oaxaca, with the kingdom based in today’s Monte Albán site. In addition, Teotihuacan is a mysterious civilization which preceded the Mexica (or Aztec), whose vestiges can be seen at Cacaxtla, El Tepozteco, Cholula and Tula sites. Finally, the Totonacs reigned in the eastern area of Mexico, with their base in El Tajín.
The Aztecs named Teotihuacán the “city of the gods”. This amazing attraction contains one of the tallest pyramids in America. Moreover, the layout of its streets involves some of the New World’s urban planning. Last but not least, this UNESCO-listed wonder probably is the most important archaeological site after the Giza Pyramids.
Villahermosa city holds La Venta archaeological museum, which contains the biggest collection of Olmec Colossal Heads in Mexico. This fascinating outdoor park originated when petroleum exploration threatened the ancient Olmec settlement of La Venta. Due to this, archaeologists moved the most significant finds, including three of the four colossal heads, to Villahermosa.
Twenty minutes outside Oaxaca City are the ruins of Monte Alban. This is one of the most important cultural centres of the Zapotecs. The ruins are breathtakingly laid out atop a hill with stunning views and the setting is green and lush.
In all the adventures below, we will visit the archaeological site of Tula. Tula is Famous for the Atlantes, the towering basalt sculptures of Toltec warriors. Much of this site centres around the pyramid of the plumed serpent god Quetzalcoátl. More importantly, Tula had a great influence in the Mesoamerican period, and it’s easily one of Mexico’s principal archaeological destinations.
El Tajin’s architecture is unique in Mesoamerica due to its elaborate carved reliefs. The Pyramid of the Niches reveals the astronomical significance of the buildings.
Some of northern Mexico’s most impressive attractions are the cave paintings and petroglyphs. These ancient creations are a unique window into the native peoples and cultures that occupied the area thousands of years ago.
One of the most unique experiences in Baja California is to witness the cave paintings. Through our adventures, we visit the best-preserved and most impressive rock art sites in the area.
Firstly, we will explore the Rock Paintings of the Sierra de San Francisco. As part of El Vizcaino Reserve, this UNESCO site concentrates shelters and huge panels decorated with human figures and wildlife. In addition, we also stop en-route to visit the paintings of Cataviña. Created by the Cochimi people 1,000 years ago, these colourful paintings depict geometric designs and abstract shapes.