Mayan Ruins of Mexico

Destination: Mexico

Travel guidebook summary

Explore the ancient Maya ruins of Mexico and discover some of the most impressive art and architecture in the New World. Featured sites include Chichen Itza, Tulum, Palenque, Teotihuacan, and Bonampak.

See full description

Buy for Amazon Kindle

Buy on Apple iBookstore

See all North America travel guides

* Guidebooks run on all digital devices and are delivered in ebook format.

These are affiliate links; as an Amazon Associate and Apple partner, Approach Guides makes a commission from qualifying purchases.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Astoundingly complete and detailed guide to Mayan ruins
I bought this guide in anticipation of a trip we planned to visit Chichen Itza and Tulum. The guide gave an in-depth introduction to the history and mythology of the cultures of this region, which was very helpful in understanding the architecture of the ruins. Then the descriptions of the ruins themselves were marvelously detailed and complete, and the pictures were gorgeous. I felt completely prepared when we actually made our visit, and I was able to recognize many features of the two sites, thanks to this comprehensive guide.

See more customer reviews on Amazon

Maya Ruins of Mexico: About this Guidebook

Guidebook screenshots

1 2

Invaluable insights

Richly detailed with powerful images

Historical context

In-depth and engaging information

Read on all digital devices

Travel information at your fingertips

Guidebook details

Guidebook Description

Maya religious centers are one of Mexico’s cultural treasures, the vestige of a great civilization that prospered for 2,000 years (peaking from 600-800 CE) in Mesoamerica and created some of the most impressive art and architecture in the New World. This Approach Guide serves as an ideal resource for travelers seeking a deeper understanding of this Maya cultural legacy through a comprehensive exploration of five ancient cities.

What’s in this guidebook

Background. We start off by providing some critical background information — focusing on cosmology and the role of the dynastic ruler — that makes sense of the forms and symbols of the unique Maya aesthetic.
Tours that go deeper on the most important sites. Following our tradition of being the most valuable resource for culture-focused travelers, we then turn our attention to Mexico’s premier Maya cities: Bonampak, Chichen Itza, Palenque, Tulum and Yaxchilan. For each city, we start by introducing the distinctive features of its art and architecture, isolating key features and concepts that you will see again and again as you make your way through the site. The tours walk you through the highlights, aided by high-resolution images and a discussion that ties it all together.
Tours of Maya-connected civilizations. Finally, to put these Maya sites into context, this guide profiles the capital cities of three Mexican civilizations that were closely connected to the Maya over its long history: La Venta (Olmec civilization), Teotihuacan (Teotihuacan civilization) and Tula (Toltec civilization). Detailed tours of these locations reveal the back-and-forth exchange between the Maya and its neighbors to the north.
Advice for getting the best cultural experience. To help you plan your visit, this guidebook offers logistical advice and provides links to online resources. Plus, we provide our personal tips for getting the most from your experience while on location.
Information the way you like it. As with all of our guides, this book is optimized for intuitive, quick navigation; information is organized into bullet points to make absorption easy; and images are mocked up with text that explains important features.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Maya in Mexico

Know Before You Go

Maya Cosmology

The Cult of the Ruler

Sculpture as Political Tool

Maya Stelae: Style and Evolution

Maya Cosmological Symbols

FEATURED MAYA SITES

Bonampak

Layout

Stelae in the Main Plaza

Temple of the Murals

Chichen Itza

What To Look For

Layout

El Castillo
Temple of the Warriors
Venus Platform
Sacred Cenote
Tzompantli and Platform of Eagles and Jaguars
Main Ball Court
El Caracol
Nunnery and Church

Palenque

What To Look For

Layout

Temple of the Inscriptions
Palace
Cross Group

3a. Temple of the Sun

3b. Temple of the Foliated Cross

3c. Temple of Cross

Other Sites

Tulum

What To Look For

Layout

Templo de las Pinturas

Yaxchilan

What To Look For

Layout

Main Plaza
Building 33
South Acropolis
West Acropolis

MAYA-CONNECTED MEXICAN CIVILIZATIONS

La Venta (Olmec Civilization)

Olmec Architecture

Olmec Art

Layout

Teotihuacan (Teotihuacan Civilization)

Teotihuacan Architecture

Teotihuacan Art

Key Deities in Teotihuacan Art

Layout

Temple of Quetzalcoatl
Pyramid of the Sun
Pyramid of the Moon
Tepantitla and Tetitla

Tula (Toltec Civilization)

Toltec Architecture

Toltec Art

Layout

Serpent Wall
Pyramid B
Palacio Quemado
Pyramid C

Maya: The Big Picture

Map of the Maya World

Timeline

Maya History In Summary

Video Overview

Continuing Travel in the Americas

Our Recommendations

Where to Stay, Eat and Shop

Packing List

About Approach Guides

Additional Info

Mayan Ruins of Mexico

Destination: Mexico

Travel guidebook summary

Message from the author

Maya Ruins of Mexico: About this Guidebook

Guidebook screenshots

Invaluable insights

Historical context

Read on all digital devices

Guidebook details

What’s in this guidebook

Site Map

Mayan Ruins of Mexico

Travel guidebook summary

Message from the author

Maya Ruins of Mexico: About this Guidebook

Guidebook screenshots

Guidebook details

What’s in this guidebook

Site Map

Share this Approach Guide