Is Calakmul worth visiting?

Calakmul is one of the best Mayan ruins in this part of Mexico and is well worth the trip. One way to reach the ruins is by hiring a car- it’s over 4 hours each way, so it’s worth setting off early, but it is doable. Just make sure to plan your route thoroughly beforehand!

What is Calakmul famous for?

There are 6,750 ancient structures identified at Calakmul, the largest of which is the great pyramid at the site. Structure 2 is over 45 metres (148 ft) high, making it one of the tallest of the Maya pyramids. Four tombs have been located within the pyramid.

Was Calakmul a Mayan city?

Ancient Maya City and Protected Tropical Forests of Calakmul, Campeche. The site is located in the central/southern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula, in southern Mexico and includes the remains of the important Maya city Calakmul, set deep in the tropical forest of the Tierras Bajas.

How long do you need in Calakmul?

The ancient ruins of Calakmul are HUGE. Plan to spend at least 4 hours exploring the site, if not more. If driving from Xpujil, first you’ll have to enter the Biosphere Reserve. From here you still have a winding hour-long drive to the ruins.

Can you climb Calakmul?

Calakmul is a massive archeological site located deep inside of dense jungle. It takes at least three hours to explore the many pyramids and temples here. You can climb most structures, including two which have incredible 360-degree views high above the canopy.

How many people visit Calakmul?

Only about 15,000 people visit these ancient Maya ruins each year. Yet the site is convenient, down a paved road off a major highway that links the cities of Chetumal on the Caribbean coast and Campeche on the Gulf of Mexico. Calakmul is just a couple of hours from either city.

Who discovered Calakmul?

Cyrus Lundell
The site was rediscovered by an American Botanist named Cyrus Lundell in 1931, who named the site Calakmul, meaning Two Adjacent Mounds. Because of its remote location and dense forestation, it remained unexplored and untouched since its abandonment 500 years earlier.