THE 5 MAIN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONES OF QUINTANA ROO - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The archaeological zones of Quintana Roo are 18 in total, which makes this state stand out as the Mexican territory with the most cultural heritage, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).

In these valuable territories the cultural evidence of one of the most important civilizations of pre-Hispanic America is preserved: the Mayans.

Tulum, archaeological zone of Quintana Roo

According to the annual report of statistics and visits to museums of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INHA), only in 2013 the archaeological zones of Quintana Roo received more than two million national and foreign tourists.

You may also be interested in the traditions of Quintana Roo or its history.

The 5 main archaeological zones of Quintana Roo

1- Tulum

It is the most visited in all of Mexico, recognized for its beautiful beaches and white sand.

It was an imposing walled city that flourished between AD 1200 and 1550. C., the most important of the eastern coast of the Yucatan peninsula.

This archaeological zone is located 60 meters from Playa del Carmen and 180 kilometers from Cancun.

Within the Tulum National Park is what was once the city of Zamá, which means "sunrise" in the Mayan language.

In this natural space you can see the imposing beach on which the ruins of the walled complex rise. Inside some of its buildings the pictorial testimony is observed in Mayan murals.

2- Xcaret

It was formerly known by the name of «P'olé», which means "mercantile". During the pre-Hispanic period it was a place for the commerce of the Mayan civilizations that inhabited the region.

In its ruins you can see the wall that runs through the cove. This construction served to separate the mainland from the marshy areas and to protect it from the dangers of the sea.

Currently Xcaret is a theme park in which pre-Hispanic architectural remains, the bird and butterfly observatory, beach, dolphins and an underground river in which diving is practiced.

3- Chacchobén

Chacchobén means "place of red corn" in the Mayan language.

70 km from Chetumal is what in the times of the Mayan civilization was the largest of the settlements in the Lake District.

The remains of the majestic city are currently sheltered by jungle vegetation.

Among its attractions are two hieroglyphic stelae. Although they are unreadable, they represent an important part of the heritage of the extinct civilization.

4- Cobá

Co-bah means "abundant water" in the Mayan language. It was a Mayan capital that emerged around 100 or 200 BC. C.

Despite its historical importance, it is one of the least visited archaeological sites. It is located 100 kilometers from Playa del Carmen and 40 meters from Tulum.

The city, full of distant buildings, is crowned with the tallest pyramid in Yucatan, which is 42 meters high.

From its top, which is climbed through 110 steps, it is possible to observe the majesty of the jungle that surrounds it.

5- Kohunlich

It was a large Mayan city of 21 acres that served as a link between nuclei from other areas such as Campeche and Petén.

Located in the middle of the rainforest, the ruins of the ancient city coexist with a number of exotic animal species: birds and reptiles.

This archaeological zone is made up of hundreds of mounds that reflect the originality and beauty of Mayan art. It is currently being explored in search of new discoveries.

References

1. Annex: Monuments of Quintana Roo. (2014, September 10). In: es.wikipedia.org
2. Chacchobén. (sf). Retrieved on November 6, 2017 from: grandcostamaya.gob.mx
3. Cobá. One of the Greatest Metropolises of the Mayan World. (sf). Retrieved on November 6, 2017 from: mundomaya.travel
4. Tulum. (sf). Retrieved on November 6, 2017 from: siglo.inafed.gob.mx
5. Xcaret. (August 24, 2017). In: es.wikipedia.org
6. Kohunlich Archaeological Zone. (December 29, 2016). In: inah.gob.mx