Less than 20 miles (30 km) from the steamy city of Valladolid lies the Ek’ Balam archaeological site with the remains of a rich Mayan city. In the local Yucatec Mayan language, one of more than 30 different Mayan languages, the name Ek’ Balam means Black Jaguar. It’s a fittingly imposing name for a city that is believed to have been large and prosperous.
A classic Mayan arch at the Ek’ Balam archaeological site in Mexico.
Exploring the Ek’ Balam archaeological site
Most of the structures of Ek’ Balam date back to the Late Classic period (600-900 AD), including an impressive tomb. Part of Ek’ Balam’s charm is that it’s such a compact set of ruins with a handful of buildings that can happily be explored in an hour or so. Here are some highlights.
The Twin Pyramids (right) and the Oval Palace (left) at the Ek’ Balam Mayan archaeological site in Mexico.
The ball court at Ek’ Balam.
One of the Twin Pyramids (near), the ball court (middle), and the Acropolis (rear) at the Mayan ruins of Ek’ Balam.
Undeniably the most impressive features at Ek’ Balam is the Acropolis. At more than 520 feet (160 meters) long and more than 100 feet (30 meters) high it’s imposing.
The Acropolis is the largest structure at Ek’ Balam and it contains the tomb of Ukit Kan Le’k Tok’ which is now protected beneath the palapa on the upper left-hand side.
About two-thirds of the way up the Acropolis, archaeological types recently uncovered the tomb of Ukit Kan Lek Tok, one of Ek’ Balam’s rulers. His final resting place is marked by amazing carvings including really menacing fangs around the tomb’s door. The tomb’s walls are covered with more intricate carvings and Mayan glyphs. A headless figure is seated above the door and some experts believe this is a depiction of Ukit Kan Lek Tok himself.
The elaborately-carved tomb of Ukit Kan Le’k Tok’ is the main draw of the Ek’ Balam archaeological site.
Another unusual aspect of the tomb are large statues of what look like winged warriors and also bring to mind Christian angels even though the figures were carved hundreds of years before Spanish conquistadors brought Christian iconography to the region.
Climbing more than 100 feet (30 meters) to the top of the Acropolis is worth it for this view over Ek’ Balam and the surrounding jungle.
A temple atop the Oval Palace at Ek’ Balam archaeological site.
Here’s more about travel in Mexico
Here’s more about Archaeological Sites
I love the look of the Acropolis. This place seems to be swollen in mind-blowing history. It also looks like a really, really peaceful place to spend some time.
Hi Ant, It is a magical place. Then again, so are almost all of the (literally) dozens of Mayan sites that we’ve been to.
Wish I’d had time to make it to Ek Balam, But here’s something interesting; the Acropolis looks almost identical to a structure I visited in the south of the Yucatan, near Chetumal.
Hi Barbara, This is the only scructure of the 30 or so Mayann sites we visited that was actually called an accropolis, not a pyramid, since it was built as a burial tomb. This structure is not that high, only 100 feet or so, but its over 500 feet long. You can’t see the base in the photo. We actually didn’t visit the sites around Chetumal, closest we got was the Rio Bec area and Calakmul.
Fascinating to see it restored! I was there in 1983. I paid a local boy to take me back to the ruins. It was totally untouched and the jungle was growing out of everything. An experience to remember.
Jeff, Thanks for sharing your story. Your lucky to have seen the site through its various stages of restoration.
Additionally, thanks for including our blog in the resent homepage of Yucatan Living. I think you may have misunderstood our hot water comment though…the cold water was scalding by the end of the day due to the black tank baking in the June sun. The last thing anyone needs in Valladolid in June, particularly in a fan room, is hot water whether heated in the heater or by the sun.