Calakmul, mayan ruins at Campeche

Tourism is based on the archaeological sites of Mayan culture, which exist in their territory and the natural jungle area called Biosphere Reserve Calakmul, declared a World Heritage Site.
This has led to being included in the Maya World tourist project.
Within the archaeological site can mention places like Becán, Calakmul, Río Bec, Hormiguero, El Ramonal, Chicana, La Doll, among others.

Calakmul is a pre-Hispanic Mayan urban center located in the southeastern Mexican state of Campeche, in the Peten region Campechano, in the heart of the Biosphere Reserve of 1,800,000 acre Calakmul and very close to the border with Guatemala.The site has approximately 70 km ² and more than 6,000 structures and became the capital of a Regional State of approximately 13,000 km ².


Rediscovered in 1931 by biologist Cyrus L. Lundell, was first explored by the famous Mayanist Sylvanus Morley in 1932. However, it was not until half a century later, from 1982, which made large-scale excavations, by William Folan Historical Centre and Social Research at the Autonomous University of Campeche.

The thorough study initiated by the Folan team concluded that they were before the largest Mayan center, including Tikal, ensuring that as the period came to have more allies and power than Tikal itself. Moreover, from the 90 concludes that belonged to a organizaciónmucho Calakmul larger part of the so-called Kingdom of the Serpent, or Kan Kaan kingdom, namely capital was its center.

The breakthrough in the study hieroglyph that is achieved during these years gives rise to the researchers have discovered that Calakmul and Tikal were engaged in a series of bloody wars for over a century. Clashes that marked the passing both political and economic and social center of the southern Maya area.




Calakmul is now the subject of large-scale project of the National Institute of Anthropology and History began in 1993. Because of the importance of the site on 4 July 2002, UNESCO awarded the appointment dePatrimonio Cultural Heritage.

Today Calakmul theories are constantly growing and theses accepted years ago are being revised, improved and changed. As research progresses in the Maya area acknowledges the importance of the ancient Maya city of Calakmul as one of the leading centers of the Classic Period in the Maya Lowlands.

GETTING THERE

To reach the archaeological site of Calakmul, based in the city of Campeche is a distance of 360 kms. To start the journey you must go to Champotón on Federal Highway 180 also can take the highway, toll road, which will provide security and save time. At the end of the municipal seat of Champotón take the federal highway 261 to Escarcega, then take U.S. Highway 186 that goes to Chetumal, Quintana Roo, to CONHU at kilometer 70 of the same, where the gap is taken as lead to the archaeological site of Calakmul, only 35 kilometers from the border with Guatemala and within the ecological zone called "Biosphere Reserve of Calakmul."