VISIT TO THE MAYAN RUINS OF EK BALAM

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Ek Balam is a ancient mayan city in the state of Yucatán from which several majestic buildings surrounded by the dense Mexican jungle are preserved. It was one of the most important inhabited centers in eastern Yucatan, which had its most prosperous time between 700 and 1,000. Although its foundation dates back to 300 BC. and its abandonment upon the arrival of Spanish settlers.

Just 30 km north of Valladolid, it is currently taking on more and more fame, and although it is difficult to rival its neighboring Chichen Itza, the beauty of the place deserves a visit (and that can be climbed on the steps of its great pyramid too). However, it has something very important against it: the price! Entering has a cost similar to other major archeological sites such as Chichen Itza or Uxmal, so if you want to save money and plan to visit other Mayan ruins, skipping it may not be a bad idea, especially if you are one of those "They get bored with so much stone." (Having said all this, our advice: go, it's cool!).

Here we explain more about the visit to the archaeological zone of Ek Balam, what are the most interesting buildings, how much it costs and all the useful information.

Ek Balam in Maya means “black jaguar”And apparently it was the name of the founding chief of the city. During the passage of time, this settlement was gaining importance, until it became the Tah empire capital and commercial center of eastern Yucatan. From here they started several I got (sacred roads) that connected with other towns and allowed the items for the exchange of goods.

It was an area inhabited since 300 B.C., although its time of maximum splendor took place between 700 and 1,000. In these years it is understood that it was the administrative center and exercised influence on other towns in the area, which paid their respects as offerings of all kinds. It came to have a population of almost 20,000 inhabitants and an area of 12 km², although what can be visited today corresponded to the sacred space of the city.

It has several quite impressive buildings, which can give you a little idea of what this city was like in the past. The one that stands out above the others is the call Acropolis. Also surprising is the entrance in the form of an elevated arch with 4 doors, one pointing to each cardinal point, and the Oval Palace.

* Video from inah.gob.mx

Arriving from Valladolid in your own car is very simple, just follow the directions on Google Maps and in half an hour you will be there. The road is in good condition. From the parking (free) you will have to take a path that goes to the visitor center, where you will pay your ticket and where you can also hire specialized guides (500 pesos, although they make a discount up to 350 pesos for couples or small groups). Then follow another road for a few hundred meters until you reach the ruins, you have no loss. However you can help yourself with the Maps.me app, the one we use in all visits to the ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula. More than anything because we could get lost even in our own home :-p the orientation is not our strong point (but we make a tortilla of potatoes that flipas). I follow.

The order of the visit we made was as follows:

- First you have to cross the two wallsand you get straight to the input arc. You can climb the ramp and cross it.

- From there we leave on our right the buildings of the Twin Pyramids (we visit them on the way back) and we go to the Ball game.

- In the background you will see how the great pyramid appears between the vegetation: The Acropolis. It is the next visit, where it is worth stopping for a while. You can climb to the top and deviate to the sides at the intermediate level.

- Go back to the entrance, but this time leave the Ball Game on your right and you will find yourself fully filled with the Twin Pyramids, and next to him with Oval Palace, which you can climb and from where you probably have the best views.

- Finally, you can deviate to the Structure 10, although it is not one of the most impressive, and then return to the entrance, passing behind the Oval Palace and verify that it is oval.

The area of the ruins is small and the visit without a guide can be extended approximately 1 hour.

The total price of admission to November 2018 is 211 pesos (70 of the site plus 141 for the government). The parking is free.

Apparently there are a total of 45 structures, although the most interesting are the following:

- Ramparts. The first thing we find in our path are the remains of two walls, they did not have a defensive character, but rather define the sacred areas and control access to the main enclosure.

- Entrance arch. In a mound of stone on raised this arc of 4 doors rises, each one directed to a cardinal point, by which it was acceded through a ramp. It is a very original element and that is not repeated in other Mayan ruins that we have visited in Yucatan.

- The ball game. It consists of two walls where this usual game was celebrated in the Mayan culture. The participants were arranged in teams, one at each end of the field, and the rubber ball was returned using only the head, elbows and knees. The objective was to try to pass this ball through one of the stone hoops that stood out from each wall. The captain of the losing team came sarified (you know, the Gods demanded blood) although there are those who say that the one who was really sacrificed was the captain of the losing team (in Mayan culture it was an honor to die like this).

- The Acropolis. It is the most important building in the city and it was the palace where rulers and senior officials resided. It is structured in 6 levels, with dimensions of 146 meters long, 55 wide and 29 high, which make it one of the largest Mayan buildings in Yucatan. On the fourth level, on the left is the tomb of the Mayan chief Ukit Kan Le'k Tok ', with an impressive jaguar-shaped door full of fangs, and beautiful reliefs of winged Mayan warriors in the frieze. This is one of the clear examples of the artistic richness of this particular town. Apparently, when they discovered this city, hundreds of objects were found as offerings inside the tomb.

- The Twin Pyramids: They are two identical pyramids in the center of the enclosure that, although they are not too high, are beautiful buildings and are well preserved.

- The Oval Palace: It is the second tallest building in the archaeological zone, which can be promoted, and with its oval shape at its rear, it is a construction not usual in the Mayan world. Climb to the top by the steep front stairs, from where there are very cool views.

- Although for us, not at all experts,not one of the best ruins Maya from the entire Yucatan Peninsula, is a good letter of introduction if you are making the trip from Cancun inland. It was our first archeological park and the truth is that we freaked out, but after having visited others, perhaps it is the one that stays shorter, especially considering the entry price. Even so, as we said before, if you have time in Valladolid and do not mind going through the box office, it is a good excursion, especially if you combine it with other visits during the day, for example to cenotes. Small spoiler: our two favorite archaeological sites have been Chichen Itza and Uxmal 🙂

- As we always say for these sites, the best thing is arrive as soon as possible (The schedule is from 08:00 to 17:00), for two reasons: you will find fewer people and the heat will not be so suffocating.

- Carries Water, hat Y mosquito repellent, you are in the middle of the forest and surely some mosquito you are (or rather he finds you).

- It can ascend to several buildings, but be careful because a slip can have dire consequences. That you lose your life matters to us, but we care more that they close the enclosure! Just kidding, you, dear reader, you are our livelihood XD It is also a joke, we care because you are fucking (especially for having read this paragraph until the end :-p).

- More information on its official website.