Description
A splendid scenario of high jungle; always green covers this magnificent archeological site, famous for its
sculpture art, evident in steles and lintels. Mayas took advantage of this peninsula features, surrounded by a
river meander. Yaxchilan development occurred between years 350 and 810 a. C. Although the political
expansion to place during Jaguar Shield I government, who rose to the throne in 681, Yaxchilan
reached its character and consolidated its hegemony during Bird Jaguar V Government during VIII
century.
The city's area is very spread out, but its visit is restrained at present to part of the Great Plaza the great
Acropolis, the small Acropolis and the south Acropolis. It is possible to reach the great plaza through
Building 19, known as the maze, due to the complex distribution of its rooms. The ball game
and small groups of buildings are located in the plaza land; in some cases this buildings seem to have been
used as palaces. In some constructions, the lintels narrating the dynasty history of the city, are located.
Buildings 12 and 22 outstand. The great stele 1 stands over the plaza, showing Bird
Jaguar IV.
The emotion accompanies the climbing to the stairs that communicate the plaza with the Great Acropolis,
presided by the magnificent Building 33, the city's most arrogant. The cresting, hieroglyphic
stairs with scenes of Bird Jaguar IV playing the ball, the lintels, the decapitated sculpture of Bird Jaguar IV
in its interior, are the most outstanding feature. A Lacandona legend tells that when Bird
Jaguar's head returns to its place, the world will be eliminated by the heavenly Jaguars.
Weather
Hot, humid, with heavy rains in summer.
Ethnics group
Choles.
Location
It is located in the Ocosingo municipality, next to Usumacinta river, in the jungle state's region.
How to get there?
238km from Palenque, take Federal Highway 199 and then take the south border highway to the Corozal crossing; from there take a detour of 23km leading finally to Escudo Jaguar, where a boat is boarded to travel approximately one hour to arrive at the archeological zone.
What to do?
Visit archeological traces, walking and flora and fauna observation.
Visit schedule
From 8:00 to 17:00, all days of the year.
Entrance: $33.00
Free entrance: on sundays and festivities.
Free entrance to: Older than 60 years, younger than 13 years, retired, pensioners, disabled,
teachers students, investigators, or Senior students with study purpose with INAH permit.
Travel hints
Archeological zone can be visited all the year; it is suggested to bring drinking water, food and comfortable shoes to long walks, sweat shirt, and raincoat during rains.
Places nearby
Escudo Jaguar and Las Guacamayas.
Contact
Instituto Nacional de
Antropologia e Historia
(National Institute of
Anthropology and History)
Calzada de los hombres ilustres S/N,
Tuxtla Gutierrez City
Phone numbers: 01 (961) 613-4554 /
612-8360 &
613-4450
Secretaria de Turismo
(Tourism State Office)
National toll free number: 01 (800) 280-3500
