Xpujil - Calakmul

 

Coming from Campeche and arriving in Xpujil is a culture shock. Located on highway Mex 186, Xpujil is essentially a mile-long truck stop. For us travelers who don't have cars, it is the ideal staging point to visit the greatest Mayan ruin in Mexico, Calakmul. Unfortunately, for me, the rainy season had just begun. The weather was crappy, and about to get a whole lot worse. Still, I am ok with that. Calakmul is over the top.

 

The structure of the main pyramid is so huge, it can only be seen, in its entirety, from the air.

 

From the air one can also see the second largest pyramid at Calakmul

 

Wild turkeys are all over the grounds
One of two groups of tourists and their guides that I encountered. Because of it's remote location Calakmul does not see a lot of tourist traffic

 

 

I was told that the bark still is used for some medicinal brew

 

Getting to the first plaza, surrounded by smaller temples

 

 

 

Much of the area is jungles and swamps. The location is close to the border with Guatemala

 

From the top of this structure was the only place to see the highest of the pyramids

 

Using a telephoto lens, I got to see what was coming next. However, even from here, the last part is still hidden.

 

Finally, after exploring some of the other smaller structures, I met the Dutch family at the bottom of the main pyramid. From this vantage point one can see only the first part. The three daughters wasted no time at all and immediately started the climb.

 

 

 

In one direction, I saw the smaller pyramid from which I photographed this one, earlier, and in the other, the next, and second highest structure that was coming next. The Dutch family passed on that one.

 

Dutchman descending. Looking from the top at the back of the second level building.

 

 

The last one: Where I am on the map, looking at it, how it used to look, and how it looks today.

 
Going up
Looking back at the large one, but it is mostly obscured by trees

On the way down I saw a small group/family contemplating going up, but only one went.

By late afternoon I was back in Xpujil, getting ready for the next day's departure

 

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