Historic Mayan ruins have been one thing that has at all times fascinated me, and I lastly had the chance to see them myself.
Whereas making ready for a cruise on Radiance of the Seas, I knew that I wished to see Mayan ruins in the course of the ship’s stops at Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico.
Kohunlich is one in all many historic Mayan ruins close to Costa Maya, within the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico.
These ruins, particularly, date again to the late class interval of Mayan civilization, roughly between the seventh and 10 centuries CE.
Seeing them whereas touring on a cruise ship appeared a lot simpler than a land journey, as a result of a land journey would have required rather more in depth planning, from buying worldwide flights to discovering high quality lodging to renting transportation to the Mayan damage websites.
Nonetheless, on my cruise, it was a straightforward one-day cease at Costa Maya that took me straight to see these once-in-a-lifetime historic ruins.
Kohunlich is understood for its spectacular structure, together with pyramids, temples, plazas, and lots of well-preserved buildings.
Particularly, probably the most well-known constructing is the Temple of Masks, which includes a row of huge masks on the entrance face of the temple.
At present, Kohunlich is a well-liked vacationer attraction, and it was one of many most cost-effective Mayan damage shore excursions that was provided on this cruise. It was $101.99, together with transportation, snacks, water, and lunch.
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My pal, who joined me on the cruise, bought the tour with me, and we each beamed with pleasure to see these historic constructions.
When our ship arrived in Costa Maya, the tour began vivid and early within the morning. Though the shore tour was listed as starting at 8:30 A.M., we needed to meet our group at 8:00 A.M.
After exhibiting our tickets, we acquired stickers with particular numbers in order that we may all collect collectively as a gaggle. They known as our numbers one after the other once they have been prepared for us to disembark.
The crew members guided us to the gangway on deck 2, and we may disembark the ship.
After we exited the cruise port, we walked down the pier and have been instantly guided into strains for our specific tour.
In entrance of those strains, three males danced and performed drums in conventional Mayan costumes. Cruisers may additionally go up and take footage with them!
This was a special shore tour expertise for me, as there have been many individuals all lined up in sections. Though Radiance of the Seas was the one ship within the port, there gave the impression to be a big crowd of individuals round us.
Nonetheless, the port was well-organized, and our tour information discovered us by the sticker numbers we positioned on our shirts. She known as us ahead when it was time to enter the bus.
There, we met our guides and bus driver, and so they gave us some snacks and water.
Then we hopped onto the bus and settled in for the 2-hour drive.
Whereas we drove, our tour information, Kitzia, obtained on the microphone, launched herself, and informed us tales in regards to the space.
Kitzia herself was half Mayan and even taught us some phrases in Maya, a lifeless language, however nonetheless discovered conversationally.
The drive was about two and a half hours with site visitors, however the surroundings was fascinating as we handed a number of cities.
The primary city close to the port of Costa Maya is Mahahual, which is true subsequent door, however a placing distinction from the touristy port city we initially noticed.
After passing via the city of Mahahual, it was evident that the Port of Costa Maya is a vacationer attraction moderately than an genuine Mexican city.
Because the bus trip progressed, we drove additional into the jungle and even handed a nature-preserved swamp, very like Florida’s Everglades.
There was a rest room positioned on the bus, nevertheless it didn’t have any working water, so I discovered myself wishing I had remembered to deliver hand sanitizer.
After we lastly arrived on the archaeological website, the bus went down a small, one-lane highway to get into the world.
After we arrived, our tour information tell us that the world was being reworked and the doorway to the positioning was crammed with development tools.
They have been clearing out extra of the jungle to make method for a much bigger website, half of a giant authorities challenge the place they’re including a prepare to go to many Mayan ruins.
This improvement will do so much for Mexico‘s tourism and make it simpler to get between Mayan archaeological websites.
Nonetheless, after we have been visiting, it meant that there have been solely portapotties and largely mud on the entrance to the rooms.
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We walked in and began taking footage. We needed to make sure you not take any movies as a result of the park fees an additional charge for any movies or “skilled filming”. Our tour information merely stated that video can be prohibited and the group may very well be kicked out if caught filming.
As we stood in the midst of the pastures, our information stopped and informed us somewhat extra in regards to the buildings that we have been seeing: dormitories, a palace, and afterward, we approached the temple and ballgame court docket.
We have been capable of stroll proper up onto the buildings and discover the ruins ourselves.
I used to be amazed understanding that we have been strolling on thousand-year-old constructions that had been constructed by folks on this very location.
One of many bigger constructions was a former palace, the place we may stroll up the steps and stand on the second degree. After all, we needed to be cautious as the perimeters have been crumbling, nevertheless it was nonetheless very stable. Many of the buildings have been made from limestone and had giant extensive steps.
Kitzia tell us that the steps have been bigger as a result of you must maintain trying down if you’re strolling on them, making the folks bow right down to the gods as they entered.
After exploring these buildings, we walked somewhat additional up the pasture and into the jungle. There we noticed the primary constructing and attraction of Kohunlich: the Temple of Masks.
Though there are a number of theories about what this constructing was for, most assets state that it is a temple to the solar God.
Because the Mayans had a really correct astrological calendar, this temple helped to mark the seasons with the motion of the solar at its corners.
It additionally options a number of masks on the aspect of the constructing, faces carved into the construction. These masks are large and remarkably properly preserved, and we may see them clearly even from the primary degree.
Past the archeological wonders, I at all times noticed many pure wonders at this ruins website, such succulent vines.
And, though I did not see them, I heard howler monkeys shrieking!
I appreciated that the hike across the website wasn’t too strenuous: folks of all ages may be part of.
I overheard an aged couple saying that they have been grateful they have been capable of take part on this unimaginable expertise. Though we may stroll up onto the buildings, there was no requirement to, and we may additionally keep on the flat pasture to easily search for on the constructions.
It did get scorching, particularly in the midst of the day, however our guides have been constant in passing out water and discovering locations to face within the shade. Individuals may additionally stroll proper again to the bus at any time in the event that they wanted to.
After our hike across the website, everybody piled again into the bus, and we rode again to the cruise port.
We obtained again round 3:30 P.M., making the complete journey about 6 hours in complete. Whereas it was a protracted day, I believe it required much less in depth journey planning than if I had deliberate to do that by myself as a part of a land journey.
General, it was a exceptional expertise and a once-in-a-lifetime alternative to see thousand-year-old constructions.
And, better of all, we may stroll proper again onto the cruise ship when it was over, able to expertise journey at our subsequent vacation spot.