the adventures of dos tortas

About an hour and a half drive from Bacalar is the town of Xpujil. Like many Mexican villages, it is situated on a major highway. Highway 186 connects east (the Bay of Chetumal) and west (the Gulf of Mexico) at the base of the Yucatan Peninsula and in the heart of one of the most advanced ancient civilization on the planet, the Mayan people. 

One of numerous sites in the town itself. The similarities to Tikal in Guatemala are evident.

I can’t imagine what it’s like growing up with pyramids down the street. Many children in Bacalar have never been out on the Laguna. Do the children of Xpujil study their ancestors? One can only hope.

Calakmul is a huge site. We drove forty miles down a bumpy road. Tour buses are not allowed.

We spent three days and traveled to four amazing sites in close proximity. There is so much to be learned about the massive civilization that connects Mexico with Guatemala, Belize, and Honduras. We truly live in an area rich in culture and history.

Wild turkeys that looked more like peacocks, air plants and passageways to the underworld. Monkeys were swinging overhead.

These three-dimensional friezes were well protected. I could have spent days studying them.

We would like to return to this area in the future. There was way more to digest than three days allowed. Also scroll down to see the bats! A genuine bat cave where a vortex of bats headed into the jungle at sunset to consume mosquitoes. They gave the Austin bats a run for their money. Truly an awesome experience. DOS TORTAS

Tags: ancient civilization, Ancients, calakmul, mayan, mexican pyramids, xpujil, yucatan