Some experts believe that Uxmal was founded about 500 A.D. Uxmal was said to be ruled by the Xiu family for several generations, and it was known as the most powerful site in the western Yucatan that was the greatest metropolitan and religious center of its time. Uxmal was at its highest between the 7th and 10th century A.D.. At some point after about 1200 no new major construction was done at Uxmal. This could be related to the fall of Uxmal’s ally, Chichen Itza. With the fall came a shift in power in the Yucatan to Mayapan. The Xiu family eventually moved the capital to Mani, thus making the population decline. The Xiu family allied themselves with Spain in their conquest of the Yucatan in the 1550’s, but Uxmal was abandoned after the Spanish decided not to build a town there.

Once Mexico gained their independence, the site has attracted many visitors. Jean Frederic Waldeck gave the first detailed account of the site in 1838. In 1927 the Mexican government finally stepped in to try to preserve the structures and keep them from collapsing. Plaster casts of the facades were made and a replica of the Quadrangle was constructed and put on display at Chicago’s World Fair in 1933. There are now three hotels and a small museum that have been built within walking distance of Uxmal.

Uxmal Visitor Information
The ancient Mayan city of Uxmal is located in the state of Yucatán, Mexico. The ruins are located 78 km south of Mérida and 15 km south of the town of Muna. Uxmal only takes a few hours to fully explore, and you will also find a small museum at the entrance. Make sure to bring a hat and sunscreen for protection, along with a good pair walking shoes. Uxmal is a very photogenic place, so don’t forget your camera. The site is open every day from 8am to 5pm, and the cost is 85pesos (about US$8). Several different companies offer organized tours of the ruins.

Highlights of visiting Uxmal

• Pyramid of the Magician (also known as Adivino): This is arguably the most impressive and tallest structure at 100 feet. It is located just beyond the entrance. Ancient legend claims the pyramid was built in one night by Itzamna, but experts guess it was built in five different phases. Tourists are not permitted to climb the House of the Magician anymore.
• The Nunnery: This was named by the Spanish because it reminded them of a nunnery. It is a large building that was most likely used as a school for training healers, priests, shamans, and astrologers.
• The Governor’s Palace: This provides a great example of stone mosaic work. It was most likely created by hundreds of sculptors and masons. The Governor’s Palace occupies five acres and has many beautiful sculptures Chaac, the rain god, along with serpents and astrological symbols.
• Other buildings/sites of mention:
  The House of Turtles is decorated with turtle sculptures, which at that time were associated with rain.
  The Dovecote is a building that contains many separate chambers.
  Uxmal also has a large field or court that has a playing field 110 feet in length and 32 feet in width.
  A light and sound show is also offered nightly at Uxmal that is said to be much more impressive than the one put on at Chichen Itza.

Uxmal Conservation Efforts

To aid in the conservation efforts at Uxmal, visitors are now prohibited from climbing the pyramid.  Mexico’s National institute of Anthropology and History have carefully been restoring the site over the years, particularly since 1988 when Hurricane Gilbert damaged part of the pyramid.  Small cracks have been noticed deep in the pyramid and so restoration work is a continuous effort.

Around 900 AD, Tikal declined as Maya civilization in the region suffered collapse during the end of their Classic period. There are many potential reasons for this including overpopulation, environmental degradation, drought and the Maya’s long history of warfare.

Tikal was eventually abandoned completely, consumed by the jungle, and forgotten. Stories of its existence began to surface and spread during the 17th and 18th centuries. During the the mid-1800′s, expeditions were hatched to explore and map it. The University of Pennsylvania oversaw major excavation at Tikal during the 1960′s while the government of Guatemala began the work in late 1970′s.

Tikal was one of the greatest and most populated cities of the Mayan civilization, at its peak sustaining some 200,000 people within its 30 square miles. Only a fraction of Tikal’s more than 3,000 buildings have been excavated, allowing visitors to see temples, palaces, tombs and religious monuments.

Tikal Visitor Information
Tikal’s main gate opens at 6:00am and closes at 6:00pm. Tickets to the park are purchased at the main gate across from the Visitors Center near the parking lot. A ticket into Tikal cost 20USD for adults and tickets purchased after 3:30pm are also valid the next day.

There are two hotels in Tikal National Park. The Tikal Inn and the Jungle Lodge have comfortable accommodations, which include hot showers, two double beds, whirling ceiling fans was well as restaurant service. Visitors can also rent tents or sleep in hammocks if they are on a budget. This option is commonly used by backpackers.

The site is busiest during the day when tours from Flores and neighboring Belize come to the park. The best hours to avoid the crowds are early in the morning or after 2pm when the tours leave for lunch. This is also the best time to see the wildlife as the crowds no longer scare them away.

Tikal Conservation Efforts
Nearby cities and towns put pressure on the park as many people burn the surrounding forest for farming and cattle grazing as well as illegally extracting forest products from the park itself. Increasing tourism has caused damage to the buildings, disrupted the habitat of some animal and bird species, and created a garbage problem. Moreover, high turnover rate among park staff is a problem because it reduces management stability.

The Nature Conservancy recently helped the Guatemalan Ministry of Culture develop new master plan for Tikal National Park, replacing old one that was created in the 1970s. The plan puts primary emphasis on protecting the natural and cultural heritage of Tikal and sets up a framework for sustainable tourism management. This should help reduce the impact of tourism and help preserve the park for future generations as well as help the local population.