🇲🇽 Mexico · Archaeological wonder
El Palmar
Maya Classic 250–900 CE · Maya (El Palmar dynasty)
Ridge-top Maya capital revealing Copán–Calakmul dynastic marriage, 250–900 CE.
🇬🇹 Guatemala · Pyramid
Nakbe Structure 1
Early to Middle Preclassic 1400–400 BCE (Mamom), latest major 300 BCE · Maya (Mirador Basin early Preclassic)
Centerpiece of Nakbe East Group: Structure 1 is 45 m high Triadic pyramid dating to 1000 BCE early Mamom, with massive stucco masks 5 m wide on first tier.
🇲🇽 Mexico · Ancient city
Xlapak South Group
Terminal Classic Puuc 800–1000 CE · Maya (Puuc)
Free-access Puuc site at Km Xlapak 20.17N -89.60W between Sayil (4 km west) and Labná (3 km east) within Puuc Hills valley.
🇲🇽 Mexico · Ancient city
Edzná
Maya Classic (Puuc) · Maya (Puuc/ Petén)
Edzná — hydraulic capital with Five Stories Pyramid.
🇬🇹 Guatemala · Ancient city
Cival
Middle Preclassic 900 BCE–300 BCE to Late Preclassic 300 BCE–250 CE · Maya (Holmul region Preclassic)
Early Holmul River city 40 km E of Tikal: North Acropolis Triadic Group I with colossal stucco masks (200 BCE) and 335 m E-Group, extensively excavated by Estrada-Belli Vanderbilt-BU.
🇬🇹 Guatemala · Temple complex
La Sufricaya (Holmul)
Early-Late Classic 600–650 CE, Holmul dynasty Teotihuacan influence · Maya (Holmul)
Vaulted mural building 1 km west of Holmul Group I containing 7 m-long polychrome mural c.600 CE depicting 8 royal figures with Teotihuacan-linked toponyms and Holmul-Tikal dynastic conflict.
🇲🇽 Mexico · Ancient city
Mayapan
Late Postclassic (Mayapan) · Maya (Yucatán)
Mayapan — walled last Maya capital 1220–1440.
🇬🇹 Guatemala · Ancient city
Wakna (Güiro)
Middle to Late Preclassic Mirador 600 BCE–150 CE · Maya (Mirador Basin)
Formerly Güiro, renamed Wakna: massive Triadic Acropolis (25 m pyramid on 70 m platform) with three temples and deep aguada (reservoir) 80 m diameter excavated into bedrock.
🇲🇽 Mexico · Temple complex
Channal
Late Classic Rio Bec 550–800 CE · Maya (Rio Bec)
Mid-size Rio Bec forest palace 7 km S of Okolhuitz on Becán–Hormiguero track. Structure II combines Chenes monster mask lower register with Rio Bec twin towers upper, indicating stylistic hybridity.
🇬🇹 Guatemala · Temple complex
La Blanca Acropolis – Mopán Valley
Classic · Maya/Andean
La Blanca — Mopán River vaulted acropolis.
🇲🇽 Mexico · Temple complex
Xpujil Group B
Late Classic Rio Bec 600–900 CE · Maya (Rio Bec)
Group B 500 m south of Xpujil’s iconic Structure I (three-temple pyramid): twin-tower Structure II 9 m high with Rio Bec false stairs, courtyard and vaulted residential palace.
🇬🇹 Guatemala · Ancient city
La Muerta Mirador Basin
Late Preclassic Mirador fluorescence 400 BCE–150 CE · Maya (Mirador Basin)
Mirador Basin satellite 10 km SE of El Mirador on 12 km raised sacbe to Nakbe. Structure 1 retains 6 m stucco sculpture of jaguar paw and Structure 2 has cranial caches.
🇲🇽 Mexico · Temple complex
Chacmultún East
Late Classic Puuc 600–900 CE with Postclassic cave shrine reuse · Maya (Puuc cave shrine)
Hilltop Puuc palace above sacred caves of Chacmultún with permanent water pools and Postclassic red hand cave paintings.
🇸🇻 El Salvador · Ancient city
Tazumal & Joya de Cerén (paired)
Preclassic to Classic · Maya
Tazumal & Joya de Cerén (paired) in Santa Ana Department, El Salvador is a Preclassic to Classic ancient city attributed to Maya culture. Inscribed UNESCO World Heritage Site (ID 675).
🇲🇽 Mexico · Ancient city
Huntichmul East Complex
Terminal Classic Puuc 800–1050 CE · Maya (Puuc)
Huntichmul East Complex north of Puuc Route: 70 m long vaulted palace with Puuc junquillo columns, sacbe linking to Sayil Group 2 km west. Mapped by Pollock 1980; 8 mounds remain unexcavated.
🇲🇽 Mexico · Pyramid
Pyramid of Kukulkán (El Castillo)
Terminal Classic to Early Postclassic (Maya-Toltec) · Maya (Itzá) / Toltec-influenced
Stepped pyramid-temple at Chichén Itzá with 365 steps representing solar year; equinox feathered-serpent shadow (Kukulkán) descends balustrade.
🇧🇿 Belize · Ancient city
Lubaantun
Late Classic Maya · Maya
Lubaantun in Toledo District, Belize is a Late Classic Maya ancient city attributed to Maya culture. Settlement complex with stratified occupation, demonstrating urban planning and craft production.
🇬🇹 Guatemala · Pyramid
El Mirador – La Danta Pyramid
Middle to Late Preclassic · Maya (Preclassic)
Late Preclassic Maya super-complex: La Danta triadic pyramid atop 18 m basal platform, volume exceeds Great Pyramid of Giza. Center of Mirador Basin city covering >2000 km² with causeways.
🇲🇽 Mexico · Pyramid
Comalcalco Archaeological Zone
Maya Classic 250–900 CE · Maya (Chontal)
Maya brick city 56 million bricks, Chontal 250–900 CE.
🇬🇹 Guatemala · Pyramid
Tikal Temple IV
Late Classic Maya · Maya (Mutal polity)
Tallest temple-pyramid in Tikal, atop 7 m supporting platform, roof comb; from summit see canopy and other temples. Part of vast Classic Maya city (16 km²) with ~3000 structures.
🇲🇽 Mexico · Pyramid
Calakmul
Late Classic Maya · Maya (Kanul dynasty)
Powerful Classic Maya superpower (capital of Kanul Snake Kingdom, 6th–9th century) with 6,750 structures, twin reservoirs and stelae. Structure II is massive layered pyramid.
🇲🇽 Mexico · Temple complex
Kohunlich
Classic · Maya/Andean
Kohunlich — Temple of the Masks 5×2 m stucco.