Yaxchilan – A Hidden Mayan Gem
Yaxchilan – A hidden Mayan gem in the jungles of the Chiapas, while remote, is now easily accessible from Palenque. It takes about three hours by bus to get to the Usumacinta River which forms the border between Guatemala and Mexico. The short boat ride up river to Yaxchilan adds to the adventure and sense of mystery.
Banampak, a satellite city of Yaxchilan best known for the amazing murals still currently within its temples, is usually part of organised trips to the area from Palenque. The site is very distinct from Yaxchilan and feels quite separate from it.
The Maya established the city of Yaxchilan in the 4th century A.D. Like many other major Mayan city states, it reached its height between the 7th and 9th century A.D. It was rediscovered in the 19th century.
Yaxchilan is renowned for having once had detailed lintel carvings showing Mayan rituals and cultural practices above the doorways of its temples. Examples of superbly preserved lintels tare held at The British Museum and the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City.
