This Mayan city is in the middle of the jungle in the south of Quintana Roo
The area was settled in 200 BC. Most structures were built in the Early Classic period between 250 to 600 AD.
It appears that Kohunlich was a regional city that acted as a stopover along the southern trade routes.
It is also home to Howler monkeys that can be heard, but not seen as you walk into the site.
The jungle, moss covered terrain and majestic temples found on this site will keep you busy for a good portion of the day
This is a unique southern destination in Quintana Roo that should be seen.
This Mayan settlement was discovered in 1912 by archaeologist Raymond Merwin
The site is large, 21 acres, but like most Mayan ruins many of the buildings remain untouched.
Kohunlich pronounced (KOE•HOON•LEECH) is a Spanish derivative of ‘Cohune palm tree’.
Kohunlich has a ball court, administrative buildings, spiritual areas, and palaces.
In total there are 8 groups to explore on this site.
What amazed archeologists was the hydraulic engineering used at Kohunlich. 90,000 of the site’s 210,000 sq meters were cut to channel rainwater into Kohunlich’s once enormous reservoir.
Considering this city was from the Early Classic Period, this is an incredible feat that confirms the brilliance of this society.
The Acropolis is built on top a large platform, and has a raised interior courtyard. It is accessed by a broad, west facing stairway that leads up from the Northwest Complex Plaza.
There are numerous structures containing multiple chambers surrounding the interior courtyard
Let's have a look from top of the Acropolis
The south side segment of the Acropolis features a three-chamber structure accessed by its own stairway.
These chambers have mostly retained their corbel vaulted roofs.
The south side of the Acropolis faces onto the main plaza, Plaza of the Stelae.
Temple of the King. This is a multi-tiered, pyramidal construction
that features a ruined, masonry construction at the summit housing multiple chambers.
Plaza Merwin is named after the explorer who first reported on the site.
The Temple of the Masks is a solitary, pyramidal structure set on a small rise
This is an Early Classic Pyramid built in 500 AD with a central staircase decorated by large stucco masks.
The pyramid is thought to be the oldest excavated structure in Kohunlich.
The masks are out of this world. With a height of 8 ft/2.5 m the masks are in good condition
stucco masks of the Sun God Kin’ich Ahau,
This very impressive Early Classic (250-600 A.D) structure built in the Peten style of Guatemala
A temple consisting of five chambers is set upon a four-tiered pyramid base
and features distinctive rounded corners typical of Peten architecture.
The Plaza of the Stelae measures about 260 feet/80 meters square.
27 Steps – A structure and area located the furthest from the entrance
the 27 steps is a large platform thought to hold residential buildings for the elite
The view from the top of the platform is terrific and provides an overview of the jungle to the south.
Residential buildings – There is something to be said about the remains of the residential area.
Beds are still intact, only the foundations of the buildings preserved, but the area is quite amazing.
The Ball Court is of typical design with open end zones on the extreme east end of the plaza.
The supporting upper platforms may have at one time supported masonry structures
The west side of the plaza is anchored by a linear structure known as the Building of the Twin Columns.
the Northwest Complex built around a small plaza, a mainly residential area for higher ranking nobles.
The raised platforms contain numerous structures,
The Building of the Eleven Doors. This structure is set on a low platform
with the interior accessed between a series of pillars.