Kohunlich, an hour southwest of Rancho Encantado, is best-known for its enormous stucco masks carved into the pyramid of the sun. It is also notable for its elaborate hydroengineering projects, which enabled the Maya to flourish in large numbers in an area with little fresh water. The surrounding jungle is a wonderful bird-watching area, alive with song in the early morning.

Dzibanche, located directly west of Rancho Encantado, is a recent discovery of great importance. This bueautifully preserved site, with its towering pyramids and gleaming limestone facades, is an outstanding example of classic Mayan architecture. Elaborate hieroglyphs provide scholars with important information about relations between Dzibanche and rival cities. Near Dzibanche lies Kinichna, the Temple of the Sun. From this magnificent pyramid, the sweeping view extends across unexcavated mounds rising from the surrounding jungle.

Oxtankah is a medium size site, located on the shores of the Chetumal bay. It was built during the early classic period. It's buildings date from 300 a.d. and it appears to have been occupied until the arrival of the Spaniards in the 1500s. There are remains of a Spanish church at the site. (Click here for additional information.)

Calakmul may soon take its place in the ranks of Guatemala's Tikal and Caracol in Belize as one of the most important Mayan sites. Many stellae and some of the tallest pyramids in Mesoamerica cover its huge area. Archaeologists recently discovered the remains of high-ranking captives, providing further evidence of Calakmul's power and influence. We enter the site through the vast acreage of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, one of the last of the Yucatan rainforests. The Reserve's population includes howler monkeys, spider monkeys and hundreds of exotic bird species.

Balam Ku(House of the Jaguar) is known only to a handful of archaeologists and locals. Visitors from the Rancho are among the first to walk these sacred grounds since the ancient Maya lived, worked and worshipped here. New excavations have removed classic-era structures to reveal elaborate frescoes carved into the walls of preclassic temples beneath. The original red paint is still vivid. One of the Rancho's past guides, Serge Riou, published the first photographs of these masterpieces of Mayan cosmology.

Chacchoben, north of Laguna Bacalar is currently under excavation. Accessible only by permit, it is proving to be one of the most exciting sites to be uncovered in recent years. The site archaeologist is a fountain of information about this and other sites in the area. INAH plans to open the site to the public after the main plaza is excavated. It may well become the area's adventure destination of choice. We do trips to Chacchoben, but prior permission is required from INAH.