Uxmal and the sites of the Puuc Route

The Ruta Puuc is a route lined with archaeological sites south of Mérida, making up the Puuc, a hill region in northeastern Yucatán.
Heading south from Mérida, the first stop is the ancient city of Uxmal, the largest site in the region after Chichén Itzá, found at the heart of the jungle. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this city — now favoured by iguanas basking in the sun — features the round Pyramid of the Magician, the Governor's Palace, the Nunnery Quadrangle and the House of the Turtles. Its pale pink limestone cladding is dotted with finely carved details on the building façades.
Continuing southeast, the route reaches Kabah, home to the Palace of the Masks of Chaac (the Mayan rain god). The tightly clustered buildings give the site an impression of grandeur.
Further south lies Sayil, known for its striking three-tiered palace, a city also being gradually reclaimed by the jungle.

Heading east from there, you reach Xlapak, home to several groups of ruins, mostly palaces, some with columns, in an ostentatious style. The carved decorations on the façades, often depicting Chaac, rise above roof level.

Finally, at Labná, the arch built using the corbelled vault technique marks the end point of this journey. Alongside the arch, the site also holds a partially demolished pyramid.