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Uxmal
The ruined city of Uxmal ("Three-times-built") boasts some of the most beautiful Maya buildings in existence. The Nunnery (Las Monjas) Quadrangle, and the House of the Governor, are both world-famous for their elegance of design and intricate stone-work. The Pyramid of the Magician, with its rounded shape and crowning temples, is especially pleasing to the eye.
Uxmal is definitely worth a day's visit - even if you're not a big ruins buff. If you were going to see just one ruin in Yucatan, then you would have to choose Uxmal or Chichen Itza to be the one. Chichen has more to see, but requires more walking, and Uxmal, although smaller (less walking) has some of the most beautiful buildings of any ruined Maya city.
The archeological zone of Uxmal (free on Sunday) is located about eighty kilometers south of Mérida, in the Puuc zone, an area of ancient settlement which is full of other, smaller, sites like Kabah, Sayil, Labna and Xlapak -- ruins buffs will want to check most of them out -- unfortunately most of these -- except Kabah -- cannot be reached by bus -- but then, we heard there's a special tour bus from the Mérida bus station that goes to several of these in one day, giving you like an hour at each stop). Go ask there.
Uxmal itself is most easily approached by car, but regular busses run past the archeological zone from Mérida and Campeche -- make sure yours is going via Uxmal.
A couple of expensive hotels sit nearby the site Waiting for the bus in the evening, Danial went into a hotel bar to buy a soda -- almost two dollars!
More economical accommodation must be sought in Mérida, Ticul, or Campeche. We hear rumors of developed camping and rooms at Santa Elena, 14 kilometers east, at the junction with the road to Ticul. People exploring the Puuc zone (rich with dozens of ruined cities, of which Uxmal is the shining queen) especially campers, hikers and bikers might want to check this out. Let us know what you find. You will, coincidentally, be following in the footsteps of Stephens and Catherwood, who also stayed in Santa Elena.
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