Yaxchilán

Mayan ruins in the Lacandón Jungle along the Rio Usumacinta amongst the wild and rugged terrain of southern Chiapas. As a fellow traveler said on the tour, “if you have to get on a boat to get there, it’s probably gonna be a good time”. Howler monkeys greeted us at the makeshift dock.
Yaxchilan was rival to both Tonina & Palenque, the defense here being the river that borders it on 3-sides (check it out on the map!). Nearby Bonampak, famous for it’s well-preserved frescos, the most elaborate and intact murals of the Mayan world. Simply wow. Stayed in a cabina deep in the jungle territory with the indigenous Lacandón people, who have called this place home since pre-hispanic times (and seemingly avoided much of the Spanish inquisition). Crossed the Rio Usumacinta to Guatemala and onwards to Tikal by local collectivo in a bit of a “where the fuck am I” adventure day. Success.Read more