This is the most popular tour in Costa Maya, the Chacchoben tours is one of the best experience, imagine your self walking in to this mayan city surrounded of high junlge, this buildings have many many years of time.....this place have something realy magic believe us.
The chacchoben tour is conveniently because is located just 50 min. drive from the village of mahahual.
Chacchoben is only fifty minutes from Puerto Costa Maya (Mexico) wich is located in the town of mahahual, here is common to see several species of reptiles and snakes, spider monkeys and even jaguars, as well as a great variety of birds. the ruin site is just a few kilometers from the village of "Chacchoben" and takes its name from the village. The translation of "Chacchoben" makes reference to "The place of the red corn". At this time the original name of the ruin site is not known, nor the name of any of it's leaders. Therefore the official name for now is Chacchoben...The Place of the Red Corn.
The Archaeological area of chacchoben was known only by the locals, and was until 1972 that the american archaelogist Peter Harrison reported the discovery of the ruins to the mexican authorities. The excavations did no begin until 1994, to conducted by the National Institute of Anthropology and History, and open to the public until 2002.
The main Structures are dated between 200 and 700, with signs of having been rebuilt several times. chacchoben became a prosperous city, covering in particular the cultivation of maize. the architectural character of the groups is primarily related to civic and religous functions that are confirmed by the large number of incense burners recovered in the top of the large basement and the two main buildings that surround it, wich correspond to temples, one of the outstanding features of the settlemen is the presence of circular monolithic altars and stelae, of wich only one has badly eroded hieroglyphic texts, wich make it impossible to read.
To date excavations have been undertaken only to the five buildings that rest on the building known as the great basement, to the main building located in all ways and also to lower platforms flanking one.
It is important to mention that all the excavated buildings themselves show different stages of construction that can be appreciated only parially explored in buildings wich highlights the long occupation of the site.
The purpose of these temples is believed that it was studying the stars and astronomy as well as being a place of worship. The top of the temples has a structure that tracks the sun throughout the day. Today it still continues to study and discover more secrets in Chacchoben.
A litle history of Chacchoben ruins: Early inhabitants of the area date back to the pre-classic period, hundreds of years before the coming of Christ. Those inhabitants chose this area most likely for the permanent bodies of water found here, in fact all the round area is called “The Region of the Lakes” because the number of Lagoons located in the area.
The site this surrounded by high trees, foliage and opend graze continued to grow and became an important trading and pilgrimage center of the Maya.
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To date only two hieroglyphically inscriptions with legible text have been found. But it is reasonable to believe that in time more will be found. This site in an on going archeological project with only about ten percent being completed to date, is very large covering several square miles so its reason to believe still many secrets under ground. The area of the tours is the ceremonial center of the site. Buildings have been mapped as far out from this center as four miles.
