Mexico Adventure Holidays

Palenque The fascinating archaeological site of Palenque is considered by many the most outstanding of all the pre-Columbian sites in Mexico. Set deep in the jungle at the foot of a chain of hills, Palenque has that 'Indiana Jones' feel, as if you've stumbled by chance upon an ancient city lost in the jungle. It is also historically important as the body of Palenque's most noted leader Pakal, was discovered in "The Temple of Inscriptions" 1952. This and other unexplained links to the far and middle east, help keep Palenque's mystique alive.

Monte Albán, Oaxaca Between 800 and 500 BC, the Zapotecs began the monumental exercise of levelling the top of a mountain overlooking the Oaxaca Valley, where they would build the city Monte Albán. At its peak the city housed over 30,000 people, but fell into decline and was largely abandoned by 800 AD. Around the 13th century, it was adopted by the Mixtecs, who built magnificent gold-laden tombs for their royalty. Excavations at Monte Albán have revealed over 170 tombs, numerous ceremonial altars, pyramids and palaces.

Chichén Itzá Chichén Itzá, pronounced "chee-CHEN eet-ZAH", which means 'at the mouth of the well of Itza', is the largest of the ruined Mayan cities on the Yucatán Peninsula and one of Mexico's most popular tourist destinations. The Kukulkan Pyramid in Chichén-Itzá, known as "El Castillo" (the castle), is one of the new Seven Wonders of the World and is thought to have acted as a calendar with exactly 365 steps. These impressive temples and monuments, dating back over 1500 years, spectacularly highlight Mexico's rich past.