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The most dramatic of the Mayan cities has gigantic buildings, including the great pyramid that has become a symbol of the Yucatán.

A small city from the last decades of Mayan civilization, Tulum is spectacular as the only Mayan city built above a beach.

The largest and most powerful city in northern Yucatán before the rise of Chichén Itzá. Buildings are spread over a huge area of dense forest and lakes (bikes can be rented). The Nohoch Mul, at 42 m (138 ft), is the highest pyramid in the Yucatán.

This compact city was little known until recently. Excavations of its largest temple-mound in 1998 revealed spectacular carvings, especially at El Trono (“The Throne”), the largest and most extravagant of Mayan monstermouth temples. Other unique buildings include an almost spiral-shaped tower, La Redonda, the design of which is a mystery.

Just north of Mérida, this site was occupied for over 2,000 years. At dawn on spring and summer equinoxes, the sun strikes straight through the open doorways of the Temple of the Seven Dolls and along a road. There’s also a great swimming cenote here (see Cenote Xlacah, Dzibilchaltún).

A hugely atmospheric city with some of the finest Mayan buildings, in the Nunnery Quadrangle and the Governor’s Palace .

Second in importance among the Puuc cities (seeThe Puuc Cities) after Uxmal, to which it was linked by a sacbé or Mayan road. A grand arch over the end of this path forms a pair with the arch at Uxmal (seeTemple of the Centipede and the Arch). The great highlight is the Codz-Poop or “Palace of Masks,” with a façade that has over 250 long-nosed Chac faces.

Among the wealthiest of the Puuc towns, with around 17,000 inhabitants in AD 850. Its magnificent Palacio has been likened to ancient Greek buildings. The Mirador pyramid was the center of the town’s market area (see Uxmal).

One of the most beautiful of all Mayan sites, in a wooded valley full of colorful birds. Walking around it gives a strong impression of the life that went on here. Though small, it has fine buildings, above all the Arch of Labná.

Another of the largest and wealthiest cities of Classic-era Yucatán(see 250–900: Classic Era Mayan Civilization). Its huge palace, the “Building of the Five Stories”, is the largest and most complex of all Mayan multistory buildings.