Mexico /May 25, 2021
The little visited Maya archaeological site of Ake is located broadly midway between Merida & Izamal in the largely rural Tixkokob municipality.
Relatively little is known about the site, including its original Maya name. The word Ake comes from Yucatec Maya and translates as ‘place of reeds’.
What we do know is that Ake dates back to the Early Classic Period (roughly 250 – 550 AD), making it significantly older than the Yucatan Peninsula’s best known Maya ruins at nearby Chichen Itza.
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Beyond The Ordinary arrange fully bonded, tailor made holidays and tours to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Contact one of our experts on 01580 764796, email travel@beyondtheordinary.co.uk or contact us via our website. |
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From a visitor point of view, the most notable difference (apart from their size that is – Chichen Itza is multiple times larger) is in their construction.
As with most, older sites, the main building at Ake, aka Structure One, consists of large stones built up gradually while those at Chichen Itza are smaller and rise much more steeply.
The other, most notable feature of Ake are the remains of a sacbe, the name given to the network of roads that criss-crossed the Yucatan Peninsula. The remains of the sacbe that you see at Ake linked it with nearby Izamal.
While Ake can’t compete in scale or grandeur with the likes of Chichen Itza, Uxmal or Calakmul, its location makes it a convenient and quick detour on most Yucatan Peninsula itineraries while the lack of visitors is a further, welcome attribute. Don’t be surprised if you have the ruins to yourself!
It is also possible to combine two of the great highlights of a holiday to the Yucatan Peninsula (visiting Maya ruins and staying in a colonial hacienda hotel) by staying at Hacienda Ticum (pictured below) which borders Ake.
All Beyond The Ordinary holidays are entirely tailor made so, if you wish to visit one Maya site or ten, we can advise you on the most suitable itinerary and accommodation.
To discuss your plans and requirements, simply give us a call on 01580 764796 or, if you prefer, drop us an email on travel@beyondtheordinary.co.uk
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This 7 Night Mexico Tour is a small group, escorted tour, starting and finishing in Cancun / Riviera Maya and performing a clockwise loop of the Yucatan Peninsula. It includes the Mayan sites of Calakmul, Chichen Itza, Uxmal & Palenque, the colonial towns of Izamal, Merida & Campeche as well as n...
Starting and finishing in Cancun, this suggested 2 week long, self-drive itinerary takes in most, if not all, of the key highlights of the Yucatan Peninsula in an anti-clockwise loop of the region. At the end of the itinerary there is the option of extending your holiday at the beach.
14 nights Fly Drive
This 7 night private tour of the Yucatan Peninsula focuses on the region's Mayan heritage, both in terms of its world-famous ruins as well modern-day Mayan communities and way of life.
Despite its relative proximity to Cancun, being close to Chichen Itza means that Ek Balam receives very few visitors even though it is one of the Yucatan Peninsula’s most impressive Mayan sites.
Located around 45 minutes’ drive south-east of Campeche city, the Mayan ruins at Edzna are notable for their mixture of architectural styles, a result of its location relative to other, more powerful Mayan cities, namely Calakmul, Uxmal & Palenque.
A guide to the key Mayan archaeological sites & ruins of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula with links to further, more detailed information.
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