Ek' Balam

Ek' Balam is an archaeological site in Temozón, Mexico, that spreads across several fortified levels with religious and administrative buildings. The El Torre pyramid rises in the center of the complex and is surrounded by smaller platforms, ceremonial plazas, and residential areas.

The settlement began around 300 BCE and grew over several centuries into a regional center of power. It reached its peak in the eighth century, when it controlled large parts of eastern Yucatan, before being abandoned around 1200.

The name means black jaguar in the Maya language and reflects the importance of this animal in local cosmology. Visitors today can admire detailed stucco figures on the facades that show deities and rulers in remarkably preserved states.

The site lies about 30 kilometers north of Valladolid and can be reached by a well-maintained road. On-site facilities include parking, restrooms, and the option to hire a guide to better understand the complex details.

An inner chamber of the Acropolis displays a wall painting with 96 glyphs that documents historical events in unusually detailed script. These inscriptions offer rare insights into the political chronicle of the region and count among the most informative preserved texts of Maya culture.