Mayan and other pre-Columbian artifacts, Museum of Anthropology and History, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Stone carving of Pacal the Great, Palenque ruler from 615 AD to 683 AD, Palace, Palenque Archaeological Zone, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chiapas, Mexico, North America

Palace tablet with hieroglyphs, Archaeological Museum of Palenque, Palenque Archaeological Zone, Chiapas, Mexico, North America

Stucco motif of Pakal the Great, king of Palenque, Archaeological Museum of Palenque, Palenque Archaeological Zone, Chiapas, Mexico, North America

Mayan artefacts, Museo Nacional de Antropologia (Anthropology Museum), District Federal, Mexico City, Mexico, North America

Archaeologists at work Mayan ruins, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Stela N and Temple of Inscriptions, Mayan site, Copan, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Honduras, Central America

Tourists climbing El Castillo, pyramid dedicated to the god Kukulcan, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Stucco motif of a slave, Archaeological Museum of Palenque, Palenque Archaeological Zone, Chiapas, Mexico, North America

Workers maintaining stonework at The Nunnery (Edificio de las Monjas), Mayan ruins, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Archaeologists at work, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

North Acropolis, Tikal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Guatemala, Central America

Temple 2 from the front, Mayan site, Tikal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Guatemala, Central America

Detail of Stela II, Bonampak, Chiapas province, Mexico, North America

Mayan observatory (El Caracol) and the Great Pyramid (El Castillo) beyond, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Close-up of Stele E, Mayan ruins, Quirigua, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Guatemala, Central America

Mask of the Red Queen from the tomb found in Temple XIII, Archaeological Museum of Palenque, Palenque Archaeological Zone, Chiapas, Mexico, North America

Surveyor at work, Temple of Panels (Templo de los Tableros Esculpidos), Mayan ruins, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Nunnery Quadrangle, Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

El Castillo, pyramid dedicated to the god Kukulcan, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Workers maintaining stonework Eagles and Jaguars platform, Mayan ruins, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Stone Glyphs in front of the Palace of Masks, Kabah Archaeological Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Pyramid at Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mexico, North America

El Caracol, Mayan observatory, where windwos align with certain stars, Chichen-Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Puuc Mayan site of Kabah, the Codz Poop (Palace of Masks), Kabah, near Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Tourists climbing El Castillo, pyramid dedicated to the god Kukulcan, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Stucco motifs of Mayan nobles, Palace, Palenque Archaeological Zone, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chiapas, Mexico, North America

Atlantes figure, Palace of Masks, Kabah Archaelological Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Line of people waiting to enter, at Chichen Itza, Mayan ruins, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Magicians Pyramid at the Mayan site of Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Nunnery Quadrangle at the Mayan site of Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Temple of Masonry Altars, Altun Ha, Belize, Central America

El Castillo, pyramid dedicated to the god Kukulcan, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Mayapan, former Mayan capital after fall of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

The Palace, Kabah Archaeological Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Puuc Mayan site of Kabah, the Codz Poop (Palace of Masks), Kabah, near Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Tourists climbing El Castillo, pyramid dedicated to the god Kukulcan, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Nunnery Quadrangle at the Mayan site of Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Atlantes figures, Palace of Masks, Kabah Archaelological Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Temple I, Tikal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Peten, Guatemala, Central America

The group of a thousand columns Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Carvings of skulls on the Tzompantli, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Palace in low hanging fog, Palenque Archaeological Zone, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chiapas, Mexico, North America

Building near the Magician's Pyramid, Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

The Arch, Kabah Archaeological Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Ball court, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

El Castillo at the Mayan site of Tulum, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Mayan ruins, Quirigua, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Guatemala, Central America

Mayapan, former Mayan capital after fall of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Stone Glyphs in front of the Palace of Masks, Kabah Archaeological Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Tourists visiting the Mayan ruins of Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, North America

Beach with palm tree and kayak, Punta Soliman, Mayan Riviera, Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, North America

Frieze on eastern facade, Xunantunich, Belize, Central America

Detail, Structure 9N-82, Copan, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Honduras, Central America

Puuc Mayan site of Kabah, the Codz Poop (Palace of Masks), Kabah, near Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Throne of the Jaguar and Governor's Palace at Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Mask 4m high, Structure P9-56, Lamanai, Belize, Central America

Governors Palace at Mayan site, Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Mayapan, former Mayan capital after fall of Chichen Itza, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

The Nunnery Quadrangle with the Pyramid of the Magician in the background, Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Mayan ruins of Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

The Palace, Puuc Mayan site of Sayil near Uxmal, Sayil, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Stela 1, dating from 741AD, with sides cut by looters, Aguateca, Peten, Guatemala, Central America

Pre-Columbian statue, Museum of Anthropology and History, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Pyramid of the Magician, Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Temple of the Inscriptions and the Palace, Palenque, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chiapas province, Mexico, North America

Structure 1, Cahal Pech, Belize, Central America

Magician's Pyramid, Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Codz Poop (Palace of Masks), Puuc Mayan site, Kabah, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Beach with palm trees and kayaks, Punta Soliman, Mayan Riviera, Yucatan peninsula, Mexico, North America

Tourists on the beach, Playa del Carmen, Mayan Riviera, Mexico, North America

Lamanai, Belize, Central America

Detail, ball court, Mayan site, Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Puuc Mayan site of Kabah, the Palace Group (East Group), Kabah, near Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Mayan woman, near Benque Viejo del Carmen, Belize, Central America

Codz Poop (Palace of Masks), Puuc Mayan site, Kabah, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Mayan archaeological site, Tulum, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Mayan man, Hellgate, Toledo District, Belize, Central America

Nunnery Quadrangle at the Mayan site of Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Old Maya ruins, Punta Sur Park, Isla de Cozumel (Cozumel Island), Cozumel, off the Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Mexico, North America

Kukulkan (El Castillo) from Temple of the Warriors, Maya Toltec site, Chichen-Itza, UNESCO World Hertiage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Maya lintel from Yaxchilan in Mexico dating from between 600 and 900 AD, British Museum, Bloomsbury, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Mayan women selling curios, San Pedro Columbia, Belize, Central America

Maya lintel from Yaxchilan in Mexico dating from between 600 and 900 AD, British Museum, Bloomsbury, London, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Woman in traditional dress, Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala, Central America

Pyramid of the Magicians, Uxmal Mayan ruins, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mexico, North America

Beach and Mayan temple, Tulum, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Mayan girl, Cancun, Yucatan, Mexico

View across the Tierras Bajas rainforest from the top of the Calakmul Mayan ruins, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Campeche state, southern Mexico, North America

Mayan temple on the coast, Tulum, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Mayan Indian dancer, Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico, North America

El Castillo, Chichen Itza, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Ladies in Mayan costume outside a souvenir store, Cancun, Yucatan, Mexico, North America

Mayan Indian dancer, Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico, North America

Ocean waves on beach

Mexican aztec dress gods at Grand Palladium White Sand Resort and Spa in Riviera Maya, Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo, Caribbean Coast, Mexico. Aztec clothing was generally loose fitting and did not completely cover the body. When the Spanish arrived in Mexico, the people were surprised to see them in their full armour, with only their faces exposed. Aztec clothes were generally made of cotton (which was imported) or ayate fiber, made from the Maguey Cactus (also called the Century Plant or American Aloe). Women would weave the fibers into clothing, a task girls were taught as young teenagers. Because of their vast trading network, the Aztecs were able to make use of a beautiful array of dyes, creating the brilliant

Aerial view of Punta Allen Sian Ka'an Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Red lagoon near Boca Paila Bridge. In the language of the Mayan peoples who once inhabited this region, Sian Ka'an means Origin of the Sky. Located on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula, this biosphere reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef. It provides a habitat for a remarkably rich flora and a fauna comprising more than 300 species of birds, as well as a large number of the region's characteristic terrestrial vertebrates, which cohabit in the diverse environment formed by its complex hydrological system. Along its roughly 120 kilometres of coastline, the property covers over 400,000 hectares of land ranging from sea level to only ten m.a.s.l. The property boasts diverse tropical forests, palm savannah, one of the most pristine wetlands in the region, lagoons, extensive mangrove stands, as well as sandy beaches and dunes. The 120,000 hectares of marine area protect a valuable part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and seagrass beds in the shallow bays. The lush green of the forests and the many shades of blue of the lagoons and the Caribbean Sea under a wide sky offer fascinating visual impressions.

Estructura 8I-13 El Castillo at Chunyaxche Muyil Maya ruins, rainforest near Tulum, Yucatan Peninsula, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Aerial view of Punta Allen Sian Ka'an Reserve, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Red lagoon near Boca Paila Bridge. In the language of the Mayan peoples who once inhabited this region, Sian Ka'an means Origin of the Sky. Located on the east coast of the Yucatán peninsula, this biosphere reserve contains tropical forests, mangroves and marshes, as well as a large marine section intersected by a barrier reef. It provides a habitat for a remarkably rich flora and a fauna comprising more than 300 species of birds, as well as a large number of the region's characteristic terrestrial vertebrates, which cohabit in the diverse environment formed by its complex hydrological system. Along its roughly 120 kilometres of coastline, the property covers over 400,000 hectares of land ranging from sea level to only ten m.a.s.l. The property boasts diverse tropical forests, palm savannah, one of the most pristine wetlands in the region, lagoons, extensive mangrove stands, as well as sandy beaches and dunes. The 120,000 hectares of marine area protect a valuable part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and seagrass beds in the shallow bays. The lush green of the forests and the many shades of blue of the lagoons and the Caribbean Sea under a wide sky offer fascinating visual impressions.