Your Maya Travel Photos -- National Geographic

Palenque, Mexico
Photograph by Erik Guzowski, My Shot
Palenque is an ancient old Maya city in the Mexican state of Chiapas. Framed here by banana leaves, this structure is from the ceremonial part of the village. The Maya mostly left the city when the Spanish conquered Mexico in the 1500s. The large buildings in the city were built around 600 A.D.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Cascades El Chiflón, Mexico
Photograph by Roberto Hall Capek, My Shot
Cascadas El Chiflón, Chiapas, Mexico
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San Cristóbal de las Casas
Photograph by Roberto Hall Capek, My Shot
Cathedral of San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico; sunset on the equinox of March 2006
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Copán, Honduras
Photograph by Erick Andrade, My Shot
Playing with shadows and colors in Copán
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Tulum, Mexico
Photograph by Ken Ilio, My Shot
The beach in Tulum, Mexico, on the east side of the Tulum Maya ruins
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Sunrise, Yucatán
Photograph by Laura Pasos, My Shot
This is a morning shot of the equinox at the Dzibilchaltún archaelogical site in Mérida, Yucatán. We had a clear-sky morning and people gathered up together to feel the energy of the sun at the ancient Maya site.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Chichén Itzá, Mexico
Photograph by Julia Totino, My Shot
While backpacking in the Yucatán and Chiapas this March, I was one of thousands who happened to be at Chichén Itzá for the spring equinox. It was weird to be at a site that in its time would have had as many people gathered, except that now instead of watching sacrificial victims get their hearts ripped out, we were all looking at a shadow.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Ek Balam, Mexico
Photograph by Zdenka Kavanova, My Shot
I took this shot as I was descending 50 feet (15 meters) to a magical cenote near Ek Balam, Mexico. This secret sinkhole in a Yucatán jungle was revealed to us by two locals who wanted to impress us. As all enjoyed cool waters and the unexpected surprise, one man of Maya origin looked up, and I nailed the shot.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Chiapa de Corzo, Mexico
Photograph by Heriberto Salmas, My Shot
El baile de los parachicos is a traditional dance in Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, Mexico. It is considered by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. The traditional Great Feast takes place from January 4 to 23. The celebration is in honor of three Catholic saints: Saint Anthony Abbot, Our Lord of Esquipulas, and Saint Sebastian. In this picture, the parachico is waiting until his saint passes beside him.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Macaw, Honduras
Photograph by Pete Haskell, My Shot
While visiting the Maya ruins of Copán in Honduras, I spotted a macaw in the trees. As I lifted my camera it took flight and I managed to take two shots. One was terrible, this was the other.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Templo del Conde, Mexico
Photograph by Cengiz Aydemir, My Shot
Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico
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Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Photograph by David Orme, My Shot
Although a Guatemalan newspaper sounded the alarm over the toxicity of the blue-green algae bloom in Lake Atitlán, life for the most part continues as usual for locals who populate the shores. Mayan is the first language for most of the lake's inhabitants, and many pursue a way of life whose traditions can be traced back hundreds of years. This fisherman in his traditional cayuco sorts through reeds he gathered to find worms for bait.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
El Progreso, Guatemala
Photograph by Saskia Bunge, My Shot
Churches, cathedrals, and chapels are everywhere in Guatemala. This particular church in El Progreso can be seen from the heavily transited road to the Atlantic. I've often wanted to stop and photograph it but held back until this perfectly illuminated afternoon.
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Mérida, Yucatán
Photograph by Jennifer Williams, My Shot
City of Mérida, Mexico
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Yucatán, Mexico
Photograph by Adrian Per, My Shot
In Mérida, Mexico, in the Yucatán Peninsula, I shot some photos of a cultural show in the central square.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Quintana Roo, Mexico
Photograph by Derek Van Oss, My Shot
Catacombs in Solidaridad
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San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala
Photograph by Byron Maldonado, My Shot
My shot was taken in San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala. Maximón is a Maya god. A family is selected by the local community to take care of him for a few years.
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Chiapas, Mexico
Photograph by Margarita Zago, My Shot
A woman of San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, is offering her colorful handicrafts. This whole place has plenty of brilliant colors.
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Tikal, Guatemala
Photograph by Kim Larson, My Shot
This is the temple of Ah Cacao (King Chocolate) in Tikal, Guatemala. He was a Maya ruler. Notice the scaraficial stones in the photo.
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Copán, Honduras
Photograph by John Wessels, My Shot
The historical Altar Q at Copán showing the aged previous king passing his authority on to his son
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Coba, Mexico
Photograph by Gina Lantos, My Shot
Maya pyramid (or, more technically, temple) at Coba, Mexico. One of the few pyramids the public is still allowed to climb. I must say, when I was halfway up, I started to think it was a very bad idea. When I got to the top, however, the incredible view of an ocean of jungle convinced me it was worth the climb.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Yucatán, Mexico
Photograph by Anuar Patjane, My Shot
Sinkhole, Dzitnup, Mexico. For the ancient Maya people, these natural features were sacred places and doors to the underworld. These days, because of the potential for tourism, Maya descendants are making efforts to preseve and protect these places.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Lake Atitlán, Guatemala
Photograph by Jon Wilbrecht, My Shot
Dawn at a Maya landing on Lake Atitlán, Guatemala. The Highland Maya men are unloading avocados from local farms. The small boats in the foreground are used for fishing and are of a very old design. We mistakenly arrived at this landing. The quiet and mist gave it an otherworldly feeling.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
San Juan Chamula, Mexico
Photograph by Luis Fernando Medina Salazar, My Shot
Chiapas
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Chichicastenango, Guatemala
Photograph by Antonio Busiello, My Shot
Maya women cooking for lunchtime at Chichicastenango market. Chichicastenango is a town that hosts an ancient Maya market. The town is located in the Guatemalan mountains, 20 miles north of Atitlán Lake, at an altitude of 6,440 feet. Twice a week, Maya people from all over the region travel for miles the day before the market to set up their booths and to prepare for the next day, hoping to sell their merchandise. The town is empty during the rest of the week, but on market day it comes alive.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Tikal, Guatemala
Photograph by Jessica Burke, My Shot
Maya ruins at Tikal on a beautiful day
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Uxmal, Mexico
Photograph by Serina Chea, My Shot
Maya ruins, Uxmal
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Uxmal, Mexico
Photograph by Serina Chea, My Shot
Maya ruins
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Maya Voladores
Photograph by Roupen Baker, My Shot
Maya Voladores begin their headfirst, rotating, descending flight in Tulum, Mexico.
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Maya Market, Guatemala
Photograph by Adam Brill, My Shot
Chichicastenango is an ancient market town in Guatemala. The Maya had a market here for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. This image shows a stall that is selling colorful hand-carved masks.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Palenque, Mexico
Photograph by Carlos Oropeza Herrero, My Shot
Picture taken at the Maya ruins in Palenque, Mexico
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Chichén Itzá, Mexico
Photograph by Ernesto Salvador, My Shot
Just about to rain in Chichén Itzá
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Xunantunich, Belize
Photograph by Greg Matty, My Shot
Near the town of San Ignacio lies one of Belize's many Maya cities, Xunantunich. Behind the temple are miles of jungle that stretch into Guatemala. Today Belize is home to around 250,000 people. During the peak of their civilization, over a million Maya occupied Belize.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Photograph by Ryan DeSpain, My Shot
Cave diving in the Nohoch Nah Chich part of Sistema Sac Actun along the Riviera Maya, Mexico
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Caracol Archaeological Park, Belize
Photograph by Raymond Tzul, My Shot
One of the tallest Maya structures in the Caracol Archaelogical Park in western Belize
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Maya Ruins, Yaxchilán
Photograph by Henry Throop, My Shot
The Maya ruins of Yaxchilán are accessible only by boat on the Usumacinta River, on the border between Mexico and Guatemala. Early in the morning, we were the only visitors there as the ruins began to shed their fog.
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)
Tulum, Mexico
Photograph by John Wessels, My Shot
The primary temple at the postclassical Maya site of Tulum in Quintana Roo on the southeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
(This photo and caption were submitted to My Shot.)