Travel Guide Oxkintok

Oxkintok, whose name means "three sharp suns" in the Mayan language, was one of the main cities of the Puuc region in its time. This city was inhabited for a very long period, from 300 BC to 1200 AD. Its importance and prosperity are probably linked to the fact that it occupied a strategic position in the trade routes that linked the peninsula to the Gulf of Mexico and the Altiplano region. The site was already known in the 17th century, but it was not until 1992 that exploration and excavation work began in earnest, under the direction of the Spanish Archaeological Mission. Oxkintok is composed of three major architectural ensembles - the Grupo Dzib, the Grupo May, the Grupo Ah Canul - which, in pre-Columbian times, were connected to each other by the famous sacred paths called sacbe. Most of the constructions are, of course, built in the Puuc style characteristic of the region Oxkintok is one of the least frequented sites on the Puuc road. It is certainly not the most impressive archaeological area in the region, but being practically alone in front of the imposing Mayan pyramids is a unique privilege, which can make the visit unforgettable