Uxmal

Set in Mexico's rolling Puuc Hills, Uxmal (pronounced oosh-mahl) is a bit of a mystery. With no rivers or water sources in the area, archaeologists question why it is built in this particular spot, but now, when you see the grey stone stark against the fertile greenness of the surrounding nature, you’ll be so pleased they did! Built around 700 AD and largely abandoned by the 1200s, Uxmal is lauded for being the high point of Mayan architecture and art. Even though much of the site remains engulfed in vegetation, the unique shapes and ornate carvings of those that are explorable are wonderful.

A major feature of Uxmal is its cisterns, which collected and held water for the population; you’ll spot plenty of instances of Chaac, the rain god, throughout the architecture. The magnificent Piramide del Adivino (Magician’s Pyramid) towers above the rest of the site – more cylindrical in design than previous temples, it is particularly impressive. Make sure to also wander past the Palacio del Gobernador to admire its ornate facades.