Ek Balam, also spelled Ek' Balam or Ek' B'alam, is an important archaeological site of the late classic Maya culture. Ek' B'alam means Black Jaguar or Star Jaguar in the Yucatec Maya language, but inscriptions indicate that the original name of the site was probably Talol. Rare and original stucco sculptures are protected by modern thatched roofs on the remains of the Acropolis. Such stucco sculptures generally do not survive because they are just plaster and weather rapidly. As Chichen Itza became more powerful, eclipsing Ek Balam, the Maya themselves buried the Acropolis at Ek Balam, preserving the stucco sculptures and many painted hieroglyphic inscriptions. This gives us an illustration of what many other Maya sites must once have looked like.
There is no museum on site. The small visitors' center charges for entry and has restrooms. Hotels and restaurants can be found in any nearby town, including Mérida and Valladolid. This site is becoming more popular with tourists, but is still (July 2007) much less visited than the much larger Chichen Itza.
An hour and a half is plenty of time to see the site, unless you are an archaeologist. Ek Balam can easily be combined with visits to other sites.
Climate
Hot, humid, often with blazing sun. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat.
Getting there
Ek Balam is easily reached from major highways in the state of Yucatan. It is close to Mérida, Valladolid, and Chichen Itzá. The usual blue and white tourist signs indicate the direction on the highway (these signs are few and far between, and as of July 2007, were accurate).
Eat
Best to find a good hotel or restaurant that shows its official Health License permit to the public view. Otherwise, the food quality and its processing hygiene, most likely will not meet the basic standards needed for a healthy outcome. Avoid eating in street or road stands, forget the plaza and street cards, those vendors have no place to wash their hands or food preparation tools and area! Salmonella and air-born bacteria are sure to make a traveler's journey not a fun experience.
Wash your hands and check the public bathroom of the place plan to eat; if the bathroom facilities are not to your standards, most likely the kitchen will be in similar or worst condition.
Therefore, think twice before you choose a low budget meal in the road, the health price tag is not worth the few dollars saved. Best to eat at top quality restaurants and even gourmet places, menu prices may be high for many tourists seeking low budget food bills; yet, the quality, hygiene, service and safety of a good restaurant is priceless, especially at the beginning of a trip or vacation.
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Ek Balam is in the state of Yucatan in Mexico.
Understand
Ek Balam, also spelled Ek' Balam or Ek' B'alam, is an important archaeological site of the late classic Maya culture. Ek' B'alam means Black Jaguar or Star Jaguar in the Yucatec Maya language, but inscriptions indicate that the original name of the site was probably Talol. Rare and original stucco sculptures are protected by modern thatched roofs on the remains of the Acropolis. Such stucco sculptures generally do not survive because they are just plaster and weather rapidly. As Chichen Itza became more powerful, eclipsing Ek Balam, the Maya themselves buried the Acropolis at Ek Balam, preserving the stucco sculptures and many painted hieroglyphic inscriptions. This gives us an illustration of what many other Maya sites must once have looked like.
There is no museum on site. The small visitors' center charges for entry and has restrooms. Hotels and restaurants can be found in any nearby town, including Mérida and Valladolid. This site is becoming more popular with tourists, but is still (July 2007) much less visited than the much larger Chichen Itza.
An hour and a half is plenty of time to see the site, unless you are an archaeologist. Ek Balam can easily be combined with visits to other sites.
Climate
Hot, humid, often with blazing sun. Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat.
Getting there
Ek Balam is easily reached from major highways in the state of Yucatan. It is close to Mérida, Valladolid, and Chichen Itzá. The usual blue and white tourist signs indicate the direction on the highway (these signs are few and far between, and as of July 2007, were accurate).
Eat
Best to find a good hotel or restaurant that shows its official Health License permit to the public view. Otherwise, the food quality and its processing hygiene, most likely will not meet the basic standards needed for a healthy outcome. Avoid eating in street or road stands, forget the plaza and street cards, those vendors have no place to wash their hands or food preparation tools and area! Salmonella and air-born bacteria are sure to make a traveler's journey not a fun experience.
Wash your hands and check the public bathroom of the place plan to eat; if the bathroom facilities are not to your standards, most likely the kitchen will be in similar or worst condition.
Therefore, think twice before you choose a low budget meal in the road, the health price tag is not worth the few dollars saved. Best to eat at top quality restaurants and even gourmet places, menu prices may be high for many tourists seeking low budget food bills; yet, the quality, hygiene, service and safety of a good restaurant is priceless, especially at the beginning of a trip or vacation.
Get out
Contact & location
Be the first one to add a review
The photos displayed on this page are the property of one of the following authors:
clr_flickr, Tristan Ferne, Casa Jonsson, lapin.lapin, Pollo de Pelos
Some photos courtesy of:
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This travel guide also includes text from Wikitravel articles, all available at
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Stefan Ertmann, B.C Lopez and Stacy Hall, JimmyD
This travel guide also includes text from Wikipedia articles, all available at
View full credits