If you’ve ever visited one the Mayan pyramids on a trip to Cancun or the Mayan Riviera, the structure’s complex construction and simple beauty surely caught your imagination.
But when you learn the history and significance of the pyramids, as well as the facts surrounding their construction some 9,000 years ago, casual interest turns to wonder.
And not all Mayan pyramids are constructed alike. The ancient Mayans built two types of pyramids: some to use for sacrificial rituals and some intended to remain untouched.
In yesteryear, almost all of these pyramids were open to the public, and anyone who wished to attempt a climb was free to do so. Today, restrictions often forbid this. While that may disappoint visitors, it’s easy to see how climbing can be destructive to the ruins and dangerous to tourists. And there is still a lot of terrain to cover to experience the ruins of a Mayan city.