"All was mystery, dark, impenetrable mystery, and every circumstance increased it," wrote 19th century Maya explorer John Lloyd Stephens.

Today, more than 160 years after Stephens' journeys and 1500 years after the Maya reached their cultural zenith, archaeologists have barely scratched the surface of their ancient world. But the Maya are hardly a vanished people. More than 4 million still live in an area about half the size of Texas. This is our photo journal as we followed the footsteps of the Maya and discovered that there is still mystery and splendor...in an ancient civilization and in its descendants.

"All was mystery, dark, impenetrable mystery, and every circumstance increased it," wrote 19th century Maya explorer John Lloyd Stephens.

Today, more than 160 years after Stephens' journeys and 1500 years after the Maya reached their cultural zenith, archaeologists have barely scratched the surface of their ancient world. But the Maya are hardly a vanished people. More than 4 million still live in an area about half the size of Texas. This is our photo journal as we followed the footsteps of the Maya and discovered that there is still mystery and splendor...in an ancient civilization and in its descendants.