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1000places > CHICHEN ITZA, MEXICO - To the southern area of the ruins, one of the most impressive structures is the Caracol, named for its curved inner stairway reminiscent of a snail (the Spanish word for snail is "carocol"). Also known as the Observatory, this tower was used for astronomy; its windows were aligned with the four cardinal directions and the position of the setting sun at the equinoxes.
1000places > CHICHEN ITZA, MEXICO - In one of the older sections of the site, a good example can be seen of how the Mayans built new temples and pyramids over older ones. Inside the collapsed wall can be seen the intact remnants of a previous structure.
1000places > CARACOL, BELIZE - Our group never met a Maya pyramid that it didn't want to climb.
1000places > CARACOL, BELIZE - On the side of a temple across the courtyard from the massive Caana structure is this original Maya wall with its intricate stone carving representing the face of a creature - perhaps a jaguar.
1000places > CARACOL, BELIZE - Archeologists are at work at Caracol, their huts much in evidence as we entered the site (although work had been suspended during the time we were there). The excavations are largely being conducted by Drs. Diane and Arlen Chase of the University of Central Florida.
1000places > CARACOL, BELIZE - We also saw something at Caracol we had never seen at another Maya site. Here was a ramp. Uncovered during restoration of the structure, the ramp was probably used to move stones up the structure. Similar ramps probably exist at most other Mayan pyramids but have been filled in during the final stages of construction.
1000places > CARACOL, BELIZE - We began our explorations in courtyard surrounded by four pyramids.
1000places > CARACOL, BELIZE - After exploring the centerpiece of the Caracol site - Caana - it was time to descend from the "Sky Palace" (which, one will note, our group accomplished in various manners).
1000places > CARACOL, BELIZE - It is hard to believe but this large temple is actually one of the three temples that was built at the top of an even larger, much more massive structure. Construction of the entire Caana, or "Sky Palace," structure was completed around AD 800. But within the next century, Maya construction at the site was to cease.
CHICHEN ITZA, MEXICO - To the southern area of the ruins, one of the most impressive structures is the Caracol, named for its curved inner stairway reminiscent of a snail (the Spanish word for snail is "carocol"). Also known as the Observatory, this tower was used for astronomy; its windows were aligned with the four cardinal directions and the position of the setting sun at the equinoxes.

1000places > CHICHEN ITZA, MEXICO - To the southern area of the ruins, one of the most impressive structures is the Caracol, named for its curved inner stairway reminiscent of a snail (the Spanish word for snail is "carocol"). Also known as the Observatory, this tower was used for astronomy; its windows were aligned with the four cardinal directions and the position of the setting sun at the equinoxes.
CHICHEN ITZA, MEXICO - To the southern area of the ruins, one of the most impressive structures is the Caracol, named for its curved inner stairway reminiscent of a snail (the Spanish word for snail is "carocol"). Also known as the Observatory, this tower was used for astronomy; its windows were aligned with the four cardinal directions and the position of the setting sun at the equinoxes.

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