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However, it is particularly unique because to reach it, you will need to travel through the jungle by boat. The Mayan ruin site of Lamanai is quite a bit younger than many of the others on this list, built in the 16 th century. Going back north to Central America, Belize makes for a neat country to visit on many accounts, including the ancient ruin sites that you will find here.
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However, a great option is to combine a trip to Kuelap with a visit to Chan Chan, since there are overnight buses serving Chachapoyas from Trujillo. While you can fly most of the way through Chiclayo or Tarapoto, it will still be a few more hours by bus. The site is located close to the town of Chachapoyas in the Amazon region of Peru. Unfortunately, it is quite a challenge to get to Kuelap. Visitors can marvel at the round conical structures, as well as the spectacular views over the Utcubamba Valley. The site is not as intricate as some others, but nevertheless very well preserved. One of the oldest structures on this list, it was built by the Chachapoyas people in the 6 th century. I promise that Machu Picchu is on this list, but I couldn’t leave out Kuelap – the less heard of ancient ruin site in Peru. Please exercise caution when travelling in Honduras, as the country faces important security issues. To get to Copan, there are local flights within Honduras and also buses from, El Salvador and Guatemala.
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Once again, this ancient ruin site won’t be overrun by crowds, so it’s a great option a little more off the beaten path. It is also surprisingly well preserved, with many intricate details of the architecture still visible. Copan was actually one of the capitals, believed to thrive between 5 th and 9 th centuries. Most of Central America and Mexico was at one point or another dominated by the Mayas, with Guatemala and Honduras featuring some of the most important archaeological sites today. It requires a 2-to 4-day strenuous hike through mud and tropical heat.įinally, we get to the Maya’s, which will of course dominate this list. A visit to the Ciudad Perdida is not for everyone though. It is believed to be built by the Tairona people, around the same period as the Chan Chan – in the 9 th century. Located on the Northern Caribbean coast, the ancient indigenous city is both fascinating on its own, and also makes for a really great hike. However, Ciudad Perdida or the Lost City should definitely be on your radar. There are definitely some striking destinations around the country, but ruins don’t typically make the list.
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Plus, you’ll get great photo ops thanks to smaller crowds of tourists.Ĭolombia has surprisingly few places that could be named ancient ruin sites. While popular with tourists, it’s definitely less famous than Machu Picchu and can make for a really great weekend getaway from Peru’s capital. The site is located near Trujillo, about 10 hours north of Lima. But Chan Chan belonged to the Chimú civilization and was built in the 9 th century. Many have visited traditional Maya ruins, with pyramid-shaped structures located in vast jungles (more on these later). With a striking sand-like look, the Chan Chan ancient ruin site is quite unique.