mirador

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a Maya king and standing atop a colossal pyramid? You might be thinking about Tikal or some of the other well-known Maya sites, but today, we’ll be standing on the site that has the largest pyramid built in the entire Maya world. This is El Mirador, the lookout, or the viewpoint – the name is itself a clue about what you’ll experience here. El Mirador was a sprawling ancient Maya city that existed from 600 BC to 100 AD. At its height, it was a major center of power and influence in the region. El Mirador was a remarkable achievement of ancient Maya architecture and engineering. The city’s most impressive feature is La Danta. The structure is so huge that some archaeologists believe it was a small city unto itself, with a volume larger than the Great Pyramid of Giza. The pyramid was built in a distinctive triadic style which involves three parts connected by a square plaza. The top of La Danta is 72 meters high. You can now climb the pyramid to take in the sights. Just imagine the crowds of ancient Maya people marching up the steps for religious ceremonies or to visit their leader. Look out in every direction, and you’ll see the lush rainforest that once stretched far beyond the sight of the city. Today the rainforest is being reclaimed by nature and we’re only just beginning to understand the full extent of the ancient Maya cities that lie hidden beneath. El Mirador also had a sophisticated system of causeways, called sacbeob, linking it with other cities in the region. The city’s walls and the large, carved stucco masks that decorated its buildings reveal the story of the fascinating culture that thrived here. El Mirador is a captivating place. While you’re standing here today, you can understand why the ancient Maya people named El Mirador the lookout.