Mexico confirms some Mayan ruin sites are unreachable because of gang violence and land conflicts

[Judi Lynn]

A view of the archaeological site Yaxchilan in Chiapas state, Saturday, July 9, 2022. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)

BY MARK STEVENSON
Updated 2:26 PM CST, January 27, 2024

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s government has acknowledged that at least two well-known Mayan ruin sites are unreachable by visitors because of a toxic mix of cartel violence and land disputes.

But two tourist guides in the southern state of Chiapas, near the border with Guatemala, say two other sites that the government claims are still open to visitors can only be reached by passing though drug gang checkpoints.

The explosion of drug cartel violence in Chiapas since last year has left the Yaxchilán ruin site completely cut off, the government conceded Friday.
The tour guides, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they must still work in the area, said that gunmen and checkpoints are often seen on the road to another site, Bonampak, famous for its murals.

They say that to get to yet another archaeological site, Lagartero, travelers are forced to hand over identification and cellphones at cartel checkpoints.

Meanwhile, officials concede that visitors also can’t go to the imposing, towering pyramids at Tonina, because a landowner has shut off across his land while seeking payment from the government for granting the right of way.

More:
https://apnews.com/article/mexico-mayan-ruin-sites-archaeology-violence-cartels-189c99280e011ceae1f5f50d14660854







Interesting site showing images of Yaxchilan in Chiapas in various stages of exploration, and worthwhile information:

Click:
https://www.themayanruinswebsite.com/yaxchilan.html

There are Youtube videos, mostly in Spanish. It takes 5 hours by bus, and then 40 minutes by boat on the river which separates Mexico from Guatemala to get there, so it still isn't heavily travelled currently. One of the buildings has many entrances, and is called the "Labyrinth," having hallways leading in all directions, some with intentional dead ends, and some, with passageways later blocked off with stones, and staircases leading up and down. Very interesting!