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Ek Balam

Yucatan  >  Mexico

Ek Balam is a Maya archaeological site. As most of the ancient Maya ruins on the Yucatan peninsula, it is a perfect place to combine culture and birding.

Geplaatst* door Santiago Rodriguez
Meest recente update 1 maart 2024

Beschrijving

Ek Balam is an interesting and fairly recently discovered archaeological site on the Yucatan peninsula. The ruins are surrounded by an extensive lowland jungle. This ancient Maya city may not be as famous as the Chichen Itza archaeological site (56 km northeast), but the Mayan ruins of Ek Balam attract far fewer tourists, are much quieter and the birding is better. Looking out over the forest from the top of the temples and walking the quiet outer trails of the site, the birding is relaxed and rewarding. Especially the trails behind the highest temple were rich in birds (marked with stars on the map).

Among the birds you can encounter are in Ek Ballam are Yellow-backed Oriole, Yellow-tailed Oriole, Green Jay, Yucatan Jay, Lesson's Motmot, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Yucatan Woodpecker, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Rose-throated Becard, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Summer Tanager, Tennessee Warbler and Indigo Bunting.

Details

Toegang

Ek Balam lies in the northern Maya lowlands, 25 kilometres north of Valladolid and 56 kilometres northeast of Chichen Itza. If you are driving down to Ek Balam signs are really clear and it is easy to get to it. Click on the P in the map for directions or coordinates to the parking lot. The ruins of Ek Balam and their approach road are bordered by good forest habitat and are well worth a look, especially early in the morning before most of the tourists arrive. The gates of the archaeological site open at 8.00. At the entrance road you first have to register. Then drive on 7 km to the parking and pay for parking (100 pesos in 2024) at the parking lot. And then buy tickets and pay a local tax (about 600 pesos in 2024) at the entrance gate. In the entrance building there are toilets and you can buy water and some small snacks.

Terrein en leefgebied

Bos , Verspreide bomen en struiken

Omstandigheden

Vlak , Open landschap

Rondlopende wandeling mogelijk?

Ja

Telescoop meenemen?

Nee

Wanneer hier vogels kijken?

Het hele jaar

Toptijd voor dit gebied

Lente , Winter

Route

Breed pad

Zwaarte wandeling

Gemakkelijk

Toegankelijk via

Te voet

Vogelkijkhut aanwezig?

Nee

Extra info

Photo Ek Balam by Pavel Vorobiev, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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Kaart

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Turquoise-browed Motmot
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(Eumomota superciliosa)
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Summer Tanager
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(Piranga rubra)
Yucatan Woodpecker
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(Melanerpes pygmaeus)
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