Mexico's Last Great Unspoiled Treasure: The Colossal Hidden City of Calakmul | Top Places of Mexico

🌟 Embark on a journey to one of Mexico's best-kept secrets - Calakmul. This colossal hidden city, lost in the dense jungle, is a rare treasure waiting to be explored. Join me as I delve into the heart of Mexico's last great unspoiled gem in our latest episode from the Jewels of the Yucatan season one.
🗺️ Ever wondered how to navigate the remote and mysterious ruins of Calakmul? We've got you covered! In this video, I'll guide you through the less-traveled paths to this ancient Mayan city, revealing not just the route to get there (which ain't easy) but the captivating history behind these majestic ruins.
🏞️ Venture with me to the top of towering pyramids, where the views are breathtaking and the crowds are scarce. Imagine standing amidst the remnants of a once-thriving civilization, with nothing but the sounds of the jungle and the vast expanse of history around you. This is Calakmul - a place where you can truly connect with the past.
🌳 Along the way, I'll share fascinating stories of Calakmul's rise and fall, the intricate architecture, and the unique flora and fauna that make this site a must-visit for history buffs and nature enthusiasts alike.
👉 Ready to uncover the secrets of the colossal hidden city of Calakmul? Press play, and let's start exploring together. Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more hidden treasures and adventures across Mexico.
#Calakmul #HiddenCity #MexicoTreasure #MayanRuins #TopPlacesMexico #AdventureTravel #HistoryExplorers #naturelovers
--------------------------------------------------
*Social Media*
IG: @TobyNomad
Instagram: / tobynomad
-----------------------------------------------
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:48 Rental Car Journey from Xpuhil - How much?
04:11 Arriving at the Entrance Deep in the Jungle
05:51 After a hike, the first sight of ruins
06:22 My guide was the janitor
07:26 Calakmul Facts
08:40 Standing Alone at an ancient pyramid
10:35 Getting to the biggest Mayan Pyramid
11:09 Climbing the Biggest Pyramid
12:30 I finally get to the top
13:34 I got the TOP of the pyramid to MYSELF!
15:13 Shirt off on top of pyramid because - Why not?
15:26 The descent down the pyramid
16:41 Some cool things about Calakmul
17:09 Out of Breath Getting to Top of Second Huge Pyramid
18:41 Meditation on top of Pyramid
19:10 The Way Out as the sun sets
20:12 Is it worth it???

[@antuliolopez3222]

Best video of any and all of the great archaeological sites in Mexico, ....visited Palenque, Uxmal, Ek Balam, and Chichen Itza in February. Will be visiting Calakmul in January 2025...for at least 3 days. Thank you Toby for this great video...btw you are very very good at this😎😎

[@TobyNomad]

Wow thanks! So glad you liked it. What an adventure you have coming up! I wanna see pictures ;)

[@laflor8720]

Beautiful place in mexico 🇲🇽🇲🇽👋👋👋

[@TobyNomad]

Thank you!! It’s definitely one of my favorite countries in the world, have you been to Calakmul?

[@williamwoods2547]

Interesting and enjoyable video. I've seen one other recent video on Calakmul. Their experience was similar to your's. Different people find different things of interest or have different lighting/weather conditions, so watching more than one video provides a fuller sense of the site. I was in the area in 1974, but could not find so much as a hand-painted sign along the road between Chetumal and Francisco Escarcega pointing out a trail to a ruin. Not much would have been restored at that date anyway, but I still wanted to see what was there. I did get to climb El Castillo in Chichen Itza, as well as see some chambers inside the pyramid, climb atop the Temple of the Warriors and El Caracol observatory, and a little temple at the end of the large ball court (the ball court has amazing acoustics- two people standing atop the structures at either end of the ball court and facing the walls rather than each other can talk in a normal voice and hear each other perfectly). Admission was about $3 pesos. The nearby Grutas de Balankanche were open (closed when some people I know recently tried to visit). I was able to climb the Pyramid of the Magician at Uxmal, as well as explore all of the other buildings there. Same at Tulum, although there were only a few restored buildings and lots of weeds and bushes between the restored ruins. There was a tiny Mayan village a couple of kms from the ruins where a woman cooked tortillas, rice, beans, eggs and fish for the few hippies who camped out near the ruins at Tulum. Someone had built a palapa near the ruins and charged $25 pesos per night to rent a hammock, or $5 pesos per day to park if one was camping. Nothing else near the ruins. Not much restored in Dzibilchaltun, but I did swim in the cenote there. In Valladolid Cenote Zaci cost $1 peso. At Kabah there were three, maybe four restored buildings, plus the great arch, but one could go inside the buildings. The "road" to Sayil was (maybe) an eight feet wide muddy track through the jungle. My car got stuck part way there and I spent 30 minutes cutting brush and getting it under my car wheels so I could get out, and another 30 minutes cutting enough brush to make a parking spot off of the trail in case someone with 4 Wheel drive was following me. All of the ruins in the Yucatan have many more restored buildings than when I was there in 1974. On the other hand admission was almost free, and at the smaller sites there sometimes wasn't anyone around to sell a ticket. At Palenque it was still possible to climb the temple of the Inscriptions, and descend down to see the tomb of Pakal. In fact it was possible to climb up and explore the interior of all of the temples, and explore inside the Palace. At Teotihuacan one could climb the Temple of the Moon (In 1967 I stood atop the pyramid in a light rain, not another person in sight) and the Pyramid of the Sun (in 1974 enterprising children had hauled coolers full of cold soft drinks to the top and sold them at a hefty profit to parched tourists). I'd love to be young enough and healthy enough to see all of the new ruins, but I accept that won't happen. I can watch videos made by people who like to explore and share. All of my trips were long, two to five months, so I could take my time and never have to keep to a schedule. To me a one or two week vacation is hardly worth the effort. In 1974 I drove 17,000 miles, and saw places that were miles from a paved road (or any road for that matter) and more than one Mexican exclaimed, upon seeing me, that it had been at least five years since the last gringo had visited the village/settlement etc. Well, that is what things were like 50 or more years ago. Thanks for the fine video. Happy explorations.

[@TobyNomad]

I want to read this in more detail when I have time but can I just tell you from what I read so far you totally made my day????

[@58Malt]

Do feel free to read any of the regional guide books that talk about the "secret" Calakmul site. You'll find that a great selection of the fabulous finds such as jade masks are available to view in the fuerte de san Miguel museum in Campeche. Was the last 20Km of the drive single lane on elevated track as it was a month ago? Was your rental car insured?

[@TobyNomad]

Thanks! Yeah I am a lover of guidebooks actually, the problem these days is that they are often out of date quickly, especially with all of the post Covid shifts. I’d love to see the museum in Campeche. I’d also love to see the museum at Calakmul that has some of the important finds from there but last I have heard it remains closed. The drive was as pictured. I’m not aware of any changes since then but could be. Rental car was insured by my credit card company, my car insurance company in the US and through the vehicle owner.

[@chelseafranco5961]

Nice video and nice voice! lol

[@TobyNomad]

Thanks haha! I had an amazing time there. I feel like the video barely sums it up :)

[@user-nh8ky9ie7t]

Is there a hotel right around Calakmul ? Thanks!

[@TobyNomad]

Not really. That was the hardest part of the trip the lack of accommodation choices nearby. But that’s also what keeps it so sparse.