You won't hear this very often about an archaeological site, but Yaxchilán, located on the banks of the Usumacinta river on the border between Mexico and Guatemala, is one of the loveliest archaeological sites.

Temple of the Mazes at Yaxchilan. Photo by Joe Quick

Founded during the classic Maya period in the 5th century AD, Yaxchilán is only accessible by boat and hidden in a thick jungle. The traveler enters Yaxchilan through a series of tunnels and arrives in a garden-like area with over 130 stone monuments to explore. Carved lintels showing royal Maya life, friezes and niches and strange and amazing labyrinthine architecture makes Yaxchilan truly a gem of a site for visitors.

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