Located 60 mi/100 km south of Merida, Uxmal (pronounced OOSH-mal—"thrice built," in the Mayan language) is the largest site built in the Puuc style with long, gracious lines. The city started to flourish in the seventh century AD, and many changes were made over the following 300 years. The topography there is more hilly than at many other Yucatan Mayan sites, and Uxmal only receives a fraction of the visitors of Chichen Itza.
Be sure to visit the Pyramid of the Magician (according to Mayan legend, it was built overnight), the Nunnery quadrangle, the House of Turtles and the Governor's Palace (note the 20,000-plus stones carved to look like lace, guarded by a stone jaguar). Don't miss the sound-and-light show in the evening (check upon arrival for times). There are three hotels that are walking distance to the ruins and several more a short drive away.
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