|
 Balankanche is located
only 6 kilometers from
Chichen Itza, via federal highway 180 in the
State of Yucatan Mexico.
Balankanche
cave
should be visited for the beauty of its natural stone formations and
for its archaeological importance as a ceremonial site for the Maya.
A light and sound show that relates its history can be seen into the cave.
The first man of
modern times to see the treasure of Balankanche was a tour guide from
Chichen Itza. In 1959, while exploring the cave, Gomez discovered a
passageway leading deep into the caverns. It took him two hours to follow
out the path that eventually brought him face to face with the treasures
left by the ancient Maya 800
years ago.
 Dr. E. Wyllys
Andrews, leader of the National Geographic Society Expedition working nearby,
was immediately summoned to inspect the discovery. Arriving
into the cave, he
was astonished when he saw with the
beam of his headlamp hundreds of
glittering stalactites surrounding a huge stalagmite (resembling a ceiba
tree) which stretched from floor to ceiling in the center of the enormous
vault. Carefully placed around the base of this unusual geological formation,
said to be the "sacred tree inside the earth", were a great variety of
ceremonial objects, offering to the rain god Tlaloc and left undisturbed
through centuries of darkness.
 Years
after its
rediscovery, the cave of Balankanche
was opened to the public, who can now admire the artifacts exhibited in the
exact places in which
they were found.
Balankanche is
opened to the public all year round, Monday to Sunday from
9 to 17 hrs.
Guided tours and light sound shows are offered at the site museum, botanical
gardens, snack bar, rest areas and parking are also available.
.
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Yucatan State •
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Balankanche Cave
|
Caverns of Loltun
|
Celestun
Town
|
Chichen-Itza Archaeological
Site
| |
Dzibilchaltun Archaeological Site
|
Dzilam de Bravo
Town
|
Dzitya
Town
|
|
Ekbalam Archaeological Site
|
Izamal
City
|
Kabah Archaeological
Site
|
Kopoma Town
|
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Labna Archaeological Site
|
Mayapan Archaeological Site
|
Merida
۞ Capital City
|
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Oxkintok Archaeological Site
|
Poxila Town
|
Progreso
Town
|
Rio Lagartos
Town
|
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Santa Clara
Town
|
Sayil Archaeological Site
|
Tecoh Town
|
Telchac Puerto
Town
|
|
Tikul Town
|
Tizimin Town
|
Uxmal Archaeological
Site
|
Valladolid
City
|
Xcambo Town
|
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Xlapak Archaeological Site
|
The Paths of the Mayab
|
|
Home page of Yucatan
State in Tour By Mexico ®
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