Great Palace

The path from the parking and ticket area leads past several deeply decayed stele to the Great Palace, also called the Palacio Norte.

As the on-site plaque makes clear, the structure contains more than 90 rooms, and may have housed up to 350 people; the west side is better preserved than the east. Although the palace appears to be three stories, in fact each level is supported by a core of piled stone, as opposed to the story below it—just another example of how Maya architects were accomplished illusionists.

Visitors aren’t allowed to climb to the upper levels, but you can still appreciate the craftsmanship of the palace’s 2nd-floor frieze;. Most notable are curious “Diving Gods” over the doorways, their upturned legs easily discerned.

Tulum [1] and Cobá [2] have similar figures, which may represent the God of Maize (God E, to archaeologists). The corners have imposing Chac masks and decorative columns help unify the nearly 60-meter (197-foot) building.