© Shutterstock

Chichen Itza, Mexico - The ruins of Chichen Itza, located in Yucatán state, include the incredibly well-preserved Temple of Kukulkan (pictured).

© iStock

Chichen Itza, Mexico - Once a large and populous city, Chichen Itza today is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico.

© iStock

Tulum, Mexico - Arguably the most picturesque of Maya monuments, the ruins of this former walled city are situated along sea cliffs.

© iStock

Tulum, Mexico - The archaeological site is located on the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, in Quintana Roo state.

© iStock

Tulum, Mexico -

This was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya. Highlights include the Temple of the Frescoes and the Castillo.

© Getty Images

Palenque, Mexico - Blessed with some of the finest architecture, sculpture, and carvings that the Maya produced, Palenque deserves to be explored at leisure.

© iStock

Palenque, Mexico - The site, located in Chiapas state, is of great interest to historians because of the many beautiful hieroglyphic inscriptions on the monuments. The Temple of the Inscriptions (pictured) is a spectacular example.

© iStock

Palenque, Mexico - K'inich Kan B'alam II (pictured) was one of the many rulers of Palenque.

© Public Domain

Uxmal, Mexico - Among the most important archaeological sites of Maya culture, Uxmal impresses with its sheer size and highly-ornate stone carvings.

© iStock

Uxmal, Mexico - The site, located in the Yucatán state, is noted for the enormous Pyramid of the Magician (pictured), the tallest structure at Uxmal.

© iStock

Uxmal, Mexico - Another colossal must-see is the Governor's Palace. Uxmal's treasures have all been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

© Shutterstock

Becan, Mexico - You'll need to travel inland to the center of the Yucatán Peninsula and Campeche state to admire this remote archaeological site.

© iStock

Becan, Mexico - The ruins date back to around 550 BCE and are conspicuous for the unusual ditch and ramparts that run the circumference of the city.

© Shutterstock

Caracol, Belize -

Caracol was a huge place, spread over 200 sq km (77 sq miles). Its vestiges lie in the foothills of the Maya Mountains.

© Getty Images

Caracol, Belize - Once an important regional political center, this site in the Cayo District of Belize remained hidden until 1937.

© Shutterstock

Tikal, Guatemala - The site's landmark building is the Tikal Temple (pictured), a limestone pyramid structure that dates back to around 732 CE.

© iStock

Tikal, Guatemala -

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tikal's monumental architecture looms over the rain forests of Guatemala's Tikal National Park, in the country's Petén department. 

© Getty Images

Mayapan, Mexico -

Prolonged excavation of Mayapan has revealed the remains of more than 4,000 structures, including temples and dozens of dwellings.

© Getty Images

Mayapan, Mexico -

The city was once the political and cultural capital of the Maya in the Yucatán Peninsula.

© Getty Images

Coba, Mexico - Only a small portion of this once mighty city-state has been cleared from the jungle and restored by archaeologists. It lies in Quintana Roo state, on the Yucatán Peninsula.

© iStock

El Mirador, Guatemala -

This remote jungle-shrouded site set deep in the country's Petén department features a number of tall pyramid structures, including the 72-meter (236-ft) La Dante.

© Getty Images

Quiriguá, Guatemala - This UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the country's Izabal department, is noted for its fantastically ornate red sandstone carvings and hieroglyphic inscriptions on tall, sculpted stone shafts known as stelae.

© Shutterstock

Quiriguá, Guatemala -

Standing among the stelae is the tallest monumental sculpture ever erected in the New World.

© Getty Images

Copán, Honduras - Maya civilization is richly represented by the monuments found at Copán, in the department of Copán.

© iStock

Copán, Honduras - The site is especially noted for its distinctive sculptural style—ornate handiwork that emphasizes the Maya ethnicity of the city's rulers.

© iStock

Copán, Honduras - Despite the constant threat of erosion, Copán's centuries-old sculptures remain in remarkably good condition. The site enjoys UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

© iStock

Yaxchilan, Mexico -

Set along the Usumacinta River in the state of Chiapas, Yaxchilan comprises several major buildings distinguished for their remarkably well-preserved stone lintels.

© Getty Images

Yaxchilan, Mexico - The impressive ruins include temples and palaces, and a collection of finely crafted sculptures set on various doorways and stone shafts (stelae).

© Shutterstock

Yaxchilan, Mexico -

Many of these ornamental-carved lintels contain hieroglyphic texts describing the dynastic history of the city.

© Getty Images

Yaxha, Guatemala - The expansive ruins of more than 500 structures are set within the borders of the Yaxha-Nakum-Naranjo National Park, in Petén department.

© iStock

Yaxha, Guatemala - In fact, Yaxha incorporates the remains of four ancient Maya cities: Yaxha, Topoxte, Nakum, and Naranjo.

© iStock

Calakmul, Mexico - Located in dense jungle in the Campeche state, the near-hidden ruins of Calakmul belie the immense size of one of the largest and most powerful ancient Maya cities ever uncovered.

© iStock

Calakmul, Mexico - The more than 6,500 structures identified at the site include the 45-meter (148-ft) great pyramid—one of the tallest of the Maya pyramids. The whole area enjoys UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status.

© Shutterstock

Tazumal, El Salvador - Regarded as the best preserved Maya ruins in El Salvador, the Tazumal site lies within the larger zone of the ancient Mesoamerican city of Chalchuapa.

© iStock

Tazumal, El Salvador -

At dusk, the illuminated facade of the main pyramid structure takes on a mysterious and ethereal quality.

See also: What we know about the "non-human" alien corpses of Mexico

© iStock