GRUTAS CALCETOK - (also called Grutas Xpukil) The Calcetok Caverns are the largest known cavern on the Yucatan peninsula. This area of the peninsula has over 40 smaller caves used by the Maya at different times for living quarters, rituals and as hideouts during the "War of Castes". The cave is only 2 kilometers from Oxkintok, south of Merida and was used by the Maya during the most active years of that site. Once through several narrow passageways, the cave opens up to gymnasium size rooms that still contain Maya altars, ceramics, and hieroglyphs.

Caverns of the Maya

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LOLTUN - Loltún is actually a set of limestone caverns. Here, in the Yucatan they are called Loltún Grutas. The caverns are located in the hills of the Puuc area of Yucatán, and contain several galleries. From about 1200 A.D. to colonial times it was used as a source of water, and the Maya also tapped its clay and stone for the manufacture of various items. 

It was, moreover, an important place of worship, as can be seen in the numerous glyphs and paintings inside. There are handprints and depictions of animals and human figures. A relief inside one gallery is of particular interest the so-called Loltún Warrior. 

It depicts a high-ranking, richly outfitted man with a spear in his right hand. Engraved on the rock above him is a row of glyphs. Because of its style, this relief is believed to date from the pre-Classic period.

The caverns are entered on one end, near the ticket booth and from there you descend down recently made stairways virtually into the belly of the earth. After you enter the caverns the only modern vestige remaining is the lighting which has been installed. The climb is not a difficult one, however, the trek inside the mountain is probably more than 500 or 600 meters.

The name Lol - Tun in Yucatecan Mayan comes from Lol meaning flower and Tun meaning stone. There is a place in the caverns where the "Musical" columns, formed by the union of stalactites and stalagmites produce sounds with different tones when they are hit with rocks. The sounds are Lol and Tun.

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In one part of the cavern known as "Huechil", meaning Armadillo in Mayan, a series of archaeological excavations have been performed. The excavations unearthed mammoth, bison, feline and other animals bones, indicating that at one time this site was colder than the present. 

Other items have been found throughout the caverns such as man made stone tools, pottery, marine shells, stone artifacts, basrelief carvings and mural paintings.

 "Haltunes" or artificial containers carved in the rock for gathering natural dripping water have also been discovered at Loltún. There are also 19th. century barricades constructed by rebel Maya who used this and other such caves as shelter during the "War of Castes".

Caverns of the Maya

The offerings belong to two different deities, the Maya God Chaac and the Mexican God Tláloc. Both of these Gods are related to rain and water. The caves still contain ponds and streams.

Tours are conducted several times daily in various languages. The caverns themselves were not very ornate nor large like Loltun and the air was at times stifling, hot and humid. There are various types of pottery and items to be seen, however, unlike the other caverns you return on the same route you descend. When compared to Loltun and Oxkintok, Balankanche is certainly the lesser of the three.

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