Comalcalco
A Maya City, The Westernmost Of The Maya Sites, Unusual For Being Built Of Fired Clay Bricks Bonded With Oyster Shell Mortar, Because The River Plain Has No Building Stone. Its Great Acropolis And Temple Of The Masks Stand In A Cacao Growing Region, And The Site Has A Small Museum. Hot, Shaded And Quiet · Comalcalco, Tabasco
Comalcalco is the westernmost Maya city, set in the green, humid cacao country of Tabasco about 55 km north-west of Villahermosa and a few kilometres from the town of Comalcalco. The river plain has no building stone, so the Maya made fired clay bricks and bonded them with mortar made from burned oyster shell, which makes the site unlike the limestone cities of Yucatan or Chiapas. The Great Acropolis rises above shaded paths, and the Temple of the Masks keeps traces of stucco figures. A small museum shows finds, and guides wait at the entrance. It suits history lovers, anyone passing through Villahermosa and visitors who like quiet ruins without big crowds. It is worth the detour for the unusual brickwork and the calm shade; it is not worth a special trip if you only want towering pyramids, and midday is hot and humid. Chocolate and cacao farms are in the nearby countryside, not on the site.
Comalcalco archaeological zone, about 55 km north-west of Villahermosa and 8 km from the town of Comalcalco; coordinates approximate, Comalcalco, Tabasco, Mexico
The archaeological zone is normally open daily in daylight hours, commonly from morning until late afternoon, with last entry before closing. Hours are set by the national institute and can change, so confirm before a long drive. The small museum may be CLOSED on certain days or for repairs, and some upper structures are CLOSED to climbing or roped off. Entry is usually charged; Mexican residents are often FREE on Sundays, and children and older visitors may have reduced rates. The cacao farms, the Chocolate museum and haciendas are separate places in the area, with their own hours, and are not part of this ticket.