Balamku: Where Kings and Jaguars Roam

Don’t think just because Balamku is small you should skip it in favor of other, bigger ruins. Despite its size, this ancient site in Campeche hides one of the most valuable treasures the Mayans left for us to find.

Balamku’s Jaguar

Close to another, more famous archeological site—Calakmul—, Balamku only features three small groups of structures, most of which can be seen in only a few minutes. That’s until you discover the House of the Jaguar.

The doorway alone is impressive enough. Heavily decorated with its intricate and detailed designs, it resembles the mouth of a gigantic animal. But not even this can prepare you for what you’ll find inside.

Balamku’s Four Kings

This frieze called the Four Kings—an impressive 55 feet-long piece of painted stucco—, is one of the most important pieces of ancient Mayan culture ever found. And, as you can guess, is something to behold.

Fortunately, it’s extremely well-preserved and rich with symbolism. The figures carved into it express different ideas, intertwined in one single piece. The kings that give the frieze its name—for example—, all represent general religious motifs, such as life on earth and the afterlife in the underworld.

These ideas on life and death, however, are not for everyone. A big part is dedicated to those of kings, and their relationship with the sun’s cycle. For example, the king’s ascension to the throne is represented as something akin to a sunrise, while his death looks like a sunset.

A quick visit

There’s a couple of other things to see among the buildings here but, admittedly, the Four Kings is the main attraction, by far. This is a great place to visit if you don’t want to spend a lot of your day in one single place, or are just passing by.

Because of its size, don’t expect to find any food around. Just bring a water bottle and, if you’re visiting during the summer months, bug spray—remember, Balamku is surrounded by jungle. The frieze alone is worth the visit, we promise.