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El Castillo, Chichén Itzá


In 1936, a visitor scales the northern stairway of the pyramid known as El Castillo at Chichén Itzá in southern Mexico. Built to awe, the 79-foot-tall pyramid has become the towering icon of Chichén Itzá, one of the largest and most powerful of all Maya cities.

Photograph by Luis Marden, National Geographic

Vintage Photos: Exploring the Yucatán Peninsula

The ancient Maya and Olmec civilizations of the Yucatán Peninsula have fascinated explorers for centuries. Travel back in time to see what some of the first archaeologists saw with these vintage photos.

September 11, 2012
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