The archaeological site is located inside a woodland area, offering to the visitor the opportunity of cohabiting with nature while going through this interesting prehispanic city. In Balamkú lies a frieze made of polichromated moulded stucco, unique in the Mayan area, which was built between the years 550 and 650 a.D. The detail reading of this work of great iconographic wealth reveals ancient Mayan’s complex conception of the world.

The archaeological site of Balamkú is located on the South-eastern part of the State of Campeche, and belongs to the municipality of Hopelchen. The access is made through a 3 km paved path placed in front of Conhuas, on km 93 of highway Escarcega-Chetumal (Mexico 186).

From the city of Campeche, one goes through the city of Champotón, from there to Escarcega, where finally one takes Federal Highway 186 which leads to Chetumal; on km 93 one takes the turn to the left that goes straight to the site. The time estimated for this drive is 3 hours.

From Hopelchén, one takes the road that goes to Xpujil, and from there one drives on highway 186 towards Escarcega. On km 93 one makes a turn to the right which leads directly to the site. The time estimated for this drive is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Balamkú, which in yucatecan Maya means "Jaguar’s Temple" (balam- jaguar, ku- temple), has an approximate extension of 1 km² and it’s integrated by 3 architectonic groups: The South Group, The Central one, and the North one, although only the first two have been partially excavated.

This is the smallest one of the three groups and it is organised around four plazas. Its main building is a pyramidal foundation with a height of approximately 10 mt, that has a stair and finishes off with a temple that shows on the top of it’s main façade and near it’s door, two oval depressions covered with stucco, which are interpreted as the eyes of a zoomorphic mask sculpture.

The three structures that limit the Northern plaza of the group are dated for the period known as Late Classic and shows characteristics of the Rio Bec architectonic style, although some Peten style features can be seen as well. On the other hand, it is noteworthy the presence of great mosaic mask sculptures made out of stone superposed on each side of the main entrance of the plaza’s South structure, which were associated wuth a huge zoomorphic mask sculpture that crowned the door.

It consists of two plazas, but only the Northern one has been partially excavated; there lies Structure I, composed by three pyramidal foundations (I-A, I-B, I-C) articulated among themselves; inside of foundation I-A there is a substructure which consists of a small palace with three entrances on its South façade, crowned with a battlemented frieze made out of polichromated moulded stucco, with an approximated length of 16.80 mt, and a height of 4.10 mt. This frieze was built around the years 550-650 A.D. Later on, this structure was covered with a pyramidal foundation that hid and protected the frieze.

Besides illustrating the opposite and complementary aspects of the underworld, Balamkú's frieze compares dynastic and solar cycles. The king raises from the Monster of Earth's maw, just as the Sun emerges from the earth's mouth. The ruler's death is seen as if it were a sunset, when he falls into the Monster's mouth.

A double emanation is illustrated : an amphibian arises from the Monster of Earth’s cleft, and from its mouth emerges the king. The large masks and jaguars express the wealth of the earth, and the amphibian assure transition between these two worlds.

The upper level of the frieze corresponds to the earth's surface , and the substructure is the underworld. Therefore, when someone enters through one of the building's doors, it is as if they were penetrating the underworld.

• Visiting schedule : Monday though Sunday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Services: Parking lot and custodians

• Refreshments: Common land of Conhuas
• Food: Town of Xpujil, Town of Constitución (km 220, highway 186)
• Lodging: Town of Xpujil
• Gas station: Town of Xpuhil
• Telephone: Common land of Conhuas
• Basic medical services: Common land of Conhuas

• Spring time: wear fresh clothes, because the temperature raises very much in that area
• October to December: use repellent