Teobert Maler arrived to Mexico with Emperor Maximilian’s armies and after the fall of the empire in Mexico he decided to stay and live in Yucatan. He was one of the first europeans who noticed the beauty and historical value of the monuments in Puuc region. He took photographs of many Mayan edifices in late XIX century such as the palaces and temples that still remain in Chunhuhub.

It is located 23 kilometers to the Northeast of Bolonchén Rejón in Hopelchén municpality. Departing from Campeche city, drive on the federal highway 261 untill you get to Bolonchén Rejón village, detouring on kilometer 23 to Xculoc village which is located 5 kilometers ahead.

The name of Chunhuhub in Mayan language means "Next to the Snail" (chun-next to, huhub-snail), although some investigators believe it means "the root of the pinus caribea tree" which is known in that region as "Huhub", and another meaning of the Mayan word Chun is "tree root". The occupation of the site goes from the Late Classic period (600-800 AD) getting to its most succesful years on the Late Classic period (550-700 AD) . Teobert Males first discovered th site in 1902.

The Palace or Structure I is a two level building with 13 vaulted rooms, and over its main facade a friece with geometric figures can be seen alternated with animal form sculptures similar to bats. The lower walls of the edifice are flat except the sector that leads to the fourth room, its facade has blocks sculpted with ornamental designs, rectangles and columns.

Over the mid molding of the building there is a friece decorated with boltel moulding and a cornice with small columns. The rooms’ walls still have their original beetle made with stucco and the base over which the structure is built is decorated with ornamental designs, squares and columns. On the South side of the edifice, next to the staircase there is an arched roof. This structure is the typical example of the palaces of Puuc Architecture.

Structure II is located next to the palace, it is formed by three vaulted rooms. The walls of its facade are flat and its mid molding, as well as the cornice, is decorated with small columns. Its friece has columns and geometric figures. This building was once attached to the palace with a stairway which is now buried under the debris of the upper buildings’ collapse.

Schedule Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 17:00 pm

Visiting time required: 1 hour

Visiting time required departing from Campeche City: 4 hours

Transportation: Bus or car

Recomendation: When visiting Chicanná you might programme a visit to Santa Rosa Xtampak archaeological zones.

Services: soft drinks and custodians,

SOFT DRINKS: Xculoc village

RESTAURANTS: Xculoc village

LODGING: Hopelchen village

GAS STATION: Hopelchen village

TELEPHONE: Bolonchen village

MEDICAL SERVICES: Bolonchén village

In Spring and Summer time, wear light clothes because the temperature is very hot. During June, July and August, wear mosquito repellent.

Diccionario Maya CORDEMEX Mérida, Yucatán: Ediciones CORDEMEX, 1980 115,240.

Pacheco Cruz. Diccionario de Etimologías Toponímicas Mayas. Conjunto de Apreciaciones. Mérida Yucatán: 1959. 124-125.

Zapata P., Renée Lorelei. Región Arqueológica del Norte del Estado de Campeche, Tohcok, Dzibilnocac, Hachob, Xcavil de Yaxche, Xculoc, Chunhuhub y Santa Rosa Xtampak. Documento inédito preparado para gira periodístia. Cantro INAH Campeche, 1996. 12-13.