Labna is one of the Mayan cities of the Ruta Puuc, a route where you will enjoy the exquisiteness of the puuc architecture of the ancient Maya. An area rich in history and tradition.


The Puuc Route is one of the many attractions of Yucatán, a state very rich in history where you can walk between the past and present, trips that lead you to learning and reflection. On the so-called Puuc Route you can see some of the most beautiful ancient Mayan cities in Yucatán.

Labná is a World Heritage Site along with Uxmal, Sayil and Xlapak, under the name Pre-Columbian Village of Uxmal.

We are going to visit the beautiful Labná, neighbor of the incredible Sayil, Kabah, Uxmal and Xlapak. This area is very wonderful, you will surely enjoy it. The archaeological zone of Labná is known for its impressive Arch, its Palace and the Viewpoint, the 3 buildings of captivating beauty.

In addition to the archaeological zones, this area is full of stories, cenotes, haciendas and endearing people who will make your path very beautiful. Travel with respect and you will see how they open the doors to an incredible journey.

At the end I leave you a map of the area so that you can enjoy it in a practical and simple way.

labna route puuc

THE PUUC ROUTE, YUCATAN

The so-called Puuc Route is basically made up of the archaeological zones of:

  • Xlapak,
  • Sayil,
  • Labna, 
  • Kabah and
  • Uxmal, the jewel of the puuc.

These ancient Mayan cities share their own common architecture, the puuc style, for many it is the most exquisite, elaborated and careful among the different Mayan architectural styles.

Labna For me it is an essential stop in this area. This area is very interesting, if you want to explore it, I advise you to read the following article with complete information. And you can discover the most unknown Mayan cities of Puuc, you will love them.

How to travel the Puuc Route

Labna archeological zone

CHOW TO DO THE PUUC ROUTE FROM MÉRIDA

State of Mexico: Yucatan

The Labná archaeological zone is located between Xlapak and the Loltún caves, on the Puuc Route. 42 kilometers southeast of Uxmal. The nearest large city is Mérida, 114 kilometers from Labná.

Discover Labná on the Puuc Route, Yucatán 1
©Photo Google Maps. Open the map to see how to get to labná

From Mérida you can take a tour to the Puuc Route. You can still rent a car in Mérida and go on your own. It is simple and safe to travel around the Yucatan Peninsula by car.

  • HOW TO GET THERE BY CAR FROM MÉRIDA: You can easily get to Sayil on a good wide road to Uxmal, everything is well indicated. Leaving the city of Mérida, you take Federal Highway No. 261, heading to Umán, until you reach the town of Muna, where you choose two routes: the first, following the same federal highway passing through the town of Santa Elena and through the archaeological zone of Kabah. From km. 105, take the Ruta Puuc road and 7 kilometers later you will find Sayil.
  • HOW TO GET THERE BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FROM MÉRIDA: every Sunday there is transportation that runs along the Puuc Route, leaving you time in each area to explore it. It leaves at 8 and returns around 16. The ADO station is on 69th Street between 68th and 70th Streets.
  • HOW TO GET THERE BY CAR FROM CAMPECHE: it is 2 hours away so you have a quick reference. There is no public transportation, and it is not an easy tour to do from Campeche either.

If you decide to do it for free, I recommend you stay a few days in this area. I really like the option of sleeping in Santa Elena. 

Do not miss our essential 5 archaeological sites of Yucatán

archaeological site Labna

BRIEF HISTORY OF LABNAH

De Labna There is archaeological evidence that places it from 200 BC to 1000 AD.

It was part of a group of cities including Uxmal, Sayil and Kabah, which along with Oxkintok, Labna and Nohpat dominated the highest area of ​​Yucatan. A network of roads, many of which we see today, indicate the relationship between these cities.

Puuc is a Mayan word that means hillturkey o loma, with just over 300 meters of elevation. The Puuc also refers to the ancient Mayan architectural style. Different architectural styles are identified such as Chenes, Río Bec, Petén, Costa Oriental... The puuc is very beautiful for its details and ornamentation.

  • LABNÁ HEIGHT: The heyday is dated between 800 and 1000 AD
  • WHAT DOES THE NAME LABNAH MEAN?: means "old or abandoned house."
  • LABNÁ ARCHITECTURAL STYLE: It is Puuc style, one of the most beautiful in the Mayan world.

The Labná arch is one of the most notorious architectural symbols of the Mayan world.

archaeological site Labna

EXPLORERS IN LABNAH

This group of Mayan cities of the Puuc have been among the most studied. In 1842, explorers John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood opened a window to the Mayan world with their books and lithographs. They did several research projects in this area, and Catherwood captured several emblematic buildings.

Its famous arch is part of the memory of many thanks to its drawings. In Mérida you can visit the Catherwood House Museum, where there are original lithographs. A very beautiful space for lovers of the Mayan world.

lab bow
Catherwood sheet of the Arch of Labná. Source

Another of the great explorers of these Mayan lands was Teobert Maler. Thanks to this tireless explorer we have graphic documents of what the archaeological zones were like 30 years after Stephens and Catherwood visited them.

It must be taken into account that Catherwood took artistic license in his lithographs, he captured too much. With Teobert Maler's photos we can see reality as it was. These documents are an absolute gem, I leave you a few photographs so you can enjoy the past with Teobert Maler.

Discover Labná on the Puuc Route, Yucatán 2
Arch of Labna ©INAH-FN/Teoberto Maler
Discover Labná on the Puuc Route, Yucatán 3
Labná Palace ©INAH-FN/Teoberto Maler
Temple of the Columns labná. Teobert Maler
Temple of the Columns Labná ©INAH-FN/Teoberto Maler

LABNÁ ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREA MAP

Labná is very easy to navigate, the same buildings take you from one to another. The entrance path leads you to the El Palacio Group and from there continue your path to the other buildings.

Discover Labná on the Puuc Route, Yucatán 4
Map ©INAH

VISIT LABNÁ, THE MOST HIGHLIGHTS

The archaeological zone of Labná probably depended on some regional capital in the Puuc area (perhaps Uxmal, Sayil or Kabah), Labná has an extraordinarily elaborate architecture that is quite well preserved.

The city extended over 2.2 km2 and housed just over 3,000 inhabitants. For reference, Uxmal has 20,000 inhabitants, being the largest city on the Puuc Route.

The archaeological zone is made up of four main buildings:

  • the palace,
  • the arc,
  • the looker
  • and the Temple of the Columns.

The Palace group

Palaces in general in the Mayan world, as we know them, are architectural complexes where various functions related to the exercise of political power and the organization of the city were carried out, but more mundane activities were also carried out, such as preparing food. , eat and sleep.

The Palace is the longest Puuc building that has been discovered, it is more than 120 meters long. Inside there are representations of Chaac, who is the Mayan god of rain, lightning, and water in general.

The Labná Palace has more than 50 rooms distributed in five patios, three on the lower level and two on the upper level. It also has two squares, located at the top, which are linked by a small bridge. This architectural complex was built over at least 250 years, during the Late/Terminal Classic (750-1000).

Each of the different areas that make up the Palace had a main function; Undoubtedly the Central Courtyard, with its elaborate buildings, was the focus of political and ritual activity, since the two “Throne Rooms” were located there. The West Courtyard was dedicated to the preparation of food for royalty, the Courtyards on the Upper Level, with very restricted access and discreet location, were the residential areas.

Archaeologists estimate that the Palace was built in two phases, both of which were continuous. For this reason they believe that they were under two rulers of the same lineage, who continued in the same line. These ideas are transmitted by the archaeologist Lourdes Toscano Hernández from the INAH Yucatán Center on the INAH website.

The Palace was never finished being built, it was abandoned before. As a common practice among the Mayan people and many other cultures, they covered and destroyed main entrances to buildings.

Labna
labna route puuc
labna route puuc

The Arch of Labnah

The arc It is the visual jewel of Labná: it is 12.6 meters long, 3 meters deep and 6 meters high. The southeast façade is decorated with fretwork, the northwest façade shows panels with lattices and two niches in which there are remains of stucco sculptures that still retain traces of color. Above the niches are miniatures of Mayan houses. Architectural beauty.

From The Palace there is a sacbé (an ancient Mayan path that they made in a paved and elevated way) towards El Arco de Labná. I think it's cool to tour this sacbé, it's one of the most beautiful you'll see in the Mayan world.

labna
Labna Yucatan
Labna archeological zone

The Labná Viewpoint

El Mirador It is a temple at the top of a structure, for ceremonial use. This large monument had statues of ball players. As on so many occasions there was looting and they were robbed. A shame not to be able to appreciate this reconstructed building.

El Mirador and El Arco can be seen from the same point, and it is a beauty to enjoy this place.

labna bow
labna
The Labná Viewpoint

Temple of the Columns

Temple of the Columns: another sacbé takes you to this building adjacent to the Palace. Its columns are its most representative brand. You can visit this building after the Palace or leave it for last, after visiting El Arco and El Mirador.

Labna archeological zone
I took to the Temple of the Columns

PRACTICAL INFORMATION TO VISIT LABNA

1- Labná archaeological zone schedule

Monday to Sunday from 08:00 a.m. to 17:00 p.m., last entry at 16:00 p.m.


2-Services

  • Parking Spaces
  • Bathrooms
  • Accredited guide service

3-Price Labná archaeological zone

75 pesos per person.

On Sundays, entry is free for Mexicans and foreigners with permanent residence.

FREE ENTRY EVERY DAY FOR:
Mexicans •Over 60 years of age (with official credentials) •Retirees and pensioners (with official institution credentials) •Teachers and students (with official credentials of the Mexican Educational System) •Children up to 12 years of age •Researchers and interns (with INAH permit credential )

Mexicans and foreigners • People with disabilities (with their proper credentials)

The use of video cameras and professional cameras is subject to payment of fees.

labna route puuc

TIPS FOR VISITING LABNÁ

If you are from stones and history, go to Labna. Not many people usually arrive here, so it is likely that this magnificent vestige you can travel without hardly anyone.

  • WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW: If you arrive early at 8 in the morning, you will surely walk around the premises alone.
  • WHAT TO BRING: Light, light clothing, hat, insect repellent, closed and comfortable shoes to climb structures and protect yourself from insect bites. Bring some water, it's always good. Smoking, bringing food and bringing pets are prohibited.
  • VISIT TIME: allow more or less 1 hour and a half to calmly explore the place.
labna yucatan

PLACES NEAR LABNÁ TO VISIT

You can stay in a nearby town, which sometimes makes the trip more interesting because it allows you to get off the beaten path.

  • The Pickled Onion in St. Helena, a cabin hotel, with a swimming pool and a delicious restaurant. I like the owner, she has history.
  • In Oxkutzcab I always stay in the Hotel Puuc. The first time I visited Oxkutzcab there was hardly any other hotel, and here we stayed with Fausto. They were very friendly, so when I return I always choose the same hotel. The hotel is simple, value for money is a 10.

I leave you some places near Labná that I would not miss in this area:

puuc route map
Photo © Google Maps: opens to go to Labna

Good way,

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Sandra Salvadó Training photographer, traveler by vocation and certified tourism guide by the Government of Mexico. We promote natural wonders and contemporary Mayan culture. Great fan of pre-Hispanic history. Author of the blog and co-founder of The Shortest Path Travel, agency that guides you through alternative paths in Mayan lands. Social and sustainable tourism in the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas.
I am at your disposal for whatever you need. Let's talk.

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