After visiting some of the Yucatán’s larger and more famous ruins, Labná, which means old or abandoned house in Maya, is a refreshing, off the beaten path experience. Although much smaller in scale than Chichén Itzá and Uxmal, it is just opulent in design, a lot less crowded and provides a much more intimate experience to its visitors. At Labná no ropes or barriers interfere with the view or ability to get up close, go inside and climb the ruins.

Located 19 miles south of Uxmal (and 50 miles from Merida), Labná has a sacbé (a Maya road) running through it that links the city to Uxmal and other nearby sites on the Puuc route, including Xlapak, Sayil, and Kabah. Sacbéob (plural), which literally means “white way” in Maya, are found all over the Yucatán. The sacbéob are made of white limestone, which, at night, provides a lighted path of reflected moonlight.

The ornate architecture and design found at Labná is similar to the artwork at Uxmal, having been created in the same Puuc period during the 7th to 10th century. Labná, however, boasts some of the most complex latticework found in the Yucatán.

Upon entering the site, the Palácio is the first building visitors see. A menagerie of hook-nosed Chac-Mool masks adorns this structure, peering out like Mayan gargoyles above its 67 rooms and doorways. The multitudes of masks were intended to appease the rain god Chac-Mool and bring rain to the arid inland city of Labná. The many rooms are spread out along two main levels with seven patios.

Walking down the restored sacbé leads to the Mirador (or the Watch Tower or Observatory). This three-room temple sits on a pyramid like pile of rocks with a towering roofcomb on top. Next to the Mirador is the Arch of Labná. Like other Maya arches, the Arch of Labná uses the principle of the corbeled vault, which is constructed by offsetting successive layers of stone along the inside of the walls so that they project inward toward the center of the arch from each side. The Arch of Labná served as the main entrance to the city in its prime and is exquisitely decorated with latticework, serpents, and faces of Chac-Mool on both sides.

Labná is a lesser-known gem that visitors can enjoy in almost complete solitude, unlike some of the more well know ruins. Admission to Labná is $27.00 pesos ($2.70) and travelers who don’t make the trip past Uxmal and are missing out on many marvels here and beyond. All of the cities on the Puuc route (Uxmal, Labná, Xlapak, Sayil, and Kabah) can be easily visited in an overnight trip driving along Highway 261. Also found along the way are the spectacular Grutas de Loltún (Loltún Caves), which were used by the Maya to harvest clay for pottery and religious ceremonies and are the largest known caves in the Yucatán.

Location:
Mexico

Ruin

By Kate Newhall

In addition to my long hours working in the State Legislature, I am an an avid traveler with experience living and working in Latin America. One of...

Created: 13 Jan 2008

Updated: 29 Feb 2008