Mexico

Spectacularly situated on a cliff overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea, Tulum is a Late Mayan site that was active from around 1200 until the arrival of the Spanish.

The large Coba complex, much of which still remains to be excavated, consists of multiple temples and pyramids (including the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan) connected by an extensive system of ceremonial roads.

The late-Classic Maya site of Uxmal was built before the 10th century AD and is one of the most complex and harmonious expressions of Puuc architecture.

The most popular Catholic shrine in the world, this modern basilica houses a miraculous image of the Virgin Mary who appeared to an Aztec convert in 1531.

Chichén Itzá is the largest of the ancient Mayan ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula. A center of Mayan pilgrimage for over 1,000 years, it is now one of Mexico's most-visited tourist destinations.

Widely considered the most atmospheric and magical of the Mayan sites, Palenque was at its peak from 600 to 700 CE. It is famed for its unique and impressive architecture and royal history.