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Loltun cave is located
110 km from
Merida via federal highway 31 in the State of Yucatan, Mexico.
Only 4.3 miles from Oxkutzcab
and 15 miles northeast from Labna ruins.
Loltun Caverns are one of
the biggest known from the huge cave system that covers a great territory
in southern
Yucatan. They have been arranged for
a safe tour, approximately a 500mts of illuminated paths, in which we can admire huge and
excellent chambers with stalactites, stalagmites and interesting petro
glyphs and
rupestrian paintings.
At Loltun, the visitor can
learn the natural and cultural history of the Northern Maya Lowlands within a 10,000 years
period, from the late Pleistocene to Contemporary times. In one of its cavities, locally
known as "Huechil" (from the Maya "Huech": armadillo), archaeological
excavations were carried out, and in one of its lowest levels, extinct animal
remains were
found: mammoth, bison, feline and other animal bones, indicating a colder climate period
with a different environment to that of the present. Man made stone tools appeared in a
superior level, probably produced by th first Peninsula's inhabitants.
Other
material remains have been found in this and other parts of the grout including pottery,
marine shells, stone artifacts, bas-relief carvings, petro glyphs and mural paintings,
corresponding to the distinct development stages of the Maya Culture. From the Formative
period (600 B.C. - 150 A.D.) stands out the bas-relief carving known as "The Loltun
Warrior", located in Nahkab (beehive) entrance, presenting inherited traits from
ancient Olmecs. From Classic (150 - 900 A.D.) and Post classic (900 A.D. to 16th century)
can be observed cultural features such as mural paintings representing hands, faces,
animals, geometric motifs and inscriptions; "haltunes" or artificial
containers carved in the rock for gathering natural dripping water (suhuy-ha); as well as
many petro glyphs, standing out those with flower motifs, which gave the name to the
cavern. There are also 19th century barricades constructed by rebel Mayas who sheltered in
this and other southern Yucatan caves during the so called "War of Castes".

Visitors can also admire
many natural lime stone formations with capricious and suggestive forms that popular
imagination have baptized them with peculiar names such as
"Cathedral",
"Grand Canyon Gallery", "Ear of Corn",
Stalactite Rooms", and so on.
It's important to notice the "musical"
columns, formed by the union of stalactites and stalagmites, that produce sounds with
different tones when they are knocked; or a magnificent gallery with its
collapsed
ceiling, with descending tree roots and sun rays...
LOLTUN
FACILITIES
and SCHEDULE
-
Parking lots, beautiful
gardens and green areas, restaurants and toilettes.
-
Daily guided visits are
provided at: 9:30, 12:30 and 15:30 hrs. in Spanish & 11:00 and 14:00 hrs. in
English.
·
Yucatan State ·
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Balankanche Cave
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Caverns of Loltun
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Celestun
Town
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Chichen-Itza Archaeological
Site
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Dzibilchaltun Archaeological Site
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Dzilam de Bravo
Town
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Dzitya
Town
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Ekbalam Archaeological Site
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Izamal
City
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Kabah Archaeological
Site
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Kopoma Town
|
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Labna Archaeological Site
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Mayapan Archaeological Site
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Merida
۞ Capital City
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Oxkintok Archaeological Site
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Poxila Town
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Progreso
Town
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Rio Lagartos
Town
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Santa Clara
Town
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Sayil Archaeological Site
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Tecoh Town
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Telchac Puerto
Town
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Tikul Town
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Tizimin Town
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Uxmal Archaeological
Site
|
Valladolid
City
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Xcambo Town
|
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Xlapak Archaeological Site
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The Paths of the Mayab
|
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Home page of Yucatan
State in Tour By Mexico ®
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