How to get an informed guide at Tulum ruins?

[Dpreefer]

I took my in-laws to tour the ruins of Tuluum the other day, as my father-in-law is an architect and had a deep interest in all things Maya. We were assigned a guide at the gate for $500 Ps (including entrance and trolly), and I knew it was a mistake from the git-go. The guide was a good 80 years old, and his tour consisted of the Catholic remake of Mayan history, equating all Mayan building and heiroglyphs as parallels and reflections of the Catholic belief system. When we challanged some of the more blatant untruths, the guide stiffened his back, bugged his eyes and protested as if we were challanging the absolute truth. We dumped the old guy and finished by ourselves.

So the question is, if you really want an informative and historically accurate tour of historical sites in Mexico, how do you assure yourself of getting one with real historical knowledge to share and not someone who has willingly traded his personal history for someone else's fantasy?

[cptfnch]

I had the same problem but in a different place. We went to crococun zoo and I was giving the tour guide and education on all the animals that were on display. He told me that I should be working in a zoo or start my own. It's touch and go when you get a tour guide. Also, when we went to Chitzen Itza the guide told us that the Winners of the ball game were the ones sacrificed and ever where in the States say the losers were, which is right, i can see both side working but would like to know which.

Next trip, ill do the study myself and go guideless.

cptfnch

[tommy]

Take the Tour through this site with Anna and James and they make sure you get a guide who knows the truth....worth the money by far and you get to see some other stuff that are not at the ruins!!!

[Heather]

Originally Posted by cptfnch

Also, when we went to Chitzen Itza the guide told us that the Winners of the ball game were the ones sacrificed and ever where in the States say the losers were, which is right, i can see both side working but would like to know which.

Next trip, ill do the study myself and go guideless.

Well, from what I've read, they aren't really sure if it was the "winner" or "loser" who lost his head. Books/records of the Maya were destroyed by the Spaniards who invaded the land and this has made it difficult to know for certain what daily life was like for the Maya. Anna has written some terrific articles about the Mayan world, which you can find under the "read more" tab on this site.

There are a couple of guides at Tulum who are a bit "hit or miss," but for the most part, getting a guide there is valuable and informative. I have made sure to read all I can about the various archeological sites I visit so that I can enter into a dialogue with whatever guide I get.

Yes, take the tour from James and Anna. The guide we had at Tulum was nice, but half of the time I was like ..what is he saying? I didnt learn anythign about the myans, but the guide we had with the tour here, Mitch, he knew a lot more and was much more informative.

[james]

You are not allowed to choose your guides. They operate on a rotation.

[Beachnutt719]

Originally Posted by james

You are not allowed to choose your guides. They operate on a rotation.

Another reason to book your trip through this site.

[Dpreefer]

The reason I did not take the tour with James and Anna, which I had wanted to do, is that my in-laws are fairly elderly (79 and 73) and could not stay out for the full day without serious discomfort. It was more sensible to drive down early before the high heat and take a private tour and be back by noon. I am sure they would have enjoyed your more knowledgeable guide, but I guess we got stuck in the rotation lottery for guides and picked a loser.

[Jesus]

Originally Posted by Heather

Well, from what I've read, they aren't really sure if it was the "winner" or "loser" who lost his head. Books/records of the Maya were destroyed by the Spaniards who invaded the land and this has made it difficult to know for certain what daily life was like for the Maya. Anna has written some terrific articles about the Mayan world, which you can find under the "read more" tab on this site.

Heather is right, nobody knows for sure. But I got this from a book I have quoted before, Arqueological Mexico by Andrew Coe (son of an arqueologist):

"The most common Mesoamerican versions... were played by two teams of one to 11 players wearing thick pads around the waist. No copies of the rules have been found, but the object of the contest seems to have been to hit a solid rubber ball weighing as much as 2.5 Kg (5 pounds) through the stone rings. The ball, wich could kill a man, could only be struck with the hips, buttocks or knees... The games were accompanied by vigorous wagering; the stakes could be money, valuables, or even human lives. Early Spanish eyewitnesses report spectators fleeing at the end of a game to avoid the victor collecting his winnings: their clothes.
...
The game was used to resolve disputes and as a means for people to assert their social or political status...
After a battle, captives were often taken to the ballcourt to play against their captors; after their defeat (it is unclear if they were ever allowed to win) they were decapitated. The blood sprouting from their neck was the ritual fertilizer for good crops. In some ceremonies, the decapitated head was used in place of the ball....
The Mayas also turssed captives into the shape of a ball and rolled them down the temple steps to their deaths... this ritual has its good and bad sides: the captive died a horrible death, but on the other hand he became a god."

So, is difficult to say if just the loosers would loose also their heads as this was clearly a great honor. And the sacrifice would not happen on every game, so that part remains a mystery.