Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Macchu Picchu
Peru • 10 days, 9 nights
Peru: Machu Picchu & the Last Incan Bridges
from
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Shadow Room
The Museum of Lost Tales
Sherlock Holmes Statue
Sherlock Holmes Statue
South Pole Growth Chamber
Pasties are an Upper Michigan tradition dating back to mining days.
Lehto’s Pasties
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The local catch is delicious fried as well.
Terry's of Charlevoix
Carlson’s Fishery is a Great Lakes institution.
Carlson’s Fishery
The Cathedral Café maintains the building’s original church exterior.
Cathedral Café
Exterior of the historic Dyffryn Arms pub.
Dyffryn Arms
Most of what’s on the menu here comes from Michigan.
The Glenwood
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Siegfried Tieber specializes in sleight-of-hand magic using small objects, as well as mentalism, which gives the illusion of reading minds.
Does a Magician Really Never Reveal Their Tricks? AO Wants to Know.
14 days ago
Decoy’s wines reflect the terroir of California.
How a Wooden Duck Migrated From the California Wetlands to a Wine Label
17 days ago
There’s more to the French capital than the Eiffel Tower.
Dear Atlas: What Are Some Non-Touristy Things to Do in Paris?
21 days ago
The plants around Liz Dauncey in this photo are not poisonous, but many common garden and houseplants are.
Are Some of Your Favorite Houseplants Poisonous? AO Wants to Know.
28 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Mexico Toniná

Toniná

The enigmatic and seldom visited ruins of a Mayan city-state.

Mexico

Added By
Seth Teicher
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Stucco wall mural.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Stela representing a Maya leader of Toniná.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Decorative pattern on a Toniná wall.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
View of the landscape from the top of the Acropolis   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
View of the Toniná acropolis.   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Toniná is located among cattle ranches and some ranchers will rent out their horses for rides among the ruins   linkogecko / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Although the site was discovered as early as the late 19th century, it wasn’t until the 1970s that Toniná was substantially excavated and identified by archeologists. Today, the terraced acropolis sits 71 meters atop a steep hillside overlooking the Great Plaza, two traditional Mesoamerican ball courts and the expansive Ocosingo Valley below. The majority of the site still lays covered with substantial portions of the ruins remaining to be excavated.

Situated in the pine forests of the Chiapan highlands in southern Mexico, and located on the outskirts of the contemporary Zapatista enclave of Ocosingo, the ruins of the step pyramid of Toniná is representative of the Late Classic period of Mayan history. Toniná’s tradition of aggression and conquest over their foes is exemplified in the plethora of distinctive regionally styled, in-the-round sandstone stelae that depict the capture, decapitation and torture of their rivals. Toniná’s most distinctive feature is its possession of the very last Long Count date on a Maya monument, defining the end of Classic civilization in AD 909.

Known historically as a bellicose kingdom, Toniná is best understood through its interactions with their incessant adversary Palenque, the better-known Mayan city-state, located about 65 km to the north. Throughout the course of their longstanding feud, the two kingdoms would struggle for influence and commercial dominance in the western Mayan region. Ultimately, during Toniná's golden age in the early 8th century, the kingdom would prevail over their chief rival Palenque, sacking the city-state and bringing about their demise.

The number of people that visit the ruins on a given day pales in comparison to the droves of tourists who constantly flock to nearby Palenque.

Related Tags

Ruins

Know Before You Go

Located off of Mexico Hwy 199, 13 km east of Ocosingo. Entrance is MXN $60 and the archaeological site opens daily (except holidays) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Yucatan Family Adventure: Meteors, Pyramids & Maya Legends

Explore Maya temples and learn about the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Seth Teicher

Edited By

linkogecko

  • linkogecko

Published

July 16, 2009

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • <ul>
  • <li>Martin, Simon, and Nikolai Grube. Chronicle of the Maya Kings and Queens. New York, New York: Thames & Hudson, 2000.</li>
  • <li>Culbert, T. Patrick. Classic Maya Political History. New York, New York: Cambridge University Press, 1991.</li>
Toniná
Unnamed Road
Mexico
16.898912, -92.00409
Visit Website

Nearby Places

Acteal Pillar of Shame

Acteal, Mexico

miles away

Maya Crosses of Romerillo Cemetery

Romerillo, Mexico

miles away

Rabbit Skull Relief

Palenque, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico

Mexico

North America

Places 594
Stories 60

Nearby Places

Acteal Pillar of Shame

Acteal, Mexico

miles away

Maya Crosses of Romerillo Cemetery

Romerillo, Mexico

miles away

Rabbit Skull Relief

Palenque, Mexico

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Mexico

Mexico

North America

Places 594
Stories 60

Related Places

  • Tharandt, Germany

    Tharandt Castle Ruin

    Near Dresden, a scenic medieval castle ruin offers atmospheric views, educational ties to forestry, and a glimpse into Saxony’s past.

  • Barnsley, England

    Tankersley Old Hall Ruins

    The ruins of a significant 16th-century building once appeared in a 1969 film.

  • View inside the P-4.

    Walferdange, Luxembourg

    Raschpëtzer Qanat

    A Roman water tunnel still flows 2,000 years on.

  • Greifswald, Germany

    Eldena Abbey

    These crumbling monastery ruins inspired a master of German Romanticism.

  • The arch is visible below the surface

    Lleida, Spain

    Pont de Montiberri

    A river hides a charming medieval bridge.

  • View from below.

    Urubamba, Peru

    Machu Colca

    This archaeological site features an early version of today’s refrigerators.

  • The ruins in 2014

    Seacliff, New Zealand

    Seacliff Asylum Ruins

    The remains of a notorious mental institution that became known for its structural design failures and experiments carried out on patients.

  • Tamaqzah, Tunisia

    Tamaghza El Gdima (Abandoned Village of Tamerza)

    The ruins of a village destroyed by a 22-day flood.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.