The Snail

The Snail (El Caracol) is in the southern group of ruins. Also called “The Winding Stair,” its name is a reference to the interior winding staircase (not open to the public) that leads to the dome. This ruin's round construction is quite possibly unique in Mayan architecture. Stones could be removed from slits within the dome—nine in all—enabling Mayan astronomers to study different parts of the heavens. Some interesting carvings decorate the dome's exterior.