Our final stop in Mexico was the inland limestone islands of Lagos de Colon.
Millenia of water flowing over limestone has resulted in a terrain of inland islands made where the water has cut deep through the stone. Serpentine rivers criss-cross the land, periodically resulting in deep vertical shafts, filled with crystal clear water.
We had expected to have to ford water in Taiga at some point during this trip and Lagos de Colon, it finally happened. The two creeks we crossed were shallow and easily forded, but counted as our first water crossings all the same. Naturally, we recorded them for posterity.
The rivers and their waterlogged shafts made for great swimming holes, but Lagos de Colon has another attraction in its Mayan ruins. Thousands of years ago, the Maya built a small city here, which included a few small pyramids and a modest court for their famous ball game.
The Maya of Lagos de Colon built their pyramids out of the materials they had available and much of what they had was limestone. Limestone is as hard as any other stone for day-to-day uses, but is considered a “soft” stone and over time, the limestone pyramids blocks warped and decayed, resulting in Daliesque formations, reminiscent of melting ice cream cakes.
We explored the ancient city until closing time, then retreated to our campsite alongside one of the rivers. Ralf & Lisa were pulling in just as we arrived, making for a small reunion of fellow Panamerican travelers.
We spent the night drinking wine and planning for the next day’s border crossing into Guatemala. The morning dawned crisp and clear and we woke up early enough to get in some solo swimming and skinny dipping time in the crystalline waters of the stream neighboring our campsite before once again hitting the road.
Next stop: Quetzaltenango!
