This site is small but not irrelevant because it is the gateway to the spectacular northern part of El Pet n as well as a starting point for a M xico-Guatemala trip. This archaeological site was the location of the capital of the ancient Cakchiquel Maya domain, in which the first capital of the Kingdom of Goathemala was founded. The patio for ball games is completely enclosed, which is common in many places on the altiplano. In addition to ordinary tombs, the site has a great variety of early Classic period tombs beneath its unpretentious pyramids. Lovely red-clay vessels, revealing outside influences, are one example of ceramics found here.
Foreign styles are also discernible in some of the pyramids.
No extraordinary temples are present, but the openings in the roofs indicate the buildings were roofed with straw. Kaminal Juy is distinguished by its incredible number of patios for ball games. Archaeological excavations in the zone have made clear the magnitude this city reached in the past. Today only some burial mounds covered with sand remain, and they are used as leisure areas. There is an Acropolis with buildings that hold at least 12 patios of different levels within them.