Celebrating Year of the Maya with tour of Latin America's ruins

By Laura Allsop, CNN

Updated 1354 GMT (2154 HKT) January 17, 2012

The Global Heritage Fund has named 2012 "The Year of the Maya," -- the Maya calendar points to December 2012 as the dawn of a new age. La Danta pyramid, at El Mirador in Guatemala, is one of the sites which the Global Heritage Fund is fighting to protect.
Photos: Celebrate the 'Year of the Maya'
Maya sites in Latin America – The Global Heritage Fund has named 2012 "The Year of the Maya," -- the Maya calendar points to December 2012 as the dawn of a new age. La Danta pyramid, at El Mirador in Guatemala, is one of the sites which the Global Heritage Fund is fighting to protect.
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Magnificent temples can be seen at locations across Latin America, such as here, at the Tikal archaeological site in Guatemala.
Photos: Celebrate the 'Year of the Maya'
Maya sites in Latin America – Magnificent temples can be seen at locations across Latin America, such as here, at the Tikal archaeological site in Guatemala.
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Tulum, on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula was once a walled city, an important trading post with several temples and a port.
Photos: Celebrate the 'Year of the Maya'
Maya sites in Latin America – Tulum, on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula was once a walled city, an important trading post with several temples and a port.
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Today it is one of Mexico's most picturesque Maya sites, overlooking the blue-green waters of the Caribbean sea.
Photos: Celebrate the 'Year of the Maya'
Maya sites in Latin America – Today it is one of Mexico's most picturesque Maya sites, over