23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Travel
Temple Lost in the Green Sea

Deep in the Quintana Roo jungle, this ancient Maya temple rises above an endless canopy of green. Hidden from most visitors, the structure appears almost swallowed by time, with only the treetops hinting at a civilization that once thrived here. The untouched silence of the forest makes the ruins feel both mysterious and sacred.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 10.2025
Date Uploaded: 12.2025
Photo Location: Mexico
Camera: FC3411
Copyright: © Uku Sööt