As a consequence of their astronomical observations they were able to perfection the calendars of the Sun, the Moon and Venus with incredible precision.

They also developed the concept of the mathematical zero, developed a thousand years later in Europe, and created a complicated form of hieroglyphic writing, which has until now been only partially deciphered.

In general terms, the Maya area is divided into three regions:

the southern zone includes the coastal regions of the Pacific and up to the highlands of El Salvador, Guatemala and the Mexican state of Chiapas, where the soil is fertile and supports coniferous vegetation.

The central region covers the north-eastern part of Honduras, Belize and the Guatemalan region of Paten, the forest of Chiapas, the south of Campeche and Quintana Roo, as well as Chontalpa, in the Mexican state of Tabasco; the topography includes hills and plains, irrigated by important rivers and lagoons that provide life to the tropical jungles.

And finally, the northern region, which is made up mostly of the Yucatan Peninsula, and is characterized by its limestone plains, poor topsoil that supports monte chico vegetation, and water that runs below the surface forming large wells, known locally as "Cenotes."

Constructed on the banks of five lakes, in the heart of a forest with incredibly high, fine-wood trees, in the state of Quintana Roo, is Cobá, the most important and extensive city/state in the north of the Yucatan Peninsula.

The inhabitants of this grand urban sprawl developed the most impressive network of highways in the pre-Hispanic world. So far, a total of 40 highways have been discovered, with lengths varying between a few meters and a hundred kilometers, in some cases, with a width of up to 20 meters, and height of up to four meters.

In the urban zone of Coba, the sacbéob are truly wondrous feats of road engineering that are made up of split-level walkways, roundabouts and constructions that indicate crossroads.