The celebration came on the eve of 21 December, the date characterised in popular culture as the "Mayan Apocalypse", despite what archaeologists say is scant evidence that the Mayans believed the world would end with the close of the era, known as the 13th Baktun.
While the end of the Mayan calendar cycle prompted a wave of doomsday speculation across the globe, few in the Mayan heartland believe the world will end.
The Mayans measured time in 394-year periods known as baktuns.
The 13th baktun ends around 21 December and 13 is considered a sacred number for the Mayans.
