Various peoples of Maya origin have been Eving in the three Mexican federal states of the Yucatan peninsula, in Chiapas and Guatemala for millennia. Here, they created the most mature civilization of the New World. The Spanish conquista of these countries destroyed their splendid civilisation. The European conquerors demonstrate particular cruelty and ruthlessness in fighting Maya religion, which they considered to be the work of the devil. In spite of centuries of persecution, many beliefs, rituals and habits which were part of the past religions have been preserved in the Yucatan woods and Guatemala mountains. The author describes his encounters with these spiritual survivals of Maya civilization.