21 Best Mayan Ruins in Mexico

Discover the main Mayan ruins in Mexico, their main attractions and learn how you can include them in your travel itinerary.

Mexico is a country with Spanish and mesoamerican influence and it is very famous for its gastronomy, beaches and all inclusive resorts. Places like Cancún and Tulum for example, are very popular Mexican Caribbean’s tourist destinations. But what not so many people know, is that the country is also very rich in history, art and culture and it is the country of the Americas with the highest number of places designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites.

And that is the reason why we decided to show you in this article 21 incredible Mayan ruins that can be visited in different regions of the country. Find here where they are located (note the map at the end), what are their main attractions and how you can include them in your trip to Mexico.

The Mayan Civilization

The Mayan civilization was developed in Central and North America, and its biggest part is where Mexico is now located. The Mayans stood out for their written language, agriculture and also for their art, architecture, mathematics and astronomy. The civilization’s influence can also be seen in countries like Honduras, Guatemala, Belize and El Salvador.

It peaked between AD 250 and AD 900, being considered the most culturally dynamic society in the world at that time, reaching a population of around 13 million people.

In its decline phase, which is supposed to have happened because of the combination of some factors such as internal wars, disease outbreaks, foreign invasion and climate change, many urban centers were abandoned and today they form the ruins, also called archeological sites or archeological zones.

Mayan Ruins in Mexico

Find below our selection with 21 Mayan ruins in Mexico, divided by region, for you to visit during your trip:

Region: Quintana Roo

Tulum

The Mayan ruins of Tulum are considered one of the most beautiful places in Riviera Maya. Zamá, as it was called in the native language, means “sunrise”. Its location makes its ruins contrast with the Caribbean Sea, providing an unique view.

Its main attractions are El Castillo, the castle that faces the sea, and Casa del Cenote, a building made under a natural water deposit and the Templo del Dios Viento, which is Tulum’s most famous postcard.

This archaeological site is just 131 km away from Cancún and 64 km away from Playa del Carmen, making it super easy to do a day trip from those cities.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm (3:30 pm last entry).

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

Cobá

Even nowadays, most of the city is covered by trees, which guarantees a wild aspect to this place, differentiating it from the other Mayan Ruins of Mexico. Its main temple is the great pyramid of Cobá, known as Nohoch Mul, which is 42 meters high and has over 100 steps that you can climb.

As the ruins of Cobá are spread out, there is the option of renting a bicycle or tricycles for visiting them, which I particularly recommend.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm (4 pm last entry).

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

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Muyil

Also known as Chunyaxché, it was one of the villages that maintained a long occupational continuity thanks to its strategic location on the commercial route. This is one of the few archaeological sites to be found in the middle of a nature reserve and also one of the most important due to the number of buildings, the main one being the El Castillo pyramid. It is located 70 km away from Cobá and 26 km away from Tulum.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm.

Entry fee: 75 pesos

For additional information click here.

San Gervasio

The Mayan ruins of San Gervasio are located on the island of Cozumel and they have a religious character, as it is the sacred site of the goddess of fertility, known as Ixchel in the Mayan language. Being located in the Caribbean Sea, it is one of the tour options for those who are traveling on cruises.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 3:30 pm.

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

El Meco

Located 10 km away from the city center of Cancún, this city started with a small fishing village and became a commercial center due to its proximity to the coast. El Meco has 14 structures, and the main one is a 12-meter high Mayan pyramid, known as El Castillo, the highest point in the region and from where you can seethe Cancún area from above.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm.

Entry fee: 75 pesos

For additional information click here.

El Rey

Located near the hotel zone, this is a great thing to do in Cancun with kids and the whole family. El Rey is the largest archaeological site in the region and it is believed that there lived people who were dedicated to fishing activities and maritime trade. This site has 47 mayan stone structures and its name is due to a mask carved in stone to honor the sun god that was found in the region.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 4:30 pm.

Entry fee: 75 pesos

For additional information click here.

Chacchoben

The Mayan ruins of Chacchoben were practically unexplored until the early 2000’s and the archaeological site has many pyramids and sacred Mayan temples that are still being excavated with the aim of finding more information about the people who lived there. Due to its location, it is one of the possible tours for those who pass by cruises through this region. It is located 300km away from Cancún and just 50km away from Bacalar.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm.

Entry fee: 80 pesos

For additional information click here.

Region: Yucatán

Chichen Itzá

Considered one of the best attractions in Yucatan Peninsula, Chichen Itzá was built around AD 550 and it was also considered one of the most important capitals. It is there that the Kukulkán Pyramid is located, also called “El Castillo”, which is the main postcard of the entire Mayan civilization and one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World.

Its name means “the city on the edge of the well of Itzaes” and is about 200 km away from both Cancún and Playa del Carmen.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm (last entry).

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

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Note: I visited the park twice. In 2011, I made a tour that included the Cenote Ik kil, but I didn’t really enjoy the experience because we arrived at both places at peak times. In the last one, July 2019, I took a tour with a company called Alltournative. Check our photos and stories on Instagram.

Uxmal

Considered a World Heritage Site by Unesco since 1996, The Archaeological Zone of Uxmal brings together one of the most impressive examples of Mayan architecture represented by the Pyramid of the Adivino, the Cuadrángulo de las Monjas and the Casa de las Tortugas. It is located 382 km away from Cancún and 84 km away from Mérida.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm.

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

Izamal

Known as the yellow city for having most of its buildings painted in that color, this city is a mixture of indigenous, spanish and mexican culture and is also called the city of the 3 cultures.

Its main tourist spot is the San Antonio de Padua convent, built by the Spanish on the top of one of the Mayan pyramids, and the Kinich Kak Moo pyramid, one of the largest main ruins in Mexico, located nearby and surrounded by urban features.

Izamal is located 254 km away from Cancún and 67 km away from Mérida.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm.

Free entrance.

For additional information click here.

Ek Balam

Its ruins have as main attractions the Oval Palace and the Acropolis, the latter being the most important and tallest, with 32 meters high. Both have steps that can be used for the climb. It is located 172 km away from Cancún and 68 km away from the Archaeological Zone of Chichen Itzá.

Opening hours: It is temporarily closed due to damage caused by Gamma Storm, but it usually works from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm (last entry at 4 pm).

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

Region: Campeche

Calakmul

The Calakmul archeological site covers an area of 70 square kilometers, has more than 6,000 structures and it also has a museum with various ceramic items from the period such as masks and necklaces. It has been a World Heritage Site since 2002.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm.

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

Edzna

Its name comes from the word Ytzná, and its meaning can be considered “house of the Itzá”. The highlight of the Edzna ruins is the Edificio de los Cinco Pisos, an impressive five-story building, 31 meters high, and the Templo de los Mascarones, which has a facade with sculptures of different types of masks.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm (last entry at 4 pm).

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

Region: Mexico City

Teotihuacan

Located just 40km from Mexico City, Teotihuacan is the most explored site in Mesoamerica and it is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Its structure has a complex building system, with residences that resemble the apartments of today, and its highlight is in its pyramids: the Pyramid of the Sun, with 65 meters in height and the Pyramid of the Moon, with 45 meters.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm).

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

Tula

90 minutes away from Mexico City, at the top of Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl, there are the ruins of Tula, which has as its main attraction sculptures of Toltec warriors of 3 meters in height.

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 6 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm).

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

Region: Oaxaca

Monte Albán

Also considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this was one of the most important cities in Mesoamerica and its site is located high on a hill in the Oaxaca Valley. It was once the capital of the Oaxaca region and it was the first in that area to be abandoned. The visit to the ruins of Monte Albán includes a 360 degree view of the entire city and other valleys around it.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm (last entry at 4 pm).

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

Mitla

In Mitla, where the name means “place of the dead”, many tombs of kings and priests of that time were found and it is believed that this site worked as a religious and military center for the cities in the Oaxaca Valley region. It developed a lot after the departure of the Zapotecs from Monte Alban and its ruins stand out for the colors and mosaics carved in stone that mix with the buildings made by the Spanish invaders.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm).

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

Yagul

It is situated around a hill and it is one of the cities that developed after the decline of Monte Alban. The Yagul site stands out for having its structure divided into three parts, which are the fortress, the common housing area and the ceremonial center.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm (last entry at 4 pm).

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

Region: Chiapas

Palenque

A World Heritage Site since 1987, Palenque is where the tomb of Pakal the Great is located, being considered one of the most relevant discoveries in Mesoamerica. His city was covered by nature for almost a thousand years and today it is one of the most visited places in Mexico.

Its architectural ensemble has more than 200 structures with emphasis on the Gran Palacio, the Templo de las Inscripciones, the Templo de la Calavera and the de la Reina Roja.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm.

Entry fee: 90 pesos

For additional information click here.

Bonampak

Bonampak means “painted walls” and it is called that because of the highly complex colored drawings that are located inside its Mayan temples that represent the history of the city. The recovery of these paintings began only in 2009.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 8 am to 4:30 pm.

Entry fee: 90 pesos

For additional information click here.

Region: Tabasco

Comalcalco

A strategic commercial city in the midst of Mayan society, its architecture is different from the others due to the fact that its buildings are not made of stone, but of tiles joined by mortar. The architectural complex of Comalcalco consists of: the Acropolis, the Great Acropolis and the Plaza Norte.

Opening hours: from Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm (last entry at 4:30 pm).

Entry fee: 95 pesos

For additional information click here.

How to visit the Mayan ruins?

There are several options of archaeological sites spread across all the regions of Mexico and as we can see on the map, most of them are at great distances from the main cities. You can either choose to rent a car and set up your itinerary on your own, or hire tour operators for excursions or for private tours.

Mexico’s Mayan Ruins Map

LMTM tip: don’t forget to wear a hat, sunscreen and bring water, as it is usually very hot and the visits to the Mayan ruins in Mexico are open air most of the time.

Have a good trip!

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