The best 5 Mayan Ruins to visit in the Yucatan Peninsula
The Yucatan Peninsula was home to one of the most advanced civilizations the world has ever known: the Mayans. Their influence in the region is definitely still evident today through the abundance of Maya ruins scattered throughout the area. However, with so many stunning archeological sites to choose from, it can be difficult to decide which ones are worth seeing. That's precisely why I've created this blog post, which will hopefully give you a hand narrowing down your options and ensure that you don't miss out on the most captivating Mayan ruins in the region. I’ve also included a few travel tips of course!
Chichen Itza
The first place goes with no doubt to Chichen Itza. You can absolutely not miss it! Chichen Itza, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was once one of the largest cities in the Mayan civilization. It is home to a huge pyramid known as El Castillo, one of the seven wonders of the modern world. When you have the opportunity to stand beside it, you'll understand for yourself why this place is so majestic and breathtakingly beautiful.
Its History
The pyramid is deeply connected to astronomical observations and the Mayan calendar and served as a temple to the feathered serpent god, Kukulcan. Hence, many also call it the Pyramid of Kukulcan. The architecture of the pyramid is to say the least impressive! It has 91 steps on each side and an additional step at the top, totaling 365 steps, one for each day of the year. It is also aligned with the equinoxes in such a way that on the spring and fall equinoxes, a shadow in the shape of a serpent appears on the side of the pyramid, which gives the appearance of a serpent descending down the side of the building. For the Mayans, the serpent represented the god Kukulcan. The equinoxes were important dates for the Mayans, as they marked the changing of the seasons and were seen as times of great significance and ritual. It is also believed that the appearance of the serpent was likely a signal for the Mayans to start planting or harvesting crops. Pretty impressive for the 600 AD!
When visiting Chichen Itza, you will probably see visitors randomly clapping their hands next to the pyramid. This is because the pyramid's architecture and acoustics create a unique sound effect. If you stand in front of the pyramid's staircase and clap your hands, the sound echoes back and creates a sound similar to the call of the Quetzal bird, considered sacred by the Mayans. The sound effect is believed to be intentional and may have been incorporated into the pyramid's design to create a powerful acoustic experience during religious ceremonies or other important events. You will probably be able to see a Quetzal while visiting the site if you are lucky enough! If not, then start clapping and maybe they’ll fly by 😜. We did see a few around the area.
Around the archeological site of Chichen Itza, you will also be able to see the Temple of Warriors, the Great Ball Court, the Observatory, and the Sacred Cenote, and two natural cenotes (sinkholes) used for sacrificial offerings by the Mayans who believed that cenotes where a sort of portal to the underworld. If you want to know more about the Mayan civilization and the story of Chichen Itza, you can get an official guide for your visit. I believe it was about £60.00 for about a one and a half tour. On the other hand, if you are travelling on a budget, you could simply do some research beforehand to learn more about the Mayans and the site itself like I did (or just stand close to those who actually got a guide and listen up 🤫, little secret).
General Info
Also, when planning your visit please do not book online! We had a rental car and were looking for an entrance ticket only to the site. While preparing for the trip I found lots of websites selling an entrance only ticket for Chichen Itza for over £50.00, when in reality it is actually only £29.00 if you buy it directly at the ticket counter. Even the official Chichen Itza website shows higher prices for the ticket so be aware if you are looking for entrance only. However, I’ll link the official website here for you for some more info and for prices including transportation from Tulum and Cancun. There is also a blog with a lot of updated information on other archeological sites around the region.
One more tip, make sure to arrive early in the morning to avoid long queues at the ticket desk and to be able to find a nearby parking space for your rental car as well if you have one. Do not trust anyone who is trying to sell you super fake tickets before the entrance to the archeological site! Again, they are fake and will not be accepted at the entrance.
Similar for the parking, if you get there early, just drive all the way to the actual entrance first where the official big parking space is (if I remember correctly we had to pay 50 Pesos to park) and don’t stop at non-official car parking spaces on the main road unless the main one is already full. Non-official once were asking more money and were a good 10+ minutes walk from the entrance too. Just remember you are in Mexico and think twice every time someone is asking you to pay for anything.
If you are not planning to rent a car, then you can simply book a tour through Viator, GetyourGuide or any other similar website to visit (you can also look at the official Chichen Itza website as explained above). They are usually full day trips starting from Tulum or Cancun which also include a visit to a nearby Cenote. Only downside is you’ll be on the road for a good part of the day as Chichen Itza is about a 3 hour drive from where you are probably staying. If you decide to rent a car then you can just overnight around the Valladolid area and explore that part of the region.
Tulum Ruins
The second Mayan site you should definitely add to your list is located in Tulum, better known as the Tulum Ruins, right on the coast. There are several impressive structures, including a large pyramid known as the Castle or Castillo, which overlooks the Caribbean Sea. Make sure you take some amazing pictures as this is the perfect place for stunning ocean views! There is also a beautiful beach right inside the area of the archaeological site, thus access to the beach has been closed since the pandemic and when we visited it was unfortunately full of Sargassum as well (a smelly algae).
General Info
Entrance to the Tulum Ruins is about £8.00 but again you will have to pay for the parking which was 100 Pesos (£5.00) for the day. From the main parking area to the Ruins you will have to walk about 10 min through the initial part of the reserve. Two guys from the army stopped us there because apparently you have to pay an additional fee to enter the reserve which was another 100 or 150 Pesos if I remember correctly. Honestly, I didn’t find any information regarding this online while planning but us and all the other people going to the Ruins had to all queue up and pay the fee. Also, as per Chichen Itza, do not trust anyone trying to sell you fake tickets. The official ticket desk is at the end of the long road which will lead you to the site entrance, only purchase your ticket from there. They only accept cash so make sure you have some with you. If it is too hot for you to walk, there is also a cute truck that will take you for a few extra Pesos from the parking area to the entrance of the Tulum Ruins and vice versa.
Coba Ruins
Number three on the list are the Coba ruins, located right in the jungle on the way between Tulum and Valladolid. Coba was once a very large city. It covers a vast area and features numerous well-preserved structures, the most famous of which is the Nohoch Mul pyramid. We chose to visit Coba as I had read that this was the only archeological site in the whole of the Yucatan Peninsula in which you could still climb the Nohoch Mul pyramid and enjoy the breathtaking jungle views from above. Very sadly, due to the need to preserve the pyramid, this is no longer possible following the pandemic.
When visiting Coba, get ready to walk a lot. We spent about 3 and a half hours and walked over 5km. Once you are finished with your visit, if you are too tired to walk back to the parking lot by yourself, you can rent a tricycle with a driver for about 100 Pesos. We decided to go for it as we still had a long day before us and were a little tired already. However, we felt so sorry for the guy taking us that we ended up paying double to leave him a good tip. It was a very hot day and taking people back and forth from the parking lot to the pyramid is definitely not an easy job! They deserve every single Peso. You can also rent a bicycle at the entrance if you like. We mistakenly thought we were ok without one but turns out we were wrong. Going back, I would have opted to rent one instead, as it would have also saved us time. In terms on costs, parking fee was 50 Pesos, while the actual entrance fee to the archeological site was 70 Pesos.
Izamal Pyramids
Last but not least, the Mayan Ruins found in the little Pueblo of Izamal, also known as ‘Pueblo Amarillo’ or yellow city as most of its buildings, including its houses, churches, and public buildings, are painted in a distinctive bright yellow colour. Definitely a place I would suggest adding to your itinerary as well. One of the most notable Mayan pyramids in Izamal is the Kinich Kak Moo pyramid, or Pyramid of the Sun. You can still climb up this one but be very careful as the pyramids in Izamal are not taken care of very well and you could hurt yourself as the steps are very steep and narrow. The most important part of this site? Entry is free and they are right in the town of Izamal!
Ek Balam and Uzmal
If you are planning to stay anywhere near Valladolid, I would suggest adding Ek Balam where you will also be able to climb the main pyramid. The entry fee to this one is a little higher than the rest but I’m sure it is worth the stunning views from the top. Equally, if you are visiting the area around Merida, I would also suggest adding Uzmal to your itinerary where you would be able to admire the pyramid of the Magician almost as stunning as Chichen Itza!
Unfortunately (and regretfully) we didn’t have enough time to visit these last two sites, but I certainly will in the future and update this post with my personal experience.
In the meantime, I hope you have an amazing time in Mexico! If you are wondering how I planned my trip in the Yucatan, check out the full itinerary in here.
