5 Mayan ruins near Merida

These are the 5 most important Mayan ruins near Merida.

Chichen Itza – Mayan Ruins

Location 

From Cancun: 3 hours

From Playa del Carmen: 2 hours and a half

From Merida: 1 hour and a half

Chichen Itza, one of the “Seven Wonders of the World,” is home to towering temples, sacred sinkholes, and curious Mayan ballcourts. Centrally located in the Yucatan Peninsula, this magnificent place is visited by 2.5 million people each year, and it’s within a day-tripping distance from major destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula.

Chichen Itza covers 740 acres, and you can find several Mayan pyramids and unique Mayan archeological sites. Upon entering Chichen Itza, the first pyramid you see is El Castillo (AKA the Temple of Kukulcan); this is the Chichen Itza pyramid you’ve seen in photos. Other notable sites include the Temple of the Warriors, Group of a Thousand Columns, El Caracol Observatory, and Sacred Cenote.

You will pay to get in when arriving at the Chichen Itza entrance gate. Accredited tour guides are available if you want to hire one. These are independent guides. The price of the tour guide varies anywhere from $1,000-1,500 pesos ($50-75USD); just remember to bring enough pesos to pay them, and arrive early to ensure you get a guide.

Keep in mind these tips to make your visit more comfortable.

Chichen Itza admission: $486 pesos ($24 USD) for foreigners, and $168 pesos ($8 USD) for Mexican Citizens

Chichen Itza Hours: Open Daily 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

We recommend you check Chichen Itza’s website to confirm the entrance fee and hours of operation. 

In Chichen Itza, you can also enjoy a light and sound show at night called “Noches de Kukulcan.” The show lasts 30 minutes, and the entrance is not included.

The light and sound show is a unique experience for all audiences. In addition, it offers a different aspect of the Mayan culture. So if you visit Chichen Itza, don’t miss the show.

Tips

If you want to go on your own, you can drive your rental car or take the ADO Bus from Merida to Chichen Itza.

Tulum – Mayan Ruins

Location 

From Cancun: 2 hours

From Playa del Carmen: 1 hour

From Merida: 3 hours and a half

Tulum is the 3rd most visited archaeological site in Mexico, located close to major destinations in the Yucatan Peninsula. However, you can stay in Tulum. Check the Best Airbnb and Home Rentals in Tulum.

Tulum was one of the last Mayan inhabited cities during the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in 1518. The City was an important port between Mexico and Central America. Tulum means “wall” in the Mayan language, but research suggests that the Tulum was called Zama (dawn).

Tulum is surrounded by walls that are 380 meters long, 200 meters wide, and 6 meters in height that protect about 60 structures. In this unique Mayan City lived around ten thousand inhabitants who traded with other cities in the region. The City stands on a rocky cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

The pyramids of Tulum are small compared to others, and most monuments had ceremonial functions. Nevertheless, these are some of the most important monuments.

El Castillo (The Castle) is one of the largest groups of buildings in Tulum, and it’s the City’s most imposing building and was, without a doubt, the most important. 

As you pass the temples and enter the site toward the sea, you will encounter another relatively small building called Casa del Cenote (The House of the Well). The structure was built over a cave containing water (cenote), as the name suggests.

Templo del Dios Descendente (Temple of the Descending God) is one of the most beautiful temples in Tulum. This temple gets its name from a sculpture representing a god-human wearing a headdress, descending from the heavens, and holding an object of some kind.

El Palacio (The Palace) served as the residence of Tulum’s most important inhabitants. There are benches around the walls used as seats and probably as beds. 

Templo de las Pinturas (Temple of the Paintings) is the best-preserved temple in Tulum and takes its name from the colored murals on one of its inner walls. 

Uxmal – Mayan Ruins

Location 

From Cancun: 5 hours

From Playa del Carmen: 4 hours and a half

From Merida: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Another popular site in the Yucatan Peninsula is the Uxmal Ruins (pronounced oosh-mall). Uxmal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, considered the second most important Mayan archaeological site in the Yucatan Peninsula, after Chichen Itza.

Though lacking the name recognition of Chichen Itza, Uxmal is equally impressive. Uxmal is less crowded, and many say it feels more authentic and less touristy. In addition, Uxmal is a more peaceful place overall, where you’ll feel relaxed as you admire its ancient Mayan architecture.

At Uxmal, you can climb the pyramids and buildings, unlike Chichen Itza, which does not allow anyone to climb any structures.

Ruta Puuc – Mayan Ruins

Location

From Cancun: 5 hours

From Playa del Carmen: 4 hours and a half

From Merida: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Though Uxmal has the most name recognition on this Route, four additional sites on the Puuc Route are worth checking. Sayil, Labna, Kabah, Xlapak, all fall under the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation.

The Ruta Puuc is a 58km (36 miles) route along Highway 261 (Hopelchen-Uman Highway). Coming from Merida, Uxmal is the first site you’ll pass, at 52 miles (84km) away. If you keep following the road southeast, you’ll pass Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak, and Labna, in that order.

The easiest way to see all the Puuc Route sites is in a rental car, as there’s not always public transport. Still, if you want a private guide and enjoy a traditional meal, you can check the Uxmal & The Puuc Route from Merida Tour.

COBA – Mayan Ruins

Location 

From Cancun: 2 hours

From Playa del Carmen: 1 hour and 30 minutes

From Merida: 3 hours

The archaeological site of Coba is surrounded by five lakes and still largely hidden by sub-tropical vegetation. It contains about 6500 structures spread over nearly 70 km (112 miles). This is one of the most important sites in the Yucatán Peninsula that can only be compared with Chichen Itza, its eternal rival. Archaeologists believe that Cobá had a population of 50 000 inhabitants (and possibly more) at its peak.

The City is divided into different sets with a chronological relationship between them; the distance between the elements makes the visit hard on the feet, so it is advisable to rent a bike.

One of the main attractions is the Nohoch Mul pyramid, the tallest in the Yucatan Peninsula. If you climb to the top, you can see an excellent view of the jungle and the surrounding ruins.

Coba is perfect for having a relaxing day. You can enjoy both the archeological site and refresh yourself in the two lakes located at the site.

Coba hours: Open Daily 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Visit length: 3 Hours