15 Best Mayan Ruins In Mexico That You Shouldn’t Miss

Are you looking for the best Mayan ruins in Mexico to visit? 

In Mexico and Central America, the Maya are a culture and a people who have lived there since around the year 1800 BCE. There is a widespread belief that the Maya have been obliterated, which is not the case at all.

Several million Mayas still speak their native Mayan language instead of Spanish, which now dominates in their countries of residence. The Mayas continue to practice their ancient traditions and speak their language.

However, Mayan cities and pyramids of stone built by their ancestors have been left to rot in the jungles of Mexico for various reasons. Over the past centuries, a large number of Mayan sites have been excavated.

15 Best Mayan Ruins In Mexico

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The discovery of these sites has reintroduced people to this fascinating culture, and the turns are now among the best parts of the country’s tourist attractions. Heading to Mexico soon? Here are some of the best Mayan sites that you won’t want to miss.

1. Chichen Itza, Yucatan

Chichen Itza, one of Mexico’s most important and iconic historical sites, is only about 120 miles from Cancun. Mexico’s most famous landmark, Chichen Itza has been included in the New Seven Wonders of the World.

This Mayan city located in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico was a bustling metropolis in the 5th century. At about two square miles, it is one of the largest cities in the Mayan world. It was a bustling center of commerce, with homes, religious monuments, and even its enclaves within its borders.

Among the best attractions in Chichen Itza is El Castillo, a step pyramid built according to strict scientific and mathematical principles, which is a stunning example of Mayan astronomical knowledge. To pay tribute to one of the most important Mayan gods (Kukulcan), the shadow of a serpent appears on the pyramid twice a year during spring and autumn equinox.

Opening Hours: 8 AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Sunday

Tip: If you’re going by car, get the Chichén Itzá: Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket, and leave early so you can stop and take in extra sights along the way.

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2. Monte Alban, Oaxaca

Mesoamerica’s most important archeological zone lies in what is known as the Oaxaca Valley, home to the region’s most important archeological site. Between 500 B.C. and 800 AD, Monte Albán was a Zapotec metropolis that served as the Zapotec capital for more than a century before being overtaken by the city of Oaxaca in the 16th century.

More than four miles (6.5 square kilometers) of impressive architectural remains are preserved in and around the Great Plaza, which is anchored at its north and south ends by massive platforms.

Monte Albán’s ruins are both a cultural treasure trove and fortification, dating back to the Zapotec era. A ball court, palaces, temples, and an observatory are all part of the complex. You’ll see the city, mountains, and valleys from every angle because it’s 400 meters above the valley floor. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and has been open to visitors ever since.

Opening Times: 8 AM to 4:30 PM Monday to Sunday

Tip: The best time to begin your visit to the Monte Alban site is early in the morning, so it’s best to join a Monte Alban Full Day Tour to make the most of your visit.

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3. El Tajin, Veracruz

One of Mesoamerica’s largest and most influential cities during the Classical period was El Tajin, a pre-Columbian archaeological site in southern Mexico.

Between the years 600 and 1200 CE, El Tajin, a region of Classic Veracruz culture, saw a boom in the construction of temples, palaces, ballrooms, and pyramids. Until a government inspector discovered the Pyramid of the Niches in 1785, no European had heard of the city since it was destroyed in 1230.

Located in Veracruz, El Tajin is one of the best-preserved and most valuable cities of the Classic era of Mesoamerica. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1992, El Tajin was named after the Totonac rain god because of its cultural importance and architecture. The use of decorative niches and cement in this architecture is unique to the rest of Mesoamerica and is not seen elsewhere.

Opening Times: 9 AM to 5 PM Monday to Sunday

Tip: Try to go late in the day if you can, because the reddening sky and setting sun are breathtaking when seen from here.

Read More: Guide To Visiting El Tajin

4. Teotihuacan, Mexico state

Teotihuacan and its pyramids are all that is left of Mesoamerica’s most powerful settlement. When Europeans first arrived in the early 1500s, they found a city that was not only pre-Hispanic but predates the Aztec empire as well.

With its UNESCO World Heritage Site status and proximity to modern-day Mexico City which makes it one of the popular day trips from the capital, Teotihuacan’s pyramids should be on the must-see list of any traveler.

Larger pre-Hispanic pyramids can still be scaled for spectacular views from the top, and many of these ancient engineering marvels are still open to the public.

Pirámide del Sol (Pyramid of the Sun) and Pirámide de la Luna (Pyramid of the Moon) are the two most prominent structures at the sprawling site.

Opening Times: 9 AM to 5 PM (last entry at 3 PM) Monday to Sunday

Tip: Traveling to Teotihuacan during the dry and cool months of November through May is the best for tourists. Try also to visit Teotihuacan on a weekday rather than on a weekend to avoid crowds.

Read More: Guide To Visiting Teotihuacan

5. Becán, Campeche

When it comes to archaeological sites, Chichen Itza may have been the most well-known, but wait until you see Becan.

There are several Mayan sites near Calakmul in Campeche, but Becan is one of the most impressive and under-appreciated.  One of the many cities that fought Tikal during its heyday, Becan is now a ghost town.

Over the centuries, seven acres of land have been excavated and 20 structures have been opened to the public. You can only imagine how big and complex the city was while you stand in its center. The plazas are large, the pyramids are impressive, and the moat is visible in many places.

Opening Times: 8 AM to 5 PM Sunday to Friday

Tip: Bring lots of water and snacks. The site is huge. You’ll need the energy and fluids while exploring.

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6. Calakmul, Campeche

Calakmul’s Mayan ruins include two enormous pyramids and a vast network of reservoirs that once supplied enough water for 50,000 people.

The site is located in the heart of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, away from the majority of the area’s tourist attractions. There are howler monkeys and jaguars in this protected jungle near the Guatemalan border.

Even today, visitors can scale these towers to get a bird’s eye view of the surrounding tropical forest, central plaza, and palace complexes. Due to its remote location, there aren’t many visitors to the site, which can be explored for days at a time.

Opening Times: 8 AM to 5 PM Monday to Sunday

Tips: Bring enough water and snacks with you because there are no food stalls on site since it is deep in the jungle.

7. Coba, Quintana Roo

Coba, in contrast to Chichen Itza and Tulum, has remained relatively unknown despite its proximity to these two well-known archaeological sites. Due to its remote location and dense jungle, it wasn’t accessible to the general public until 1970.

As of today, only a small portion is known, but it is one of the largest Mayan cities, covering an area of about 30 square miles. Explore the four square miles of public land with a bicycle rental.

Visitors can still climb to the top of Coba, making it one of Mexico‘s last remaining archaeological sites.

Nohoch Mul, the main structure, is the pyramid to be scaled. It is reached via a series of narrow, slick stone steps. The view, which stretches for miles across lush jungle, makes it all worthwhile.

Opening Times: 8 AM to 5 PM Monday to Sunday

Tip: Coba is located deep in the jungle so bring your bug spray. You may also want to join a combined tour like this Tulum and Coba adventure to see more.

8. Ek’ Balam, Yucatán

Ek’ Balam was a city that was mysteriously wiped out in the 8th century. It’s still a jungle-covered wonderland, but the Acropolis is one of the most impressive structures on view.

An enormous jaguar mouth, stucco skulls, and winged figures decorate the Ek’ Balam pyramid, which sits on top of the Acropolis and is known as “the black jaguar.”

Known as “El Torre,” it is one of the Yucatan‘s largest Mayan structures, measuring more than 500 feet long by 200 feet wide by 100 feet high. It is believed that the ruler Ukil-Kan-Lek-Tok, who ruled in the year AD 800, is buried in the Tower.

Only the city’s core has been excavated, out of the 4 square miles that have been occupied for more than a thousand years.

Today, the Ek Balam ruins are some of the Yucatan‘s tallest, standing 95 feet high. You’re allowed to climb to the top of the ruins, which will give you a breathtaking view of the peninsula from above the treetops.

Opening Times: 8 AM to 5 PM Monday to Sunday

Tip: Allow yourself between 1.5 and 2 hours to visit. At the ruins, there are few options for food, and they’re all overpriced. To make your visit more enjoyable, eat something beforehand or bring a snack with you.

9. Edzna, Campeche

Unlike many other Mayan archaeological sites in the area, Edzna, in the state of Campeche‘s northernmost region, receives little to no tourist traffic. Known as the Gran Acropolis, its main temple is perched atop a 130-foot platform. An old ball court still stands on the property.

Between AD 400 and 1000, the population of the city reached 25,000. In the year 1,500 BC, the city was abandoned, but historians believe that it may have been inhabited as early as 600 BC.

Uncovered in 1988, the Temple of the Masks is another significant structure. With two faces at its base, it depicts the sunrise and sunset gods respectively.

Opening Times: 8 AM to 5 PM Monday to Sunday

Tip: If you have the time, it’s a good idea to walk around the ruins of Edzna to see what the site looked like before it was discovered by archaeologists.

10. Templo Mayor, Mexico state

Templo Mayor, a fascinating archaeological site in Mexico City, is still being excavated today. When Tenochtitlán was built in 1325 as the Aztec capital, this “Greater Temple” was a part of it. There is some belief that the Templo Mayor was the Aztecs’ social and religious center.

A Mayan reclining figure on the temple’s northside dates to the time of its Spanish conquest, while a double pyramid built in the 1400s is part of the temple’s seventh and most recent phase.

It includes a museum where you can learn more about its history. Excavations are still ongoing, so there are still a lot of mysteries to be solved at this Mayan ruin.

Opening Times: 9 AM to 5 PM Tuesday to Sunday

Tip: Archaeological site visitors can get a sense of Aztec culture by wandering the streets near the ruins, but the Templo Mayor Museum has eight exhibit halls that tell the story of the site’s history.

11. Palenque, Chiapas

Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state, is home to one of the country’s most impressive Mayan cities. It was in the 16th century that Palenque’s history was first recorded in writing, but the city has been inhabited since the 3rd century CE.

Even though it may not be the most populous Mayan city, its inscriptions have helped researchers learn more about Mayan history and culture in unprecedented detail.

On the site are hundreds of ruins that were once vibrantly colored with red, blue, and yellow, now a stone gray. There are hundreds of hieroglyphics on display in the Temple of the Inscriptions, the most impressive structure.

In 1987, UNESCO designated the entire area as a World Heritage Site.

Opening Times: 8 AM to 5 PM Monday to Sunday

Tip: Arrive as early in the day as possible. If you want to avoid the crowds and the heat, this is the best time to visit the ruins, as the mist is still covering the structures. The sight is pure magic and not to be missed.

12. Tulum, Yucatan

Nearly as well-known as Chichen Itza is Tulum’s coastal ruins. El Castillo, the island’s most recognizable structure, is perched atop a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea.

One of the most popular attractions in Mexico, the Tulum ruins attract over 2 million visitors each year. The name Zama, which translates to “sunrise,” was given to the area in the early 1700s. It’s not hard to see why: the sunrises in this part of the world are truly breathtaking.

When Zama was at its golden era, it served as a gateway between the Yucatan Peninsula and Honduras and other parts of the Gulf of Mexico region

Opening Times: 9 AM to 3:30 PM Monday to Sunday

Tip: Bring a swimsuit if you plan to visit this location. Sand and water may be too irresistible to resist! Or book a combined day tour like this Tulum and Coba adventure to see more.

13. Uxmal, Yucatan

Archaeological evidence suggests that 20,000 people once lived in this Mayan city just outside the city of Merida in Yucatan. The city’s name Uxmal translates to “Thrice Built,”. This refers to the city’s tallest structure, The Pyramid of the Magician, which was built on top of existing pyramids and is the tallest structure in the city.

The Ruta Puuc, a Mayan highway that connects neighboring cities, serves as a major gateway to the city. The name Purc meanwhile, pertains to the region snd its architecture.

The city of Uxmal was at its golden age around the year 1000. Eventually, it was abandoned around the year 1500. Uxmal is now a 150-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site with numerous structures that can be scaled by tourists.

Opening Times: 8 AM to 5 PM

Tip: You will be climbing through the temples. The uneven terrain, ancient temples, and the height of the pyramid calls for sturdy walking shoes with a good amount of traction and a good amount of comfort. Some of the temples are incompletely restored.

14. Xochicalco, Morelos

As a fortified political, religious, and commercial center from the turbulent period of 650–900 following the dissolution of the great Mesoamerican states, Xochicalco is an exceptionally well-preserved example. Xochicalco means “in the house of flowers” in Nahuatl.

Visiting the temples, palaces, sweat baths, ball courts, stelae, and a cave is a worthwhile experience. The views here go on for miles because it’s on a desolate plateau.

Opening Times: 10 AM to 5 PM Monday to Sunday

Tip: The museum and archaeological site entrance fee is approximately 40 pesos or about twice that if you have a video camera, so keep that in mind when planning a trip.

15. Yaxchilan, Chiapas

Located in Chiapas, Mexico by the Usumacinta River, Yaxchilan is an ancient Maya city dating back thousands of years. With Piedras Negras as its main rival, Yaxchilan was one of the most powerful Maya states on the Usumacinta River in the Late Classic Period.

A rivalry existed between Yaxchilan and Guatemala’s largest Mayan city, Tikal, which was one of the most important and powerful ancient Mayan cities in the world. Many alliances were formed as a result of its location on the banks of the Usumacinta River.

Visitors to Yaxchilan’s archaeology are drawn to its intricate roof combs, facades, and stone lintels. Plus, the carved stone lintels above the doorways of many of the buildings are a must-see for visitors.

Opening Times: 8 AM to 5 PM Monday to Sunday

Tip: The best way to get here is by boat, so it’s best to go on a tour such as this one.