Where to see Mayan Ruins in Cancun

Ruined cities, ancient pyramids, tales of human sacrifice! Three spots to see Mayan archeology right in Cancun

I wanted to write about the Mayan Ruins in Cancun even though I realize that most people visit the “Mayan Riviera” for the beautiful blue waters, party atmosphere or total relaxation—not trekking to see old rocks. But if you’re like me and grew up inspired by National Geographic docs and Indiana Jones movies, you might be trying to figure out how you can see some pyramids or other Mayan archeological sites on your beach vacation.

Good news! There are three Mayan ruins in Cancun that are inexpensive and easy to access. You can visit one or more of these fascinating ancient city sites and still be back at the pool before sunset.

Read on for details on hours, prices, and what to expect at San Miguelito, El Rey, and El Meco.

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Should you visit the Mayan Ruins in Cancun if you’re already going to Chichen Itza, Coba, or some of the other bigger sites? Maybe. If you’re really into archeology, each site is unique. I’ve seen dozens throughout Central America and enjoyed them all. Also if you don’t like crowds you might want to balance out your day trip to a big site with the smaller, quieter experiences these provide. But these are mostly recommended for those sticking around Cancun looking for something local.

Who are the Maya?

More than 10 million international tourists visit the “Mayan Riviera” in Mexico every year, the strip of Caribbean coastal towns and resorts south of Cancun like Tulum and Playa del Carmen and I don’t know how many of them think about what the name means.

The Maya are the Indigenous peoples of this region, a pre-Colombian civilization who built cities stretching from Eastern Mexico to Belize, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala as far back as 750 BC.

The ancient Maya are known for their large temples, hieroglyphic writing, calendars, and ritual ceremonies including human sacrifices. By the time Spanish settlers arrived, most of those cities had collapsed to ruin. But European archeologists started excavating these sites in the late 1800s and now the Mexican government runs dozens of them which have been reconstructed and open to visit.

At the same time, the Mayan people survived and have maintained their language and traditions. About 60% of Mexicans living in this part of the country identify as Maya.

What to Expect at a Mayan Archeological Site

So my first visit to Chichen Itza was way back when you could still climb up the pyramid. Now that’s closed off and if you try you’ll get arrested. When I was last there, about 10 years ago, it was incredibly crowded with day trippers on tour buses, and many souvenir stalls all over the grounds. The sites I’ve listed here in Cancun are much smaller and there’s a good chance you’ll have the place all to yourself.

In a park-like setting, you’ll see reconstructed temples and other buildings. There may be some cool sculptures, or hieroglyphs and paintings. And likely piles of stones that are overgrown with nature. You may see some archeologists excavating, and quite likely you will see lizards and cool birds.

Most people are happy spending around 1 hour there, more if you want to do photography. Like most places in Mexico I recommend visiting in the morning before it gets hot.

To visit the bigger Mayan sites in Mexico like Chichen Itza you might want to join a tour. But for these Mayan ruins in Cancun you can get there by local bus, taxi/uber, or perhaps even walking.

Here are the three Mayan Ruins in Cancun I recommend visiting. Two of them are in the hotel zone and one is just north of the downtown.

Mayan Museum of Cancun & San Miguelito

Location: Hotel Zone

It’s a two-for-one attraction here. The Mayan archeological site of San Miguelito is attached to a Mayan Museum—you buy admission to both. It dates to the 13^th century and consists of structures that families would have lived in the last years before Spanish conquest, plus an impressive three-story pyramid, a mural with paintings of turtles and fishes, etc.

It doesn’t have the “wow” factor of bigger sites but it’s very easy to visit as it’s right in the hotel zone and there is something kind of wild about seeing huge hotels peeking through the tree canopy, the mix of ancient and modern. The museum has important pieces from bigger sites like Palenque and Chichen Itza and signage in both Spanish and English. Together, they are a good introduction to the Mayan culture and history.

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9am to 6pm
Cost: $100 pesos (about $7 CAN). Free for those over 60 and under 13.
Near the Omni hotel. Local buses stop right out front. There’s a small (free) parking lot.

El Rey (The King)

Location: Hotel Zone

There are 47 structures at this archeological site, named “The King” after excavations unearthed the burial site of a high-ranking person—although it was more of a small working fisherman’s settlement, operating between 200 and 1200 AD. There’s a small pyramid and temple here, and several ruined palaces.

Hours: Monday to Sunday 8am to 5pmCost: $75 pesos (about $6 CAN)
Kilometer 18 of Kukulcan Boulevard, near Playa Delfine or Hotel Riu Ventura. Local buses stop out front.

El Meco

Location: North of downtown Cancun near ferry to Isla Mujeres

Archeology in Mexico is always a work in progress. This site wasn’t accessible to the public when I was spending a lot of time in this region in the 2000s and I was thrilled to find it had just reopened when I visited in January 2025.

El Meco was first settled in 300-600 AD, when it was a small fishing village and named for the pink flamingos they used to have here. (Sadly, I did not see any!) After being abandoned for several hundred years, in 1000 it became a place for trade – most of the structures here are from that period.

Arriving in the open plaza you’ll see an impressively reconstructed five-level pyramid (or as they call it Castillo, meaning castle) with two serpent heads. It’s the tallest Maya building on in Northern Quintano Roo province and the only Mayan temple that faces the ocean. You can imagine seeing this when arriving from the water would have really been something. I would love to sit up there to watch the sunrise—alas, like most structures it’s off limits to climbing for conservation reasons. The site is easy to walk around. Look out for ceremonial altars and shrines as well.  

I made El Meco a pit-stop on my way to the Isla Mujeres ferry. Staff was happy to hold my luggage for me while I wandered. You enter and pay on one side of the road then take a bridge over to the site. There is good signage in Spanish, English and Mayan languages.

Hours: Monday to Sunday 8am to 4:30pm
Cost: $75 pesos (about $6 CAN) – Free on Sundays
Carretera Puerto Juarez, 7km from ADO Bus Terminal City Centre: 7km, 3.5 km from Puerto Juarez ferry to Isla Mujeres and 16km from the Cancun Hotel Zone

I hope this has inspired you to get out and visit some of Mexico’s archeological sites on your trip to Cancun. I’ve done my best to give detailed and updated information but recommend checking the official government website (in Spanish only) for the latest hours, opening/closures, etc. On my most recent trip Google said El Meco was permanently closed but it was actually reopened so don’t trust them (or AI) either!

Looking for quiet relaxation in Cancun? Read my review of the Kayanta spa at the Kempinski Hotel Cancun.