fifteen Mayan ruins and archaeological sites worth exploring in Mexico

fifteen Mayan ruins and archaeological sites worth exploring in Mexico

Traveling in Mexico is a treat, especially for those who love history and ancient ruins. Here are my picks for the top Mayan archeological sites you shouldn't miss in 2025:

Ain't no stereotypes about the Mayan culture surviving extinction, y'all. They're still kickin' and thrivin', baby! With a population of around 7 million and still speakin' their native language, the Maya are a community that's maintained its heritage and traditions.

But Mexico ain't just home to the Maya community—it's also littered with abandoned Mayan cities and crumbling pyramids that their ancestors built. Many of these have been excavated and opened to the public, but some stand out more than others.

After livin' in Mexico for two goddamn years, I wanted to share some of my favorite Mayan ruins and archeological sites you should check out in Mexico. Read up on a bit of their history before you explore these incredible ancient pyramids and sites on your next trip to Mexico!

Mayan Ruins Map

Here's a handy-dandy map of the best Mayan Ruins in Mexico. You can find separate layers marking the route and points of interest by clickin' on the top left of the map. Click on icons or hide/show different layers as you please. Star the map to save it to your Google Maps or open it in a new window for a larger version. Enjoy your explorin'!

History of the Maya

The Maya were agricultural folk who tended crops like maize and beans. They cleared jungles for farming and developed more sophisticated techniques to boost their production.

Spiritually, they worshipped over 150 Gods, believin' their Kings were related to'em. Each God ruled over every subject associated with their lives, for example, the God of Rain, the God of Agriculture, and the God of Death.

Though it might seem complicated, this extensive list of deities resulted in significant advances in math and astronomy, and they manufactured the famous Mayan Calendar.

Sadly, the original Maya Empire was smashed many centuries ago due to drought, warfare, or overpopulation. But the Maya people still exist today, livin' in Mexico while hiding much of their own traditions and culture from the past.

Mayan Archeological Sites in Mexico

History lesson over—let's dive into the ancient Mayan ruins! There are around 200 Mayan sites in Mexico alone, and archaeologists are still workin' on uncoverin' some of them. I'm gonna help you cut through the noise and share 15 of my favorite Mayan archeological sites in Mexico. Let's rock 'n' roll!

1. Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins Chichen Itza was one of the greatest Maya cities in Mexico, coverin' around 6 square miles and once home to hundreds of buildings built in both the Classic Maya period and the later Maya-Toltec period. Chichen Itza rose to fame when it was named one of the New Wonders of the World. Its biggest draw for tourists is the Kukulkan Pyramid, standin' at 75 feet tall, build for astronomical and sacrificial purposes. Every year during the equinox, the setting sun creates shadows on the pyramid steps that resemble the body of a serpent. Chichen Itza can get crowded with tour buses, but with a skip-the-line ticket, you can have it all to yourself for a while. It's located a few hours away from the famous resorts in Cancun. You can take a guided tour or drive there yourself in a rental car.
2. Coastal Ruins of Tulum Found just a few hours away from Chichen Itza is the iconic Tulum, perched on a cliff overlooking the sea. Tulum was a major trading and religious center for the Maya between the 11th and 16th centuries. It traded turquoise, jade, cotton, food, copper bells, axes, and chocolate. Because of its prime location along the Riviera Maya coast, it gets a lot of visitors. My favorite part of the Tulum ruins is the Temple of the Frescoes, where you can still see painted murals inside!
3. Maya Ruins of Coba Located 40km west of Tulum, Coba is another of my favorite Maya ruins. Coverin' 80 square miles and featuring 5 large lakes, Coba is less popular but offers a real air of mystery. Though archaeologists believe it might one day be one of the largest Mayan excavations, right now it remains mostly untouched, allowing visitors to engage their imagination and dream up the story behind the many mounds and pyramids. To really appreciate the natural spectacle that is Coba, visitors can still climb 120 steep stone steps to the top of Nohoch Mul—the tallest pyramid in the peninsula—and gaze out over the jungle-covered ruins. Coba also has some excellent freshwater cenotes nearby for swimmin'.
4. Palenque The Mayan ruins of Palenque are steeped in historical significance and today stand as part of a UNESCO Heritage site surrounded by great trees and wildlife. One of its main highlights is the Temple of Inscriptions, which was built by King Pakal's first son and provides records of over 180 years of the city's history. As well as its historical information, the temple is also home to King Pakal's tomb, hidden in a burial chamber so humid that the walls drip with water, and individuals can only enter with special authorization.
5. Calakmul Mayan Ruins The Mayan ruins of Calakmul house two massive pyramids and an extensive system of reservoirs that once provided water for 50,000 Mayans. Located in the heart of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve near the border of Guatemala, it's a massive protected jungle with wildlife like howler monkeys and jaguars. Visitors can climb to the top of these structures and take in the surrounding tropical forests, the expansive central plaza, and the multiple palaces that lie around it. Of all the Mayan sites in Mexico, this one is my personal favorite. Due to its remote location, it isn't highly trafficked, and you can spend a full day exploring the site.
6. Monte Alban Monte Alban was one of Mexico's first pre-Colombian cities, supportin' primarily agriculture for centuries of development and changing populations. The city is located in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site due to its historical influence. Monte Alban is popular among tourists, as much of the city is still intact; includin' temples, tombs, palaces, an astronomical observatory, and even a historical ball court which would have hosted games similar to football.
7. Teotihuacan The impressive ruins of Teotihuacan were initially settled by unknown founders and feature a mix of various cultural influences. It's primarily Aztec but also contains Aztec, Mixtec, Toltec, and Otomi remains. Teotihuacan's main attraction is the Pyramid of the Sun, with a plethora of secrets yet to be revealed as archaeological digs continue.
8. Ek Balam The Mayan ruins of Ek Balam, meaning Black Jaguar, are located near the small town of Valladolid. You can spend the day explorin' and climbin' around the site before enjoyin' a dip in the beautiful X'Canche—a cenote sinkhole full of fresh crystal-blue water. Ek Balam is also the location of King Ukit Kan Lek Tok's tomb, which lies within the largest pyramid—standing alongside 45 other ancient structures.
9. Uxmal Uxmal is a set of Mayan ruins located near Merida, on the West side of the Yucatan Peninsula. In ancient times, Mayan high priests would perform ceremonies—including sacrifices—atop the religious structures in Uxmal—all hundreds of steps above the ground. According to Mayan legend, Uxmal's rounded Pyramid of the Magician was magically built overnight during a series of challenges issued to a dwarf by the king of Uxmal. Maya priests were also astrologers, and Uxmal was built and designed using astronomy to track the cycles of the moon and the stars.
10. Edzna Edzna translates in Mayan to "House of the Itzas," which has led many to believe that this particular city was the initial home of the Itza family—before they moved on to found the iconic site of Chichen Itza. Edzna is somewhat of a mystery in many ways, and this contributes to why it is such a great stop on any road trip through Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Though Edzna was a major city around 200 AD, in 1450 it was fully abandoned—with no obvious reason why. Edzna was then "rediscovered" in 1907, and today plays host to a daily Evening Light Show which lights up the city ruins.
11. El Rey El Rey is one of the smaller communities frequented by the Mayans—located in the heart of Cancun. Visiting these ruins can take less than an hour if you're short on time. El Rey is considered a temple complex and, when compared to some of the other city ruins, is fairly unspectacular. However, what El Rey does provide is a sense of real history, as you walk amongst the structures and learn how it connected to some of the other Mayan cities nearby—both for trade and for worship pilgrimages.
12. Chacchoben Next up are the ruins of Chacchoben near Mahahual—one of the most popular sites of the Mayan era. Unlike many of its smaller counterparts, Chacchoben has only a portion of the site open to the public. Many of the original temples are still standing in their ancient condition, awaitin' restoration. The city was home to the largest community in its region around 360 AD and was considered the center of ceremonial activity for the Mayans.
13. Templo Mayor The Templo Mayor is an impressive temple located in present-day Mexico City. It was dedicated to both the God of War and the God of Rain and Agriculture. The ruins stand next to an expansive cathedral, and it is said that stones from the temple were used in the construction of the cathedral; linkin' Mexico City's levels of history. The Templo Mayor itself was once the scene of coronations and human sacrifices—with the blood of the sacrifices believed to have fed the two Gods to whom the temple was dedicated.
14. Izamal Izamal was an important Mayan pilgrimage site, containin' one of the heaviest pyramid structures in all of Mesoamerica. It had its own glory days before Chichen Itza took over around 900 AD. Eventually invaded by the Spanish, Izamal remained a place of importance to the Mayans, and the Spanish built a large religious complex which is still a pilgrimage site even today for Mexican Catholics. In 1993, the site was even visited by Pope John Paul II!
15. El Meco El Meco is a set of smaller ancient Maya ruins located just North of Downtown Cancun. There's even a 41-foot high pyramid! These ruins were probably related to Isla Mujeres and an important port for the Maya in the Yucatan Peninsula. To find them, head up Avenida Lopez Portillo (aka the Cancun-Puerto Juarez road) in a rental car, taxi, or collectivo bus. The site is located at KM 27. The ruins are just off the road on the left.

Other Important Mayan Sites

While much of the historic Maya empire was based in present-day Mexico, you can still find many ancient Mayan cities in countries like Guatemala, Honduras, and Belize too. If you plan on continue your travels to these parts of Central America, I also recommend you stop by sites like:

1. Tikal, Guatemala
2. Caracol, Belize
3. Copan, Honduras

These sites offer beautifully preserved Mayan history, hidden deep within the jungle. Explore them if you've got the chance!

Mysteries of the Maya

So there you have it—a snapshot of Mayan history told through fifteen different ancient archaeological sites. In spite of attempted modernization, the Maya communities have largely succeeded in preserving their identity and traditions. Visiting Mexico without seeing at least few of these historic archeological sites would be a shame, so make sure to pick a few and experience some history and culture on your next trip to Mexico, you lucky dog! ★

HI, I'M MATTHIAS

Hey, how's it goin'? I'm Matthias, a dude from New Jersey who quit his soul-suckin' day job to sail the seven seas and explore the world. Join me as I share epic travel experiences, tips to save money, and everything in between.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ME 👉

BOOKING A TRIP SOON?

Here are some resources to help you save money, have an incredible time, and avoid potential travel mishaps:

1. Vital Travel Tips For a Memorable Trip
2. Book flights and hotels
3. Rent a car
4. Get travel insurance
5. Read my guide to backpacking the world

**Happy travels! Best of luck on your journey. Don't forget to learn from the past, live in the present, and dream of the future! 🚀🚀🚀

The Mayan culture continues to thrive in Mexico, despite the challenges faced by their ancestors.

Although Mexico is home to a multitude of Mayan sites, some stand out as must-visit destinations for travelers seeking to experience the history and lifestyle of the ancient Maya.

Read also: