The ancient Mayans are one of history's most captivating civilizations for a fun adventure with friends and family. Take an easy day trip to Coba, and the famous Chichen Itza, and those lucky enough to have more time can venture out to Uxmal, Ek Balam, or Chunyaxché, these are also enchanting sites that will leave long-lasting memories.
Chichen Itza
The awe-inspiring Maya city of Chichen Itza offers the best example of Puuc style architecture. The magnificence of its buildings and the mathematical order of its architectural lines make Chichen Itza one of the most interesting architectural sites in the Yucatan Peninsula.
Coba
Decidedly unique among Yucatecan archaeological sites, Coba offers a glimpse of the great Mayan cities grown over by dense jungle, as they must have been seen by the first Europeans to arrive in the New World.
Ek Balam
Located just north of Valladolid and well worth the two-hour trip from Akumal to visit. The Acropolis is the largest restored building, measuring 480 feet across, 180 feet wide and 96 feet tall.
Chunyaxché
Muyil (or Chunyaxché) is one of the 22 prehispanic settlements inside the Sian Ka'an Biosphere and is situated approximately 15 kilometers south of Tulum Pueblo on Highway 307. This is one of the earliest and longest inhabited ancient Maya port cities on the eastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, and artifacts found here date back from as early as 350 BC.
Uxmal
Uxmal is considered by many archaeologists to be one of the finest examples of an ancient Maya city. It is also one of the most fascinating and moving to visit. Much detail still remains on the ruins. At its peak, Uxmal was home to approximately 25,000 residents and was the center of much important trade with nearby communities.
Get ready to explore Riviera Maya’s ancient ruins and contact Guest Services for information and details on where to start.