13 Best Mayan Ruins to Visit in Mexico

The pinnacle of Mayan ruins is, without a doubt, Chichen Itza. Not only is Chichen Itza the best place to go to see impressive Mayan ruins, but it is one of the most incredible and famous archeological sites in the entire world. What makes Chichen Itza superior to the other temple complexes in Mexico involves both the impressive nature of the structures themselves as well as what they say about how advanced this civilization was.

The Chichen Itza, one of the largest cities ever built by the Mayans, is located about a 2 hour and 30-minute drive from Cancun, on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. There are a total of 20 buildings within this vast temple complex. Among these structures are the famous ball court, the Venus platform, and the iconic Temple of Kukulcan.

The Temple of Kulkuclan is a perfect example of why Chichen Itza is so impressive. The towering temple has 365 stairs, which represent all the days of the year. The temple has four sides with four staircases, which also act as a compass. Most impressively, these decorative staircases light up impressively on both the spring and fall equinoxes, showing just how knowledgeable the Mayans were when it came to their understanding of the Earth and the sun.

A trip to Chichen Itza can be done independently or through a tour company. Many tour companies include a visit to a cenote and the picturesque town of Valladolid, which makes for a complete and memorable day trip.

A few hours south of Chichen Itza, built along the stunning emerald waters and white sandy beaches of Riviera Maya, sits another impressive Mayan temple complex: Tulum. The name Tulum is now most famous for the trendy boho-chic resorts and wellness retreats located in the village of Tulum. But hundreds of years ago, it was these oceanfront stone ruins that were the most glamorous pieces of real estate.

The Tulum ruins, which are located just a few miles from the cluster of high-end beachfront resorts, were once the home for the upper-echelon of society, as well as a trading hub along the busy oceanic trading route.

What stands out about these ruins is their location. No other impressive Mayan ruins are located this close to the ocean. These temples, located atop imposing limestone cliffs, have an almost cinematic allure and are a real joy to explore.

It is best to come to the Tulum ruins when they first open to avoid crowds as well as the afternoon heat. You can easily visit these ruins without a guide, and the price is much less than Chichen Itza. It is worth splurging on a guide, especially if you are traveling in a small group and able to split the cost.

While exploring this temple complex with a guide is helpful, even without a guide, there is lots to take in, including some paintings that still remain in the Temple Of The Fresos, as well as countless iguanas that sunbathe on the ancient stone structures.

One of the most popular and romantic ways to experience ruins in Mexico is to take a hot air balloon ride over the stunning mammoth temples at Teotihuacan. Located just outside Mexico City, the Teotihuacan temple complex is one of the most popular tourist destinations for those looking to see ancient ruins in Mexico.

Hot air balloon rides are certainly the most luxurious and elevated way to see this temple complex, but you can also visit these ruins on foot via taxi, car, or through a guided tour from Mexico City.

Teotihuacan was the largest urban center in all of Mesoamerica before the Aztecs. And while these temples were not built by the Mayans and have Aztec and other civilizations entwined within them, this giant ancient city had a huge influence on the Mayan people. It influenced the civilization itself as well as the design and architecture, making this site a must-visit for anyone visiting central Mexico.

Calakmul is one of the least visited of all the important ancient Mayan ruins in Mexico, and this is one of the top reasons you should add it to your list. Calakmul is located deep in the Mexican wilderness in the state of Campeche.

This archeological site is not located near any major city and is just 35 kilometers from the Guatemala border. While the surrounding area is void of buildings, the temple complex of Calakmul itself is grand and impressive. In fact, it is one of the largest and most powerful of all the Mayan ancient cities.

What separates these Mayan ruins from many others is their remoteness. Calakmul has not been commercialized and does not have the best infrastructure. The journey here involves a long and windy road that can be difficult to navigate at times.

But once you arrive, you are treated to a giant complex of ruins in a jungle. You can climb several of the giant structures to get a view of the vast jungle around you. There are several species of monkeys that live here, as well as exotic birds and beautiful butterflies.

If you are looking for an authentic, untamed, and mysterious Mayan ruins experience, look no further than Calakmul. For those nervous about the remote surroundings and difficult roads, there are guided tours with pickup available. Just keep in mind these ruins are off the beaten path and will take an entire day (or more) of your time to visit.

For a truly lush and tropical jungle Mayan ruins experience, consider visiting Palenque, located on the Western edge of the former Mayan civilization. While this archeological site is much smaller than some of the more expansive temple complexes on this list, Palenque has some of the most incredible sculptures and architecture ever produced by the ancient Mayans.

Palenque dates back to 600 through 800 AD and features the only Mayan temple built as a funerary monument. The most famous structure here is the Temple of the Inscriptions, which includes the tomb of Kinich Jaanab Pakal. This tomb can no longer be visited by the general public, but it is one of the most well-preserved and important temple structures remaining today.

Palenque is home to several intricate and impressive structures that showcase the talents and inventiveness of the Mayan people. These mesmerizing structures are all found within a vast jungle forest, which only further adds to the wonder of this place.

If stunning wall paintings are what you are looking for in your Mayan ruins, then you need to head to the Mexican state of Chiapas to visit Bonampak. The Bonampak ruins are one of several ruins that are sprinkled throughout this region, but what sets these apart are the stunning wall paintings within the structures themselves.

Much of the Bonampak is still buried underneath the forest floor, waiting to be excavated, but that is part of the excitement of this place. You can see the incredible wall paintings and impressive stone structures that have been excavated while wondering what other wonders lie just beneath the surface around you.

Coba is home to some of the largest and tallest Mayan pyramid temples in all of Mexico. What makes these temples even more exciting than just their height is the fact that you can climb some of them.

Unlike other famous Mayan ruins like those at Chichen Itza and Tulum, visitors at Coba can actually climb the 120 stone steps of the tallest 42-meter-tall pyramid to get a taste of what it might have been like in this Mayan city hundreds of years ago.

Climbing the Ixmoja, the tallest pyramid in Coba, might be the highlight of this site and the reason many come here, but it is not the only draw. Coba is only a one-hour drive from Tulum, so it makes for a great second Mayan ruins site to visit for those staying in Tulum.

This site is also huge, as it was once home to 50,000 inhabitants. There are several tall pyramids to explore and learn about in this vast complex, even though some parts of this ancient city have yet to be restored.

Uxmal is a unique and incredibly well-preserved Mayan site, and there are several reasons you should make a trip to visit this ancient city. One of the first unique aspects of Uxmal is the design of the ancient structures.

Unlike the square and rectangle shape of most other temples, Uxmal has round and oval pyramid structures, making it a fascinating outlier among many of the other major Mayan ruin sites. This imposing 115-foot oval pyramid is called the Pyramid of the Magician, and is the top attraction at this site.

One other unique and noteworthy reason to visit Uxmal is the fact that this site puts on an evening light show. The light show itself is a bit dated, but it is still fun and informative. Best of all, it is a great way to witness the Mayan ruins under the stars. In fact, this is one of the few Mayan ruins in all of Mexico that you can visit at night on a regular basis.

If you are visiting Riviera Maya and staying at an all-inclusive resort or just visiting the Quintana Rpp on a short trip, you might think you don’t have time to visit any Mayan archeological sites. But lucky for you there is an impressive Mayan ruins that you can fold into nearly any day while visiting the Cancun area.

The El Rey Mayan ruins are located right in the Hotel Zone of Cancun, making it possible to visit them in a flash when staying in this area or even when flying in or out of Cancun Airport. El Rey had its beginnings as early as 300 AD, and this area was an important stop on the Mayan trade route during its peak around 1200 to 1400 AD.

These ruins also feature some great local plants and are a great place for those on a time crunch but looking for a great cultural site on any visit, even a weekend getaway.

If you are looking for ruins that showcase several of the important pre-Columbian civilizations and you are visiting central Mexico, then a trip to Xochicalco is in order. Located two hours south of Mexico City, the Xochicalco ruins are built on a hill and have Aztec, Zapotec, Mayan, and other influences.

These stunning structures were used for religious, commercial, and other purposes, but today the archeological complex serves as a great place to take in the rich, multi-faceted history of this region while enjoying sweeping views thanks to the hilltop location.