There are countless reasons to book a cheap flight to Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. Whether you come to enjoy Mexico’s beautiful beaches and world-class resorts at Cancun and Playa del Carmen, to explore the culturally rich city of Mérida, or simply to relax in pretty Campeche, you’re sure to have a memorable experience. Regardless of what draws you to the Yucatán, while you’re in the region be sure to make at least one trip inland to tour the ancient Mayan ruins that are scattered across the peninsula as they are some of the most impressive attractions in all of Mexico.
Chichén Itzá – Yucatán, Mexico
One of the new seven wonders of the world and a UNESCO world heritage site, Chichén Itzá is the most famous and best restored of the Yucatán Maya archaeological sites. Drawing countless tour groups from the nearby resort cities it’s almost always crowded with bathing suit-clad vacationers and souvenir vendors. Unfortunately, cimbing on the ancient structures is prohibited.
Tours from Cancun to Chichén Itzá typically entail a very long day with stops for meals and shopping for souvenirs. If possible, plan to visit Chichén Itzá independently and get to the site early in the day before the tour groups arrive. Public buses traveling between Mérida and Cancun stop at the Chichén Itzá archaeological site and it’s quite possible to spend a few hours at Chichén Itzá en route to either city.
Ek’ Balam – Yucatán, Mexico
The Ek’ Balam archaeological site receives far fewer tourists than many of the other sites on the Yucatán peninsula, though this is expected to change in coming years as a paved road now connects the site to the main highway and word of the impressive structures discovered at Ek’ Balam is getting out. The site continues to undergo extensive excavation and restoration.
The tallest pyramid at Ek’ Balam exceeds the height of the tallest pyramid at Chichén Itzá. Climbing the ancient structures at Ek’ Balam is permitted and from the top of the tallest pyramid it’s possible to view the tallest structures at the Cobá archaeological site located 50km (31 miles) away. Ek’ Balam is located 17km (10 miles) north of Valladolid. Taxis and colectivos are available to shuttle passengers between the city and archaeological site.
Tulum – Quintana Roo, Mexico
The seaside ruins at Tulum are not as architecturally impressive as some of the other Yucatán peninsula sites, but what attracts visitors to the ruins at Tulum is their stunning cliff-top location overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Located along the coast just a few hours south of the resort cities of Cancun and Playa del Carmen, the Tulum archaeological site is another popular tour group destination and frequently crowded with tourists. Due to the high volume of visitors, climbing the structures at Tulum is prohibited. A staircase leads down to the beach from the site and guided visits to the ruins typically include some beach time.
To avoid the crowds plan to visit the site independently and tour the ruins early in the day before the tour groups arrive. Independent travelers to Tulum can spend a night or two in a beachfront cabaña, sling a hammock on the beach or rent a room in town.
Cobá – Quintana Roo, Mexico
Set deep in the jungle, the Cobá archaeological site more closely resembles the ruins at Tikal in Guatemala than the other Yucatán peninsula sites. Cobá is located inland from Tulum and receives fewer visitors than the popular seaside attraction. The site encompasses a larger area than many of the other Yucatán sites, attractions are spread far apart and much of it remains unrestored. Bicycle taxis are on hand to shuttle visitors throughout the site and a hut near the entrance rents bikes by the hour.
Tours from the resort cities of Cancun and Playa del Carmen include visits to both Tulum and Cobá and typically last for a full day. It’s also possible to visit the site independently. Second class buses make the bumpy hour long journey between the town of Tulum and the Cobá archaeological site several times each day. A must-see attraction for travelers headed to Tikal in Guatemala.
Uxmal – Yucatán, Mexico
The ruins at Uxmal are ranked among the top archaeological sites on the Yucatán peninsula. Even so, Uxmal receives far fewer visitors than Chichen Itza or Tulum. This is likely due to the difficulty of day-tripping to Uxmal from the resort cities of Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Instead, the Uxmal archaeological site is home to a large population of giant iguanas that nearly outnumbers the tourists. The iguanas spend much of the day sunning themselves on the ancient structures and they’ll let you get right up close to them.
The ruins at Uxmal are open to climbing and the views from the top are quite impressive. The Uxmal archaeological site is located 80km (50 miles) from the city of Mérida in Yucatán state. Tours to the ruins depart from the center of Mérida and typically include stops at the smaller sites of Kabah and along the Ruta Puuc. Independent travelers can take one of the frequent public buses traveling between Mérida and Uxmal.
Edzná – Campeche, Mexico
Located 53km (33 miles) southeast of Campeche, the ruins at Edzná are the closest Mayan ruins to the city. Though far less impressive than the ruins at Chichén Itzá, the architecture and history of Edzná makes it an interesting site to explore. The architectural blending of temple platforms and palaces into a single structure is unique to this area of the Yucatán peninsula and the best example of this type of construction can be seen at Edzná.
If you’re going to be spending any amount of time in the lovely colonial city of Campeche, a visit to the Edzná archaeological site is well worth your time. Tours depart from the city center and public buses make the journey twice daily in the morning with return trips to Campeche twice in the afternoon.
