Although the Riviera Maya for many means beach vacations, it actually has many more activities to offer, highlighting a wide variety of archaeological sites that you can visit to learn more about the Mayan culture. We share 5 Mayan ruins that you must visit in the Riviera Maya.
Coba Mayan Ruins
The Mayan ruins of Coba are possibly one of the best known and visited by all travelers. The Coba ruins are one of the largest archaeological sites known of all the Mayan ruins. It is located in the state of Quintana Roo, approximately 40 km from Tulum.
Here we highlight the most famous Coba pyramid known as Nohoch Mul, which means large mound in Mayan, with its 42 meters high and 120 steps. The extension of the Mayan ruins of Coba is very large. You can explore it on foot or rent a bicycle to explore the trails inside the jungle until you reach the pyramid. In addition, within the Mayan Ruins of Coba we can find other Mayan constructions.
Mayan Ruins of Ek Balam
The visit to the Mayan ruins of Ek Balam is another recommended and essential within our cultural excursions. The archaeological zone of Ek Balam is located very close to Valladolid and is a city with approximately 12 square km.
Ek Balam in Mayan means «jaguar star» or «black jaguar». Housing the largest pyramid in Yucatan. This construction is a magnificent building about 162 m long and 32 m high divided into 6 different levels. If we highlight something from this building, it is the frieze of Ek Balam, built with plaster and currently preserved in perfect condition, where the main facade of the Acropolis of Ek Balam represents the open mouth of a jaguar and for the Mayans it represented the entrance to the underworld.
Mayan Ruins of Uxmal
The ruins of the archaeological zone of Uxmal are located in the state of Yucatan, approximately 90 km from Mérida and is located on the famous «Puuc Route». This route is an archaeological zone where we can find different sites with the «Puuc» architectural style, unique to the Mayans. Uxmal was one of the largest Mayan cities in history, representing the characteristic Puuc architectural style, which has been declared a World Heritage Site in 1996.
Tulum Mayan Ruins
Tulum is one of the cultural visits to the ruins of the Mayan culture per excellence. If you have chosen Tulum as your vacation destination, you cannot miss visiting the Mayan ruins in front of its spectacular paradisiacal beaches.
Tulum means wall and refers to the walled construction of this city. It is located on a small cliff about 130 km south of Cancun and combines the gigantic Mayan ruins with the wonderful Caribbean Sea. Ideal to visit in a couple of hours or spend the whole morning there and take a swim in Tulum beach after your tour.
Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins
The Mayan ruins of Chichen Itzá, possibly the most famous and known worldwide. It is one of the 7 wonders of the World declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988, and is located in Tinum, on the Yucatan Peninsula.
Within the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itzá, we will find many important Mayan buildings and ruins, but we make special mention of the main pyramid. The main pyramid is the Temple of Kukulkan, the Mayan representation of Quetzalcoatl, god of the pantheon of the Toltec culture and has a height of about 24 meters. Each side of this pyramid shows a huge staircase.
Although these are some of the best-known Mayan ruins in the area, there are countless archaeological sites to visit that are less crowded but also full of that mysticism that the Mayan culture has to offer its visitors, and, which of these Mayan ruins would you like to visit?
