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Bucketlist Bri

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9 Incredible Mayan Ruins in Mexico You Must Visit

Last Updated: March 14, 2023 · Mexico

The best Mayan ruins in Mexico are spread out across the south and eastern part of this incredibly diverse country, notably modern-day Chiapas and the entire Yucatan Peninsula, where the Mayas thrived for centuries.

If you’re not that familiar with the Mayas, they were – and are – a fascinating people who formed one of the most impressive and developed civilizations, with advanced knowledge and systems in writing, mathematics, astrology, art, architecture, and their famous 260-day Maya calendar (or Tzolk’in as it’s known in Yucatec Maya).

calakmul mayan ruins inside calakmul biosphere reserve

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As such, the Mayas were an advanced civilization all-around, with enormous independent city-states in which religion, power, and warfare played out in oft glorious but bloody ways.

The indigenous Mayas’ existence can be traced back as early as 2600 BC.

Since they lived in what today is known as southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and western Honduras, there are ancient Mayan archaeological sites spread out across thousands of miles.

And even though I’ve only seen a tiny sliver of those once-thriving cities, I do believe that some of the best Mayan ruin sites are in Mexico.

So without further ado…

Here are the most stunning and well-preserved Mayan ruins to visit in Mexico!

Table of Contents show
9 Best Mayan Ruins in Mexico
1. Calakmul Mayan Ruins (Campeche)
2. Tulum Ruins (Quintana Roo)
3. Chichen Itza (Yucatan)
4. Palenque (Chiapas)
5. Ek Balam (Yucatan)
6. Coba Mayan Ruins (Quintana Roo)
7. Uxmal Ruins via the Ruta Puuc (Yucatan)
8. Yaxchílan & Bonampak (Chiapas)
9. San Gervasio Mayan Ruins (Quintana Roo)

9 Best Mayan Ruins in Mexico

1. Calakmul Mayan Ruins (Campeche)

woman standing atop Calakmul Mayan ruins in Campeche, Mexico

Calakmul is a lost Mayan city in the jungle of Campeche, the southernmost state that forms part of the Yucatan Peninsula in eastern Mexico.

With its remote location in the dense jungle, towering pyramids, and mysterious – if not eerie – atmosphere, Calakmul has easily become one of my most favorite Mayan ruins in Mexico.

But despite being one of the most impressive Mayan ruins, there’s a reason it’s not so famous or popular as some of the other Mayan sites in Mexico.

That’s because it was only rediscovered after 500 years by an American explorer and botanist named Cyrus Lundell, who flew over the Campeche jungle and saw two interesting-looking mounds peeking out over the treetops in 1931. Lundell subsequently named the site Calakmul, meaning “Two Adjacent Mounds.”

However, it wasn’t until 60 years later, in 1993 that excavations began when Calakmul was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the secrets and importance of this incredible city slowly became known to us.

calakmul mayan ruin stairs
woman overlooking calakmul pyramid ruins

Turns out, Calakmul has the largest and tallest pyramid ever found in the Mayan world (and yes, it’s climbable!) and their most formidable rival was that of Tikal in neighboring northern Guatemala.

To this day, there are still dozens of mounds that you can actually see lying hidden below the earth as you explore the Calakmul grounds on foot. Just make sure to keep an eye out for spider monkeys and jaguars!

You can also climb up to the top of the main structures for epic panoramic views of the surrounding jungle.

If you are like me and crave adventure at every turn, you will be enamored with the Calakmul Mayan ruins. Click the link to learn how to visit this incredible ruins site!

2. Tulum Ruins (Quintana Roo)

el castillo mayan building inside tulum ruins
tulum mayan ruins building with stones and iguanas
El Castillo mayan ruins inside tulum national park
tulum beaches
tulum mayan ruins in the yucatan peninsula - temple of the god of winds

One of the best Mayan ruins in Mexico is none other than the Tulum ruins. Perched cliffside overlooking the turquoise blue Caribbean Sea, the Tulum ruins are a marvel to explore and see for yourself.

What’s more, the Tulum ruins are one of the most well-preserved Mayan ruin sites in the entire Yucatan Peninsula. Here, you can see the mesmerizing El Castillo, faint remnants of once brightly-colored murals, stele, temples, and more.

At the height of its time, the city, once known as the city of Zamá (meaning dawn or sunrise), was an important pillar in Mayan society as it served as both a thriving seaport for trading to other Mayan cities (such as Coba) and a source of astronomical tools and knowledge.

Make sure to include these amazing Mayan ruins in your Tulum itinerary!

3. Chichen Itza (Yucatan)

couple in front of Chichen Itza ruins in Mexico

Chichén Itzá is the most famous of the Mayan ruins in Mexico. If you’ve never been, it’s a must-visit whenever you are traveling around the Yucatan.

After all, Chichen Itza is iconic of Mexico and the Maya civilization and is considered one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

However, unlike at Calakmul ruins, or some of the other Mayan ruins sites on this list, you won’t ever have the chance to wander in stillness and tranquility at Chichen Itza for it is always crawling with national and international tourists.

That’s why if you visit Chichen Itza in one day, you should start out early to beat the crowds.

Despite its popularity and somewhat craziness, seeing Chichen Itza in person is truly incredible. The immensity of the grounds and the temples just makes your mind travel back in time. How I wish I could glimpse for a moment into the past to see what it once looked like!

4. Palenque (Chiapas)

palenque maya ruins in chiapas
PC: Andrea Parola

The Palenque ruins are one of the best places to visit in Chiapas, Mexico. It is also, along with Chichen Itza and Tikal in Guatemala, one of the largest and most important of the Mayan cities.

To get there, you first need to drive or ride a bus for 5 hours from the pueblo mágico of San Cristobal de Las Casas in the chilly Chiapas highlands to reach the humid and tropical Lacandon jungle.

Once in Palenque, you can visit the ruins and the incredible temples that were once blanketed by a forest of overgrown mahogany, sapodilla, and cedar trees (1).

Inside one of its most prized temples – the Temple of Inscriptions – lies the tomb of the most famous ruler of Palenque known as Pacal The Great (K’inich Janaab Pakal).

A trip to Palenque also means exploring several magical waterfalls and their turquoise-blue pools ideal for jumping in on a hot day. You can find these locations along the route by adding Agua Azul, Misol-Ha, and Roberto Barrios waterfalls to your itinerary.

5. Ek Balam (Yucatan)

Ek Balam things to do near Valladolid

For a semi-off-the-beaten-track Mayan ruins site, head to the lost kingdom of Ek Balam (meaning “Black Jaguar” in Yucatec-Maya). These ruins are conveniently located just 1 hour from the more popular Chichen Itza.

Those who are willing to visit Ek Balam will be rewarded with fewer crowds, climbable pyramids, and an oh-so inviting cenote (Cenote Oxman) perfect for splashing in after a busy day of exploring ruins.

If that sounds good to you, don’t miss out on Ek Balam whenever you are traveling around the Yucatan. Seeing as it’s only a short drive away from Valladolid and Chichen Itza, there’s no excuse not to go!

6. Coba Mayan Ruins (Quintana Roo)

couple sitting atop coba pyramid @ coba mayan ruins
woman at coba mayan ruins pyramid

Cobá is an ancient Mayan city located just 45 minutes inland from Tulum. It is quickly becoming one of the more popular Mayan ruins in Mexico thanks to its climbable pyramid that gives an epic panoramic view of the surrounding jungle and its mystic forest grounds which can be explored by foot, bike, or tuk-tuk.

We love visiting Cobá on a day trip from Tulum thanks to the three underground cenotes near Coba that, combined, make for an all-day adventure.

There is also a bustling little town with markets, restaurants, and a lake, that you can enjoy at Coba as well. Plus, it’s easy to visit since it’s on the route between Tulum – Valladolid.

7. Uxmal Ruins via the Ruta Puuc (Yucatan)

uxmal mayan ruins
PC: ivstiv

Uxmal Mayan ruins is a famous site in Mexico located on the well-trodden Ruta Puuc (Puuc Route) which has become a well-trodden road trip route for anyone interested in ticking off dozens of lost Mayan ruins sites in the Yucatan off their bucket lists.

Uxmal may be one of the most popular sites along the Ruta Puuc, but there is also Labná, Xpalak and Sayil, and Kaba (in addition to the Loltún Caves). The best way to visit all these sites is by departing from Mérida, the capital of the Yucatan, and heading south down into the state of Campeche.

8. Yaxchílan & Bonampak (Chiapas)

yaxchilan mayan ruins in chiapas mexico
PC: Andrea Parola
bonampak painted murals
PC: arturogi

If you are truly looking for an adventurous time, then I know just the place! Yaxchílan and Bonampak are two stunning Mayan ruins sites in the southeastern part of Chiapas, Mexico, lost in the Lacandon jungle.

Yaxchílan is a lost maze of ruins. Getting there is an adventure in itself as you first have to drive to the Guatemalan border and then take a boat ride up the river splitting the two countries before arriving at a little inlet where the ruins lie dormant.

Bonampak is a little easier to get to (no hour-long boat ride necessary) and they offer equally mesmerizing ruins with the chance to observe up-close brightly-painted murals inside the temple walls.

You can visit both Mayan ruins sites either on day trips from Palenque or overnighters from San Cristobal or go on your own with this epic Chiapas road trip itinerary.

9. San Gervasio Mayan Ruins (Quintana Roo)

san gervasio mayan ruins in cozumel mexico

Last but not least on this list of best Mayan ruins in Mexico are the San Gervasio ruins located on the tropical island of Cozumel in the state of Quintana Roo. If you have never been to San Miguel de Cozumel, now is the time! This little island oozes adventure.

At the center of it all lies the once-thriving site of San Gervasio, where Mayans, particularly women, would visit the site on a sort of pilgrimage to ask for blessings and give offerings to Ixchel who was the Maya goddess of fertility, the moon, love, childbirth, medicine, and textiles.

Visiting the San Gervasio ruins is one of the best things to do in Cozumel if you appreciate history and culture and crave a sense of adventure.

Of course, there are MANY more Mayan ruins in Mexico to visit!

I didn’t include Teotihuacan on this list as that site was majorly led and governed by the Aztecs of Mesoamerica, whereas the Mayas really flourished in southeastern Mexico and in northern Central America. However, if you get the chance, you should definitely visit the Teotihuacan ruins as well.

I hope this guide to the best Mayan ruins in Mexico helps plan your visit to this magical country! Please feel free to drop any thoughts or questions in the comments below.

[su_box title=”Ready to explore more of Mexico?” box_color=”#d4b02f” radius=”2″]Having lived in Mexico for going on three years now, I’ve been able to put together quite a few travel guides and itineraries! Start here with my Ultimate Mexico Travel Guide or feel free to check out the articles below:

  • The Perfect Packing List for Mexico (+ Free Printable)
  • The Ultimate Digital Nomad Guide to Mexico
  • 50+ Best Places to Visit in Mexico
  • 21 Epic Things to Do in the Riviera Maya
  • 50 Unforgettable Things to Do in Riviera Nayarit

Before you go, make sure you protect your trip! SafetyWing is the digital nomad insurance I’ve been using since I began living and traveling around Mexico.[/su_box]

Save this Best Mayan Ruins in Mexico Guide to Pinterest!

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By: Bri · In: Mexico

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I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

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Whether its for adventure, community, or leveling Whether its for adventure, community, or leveling up your business, a digital nomad / remote work retreat is one of the best ways to work remotely and travel! 💻✈️

I’ve rounded up some of the best curated trips and retreats out there in my latest blog post (🔗 in bio to check it out!) 

Featured in my guide are:

@nurall.co
@beunsettled 
@minoma.co 
@workwanderers
@the_nomad_escape
@remoteyear

Types of experiences you could discover with these guys range from training for 🥊 Muay Thai in Khao Lak, Thailand (@nurall.co) to 🥾 hiking the Camino de Santiago in Spain (@beunsettled) to ⛺️ camping out in the desert of Morocco (@minoma.co), and more!

WHY JOIN A NOMAD / REMOTE WORK RETREAT?

Retreats offer curated itineraries/experiences designed to bring you epic adventures in bucket list destinations, plug you into the local scene, and collab with like-minded souls — all while leveling up your business/entrepreneurial skills and remote lifestyle and giving you creative space to cowork in beautiful places. 🤗

On a digital nomad retreat, you might...

💡Strike a new business idea
⚡️Spark a sweet romance with a stranger
👀 Get your project noticed by an investor
🥰 Form a life-long friendship (or a few!)
🌿 Build a new brand from scratch
💃 Change directions completely in your personal life
🧘‍♀️ Strengthen your sense of self, confidence, and spirituality

These are just examples of the very many outcomes you could gain from attending a digital nomad retreat.
In short, these programs have the power to evoke positive change in your life and, more often than not, your investment is rewarded handsomely (in more ways than one). ✌️

I’m long-time digital slomad, but after discovering Goa, India with @nurall.co I’m most definitely going to attend more retreats like this in the future! ✨✨

*Not spons, btw! Just sharing ways you can find a community of digital nomads, whether you want to be one or already are one! 👩🏼‍💻💛

My blog guide shares the deets about price, location, etc — go check it out and save this reel! ✨

#digitalnomads #remoteworkandtravel #grouptravel #grouptrip #remoteworklife #laptoplifestyle #digitalnomadgirls
< 1 week until we get to do this again! Adventur < 1 week until we get to do this again! 

Adventures await us in our beasty 1990 Roadtrek 🚐🌲🥾 — she’s been sitting out winter in Washington while we tanned our toes in Mexico 🇲🇽 

I’ve never been able to choose between the mountains ⛰️ and the sea 🌊 … you? 

Tell me what kind of summer you’re manifesting in the comments! 🧡

#vanlife #summeriscoming #granolagirl #roadtrek #pnwadventures #outdoorsy #homeiswhereyouparkit
And... WE’RE LIVE!! 🚀 I’m stoked (read 90 And... WE’RE LIVE!! 🚀 

I’m stoked (read 90% nervous, 10% excited), to share that @slomadstories is officially OUT THERE! 

I actually had the first episode published on April 4th, but was too shy to share about it until now. 

But, as you’ll hear when you tune in... (🥳) this podcast isn’t just about highlighting raw, meaningful stories of adventure by ordinary people who seek an extraordinary life — YES, it’s mostly about that — but the very heart of this podcast is about DOING things despite how much they SCARE you or thrust you into the UNKNOWN.

I’ve always *tried* to live my one very short life by seeking to know, chasing curiosity, and jumping headfirst into the journey. 

— This podcast is simply a new endeavor, a new project that WILL NOT stop whispering at my heart. I’ve been trying to deny this urge, this tug, for so long! The whispers started in 2020 when a person who I thought would become a close friend bailed on the idea to start one together. So I let the idea go, for a while. But then it came back twice as strong in 2022, when I was living as a temporary nomad in Portugal for two months. It was there that I had my podcast cover art designed. That was already 1.5 years ago! 

Life passes us by...

We hear the whispers, we see the project coming to life in our heads, we feel the pull...

But we say no over and over again, and we make very legitimate excuses, until ultimately, the idea, the spark, the magic, fades; it chooses someone else to birth the idea and manifest itself into creation (something I learned reading “Big Magic” by Liz Gilbert, it’s amazing, go read it!). 

I have no idea why I felt the need to start a podcast, it’s not like I am already juggling enough.

But I wanted to, for me.

For you ✨ 

For everyone who ever chased that feeling, that tug. 

Because that?? 

That’s been my life for the last decade. I moved abroad countless times — and stayed — from Nepal to Mexico and beyond, and I would’ve never done ANY of it if I had not listened to the whispers.

This podcast is about continuing in the pursuit of the unknown, seeking more, and taking decisive action.

Welcome to Slomad Stories, & thank you for being here. 🧡

Xx,
Bri
MINI GUIDE TO JIUFEN 🏮🇹🇼👇 🍡 Explor MINI GUIDE TO JIUFEN 🏮🇹🇼👇

🍡 Explore Jiufen Old Street and try local street food (The taro balls came highly recommended! We ate giant pork buns, xiao long bao dumplings, and a vegan pork noodle dish!) 

🍵 Visit the iconic A-Mei Tea House for traditional tea ceremony and sweets (a bit touristy, but worth it for the views imo)

🐉 Pick up some of the magic of “Spirited Away” in the shops (there are so many souvenirs and Studio Ghibli themed goods)

⛰️ Hike to the top of Keelung Mountain for a fun and sweaty adventure (go before sunset and go prepared for thousands of steps, lol)

🏮Wander through the narrow alleyways — explore away from Old Street!! 

⛏️ Learn about the town’s history at the Jiufen Gold Mine Museum — you can take night tours for a small fee or organize them through your hotel

🎭 Visit the two-story historic Shengping Theater, an abandoned cinema that provides a glimpse into Jiufen’s past

💦 Explore the nearby Golden Waterfall (10 minute drive)

Most people only come to Jiufen for a couple of hours to stroll through Old Street and take a photo of the teahouse since it evokes the bathhouse in Spirited Away🏮🐉 with its architecture and lanterns. But DON’T make the mistake of coming only for a day!! 

There is so much to do in Jiufen, even though we stayed 2 nights in the town (highly recommend), we wished we had stayed longer. 🥹

Oh yeah, and BRING AN UMBRELLA!! ☔️ Or don’t, the locals will give you one out of the goodness of their hearts (our hosts were the sweetest!!) ❤️

Save this to your Taiwan bucket list, pass this reel along to a friend, anddd check out my blog @bucketlistbri .com for more adventures abroad! 💃

#discovertaiwan #jiufen #spiritedaway #northtaiwan #asiatravel #travelbucketlist #jiufenoldstreet
Add this wildly beautiful destination to your Taiw Add this wildly beautiful destination to your Taiwan bucket list! ⛰️ 

With its towering marbled canyon walls, turquoise waters, hiking trails, wispy waterfalls and temples tucked away in the hills, Taroko Gorge/National Park is one of Taiwan’s raw natural gems and is definitely a must-see! 💎 

Bookmark/save this mini guide to Taroko to help plan your trip! 📌 

BEST TRAILS & SIGHTS
🥾Shakadang Trail
🥾Tunnel of Nine Turns
🥾Swallow Grotto
✨Eternal Spring Shrine & Bell Tower
✨Buluowan Suspension Bridge

WHERE TO STAY
You don’t need to stay inside the national park, however, we did! We stayed in the cutest log cabin at the Taroko Village Hotel, where we dined on the Taroko indigenous-inspired food, and woke up in the peaceful misty moutains. It was lovely, but if we were to visit Taroko Gorge again we’d probably choose to stay in Hualien for convenience and take a day trip or two in/out of the park by car or tour. Without a personal car, it’s not super easy to get around between all the hiking trails and sights, so keep that in mind if you’re heading in by bus and hoping to hop around on your own. 

At any rate, Taiwan’s natural beauty blew us away on our first day! 🤩 

Follow along @bucketlistbri for more adventures abroad! 💃✈️

#taiwan #tarokogorge #iseetaiwan #taiwantravel #amazingtaiwan
Shout out to this incredible South Asian country f Shout out to this incredible South Asian country full of ✨✨ masala ✨✨ that gives more than it takes and has a way of making you feel wildly alive 🥹💃

If you haven’t been yet, you NEED to put India on your bucket list!! 🇮🇳

The diversity of India is just amazing, and I’ve barely even seen 0.10% of it! So far, I’ve been to Kolkata (West Bengal), Agra and Delhi, and several of the color-themed cities across the desert state of Rajasthan including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Pushkar, Jaisalmer, and, briefly, Bikaner. And now Goa!!! 🌴🦀

India has so many worlds of its own existing inside its borders, I’d love to go back and explore it deeper! 

Have you been to India yet??!

PS — all clips are from my 10 days spent in the breathtaking state of Goa for a digital nomad retreat hosted by @nurall_co 💛

#thisisindia #indiatravel #goaindia #digitalnomad #offbeattravel
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