Cancun’s Best-Kept Secrets: 10 Unmissable Mayan Ruins You Need to Explore

Truth be told, the Mayan Ruins of Cancun might not wow you the same as some of the Mayan ruins near Cancun, located a few hours away.

However, that’s not to say you should skip these pyramids in Cancun, only that they are smaller sites you can explore in about an hour.

If you want to see the biggest and best Mayan Ruins in Mexico, like Chichen Itza, you must venture outside Cancun.

This article highlights the only four Mayan Ruins in Cancun (San Miguelito, El Meco, El Rey, and Yamil Lu’um) and features other Mayan Ruins in Mexico near Cancun.

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1. El Rey Ruins

💡 Quick Tips: El Rey Ruins Cancun

• KinIch Ahau Bonil means king of the solar countenance in Maya, referring to the king believed to be buried there.
• Can you climb the pyramids at El Rey? No, there aren’t any large structures.

🗿 Visiting El Rey Ruins in Cancun

Located in the Zona Hotelera (Cancun Hotel Zone) near Playa Delfines Beach, you’ll find the Mayan ruins of Kin Ich Ahau Bonil, known in Spanish as El Rey.

Archeologists and historians believe the remains of a Mayan king, meaning “The King” in Spanish, are buried at this Mayan Ruins Cancun site.

2. San Miguelito Ruins

💡 Quick Tips: San Miguelito Cancun Ruins

• San Miguelito’s original Maya name is unknown
• Can you climb the pyramids at San Miguelito? No

🗿 Visiting San Miguelito Ruins in Cancun

You’ll find the San Miguelito Mayan Ruins just minutes from El Rey.

Opened to the public in 2012, these ruins are located at the same site as the Museo Maya de Cancun (Mayan Museum of Cancun). This is known as the best museum in Cancun, Mexico.

Admission to the museum includes access to the San Miguelito archeological site, but don’t skip the museum itself to see the interesting Mayan artifacts uncovered at this and other sites.

There are four distinct areas and a large central structure to see at the ruins themselves.

3. El Meco Ruins

💡 Quick Tips: El Meco Ruins Cancun

• El Meco’s original Maya name is unknown
• Can you climb the pyramids at El Meco? No

🗿 Visiting El Meco Ruins in Cancun

El Meco (AKA La Naranja, or The Orange) is a smaller site with 14 structures, including the main temple, El Castillo.

Meaning “The Castle” in Spanish, this is an impressive five-level pyramid that stands 55-feet-tall (17 m), and was believed to have been used for religious rituals and worship.

☀️ Want to speak some Mayan in Mexico? Kin is the Maya word for sun!

From the top of this pyramid, you can see directly to the Caribbean Sea and Isla Mujeres island.

This means “Island of Women,” which is a popular travel destination and one of the best Cancun day trips. However, many stay overnight in one of these amazing yet affordable Isla Mujeres hotels.

Given its location directly in front of Isla Mujeres, historians assume El Meco once served as a point of connection with the island. 

El Meco is a great stop before jumping on the ferry to Isla Mujeres, Mexico, where you’ll also find the Isla Mujeres Mayan Ruins of Ixchel.

You can catch the Cancun to Isla Mujeres ferry at the Puerto Juarez, Playa Tortugas or Playa Caracol ferry terminal for about $25 USD round-trip.

4. Yamil Lu’um Ruins

💡 Quick Tips: Yamil Lu’um Maya Cancun Ruins

• Yamil Lu’um means hilly land in Maya, as it sits on Cancun’s highest point
• Can you climb the pyramids at Yamil Lu’um? No

🗿 Visiting Yamil Lu’um Ruins in Cancun

Yamil Lu’um, AKA Templo del Alacran (Temple of the Scorpion), is located right on Cancun Beach.

It is just a single structure in a grassy area between The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas & Spa and Grand Park Royal Cancun hotels.

Yamil Lu’um Mayan Ruins is. one of the best-located Mayan temples in Mexico, and makes for great photos with Cancun Beach in the background.

You access Yamil Lu’um by walking on the beach or by passing through one of the two hotels on either side of it (if they allow you).

BONUS: Cancun Underwater Museum (MUSA)

The Museo Subacuático de Arte (MUSA), or Cancun Underwater Museum, is one of the top attractions in Mexico, and best things to do in Cancun.

Admittedly, there are no underwater Mayan Ruins here, but it seemed like a cool place to add to this list.

MUSA is one of the largest underwater sculpture gardens in the world.

While scuba diving, snorkeling or on a glass bottom boat tour, you’ll see some (or all) of the 500-plus pieces of art created by various artists. Many are now partially-covered in underwater tropical plants.

There are several tours that are available to take you to this amazing underwater museum. You can choose to dive, snorkel, or even take a glass bottom boat to be able to see and enjoy this fascinating place.

Best Mayan Ruins Near Cancun Mexico

Cancun is one of the best tropical destinations in the world. However, if you’re willing to venture outside Cancun city limits, you’ll be handsomely rewarded.

Within 30 minutes to a few hours of the city, you’ll find many of the best Mayan Ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula, and most of the most famous pyramids in Mexico.

5. Chichén Itzá Ruins

💡 Chichen Itza Tips

• Chichen Itza means at the mouth of the well of the Itza in Maya, about the Itza family
• How big is Chichen Itza? It is 4 square miles (10 square kilometers).
• Can you climb the Chichen Itza pyramids? No

🗿 Visiting Chichen Itza Ruins Near Cancun

As one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, does Chichen Itza even need an introduction?!

It is centrally-located in the Yucatan, so no matter if you’re staying in Playa del Carmen, Cancun, Tulum, Merida, or Riviera Maya — plenty of Chichen Itza tours will be available.

Of all Mexico Yucatan destinations, Chichen Itza is closest to the Valladolid pueblo magico, one of the 135 or Mexico magic towns.

Staying overnight at a Valladolid hotel, or combining your Chichen Itza trip with a stop at nearby Cenote Ik Kil, are both great options.

The most popular way to see the Mayan Ruins of Chichen Itza is with a guided tour.

As such an important Mayan site, it warrants paying a guide to learn why it’s so important and all the things to see at Chichen Itza — otherwise, you’re essentially just looking at rocks 🪨

You can hire a guide on-site if you’re not going with a group tour.

When arriving at the Chichen Itza entrance gate, you’ll see accredited guides selling day tours for about $1,000 pesos ($50 USD). Remember to bring enough pesos to pay them if you plan to hire one.

👀 What to see at Chichen Itza Ruins

At Chichen Itza, there are several Mayan pyramids and unique sites to explore. It is a very large site, so plan for at least three hours to see it all.

Also, this really is a place you’ll want to visit with a knowledgeable guide, so consider booking a Cancun to Chichen Itza Tour.

6. Tulum Ruins

💡 Tulum Ruins Tips

• Book your Tulum Mayan Ruins Tours here
• The Maya word for Tulum is zama, which means dawn because it is located in the east, so you can see the sunrise from the coast
• Can you climb the pyramids at Tulum Ruins? No

🗿 Visiting Tulum Ruins

The Archeological Zone of Tulum, or Tulum Ruins, is located just 5-10 minutes from Downtown Tulum on the northern end of Tulum Beach.

It makes for one of the most popular day trips from Cancun, because Tulum is one of the best places to visit in Mexico.

Compared to some other sites, the Mayan Ruins of Tulum, Mexico, are on the smaller side.

However, it’s also one of the most beautiful, with its privileged location on a cliffside overlooking the Caribbean Sea and white sand beaches below.

7. Cobá Ruins

💡 Coba Ruins Tips

• Coba means waters stirred by the wind in Mayan, as two lakes surround Coba.
• Can you climb Coba Ruins? Yes

🗿 Visiting Coba Ruins

Located deep in a dense jungle (so do not forget your bug spray 🦟), the Mayan Ruins of Coba offer a different experience from the Tulum Ruins and Chichen Itza Ruins.

Many visitors say it feels more authentic, as it’s much less touristy and crowded.

More of a complete Mayan city than a pyramid site, many will rent a bike to see the whole place, or hire a tricycle-taxi to get around.

Coba Mayan Ruins have several distinct areas or building groups. Each has pyramids, other buildings, and steles (large, carved stone tablets).

🗿 Ixmoja: Tallest Pyramid in Yucatan

8. Ek Balam Ruins

💡 Ek Balam Ruins Tips

• Book your Ek Balam tours here
• Ek Balam means black jaguar in Maya
• Can you climb the pyramids at Ek Balam? Yes

Ek Balam Mayan ruins are located about two hours from Cancun and Tulum and just a short drive of about 30 minutes from Valladolid, Mexico.

As one of the more off-the-beaten-path Mayan ruins in Mexico, it’s not uncommon to have the place (nearly) all to yourself — especially on weekdays in the off-season.

It is a visually interesting site, with thatched roofs covering many of the pyramids, a gorgeous contrast with the stone pyramids.

Towards the interior of the buildings, don’t miss the elaborately carved stone statues tucked away beneath the thatched overhangs.  

You can climb the main pyramid at Ek Balam, the Great Acropolis, for some spectacular jungle views of the surrounding area.

Overall, it’s a gorgeous Mayan ruins site, so make sure your phone is charged when you visit because you’ll want tons of photos.

9. Temple of Ixchel Ruins (Isla Mujeres)

💡 Isla Mujeres Ruins Tips

• Ixchel is the name of a prominent Mayan goddess.
• Can you climb the pyramids at the Ruins of Ixchel? No, there aren’t any large structures.

While not in Cancun itself, these are some of the closest Mayan ruins to Cancun. To get to Isla Mujeres Island, take the 20-minute ferry from Cancun. Isla Mujeres make for a nice Cancun day trip from Cancun, or even an overnight trip.

Isla Mujeres, the Island of Women, got its name from the many statues of the goddess Ixchel found all over the island by Spanish conquistadors.

Ixchel (pronounced ick-shell) is a jaguar goddess associated with the moon, childbirth, medicine, fertility, and midwifery. 

Overlooking the Caribbean Sea at Punta Sur, the southern tip of Isla Mujeres, you’ll find the Ruins of Ixchel Temple.

It sits on the highest elevation point in the entire Yucatan Peninsula and at the edge of the sea, so historians say this structure functioned as a lighthouse, not a ceremonial center.

10. Muyil Ruins

Muyil Ruins Tips

• Chunyaxche means wide ceiba trunk in Maya, referring to the ceiba tree
• Can you climb the pyramids at Muyil? No

The actual name of these Mayan ruins is Chunyaxché, though you’ll mostly see it referred to as Muyil (pronounced moo-yeel).

It is located just south of Tulum in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, near the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, a recognized UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Though not too far from Tulum Ruins, the Muyil Ruins look totally different. At Muyil, you’ll see what is known as Peten architecture, with steep-walled pyramids similar to those at the famous Tikal Mayan Ruins in Guatemala.

As Muyil is a smaller Mayan Ruins site, many will combine their visit with a boat tour or float tour (where you float down the river with a guide) of Sian Ka’an.

Final Thoughts: Best Mayan Ruins in Cancun Mexico

There are just four Mayan Ruin sites in Cancun — San Miguelito, El Meco, El Rey, and Yamil Lu’um, which is why so many visitors venture outside the city.

The most famous Mayan Ruins in Mexico, such as Chichén Itzá, Tulum, and Cobá, are near Cancun, but not in Cancun.

Still, for those traveling to Cancun and staying in Cancun Mexico, it’s very convenient there are a few ancient ruins you can see without leaving Cancun city limits.

Whether you stay in Cancun or venture outside of town, don’t miss the amazing Mayan Ruins on your trip to Mexico.