Which ruins to see in mexico

Perched atop a meter high cliff overlooking the rough Carribean Sea, Maya people for sure knew how to choose the eye-catching setting for their city. Although Tulum ruins were the smallest archeological site we visited, and it for sure was not that historically important as Chichen Itza or Uxmal. Because of its proximity to the resort town Tulum and generally all cities along Riviera Maya and the photogenic location, it was definitely the most crowded site, so we recommend you to come either early before tour buses arrive or later in the afternoon.

Tulum city was built quite late, compared to other sites, in the 13th century, and the city was an important transportation hub and trading center.

Despite its small size, you can find here many interesting structures and even more iguanas lazing in the sun. When staying in Tulum, it is super-easy to get to the ruins, as you can either take a colectivo, rent a bike, or even walk we decided to jog both ways. We recommend you to pay extra for an Tulum Ruins Tour from Cancun only when you want to get more information and learn about this place or if you are staying outside Tulum and want to get to the ruins directly from your hotel without having to use public transport.

There is probably no need to introduce Chichen Itza as this site is a synonym for Mayan ruins, and the massive El Castillo Pyramid standing in the middle of the main courtyard is one of the most photographed landmarks in the world. Chichen Itza is undoubtedly the most popular Mayan ruin in the world and it is the must-visit place when traveling on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Some people we met on the road told us they were quite disappointed by Chichen Itza, but we think the crucial thing when visiting this particular archeological site is to set your expectations right. Which is sometimes not that easy when you pay an entrance fee which is far from being insignificant. When you accept the fact that this is the top tourist attraction in Mexico and overlook the hoards of people and vendors inside the complex, you must enjoy the visit to the fullest and walk around the structures in awe as the pyramids, ball courts, columns and other structures are truly magnificent.

Chichen Itza can be easily visited from any city on the Yucatan Peninsula, we used Valladolid as our base, but it is not uncommon to travel to the pyramids from Merida, Tulum, Playa del Carmen or Cancun. In case you don't have own transport and do not feel like traveling by public bus, you can take one of the numerous tours generally from every city on the Yucatan Peninsula. One of the most popular tours is a Chichen Itza Sunrise Tour which allows you to enjoy the site without crowds. Lastly, you can take this popular Chichen Itza Private Tour with Sacred Cenote to explore the ruins in a more relaxed manner.

The least touristy ruin we saw in Mexico was Edzna Ruins close to a colonial city of Campeche , and if you want to experience the absolutely serene and peaceful day, this is exactly where you should head, but rather sooner than later, before the word about the beautiful ancient city spread out. We could not believe our luck, that when we entered the archeological site, we found out we were completely alone in the complex, and the situation did not change for an entire hour.

So we could sit at the ruins, absorb the magnificent views and take as many photos from as many angles we wanted. If you are either in Campeche or in Merida the drive from Merida is longer but doable , a day trip to Edzna Ruins should be on your itinerary. The absolute highlight apart from escaping the crowds is the impressive Pyramid of the Five Floors standing on the main square. As the name suggests the structure has five floors with several livable quarters, and in the middle is a wide staircase leading to the top.

Although it is possible to climb most of the structures and buildings in Edzna Ruins, you cannot climb to the top of this pyramid. On the other hand, we think it is much better to look at it than look from it. Edzna Ruins are one of those many which have not been yet been fully excavated, and you can walk to the back part of the site and see how the ruins looked like before the place was re discovered at the beginning of the 20th century.

When you are in Campeche short on time, you can take a Edna, Kabah, and Uxmal Tour and combine visiting of three ruins in the area in only one day. Uxmal Ruins is a very impressive site only 80 kilometers from Merida , and we must admit we enjoyed this place even more than Chichen Itza, but cannot exactly explain why. Uxmal Ruins is a well-known place, so you will meet here many other tourists as well, but vendors cannot enter the site, and we had a feeling that we could walk around much more freely, without being rushed, plus the most awe-inspiring structure at Uxmal, Pyramid of Magician was one of our favorites we've ever seen.

Uxmal was the most powerful between 7 AD and 9 AD, during this time almost 25 people lived on-site, and at that time Uxmal was similarly powerful and important such as Chichen Itza because it had a great position on a trading path. The importance and the past grandeur of the ancient city can be told by the architecture which is represented by the Puuc style well-known for the area. Except for walking around, you can also climb narrow steep steps to the top of the great pyramid, from where you can better appreciate how Maya people built their cities.

When staying in Merida, getting to Uxmal ruins is simple as there is a direct bus to the ruins, that will take you there and back. But if you prefer even easier way how to enjoy this day trip, you can take a Uxmal and Kabah Full-Day Tour from Merida. Mexico is not only the Yucatan Peninsula, but other parts of the country also offer wonderful things to do. One of the often-overlooked states is Chiapas, which is one of the poorest regions in the country, but Maya people left their trace here as well.

Despite the fact, the Chiapas state is usually not on travelers' itineraries, and the safety situation has worsened here lately, there is at least one reason why to take a detour to this part of Mexico - Palenque Ruins. Palenque Ruins has impressive architecture, and the site is surrounded by jungle, so when visiting early in the morning, you can hear the forest waking up and the echoing sound of howler monkeys is something you will never forget.

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! 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. Here, you can see the mesmerizing El Castillo, faint remnants of once brightly-colored murals, stele, temples, and more. Make sure to include these amazing Mayan ruins in your Tulum itinerary! 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! 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. 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.

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. These ruins are conveniently located just 1 hour from the more popular Chichen Itza.

Famous for being the only fortified Mayan settlement on the coast and for its tall fortress-like walls, these ruins perched atop metre-high cliffs overlooking the Caribbean Sea can be seen for miles. The earliest date found inscribed on stelae at the site is A. What hands down makes Tulum ruins so special, is the cannot-be-missed views of the Caribbean Sea. A pathway from the village leads to a sandy beach with turquoise ocean waters which are perfect for swimming and snapping photos is the ideal finish to the ruins.

Only nine kilometres outside of Oaxaca City, an ancient city built on a high plateau metres above the valley, with expansive views of a once-great empire, is the Monte Alban archaeological site. Wander around the site to uncover, with some imagination, what life in Monte Alban would have been like. As with many of the ancient sites through Mexico, there is a museum on-site with historical artifacts, stelae and bones from burial sites that were found nearby.

Be sure to check it out on the way in, or the way out! The museum is air-conditioned and is a nice reprieve from exploring the ruins in the sun. Discover these unique ruins and the wonderful city of Oaxaca on a Mexico private tour. Located more inland than other sites, it is still, according to some, one of the most important ancient ruins in Mexico.

Another of the most impressive structures on the site, the Great Pyramid provides the best vantage point to look out over the ancient city of Uxmal and the ruins that remain there. While it is achievable and worth the climb, be prepared for steep, shallow steps that require climbing, not just stepping. Unfortunately, you can no longer climb the giant Pyramid of the Magician. With fewer people than Chichen Itza and Tulum Ruins, Uxmal can be really enjoyed without battling busloads of people. Located on the Yucatan Peninsula in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, only 44 kilometres northwest of Tulum less than an hour by car , you will find the ancient Mayan city of Coba with more than 6, ruins for you to discover at your own pace.

Discover these ancient pyramids and more on this Day Riviera Maya Escape trip.