The jungles of southern Mexico are some of the most enigmatic places in the country because they hold the secrets of the ancient Mayan world. Once-mighty Mayan cities were hubs of commerce, religion, and science. Though the cities are now famous Mayan ruins in Mexico, they still tell the stories of the brilliant and fascinating people who built them. The country is home to roughly 200 Mayan archaeological sites, and each has a story to tell.
Chichen Itza
Recognized around the world for its iconic pyramid, Chichen Itza is one of the most popular Mayan archaeological sites in the world. Located in Mexico's state of Yucatan, Chichen Itza was one of the most important complexes for the Mayan people and dates back 1,500 years. It was once one of the largest cities in the entire Mayan empire, and today the site is known for El Castillo, the spectacular step pyramid, which the Mayans designed using their deep knowledge of astronomy, the seasons, and mathematics.
Other important structures in Chichen Itza include the Great Ball Court, the Skull Platform (considered a place for ritual sacrifice), and the statue-adorned Temple of the Warriors. But Chichen Itza is so expansive that it's possible to spend hours here and still not see everything that these impressive Mexican Mayan ruins have to offer.
Tulum
Before there were the DJ dance parties and boho chic design hotels of Tulum, there were the Mayan ruins of Tulum. And before they were ruins, they were structures part of a fully functioning Mayan fortress overlooking the turquoise Caribbean Sea. Tulum has some of the most photographed Mayan ruins in Mexico because of their architectural beauty, their historical significance, and their position overlooking one of the best beaches in Mexico.
The original name of Tulum was Zama, which means “sunrise” in Maya – fitting because the ruins are perched on a cliff looking east. Tulum’s peak came around the 13th century, and it was used as a connecting point between the Yucatan and Central America.
Uxmal
Deep in the jungle around Merida, the capital of the state of Yucatan, sits an epic Mayan archaeological site that’s one of the lesser-visited Mayan ruins in Mexico. At its height, this complex of Mexican Mayan ruins was home to 20,000 people.
What makes Uxmal stand out – quite literally – is its tallest structure, the Pyramid of the Magician, which is one of the most beautiful Mayan pyramids in Mexico and rises out of the thick sea of jungle that surrounds it. The name Uxmal translates to "Thrice Built," which refers to this particular pyramid, as it stands on the ground of pyramids that existed before it.
Uxmal is one of the few remaining Mayan ruins in Mexico that has pyramids open for visitors to climb. This experience gives a dynamic perspective of the archaeological site, and you can truly walk in the footsteps of the Mayan people.
Palenque
Palenque is thought to date from the 3rd century AD, but it didn't show up in written history until the 16th century. Speaking of written history, what makes Palenque so historically important is that it is home to one of the largest collections of inscriptions from the Mayan world.
The first stop at Palenque must be its iconic Temple of Inscriptions, one of the empire's most important Mayan temples. It was built by the son of a Mayan king, who carved more than 180 years of Palenque's history into its stony steps. The temple is the tomb of this king as well.
The rest of the site is equally impressive and has hundreds of ruins. Archaeologists believe that the structures were previously painted bright colours, which must have been a dramatic sight in the middle of the verdant jungle. Today, UNESCO-listed Palenque is home to important Mayan ruins in Mexico that help visitors understand the civilization’s ancient history and customs.
Bonampak
Bonampak, which translates to “painted walls,” is another Mayan site known for its bright colours, seen on the mural-covered walls of the main site within the complex.
The buildings standing on the Bonampak site today date from the 8th century. The frescoes within three buildings of the Templo de Pinturas tell the story of daily life at court, as well as the drama and power of warfare. The paintings are beautifully preserved and offer a true glimpse into the lives of the Mayan people.
What also makes Bonampak special is that it is not easy to get there, which is what keeps the experience so intimate – you have to really work for it. It's located about 180km (110 mi) southeast of Palenque down a narrow gravel road completely enveloped in jungle.
Calakmul
The Mayan temples at Calakmul are some of the most rewarding Mayan ruins in Mexico. Not only are they amazingly beautiful, but their remote location, tucked amid forests teeming with jaguars, monkeys, and tropical birds, is also special. The Mayan ruins of Calakmul are hidden away in the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in the state of Campeche, not far from the border with Guatemala. For more than 12 centuries, Calakmul was one of the most important cities in the Mayan empire. The city peaked around the 6th century when it was home to roughly 65,000 people.
One of the best parts about Calakmul, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is that visitors can climb the Great Pyramid, a magnificent structure that’s more than 50m (170 ft) tall. Much of the site remains buried in the jungle, but you can spend a full day roaming around it.
Coba
Not far from Tulum but much farther off the tourist trail, the Mayan ruins of Coba are some of the lesser-known Mayan archaeological sites in the state of Quintana Roo. Tucked inland and surrounded by lush, tropical trees, Coba spans approximately 77 square km (30 square mi).
The most important feature of Coba is its Nohoch Mul pyramid. Visitors can still climb the 120 stone steps to the top. Brace yourself for epic views out across the green canopy of trees.
Another reason to visit Coba is to take a stroll down the ancient Mayan roads. The Coba-Yaxuna Sacbe is one of the longest-known raised stone roads in the Mayan empire and runs across the entire Yucatan Peninsula. A portion of the road runs directly through Coba.
Other Mayan ruins in Central America
Mexico is not the only country home to mesmerizing Mayan archaeological sites. Mayan ruins can be found all over Central America, including in Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador.
Surrounded by two million hectares of forested conservation area in Guatemala, Tikal is a massive Mayan civilization with palaces, temples, ceremonial platforms, ball courts, roads, and hieroglyphic inscriptions.
In the jungles of Belize, Xunantunich Mayan Ruins are located near the city of San Ignacio, not far from the border with Guatemala. The structure to see here is the Mayan temple called El Castillo, which offers impressive 360-degree views from its summit. El Castillo is still one of the tallest structures in Belize.
Belize is also home to the Caracol Natural Monument Reservation, another sprawling archaeological site. Bragging rights here go to its largest temple of Caana, which rises 43m (140 ft) through the jungle canopy. Caana has four palaces and three temples, and archaeologists have found more than 100 tombs on the site.
Honduras is also rich in Mayan history. The ancient city of Copan spans more than 100 hectares (250 acres) and features stone temples, pyramids, plazas, a ball court, and beautifully carved hieroglyphs. The Hieroglyphic Stairway leading to a temple is adorned with more than 1,200 symbols.
If your travels take you to El Salvador, then the ruins at Tazumal are a must, and this massive complex is surrounded by thick, tropical jungle. Tazumal was inhabited as early as 1200 BC. Archaeologists have loved this Mayan site for all of the artefacts they have uncovered there, from vessels and jewellery to ceramics.
