[soliloquy id=”11199″]
Ek Balam Archeological Zone
This was my favorite of all the Mayan sites I visited on my trip to Cancun. I loved it because the facade of Ukit-Kan Le’t Tok’s tomb was one of the most beautiful ancient sculptures I have ever seen! It was all built with a type of Mayan stucco. It’s enormous with a lot of different sculptures. The entrance to the tomb features a huge mouth of a witz monster! The engraved images surrounding the mouth are awe-inspiring. If the Mayans hadn’t buried it, we wouldn’t be able to enjoy it today. I highly recommend this site. It’s lesser-known so it doesn’t get as many visitors making it an ideal location to visit!
History
Used between 600BC-1600AD. It’s prime was between 770AD-900AD. This site is actually much larger than what is excavated. It’s 15 sq km. (9 sq miles) The center is what you can visit. It contains 45 structures within the city walls. First rediscovered by archeologist Desire Charnay in the late 1800’s. It wasn’t until the 1980’s before it was excavated again by Bill Ringle and George Bey III. They researched the site for ten years. Restorations started in 1997.
Must see
The Acropolis is 96 ft tall with an incredible facade made from stucco under a thatched roof. These normally don’t survive over time because of weathering from the elements. The Mayans buried the Acropolis themselves to protect it. This is why we can still see it today, in all it’s grandeur. The facade is on the upper left side of the pyramid. It’s too big to be captured in it’s entirety on a photo. There’s simply no room to back up far enough to do it.
The Acropolis is one of the last few Mayan temples that you can still climb. The view from the top is amazing. You can see Chichen Itza in the far distance. As with all Mayan temples, it’s easier to climb up than it is to go down. The steps are slippery so be careful on your way down!
Tours
Tours from Cancun are a great way to visit Ek Balam. They will pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the site. There is a driver and a guide and the guide will give you all sort of information about the Mayan history and culture. Once you arrive at the site, he will already have your entry tickets ready. He will give you a guided tour of the site pointing on special features that you may not have noticed on your own as well as history. You will then have some free time to explore the site on your own after which you will be taken to a location for lunch and then you will get to swim in a cenote. Once the tour is over, they will take you back to your hotel.
From USD$74.00
-
Duration:
9 hours
-
Departs:
Cancún, Mexico
-
Accompanied by your own certified guide walk through this archaeological …
From USD$124.90
-
Duration:
8 to 12 hrs
-
Departs:
Ekbalam, Mexico
-
This 8-12 hours activity is ideal for families and small groups. You’ll …
From USD$139.00
-
Duration:
12 hours
-
Departs:
Cancún, Mexico
-
This adventure is one of the best kept secrets in Cancun and the Riviera …
Hours
Daily 8 – 5 pm
It will cost you 211 pesos. If you have a video camera it will cost you a 45 peso fee. There are restroom by the entrance. You can’t purchase anything here so bring water. There is not a lot of shade so it’s a good idea to bring a hat and good walking shoes. Bring sunscreen and insect repellent but if you plan on swimming in a cenote, make sure they are biodegradable. The cenotes are fragile and chemicals are bad for them.
Insurance
Climbing pyramids is fun but make sure you have travel insurance before you climb. You never know when something will happen and pyramid steps are very uneven and some are slippery, especially on the way down! Be careful when climbing. Be advised that coming down is the hardest part and it’s ok to crawl down on your butt. You won’t be the only one doing it.
Directions
Ek Balam, Yucatan, Mexico
From Cancun, follow Cancun-Kantunil/México 180D to Valladolid. Take the México 295 exit from Cancun-Kantunil/México 180D at Valladolid. Continue on 180D, destination is on your right.
Accommodations
Tours for Ek Balam leave from the Cancun Hotel Zone. You can book your trip below. Start by searching for your flight and you will be able to add your hotel later to make it a package deal. My link will search through all the sites online to find you the best deal!
Check Out My Other Travel Secrets!
28Jan 2020
Taos Pueblo the oldest community in the USA
Taos Pueblo is the oldest continuously inhabited community in the USA. Home of the Red Willow people in the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountain...
06Jan 2020
Beautifully reconstructed ruins at Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Walk inside beautifully reconstructed cliff dwellings, just an hour and a half from Denver, at Manitou Cliff Dwellings.
24Dec 2019
Things to do in Golden Colorado
Plan your day trip here with my list of cool things to do in Golden Colorado. Learn about Buffalo Bill, beer, trains, and more!
20Dec 2019
16Dec 2019
Monument Valley – An iconic image of the Wild West
Monument Valley features iconic red buttes that tower up to twelve-thousand feet high, You may recognize it from movies such as Forest Gump.
12Dec 2019
National WWII Museum
With over six acres of artifacts, recreations and testimonials, The National WWII Museum is one of the top ten best museums in the US....
06Dec 2019
Hovenweep National Monument
Come see the beautiful cliff dwellings at Hovenweep National Monument. Unlike Mesa Verde, these are perched on canyon rims and carefully balanced on uneven...
02Dec 2019
Larger than life Denver Public Art
With 1% of the capital construction funds invested in art. Denver Public Art is among the finest in the USA. Over 60 sculptures and...
About the Author
