The best Mayan ruins tours in Cancun are the ones that stimulate all your senses and bring you the real magic of the Mayan world. Vacationing in Cancun and NOT taking a Mayan ruins tour is like going to Egypt and NOT seeing the pyramids! The archaeological treasures of the Yucatan Peninsula are truly remarkable and they are best enjoyed with an expert guide. So, what are the top Mayan ruins sites in Yucatan?
The top Mayan ruins tours bring you to Chichen Itza, Tulum, Coba and Ek Balam. There are many other fascinating sites, particularly along the “Ruta Puuc” but these four are accessible in easy day trips from Cancun and the Riviera Maya. They are all important sites and offer a fantastic look into an ancient civilization and a peek at the modern day Maya in the surrounding communities.
The best Mayan ruins tours in Cancun start with an early morning pick up by your friendly driver in a comfortable, air conditioned vehicle. Travel time will depend on which site you are visiting and where you are staying but most Mayan ruins sites are about two hours from Cancun or your Riviera Maya resort. Your expert guide will use this time to introduce you to the ancient pre-Columbian world with facts and folklore and some tips on what to expect on a Mayan ruins tour.
Tip, dress right, it is probably going to be hot. The Yucatan is known for its tropical climate and you’ll want to wear light clothing like shorts and a tshirt. Definitely wear comfortable shoes for a lot of walking, leave the pretty, strappy sandals at the resort and put on some tennis shoes.
The best Mayan ruins tours in Cancun include a swim in a sacred cenote so pro tip, wear your bathing suit under your comfortable cotton shorts and tees and bring a change of clothes. Less time messing about in the changing rooms and more time enjoying the majesty of a cenote in the Yucatan.
Choosing a Mayan ruins tour may seem confusing when you start to look at all the options available online. The top 4 Mayan ruins sites from Cancun are Chichen Itza, Tulum, Coba and Ek Balam, each with its own distinct charm and fascinating history.
A Chichen Itza tour from Cancun brings you to the most well known and the most visited site, it is world-famous as one of the most important cities of the Mayan civilization. It’s usually a great place to start your journey of learning and a tour to Chichen Itza is going to wow you with all the impressive structures and treasures of the site. All roads lead to Chichen Itza, literally, the “sac be” or “white roads” that lead to other sites in the peninsula lead a trail to this majestic site.
For the best photos of Mayan ruins sites, take guided tour of Tulum. The views are absolutely out of this world, a soaring cliff with a pyramid set atop overlooking the turquoise Mexican Caribbean Sea will make your Instagram followers swoon.
The archaeological site of Coba is a world still mostly hidden by the protective arms of the jungle. A Coba tour from Cancun lets you enter the jungle world and discover the ancient structures that peek through and are lovingly restored little by little by dedicated archaeologists. Walk through the ball court and take an invigorating jungle bike ride to view the tallest pyramid in the Yucatan, Nohoch Mul.
A guided tour of Ek Balam from Cancun is the most immersive way to explore the Mayan ruins. You will climb to the top of the extraordinary Acropolis and find the truly spectacular tomb of a king. An Ek Balam tour from Cancun is an intimate look at the Mayan world, small groups and few visitors make this a really cool day trip. Add on the cenote swim and it is a truly unique Cancun tour.
Book your Mayan ruins tour from Cancun with Happy Tours Cancun and fall in love with the mystery and magic of the Mayan world.
