18 Ruins you must visit in Quintana Roo

What is the first archaeological site that comes to your mind when you think about Cancún? Chichén Itzá, right? Well, surprise! Although it is pretty close to Cancún it is not in Cancún. It's not even in the same state! Chichén Itzá ruins are located in Yucatán. Quintana Roo (the state where Cancún & the Riviera Maya are located) has 18 archaeological sites that surprisingly, are not that common! Have you been to all of these sites?

El Meco

Photo Credit: "El Meco" by HJPD is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Where is it? North of Cancún. Around 20 - 25 minutes from the Cancún International Airport.
Things to consider: The site is open from 8:00 - 17:00 hrs. Last access is at 16:30 hrs. Restrooms are available.
Fee: $55 MXN.
Why visit it? Given its location, it’s highly probable that it had an important significance in the navigation route along the coast. Don’t forget to take a picture of “El Castillo”!
Interesting facts: “El Meco” is actually a nickname that was given to a caretaker in the XIX century. In México, “El Meco” is a pejorative nickname given to people with genu varum (bow-legged).
Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent. No food or drinks are allowed. No flash pictures.
Plan to stay: 1 hour

San Miguelito

Where is it? Cancún Hotel Zone. At Museo Maya de Cancún. 15 - 20 minutes from the Cancún International Airport.
Things to consider: The site is open from 9:00 - 16:30 hrs.
Fee: $55 MXN. Restrooms, parking lot, lockers & rest areas are available.
Why visit it? Conjunto Norte, Palacio Chaak, Conjunto de los Dragones & Conjunto Sur are must-see structures!
Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing & sunscreen.
Plan to stay: 1 hour

El Rey

Photo Credit: "El Rey" by Xe3osc is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Where is it? Km. 18 on the Cancún Hotel Zone. 20 minutes away from the Cancún International Airport.
Things to consider: The site is open from 8:00 - 17:00 hrs. Last access is at 16:30 hrs.
Fee: $55 MXN. Restrooms are available.
Why visit it? 1 of the 2 archaeological sites in the Hotel Zone!
Interesting facts: The name of this site was given due to an anthropomorphic figure that resembled a king.
Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing & sunscreen.
Plan to stay: 1 hour

Playa del Carmen

Photo Credit: Xaman - Ha" by Amazing Templates

Where is it? Playacar, Playa del Carmen. 1 hour away from the Cancún International Airport.

Why visit it? Closest ruins to Playa del Carmen!

Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent.

Plan to stay: 1 hour

Xcaret

Photo Credit: "Xcaret" by AMAPO is licenced under CC BY-SA 3.0 

Where is it? Next to Xcaret Park. 1 hour from Cancún International Airport.

Things to consider: The site is open from 9:00 - 15:00 hrs.
Fee: $65 MXN. Restrooms are available. This fee covers only access to the archaeological site, not the entrance to Xcaret Park.

Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent.

Plan to stay: 1 - 2 hours

Rancho Ina - CALICA

Photo Credit: "La Casa Azul" by Luis Adrián Rojas Yáñez.

Where is it? Tulum - Cancún Highway, South of Playa del Carmen. 15 minutes from Downtown Playa del Carmen.
Things to consider: The site is located within CALICA’s property, so it is not formally open to public access. Visits must be arranged through INAH at least 7 days beforehand!

Why visit it? CALICA is a representative site of the Mayan post-classic mural painting of the area.

Recommendations: All visitors must be accompanied & follow the instructions given by a CALICA member staff.  Sandals are prohibited, wear tennis or closed shoes.

Plan to stay: 1 hour

San Gervasio

Photo Credit: "San Gervasio" by Banja-Frans Mulder licensed under CC BY 3.0

Where is it? Cozumel. Around 30 minutes from the Cozumel Ferry Pier.
Things to consider: Open from 8:00 - 17:00 hrs. Last access is at 16:30 hrs.
Fee: $70 MXN + additional fees charged by the Fundación de Parques y Museos de Cozumel. Restrooms, parking lot, handicrafts store & convenience store are available.
Why visit it? Manitas, Chichán Nah, El Álamo & Nohoch Nah are some of the must-see structures at San Gervasio.
Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent. Bring water.
Plan to stay: 2 - 3 hours

El Caracol - Punta Sur

Photo Credit: https://www.encirclephotos.com/image/tumba-del-caracol-at-punta-sur-near-san-miguel-cozumel-mexico/

Where is it? Punta Sur, Cozumel. 30 min from the Cozumel Ferry Pier.
Things to consider: There are no restrooms on the site. There is no cost for visiting the site, but since the ruins are located within the Ecological Reserve of Punta Sur, the entrance to the park must be paid.  -Adult: $14 USD    -Child: $8 USD
Why visit it? Although it is a rather small structure, the peculiar decoration of the roofing of the building makes it a unique structure in the region. El Caracol at Punta Sur offers a marvelous sight of the Punta Sur Sea of Cozumel!

Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent. Bring water.
Plan to stay: 2 - 3 hours

Xelhá

Where is it? 115 Km. South of Cancún. 16Km. to the North of Tulum. 1 hour from the Cancun International Airport.
Some things to consider: Open from 8:00 - 17:00 hours.
Fee: $70 MXN. Restrooms and parking lot are available.
Why visit it? Take a look at the Mural Painting in "Los Pájaros" building
Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent. Bring water.
Plan to stay: 1 - 2 hours

Tulum

Photo Credit: "Tulum" by Popole Chien is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

Where is it? 128 Km. South of Cancún. 1:30 hours from the Cancún International Airport.
Things to consider: Open from 8:00 - 17:00 hours.
Fee: $70 MXN. Restrooms and parking lot are available.
Why visit it? Privileged location & great shape of the structures & mural paintings.
Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent. Bring water.
Plan to stay: 1 - 2 hours

Cobá

Where is it? 109 Federal Highway to Nuevo Xcan. 47 km north-west of Tulum. 2:10 hours from the Cancún International Airport.
Things to consider: Open from 8:00 - 17:30 hrs. Last access is at 16:30 hrs.
Fee: $70 MXN. There is a parking lot (fee must be paid) & restrooms. There are some near places with food & handicrafts for sale. There are guides available also.
Why visit it? You can climb the ruins!
Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent. Bring water.
Plan to stay: 2 - 3 hours

Muyil

"Muyil" by Pierre-Selim Huard licensed under CC BY 4.0

Where is it? Federal Highway 307. 25 Km southeast of Tulum. Around 2 hours away from Cancún International Airport.
Things to consider: Open from 8:00 - 17:00 hrs. Last access is at 16:30 hrs.
Fee: $45 MXN. Restrooms, rest areas & parking lot are available.
Why visit it? Less visited than Chichén Itzá & Tulum!
Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent. Bring water.
Plan to stay: 2 - 3 hours

Chacchoben

Photo Credit: "Chacchoben by Texcarson licensed under CC BY SA 3.0"

Where is it? 293 Federal Highway to Chunhuhub - Merida. 37 Km. North of Bacalar. 3:30 hours from Cancún International Airport.
Things to consider: Open from 8:00 - 17:00 hrs. Last access is at 16:30 hrs.
Fee: $60 MXN. Restrooms, touristic information, handicrafts, food & parking lot available for an extra charge.
Why visit it? Las vasijas, la gran plaza, gran basamento & los gemelos are must-see structures!

Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent. Bring water.
Plan to stay: 2 - 3 hours

Kinichná

Photo Credit: @andresv.marin

Where is it? Chetumal - Escárcega Federal Highway 186. Close to the town of Morocoy. 5 hours away from the Cancún International Airport.
Things to consider: Open from 8:00 - 17:00 hrs. Last access is at 16:30 hrs.
Fee: $60 MXN. Restrooms are available.
Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent. Bring water.
Plan to stay: 2 - 3 hours

Dzibanché

Where is it? Chetumal - Escárcega Federal Highway 186. Close to the town of Morocoy. 5 hours away from the Cancún International Airport.
Things to consider: Open from 8:00 - 17:00 hrs. Last access is at 16:30 hrs.
Fee: $60 MXN. Restrooms are available.

Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent. Bring water.
Plan to stay: 2 - 3 hours

Oxtankah

Photo Credit: Vist Chetumal

Where is it? Chetumal - Calderitas Highway. 5 hours from Cancún International Airport. 25 min from Chetumal.
Things to consider: Open from 8:00 - 17:00 hrs. Last access is at 16:30 hrs.
Fee: $55 MXN. Restrooms, parking lot & information center are available.
Why visit it? Oxtankah is the city with more relevance discovered in Bahía de Chetumal. Also, there's a round temple with a spiral ramp.
Some recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent. Bring water.
Plan to stay: 2 - 3 hours

Chakanbakán

Where is it located? Chetumal - Escárcega Highway. 5 hours from Cancún International Airport. 1:10 hours from Downtown Chetumal.
Things to consider: The site is not open for public access. Visits must be arranged through INAH. No restrooms available.
Why visit it? It is considered an ecological reserve. Don’t forget to visit: Acrópolis, Ukuchilbaxal, Kihuiksinan, Uchbenbut & Kulpool.
Interesting facts: Most of the structures in this site haven’t been explored!
Recommendations: Bring water.
Plan to stay: 2 - 3 hours

Kohunlich

Where is it? Chetumal - Escárcega Federal Highway 186. 5 hours from the Cancún International Airport. 1 hour from Bacalar.
Things to consider: Open from 8:00 - 17:00 hrs. Last access is at 16:30 hrs.
Fee: $70 MXN. Restrooms are available.
Why visit it? Visit Temple of the Masks, 27 steps & residential buildings.
Interesting facts: The name of this site comes from the english “Cohune ridge”, which is related to the existence of Cahoon Trees in the area.
Recommendations: Wear comfortable shoes, light clothing, sunscreen & insect repellent. No food or drinks allowed. No flash pictures.
Plan to stay: 2 - 3 hours

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Festival of Life and Death Traditions, 2018.

The Festival of Life and Death Traditions began in 2005 as a way to recover and honor the traditions of different Mexican communities through contemporary art expressions. The Festival aims to display the Day of the Dead Tradition, which has been considered part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO since 2008. This year, Xcaret will present the 13th Edition: "Festival of Life and Death Traditions: Almas de Plata (Souls of Silver)" with the state of Zacatecas as the special guest.

Year after year the festival offers a wide variety of cultural activities and artistic expressions, and this year is no exception. The 13th Edition with Zacatecas as its special guest will have:

•     Dance performances: Folkloric ballet, pre-Columbian and contemporary dance, traditional rituals and festive dances.
  

•     Theater: Circus, Clown, Puppets, narrated and regional theater from Yucatán, Quintana Roo, Zacatecas and artists from Quebec, Canada.

•     Music: authentic corridos of the Mexican revolution, Yucatecan and Zacatecan traditional songs, jaraberos (ancestors of the Mariachi), special guests from Colombia & percussion ensemble. And if that were not enough, there will be 3 Gala concerts at the Gran Tlachco Theater.

•     Expositions, exhibitions, and workshops: altars, food sale with the most representative dishes of Zacatecas and Quintana Roo. There will also be interactive workshops, photography and painting exhibitions.

•     Cuisine: This year with Zacatecas as a special guest, the culinary demonstration will offer gorditas, brujitas from Sombrerete, condoches, tacos envenenados, traditional asado de boda, etc.

In this year's edition, Eugenia León and Ely Guerra will perform. On October 31, Eugenia  León, one of the greatest exponents of Mexican music, will perform solo at the Tlachco Theater.  On November 1, both Eugenia León & Ely Guerra will perform together! Finally, on November 3, Ely Guerra will perform solo in an intimate piano & voice concert.

This year's edition (as all have been) will be memorable: the state of Zacatecas will display the state's customs, its mining culture influence (hence the name of Souls of Silver), and its Revolutionary Period (the Battle of Zacatecas was decisive in the Mexican Revolution). Music, theater, dance, and other artistic expressions will be the medium for this memorable nights.

... And as if 4 days of celebration weren't enough, the Festival will continue with 2 extra days (November 3 & 4) in two official secondary venues: Teatro de la Ciudad de Playa del Carmen and Teatro de Cancún. But that's not all! For the first time, Hotel Xcaret Mexico will also be a secondary venue for artists will perform from October 30 to November 4.

If you want to assist to Xcaret during these days, you can book a private tour that includes: fully-air conditioned, private van, English speaking drivers AND Festival of Life & Death Traditions entrance here.

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