Archaeological site 40 km northeast of Bacalar
The largest Maya site of the lake region north of Bacalar: temples on a great platform, in shady forest full of birds.
Chacchoben is the most important Maya site in the lake region of southern Quintana Roo, the same chain of lagoons that includes Bacalar. It lies about 45 minutes north of Bacalar, near the village of the same name, in tall forest that keeps most of the site in shade.
The city was founded around 300 BC and most of what you see was built in the early centuries of the Classic period, when it was a regional religious center. Long after the main city declined, it was occupied again between roughly 1200 and 1450 as a place of worship and pilgrimage. The heart of the site is the Gran Basamento, a huge raised platform with temples on top, including Temple 1, the tallest building at Chacchoben, and the Templo Adosado. Elsewhere a path leads to Las Vías, a group of long, low parallel platforms.
INAH began working here in 1994, and the site reopened in early 2025 after improvement works. It is popular with cruise passengers from the port at Mahahual, who usually arrive in tour buses in the late morning, so for a quiet visit come as soon as it opens or in the afternoon.
What to see and do
See the Gran Basamento, the great platform with Temple 1 and the Templo Adosado on top.
Walk the forest paths to the Las Vías group.
Keep an eye on the trees for birds like toucans and parrots, and sometimes monkeys.
Time your visit to avoid the late-morning cruise tours.
Getting there
From Bacalar, drive north on Highway 307 to the village of Lázaro Cárdenas, then take Highway 293 toward Chacchoben; the site is about 9 kilometers from Lázaro Cárdenas. The trip takes about 45 minutes. There is no convenient public transport, so a car, taxi or tour from Bacalar is easiest.
40 km northeast of Bacalar
Directions from Bacalar on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Plan your trip
Places to stay in Chacchoben
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Tours & activities
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Weather warm
Chacchoben shares the climate of Bacalar, 40 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
Make Bacalar your base
Chacchoben is an easy trip from Bacalar, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Bacalar
-
Cenote Azul
· Cenote · 4 km away
A huge, round, very deep cenote right by the lagoon at the south edge of town, with a restaurant on its shore. -
Los Rápidos
· Lake · 10 km away
A narrow channel south of town where the lagoon flows fast enough to carry you along, past some of Bacalar's stromatolites. -
Ichkabal
· Archaeological site · 29 km away
A huge, early Maya city in the forest west of Bacalar, opened to visitors only in 2025, with pyramids over 40 meters high. -
Dzibanché
· Archaeological site · 39 km away
Once a capital of the powerful Kaanu'l (Snake) dynasty; tall temples in the forest, reopened in 2025 with newly shown stucco facades. -
Kohunlich
· Archaeological site · 51 km away
Maya ruins among tall cohune palms west of Chetumal, famous for the Temple of the Masks and its giant stucco faces. -
Mahahual
· Town · 73 km away
A small Caribbean beach town about 1.5 hours east, with a seaside boardwalk and the reef close to shore for snorkeling.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.