Ichkabal

Ichkabal is the newest archaeological site in Quintana Roo, opened to the public in January 2025 after more than two decades of excavation by INAH. It lies in the forest about 40 kilometers by road from Bacalar, and for years it was known only to archaeologists and the people of the Bacalar ejido, who own the land.

What makes it remarkable is its size and its age. Its main buildings are among the tallest in the Yucatán Peninsula, with several rising more than 40 meters, often arranged in groups of three on a single platform. Construction started centuries before Christ, in the Preclassic period, long before Chichén Itzá, and INAH places the city's height between 200 and 600 AD. Archaeologists working here have found stucco masks and traces of mural painting, and they believe Ichkabal was closely tied to Dzibanché, the nearby capital of the powerful Kaanu'l, or Snake, dynasty.

The visitor area is new, with a service center, parking, trails and signs, and the site is still quiet compared with the ruins farther north. Much of it is unexcavated, so you walk through forest past mounds that are clearly buildings still covered by trees. Expect a lot of sun on the open plazas and a long walk between groups.