Archaeological site 19 km southeast of Bacalar
Maya ruins by Chetumal Bay with a rare 16th-century Spanish chapel among the temples; reopened in late 2024.
Oxtankah is a Maya site in the forest near the shore of Chetumal Bay, just north of the fishing village of Calderitas. It was a coastal settlement whose economy was built on sea trade around the bay and along the Caribbean, and it reached its peak in the Early Classic period, roughly 250 to 600 AD.
Its plazas are surrounded by platforms and temples, and in Plaza Abejas archaeologists found a stucco mask of a jaguar, linked to Witz, the sacred mountain of Maya belief. What makes Oxtankah unlike other ruins in the region, though, is a small Spanish chapel from the 16th century standing among the Maya buildings. Its stone arch is unique in Quintana Roo, and there are only a couple of others like it in the whole Yucatán Peninsula. Local tradition links the site to Gonzalo Guerrero, the Spanish sailor shipwrecked on this coast in 1511 who married into a Maya family and later fought against the Spanish.
INAH reopened Oxtankah in November 2024 after improvements to its trails and visitor services. It is small, shady and quiet, an easy visit of an hour or two that pairs well with a seafood lunch in Calderitas.
What to see and do
See the 16th-century Spanish chapel and its stone arch among the Maya temples.
Walk through Plaza Abejas, where the stucco jaguar mask was found.
Follow the shaded trails between the plazas and watch for birds.
Eat seafood by the bay in Calderitas afterward.
Getting there
From Bacalar, drive south on Highway 307 toward Chetumal, then take the road to Calderitas on the bay and continue north past the village to the site; allow about 45 minutes. There is no direct public transport. INAH charges admission, with free entry on Sundays for Mexican citizens and residents; opening hours are shorter than at bigger sites, so go in the morning.
19 km southeast of Bacalar
Directions from Bacalar on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather warm
Oxtankah shares the climate of Bacalar, 19 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
Make Bacalar your base
Oxtankah is an easy trip from Bacalar, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
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Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.