Archaeological site 36 km southwest of Motul
A Maya pyramid with giant stucco masks right on the main square of a living town, next to a colonial church.
Acanceh is a town about 28 kilometers southeast of Mérida where ancient and modern life share the same square. On one side of the main plaza stands the colonial parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Natividad, with a Guadalupe chapel beside it; on the other rises a Maya pyramid, partly restored, about 15 meters high, with houses, shops and the market all around.
The pyramid is one of the most important Early Classic sites in the region. On one of its upper levels, under protective roofs, are large stucco masks of a solar deity, with wide eyes and curling ornaments, among the best preserved of their kind in Yucatán. A few blocks away is the Palace of the Stuccos, a building about 50 meters long whose frieze is covered with modeled stucco figures of animals and supernatural beings, in a style that shows contacts with Teotihuacan in central Mexico.
Both buildings are part of an INAH zone with one ticket. Acanceh is also the first stop on the Convent Route heading south from Mérida, and it is close to the cenotes of Cuzamá and Homún.
What to see and do
Climb to the stucco masks on the pyramid in the main square.
Walk a few blocks to the Palace of the Stuccos and its frieze of modeled figures.
Visit the colonial church and the Guadalupe chapel across the plaza.
Continue to the cenotes of Cuzamá or Homún.
Getting there
From Motul, drive southwest toward Mérida and then southeast through the towns east of the city to Acanceh, roughly 50 minutes. The INAH zone is usually open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; ask at the pyramid for the ticket that also covers the Palace of the Stuccos.
36 km southwest of Motul
Directions from Motul on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in Acanceh
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Photos
Weather warm
Acanceh shares the climate of Motul, 36 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec.
Make Motul your base
Acanceh is an easy trip from Motul, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
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Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.