10 archaeological sites
Quintana Roo has 10 archaeological sites with their own page on Puebloteca, near the Pueblos Mágicos of Bacalar, Tulum, Cozumel, and Isla Mujeres. The closest to a pueblo is El Meco, 8 km from Isla Mujeres; the farthest out is Kohunlich, 51 km from Bacalar.
Most archaeological sites are run by INAH and open from about 8 or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a small fee. Midday is the hottest and busiest time, so go early.
Best months, when most of these towns are dry with comfortable afternoons: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr.
The Ruins 10
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El Meco · Archaeological site · 8 km from Isla Mujeres
Maya ruins on the mainland near the Punta Sam ferry, with a pyramid among the trees; reopened in 2024 with a bridge to the beach. -
San Gervasio · Archaeological site · 8 km from Cozumel
Cozumel's main Maya site, a pilgrimage center for the goddess Ixchel, with small temples linked by white roads in the forest. -
Xel-Há ruins · Archaeological site · 16 km from Tulum
A Maya port with rare painted murals of birds, reopened in July 2026 after four years of work, with a new regional museum. -
Oxtankah · Archaeological site · 19 km from Bacalar
Maya ruins by Chetumal Bay with a rare 16th-century Spanish chapel among the temples; reopened in late 2024. -
Muyil · Archaeological site · 21 km from Tulum
One of the oldest Maya sites on the coast, in the forest beside the Sian Ka'an lagoons; reopened in 2026 after restoration work. -
Ichkabal · Archaeological site · 29 km from Bacalar
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 from Bacalar
Once a capital of the powerful Kaanu'l (Snake) dynasty; tall temples in the forest, reopened in 2025 with newly shown stucco facades. -
Chacchoben · Archaeological site · 40 km from Bacalar
The largest Maya site of the lake region north of Bacalar: temples on a great platform, in shady forest full of birds. -
Cobá · Archaeological site · 41 km from Tulum
A huge Maya city in the forest between two lakes, with long white roads to bike and the 42-meter Nohoch Mul pyramid. -
Kohunlich · Archaeological site · 51 km from Bacalar
Maya ruins among tall cohune palms west of Chetumal, famous for the Temple of the Masks and its giant stucco faces.
On the map
Distances are in a straight line; roads add about a third.
Where to stay
The Pueblos Mágicos these places are closest to, each with hotels, food and getting-there notes.
More places like these
More in Quintana Roo
Ruins elsewhere
All lists by kind and regionNames and locations from OpenStreetMap; notes and write-ups are our own.