Archaeological site Dzemul, Yucatán Municipality of Dzemul Costa Esmeralda (Yucatán)
A Maya salt-trading port near the coast, with a small colonial chapel on its plaza and flamingos often in nearby lagoons.
From Mérida: 1 h 5 min by car (59 km by road) How to get there ↓
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Plan your visit to Xcambó
Tours to Xcambó
A guide brings Xcambó to life: look for tours from Motul that include the site and the ride there.
Yucatan Cultural Day Tour Motul, Xcambó Ruins and Progreso Beach
From US$99
How to get to Xcambó
- From Mérida: about 1 h 5 min by road (~59 km)
- 25 km north of Motul
- Nearest airport: Mérida (MID), 47 min by car to Motul
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Popular tours to Xcambó
Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.
About Xcambó
Xcambó is a Maya site about 2 kilometers inland from the Gulf coast, in the municipality of Dzemul, a few kilometers west of Telchac Puerto. It was built on a raised island of dry land in the coastal swamp and was, in its time, the main port of the northeastern coast of the peninsula and a center for gathering and trading sea salt. Its great period was the Early Classic, roughly between 300 and 550, when it was linked by causeways to towns that depended on Izamal.
The restored center has stepped pyramids and platforms around plazas, including the Temple of the Cross, a stepped base with a cross on top, and the Temple of the Sacrifices. Burials excavated here contained offerings of imported pottery, including painted vessels from Guatemala and figurines from the island of Jaina in Campeche, evidence of how far its trade reached.
Xcambó is still a place of devotion. A small Catholic chapel stands on top of one of the ancient platforms, where, according to local tradition, the Virgin appeared, and people from Dzemul come here on pilgrimage. Flamingos and other waterbirds often feed in the salt flats and lagoons along the access road.
How to get to Xcambó
Drive from Mérida: 1 h 5 min, 59 km
From Motul, drive north to Telchac Puerto (about 30 minutes) and then west a few kilometers along the coastal road to the signed turnoff for Xcambó. It is an INAH site with limited services; bring water and repellent.
25 km north of Motul
Directions from Motul on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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From the nearest cities to Xcambó
- Mérida · 59 km by road, 1 h 5 min
- Tizimín · 151 km by road, 2 h 25 min
- Valladolid · 174 km by road, 2 h 40 min
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Before you go to Xcambó: hours, prices and tips
- Hours
- Open daily, 8 am to 5 pm; last entry at 4 pm. INAH · checked Oct 2026
- Entry
- 210 pesos for foreign visitors, 105 for Mexican nationals. Free on Sundays for Mexicans, and free for Mexican children under 13, students, teachers and seniors. INAH · checked Oct 2026
- Rules
- No pets. Professional cameras pay an extra fee. INAH · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Xcambó: what to see and do
Climb the stepped platforms for a view over the swamp and toward the sea.
Visit the chapel of the Virgin of Xcambó on top of an ancient platform.
Look for flamingos and herons in the salt flats along the access road.
Combine it with lunch and the beach at Telchac Puerto.
Plan your trip
Tours & activities
A guide brings Xcambó to life: look for tours from Motul that include the site and the ride there.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at MID (Mérida): about 47 min by road to Motul, then 25 km more to Xcambó, on your own schedule.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Mérida (MID), about 47 min by road from Motul, the base for Xcambó.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Motul: download a map of the way to Xcambó before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. Hotel names from OpenStreetMap.
Photos
When to go to Xcambó warm
Xcambó shares the climate of Motul, 25 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, November, and December.
See the month-by-month climate of Motul
Weather in Xcambó now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
Make Motul your base
Xcambó is an easy trip from Motul, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
Closest to Xcambó
-
Xtampú · Lagoon · 2 km away · Yucatán
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Telchac Puerto · Beach · 10 km away
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Dzemul · Village · 12 km away · Yucatán
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Timul · Village · 14 km away · Yucatán
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Telchac Pueblo · Village · 15 km away · Yucatán
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Sacapuc · Village · 16 km away · Yucatán
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Parador Uaymitún · Viewpoint · 18 km away
-
San Crisanto · Nature reserve · 19 km away
Near Xcambó
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El Corchito · Nature reserve · Yucatán
45 min: drive to El Corchito landing, Progreso, then 5 min by boat
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Lists with Xcambó
Ruins in Yucatán · 14 Ruins near Motul · 5 Ruins near Mérida · 6 Ruins near Izamal · 6Something wrong or missing on this page? Suggest a fix or addition
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.