3 of Mexico’s Most Visited Mayan Ruins In 2025 Are Near Cancun

Here at The Cancun Sun, we get it. You probably booked your trip to Cancun with visions of frosty drinks, turquoise water, and that perfect beachfront lounge chair. And you should! But what if we told you that you could easily mix in a dash of Indiana Jones with your beach time?

Our team did a deep dive into the latest 2025 visitor data, and we found something fantastic for local travelers: three of Mexico’s most popular, jaw-dropping ancient Mayan cities aren’t tucked away in some remote jungle. They are, in fact, just a short drive from the Cancun hotel zone. You can get a world-class history lesson in the afternoon and be back at your resort in time for dinner. Forget the history channel—here’s how you can walk through it yourself.

Chichén Itzá: The Rock Star

If the Mayan ruins had a headliner, Chichén Itzá would be it. This place isn’t just famous; it’s a New Wonder of the World, putting it in the same league as the Roman Colosseum and the Great Wall of China. It’s the biggest and most restored of the sites on this list, and driving up to it feels like you’re arriving at an ancient metropolis.

The main event is the massive El Castillo pyramid. It’s a giant, 365-step stone calendar that will make you question everything you thought you knew about ancient engineering. The coolest part? Stand in the right spot and clap your hands—the echo that bounces off the pyramid sounds eerily like the chirp of the sacred quetzal bird. It’s a mind-bending trick that was built into the design on purpose. As the biggest day trip from Cancun (about 2.5 hours), it’s worth every minute of the drive. There are also new rules you need to know for 2025 including a new fence that has been built to prevent visitors from climbing the pyramid.

Tulum: The Beachfront Beauty

Picture this: an ancient stone temple perched on a rugged cliff, with the bright blue Caribbean Sea crashing on the beach below. That’s Tulum. It’s hands-down the supermodel of Mayan ruins, and your camera is going to love it here.

Unlike the other sites, which are deep in the jungle, Tulum was a bustling seaport. The walls you see were built to protect the city from pirates and other invaders coming from the sea. The vibe is completely different—it’s windy, open, and the views are absolutely spectacular. The best part is that after you’ve explored the temples and scouted for iguanas sunbathing on the stone walls, you can take a staircase down to the small, pristine beach at the base of the cliffs for a swim. It’s the only archaeological site that comes with its own perfect cool-down spot.

Cobá: The Jungle Adventure

If Chichén Itzá is the polished celebrity and Tulum is the stunning model, then Cobá is the rugged explorer. Set deep in the thick jungle between two lagoons, this site feels much more like a discovery. The ruins are more spread out and less excavated, connected by ancient raised stone roads called sacbeob.

The best way to get around is to rent a bike at the entrance or hire a tricycle “taxi.” Pedaling down shady jungle paths to discover a hidden temple is an adventure in itself. For years, Cobá’s claim to fame was being one of the last major pyramids you could climb. While preservation rules have recently stopped the ascent up the main pyramid, Nohoch Mul, standing at its base and staring up at the steep staircase disappearing into the jungle canopy is still an awesome, humbling experience that makes you feel a million miles from civilization.

So, when you’re planning your Cancun getaway, leave a day or two open. A trip back in time is closer than you think, and you can trust The Cancun Sun to keep bringing you the best local tips.