Forget Chichen Itza! This Larger Mayan Site Near Cancun Will Soon Open To The Public

Last Updated 3 months ago

Cancun and Mexican Caribbean travelers will soon be able to visit a massive Mayan site thanks to ongoing efforts to fully open the Ichkabal ruins this fall to the public.

Dating back to 250 BC, Ichkabal is one of the largest ruins discovered to date in the region.

With the upcoming launching of the Maya Train, the site’s historical treasures are slowly being revealed to the public as historical and cultural tourism booms. 

Two other Mayan sites – Chakanbakán and Paamul – will also open to the public in the near future, further enhancing Quintana Roo’s unique historical appeal.

With that in mind, here’s what travelers need to know about visiting one of the largest Mayan sites near Cancun.

Huge Mayan Site In Bacalar Expected To Draw Massive Crowds As Historical Tourism Booms 

Historical & cultural tourism are on the rise in Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean, with several popular ruins in the region seeing double-digit growth in visitor figures.

The launching of the state-of-the-art Maya Train project has unlocked numerous Mayan sites across five Mexican Caribbean states, making it easier than ever for visitors to explore these historic wonders. 

While many, such as Chichen Itzá, are already easily accessible, others remain off-limits due to their remote location or ongoing archaeological projects. 

This week, Mexico’s National Institute for Anthropology & History announced new efforts to fully open the Ichkabal Mayan site to travelers. 

Considered one of the largest in Quintana Roo, the Ichkabal ruins measure a whopping 30 square kilometres. Its tallest pyramid is 46 meters in height, making it one of the tallest in the region. 

A once-bustling Mayan city, the ruins are home to numerous buildings, structures, and artifacts, making this unexplored site a breath of fresh air compared to the overrun Tulum ruins. 

A Major Upcoming Bacalar Attraction 

The Ichkabal ruins were only discovered in 1995. Since then, archeologists have carried out extensive investigations into the site’s historical importance.

Out of the three major Mayan sites to open to the public soon, Ichkabal is the closest to welcoming visitors, with conservation efforts expected to wrap up soon.

Situated around an hour from downtown Bacalar, the massive ruins are expected to fully open to the public sometime this fall, although no official timeline has been released to the public. 

Travelers can visit the ruins thanks to the Maya Train, which has a station in Bacalar along the southern route of the 1,500-kilometre-long railway system.

The southern route is expected to begin operating by September 15, alongside the much-anticipated Playa del Carmen-Tulum route. 

Once open, tickets can be booked here.

These Mayan Sites Will Also Open To The Public

In addition to the huge Ichkabal ruins, archeologists are currently working on restoring several other Maya sites, which will also open to the public later this year or early 2025. 

Travelers will soon be able to visit the Chakanbakán site near Chetumal.

The small yet historical outpost is home to several temples and Mayan structures, although restoration efforts are still underway, and the ruins will remain closed until further notice. 

The Paamul ruins near Puerto Aventuras were recently discovered thanks to Maya Train construction work.

Historical tourism is currently booming across Cancun and the Mexican Caribbean, with dozens of top-rated excursion companies like these offering guided tours of the Chichen Itzá, Tulum, and El Meco ruins, among others. 

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