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The Mexican Caribbean is teeming with stunning historical wonders.
From Tulum’s vast Archaeological Site to Cancun’s El Rey ruins, the sun-soaked region’s cultural treasures are a trending attraction for millions of travelers.
Earlier this month, archeologists wrapped up conservation efforts at the massive Ichkabal ruins near Tulum and opened the ancient Mayan site to the public.
Home to the largest Mayan site in the region – measuring nearly 30 square kilometers in size – Ichkabal boasts impressive artifacts and a towering 40-metre-tall pyramid.
Despite its huge size, the relatively newly discovered site has remained closed to travelers for years, but in 2024, it is slated to become one of the hottest new historical attractions near Bacalar.
With that in mind, here’s what travelers can expect from the new Ichkabal ruins.
Ichkabal Ruins Open To Public Amid Soaring Interest For Historical And Cultural Travel
Although the Mexican Caribbean continues to be a top-tier destination for beach lovers, the sunny region is increasingly popular for its ancient Mayan sites, which attract hundreds and thousands of travelers each year.
And with the launching of the Maya Train, interest in Quintana Roo’s centuries-old Mayan ruins is only expected to grow further thanks to improved accessibility to the state’s southern regions.
Last week, Mexico’s outgoing president Andrés Manuel López Obrador officially inaugurated the 2,400-year-old Ichkabal ruins, a once-thriving political hub home to hundreds of artefacts, plazas, pyramids, and other significant buildings.
Over the past years, officials and experts have carefully carried out excavations at the site to uncover Ichkabal’s historical significance fully. Detailed investigations now show that the large ancient city exercised great influence over the Mayan people, and influenced the development of regions as far south as Guatemala.
Surrounded by lush rainforests and dense vegetation, Ichkabal is a both a magnificent historical gem as well as a beautiful eco-hotspot, with hundreds of animal and plant species populating the area.
Since first being discovered in 1996, Ichkabal has captivated the attention of both archeologists as well as intrepid travelers but has remained off-limits to the general public.
This year, the ruins are expected to become the next big thing for historical travel, with sites like Tulum’s Archeological Zone increasingly packed with visitors.
Tips For Travelers
Although the Ichkabal ruins are making waves with history lovers, the site is not yet fully developed for mass tourism due to its remote location, around two hours west of Bacalar.
However, new efforts to improve road access to the monumental ruins, as well as the upcoming expansion of the Maya Train system to Bacalar and Tulum, will gradually make the site more accessible for travelers.
For now, travelers keen on exploring the newly-opened site can only visit the site with a rental car or private transfer, with the road leading to the ruins providing a stunning immersive experience.
As always, visitors using a rental car service will want to exercise caution when driving on rural roads, as poor road conditions can lead to accidents.
Travelers can stay informed on the latest conservation efforts at the Ichkabal ruins by visiting Mexico’s National Institute for Anthropology and History website.
Although travelers will still have to wait some months for the Mayan site to become fully accessible for casual day trips, they can opt for one of the many large historical ruins that dot the Mexican Caribbean.
From Cobá’s towering pyramid to Tulum’s unique coastal ruins, there is no shortage of insightful Mayan attractions across Quintana Roo.
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