When visiting Quintana Roo, one of the most desired tourist activities is to have your transportation ready in the Riviera Maya for an incredible tour of the entire Mayan Riviera that you cannot miss.
You will discover that all along the way, there are a great number of points where you can stop and enjoy natural corners that overflow us, archeological wonders that are the heritage of an ancient civilization and that explain why here is one of the most demanded tropical beach destinations on the planet.
A trip to the Riviera Maya that you can’t miss
Below we describe the beautiful places you will find during your tour in case you decide to stop and enjoy all that the Riviera Maya has prepared for you
Chichen Itza
It is the most famous Mayan city in the world, declared in 1988 by UNESCO as Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It has amazing constructions that are an example of its advanced architectural development. A magical, mystical and spectacular place that is worth visiting. Without a doubt, it is the most famous tour for visitors.
Tulum
I warn you that you could fall in love with this place and never want to go home again. Tulum is an amazing archaeological site located in front of the majestic Caribbean Sea. Due to its position it was in its time a commercial maritime emporium as well as an astronomy school where Aztec, Zapotec and other reigning noblemen attended this place.
Rio Secreto
A beautiful place where you will find harmony with nature, where sustainable tourism is promoted and the ecosystem is protected. Here you can venture into the darkness of its caves where you can see stalactites and stalagmites thousands of years old and even in the caves you can see marine fossils. And as if that weren’t enough, you can’t resist diving into its extremely transparent waters.
To get the most out of your visit to Quintana Roo, we recommend you to book your transportation in Riviera Maya with Transfer Cancun Airport, since it offers tours where you will find safety and comfort. You can rent their services for private trips with your family and/or friends.
The rental service is per hour plus they also have the service so you can shop at a mall of your choice.
Cancun is a privileged territory, thanks to the fact that it has places to visit such as its paradisiacal beaches with their fine white sand that fascinates us all, the Caribbean charm, its nightlife and of course the Archaeological Zones in Cancun, offers us the opportunity to meet one of the most important civilizations, as well as ancient ones in history.
Table of Contents
If you are wondering how many archeological zones there are in Cancun, the answer is 4, but near the city we have many more that amount to more than 20 archeological sites that comprise the Riviera Maya.
However, in this post we will only tell you about the 6 most known and visited archeological sites in and near the city.
Archaeological Zones in Cancun
These archeological zones are at the top of the list of things to do in Cancun and therefore you can’t miss the opportunity to visit at least 2 or 3 of these places that we will list below.
Tulum Archaeological Zone
The magisterial town of Tulum is one of the archaeological cultural sites that limits about 130 kilometers from Cancun, these Mayan ruins are located on the shores of the sea.
The Archaeological Zone of Tulum, offers us to visualize in all its splendor the Mexican Caribbean. In addition, you can enjoy views of buildings typical of the region, you can see the Mayan pyramids and you can also swim in the beach.
The construction of the El Castillo building was a reference since it served as a lighthouse that indicated to navigators when they looked at the mainland, if they didn’t do it in time they would run with the bad luck of getting shipwrecked and crashing into the region’s reefs.
This archaeological site is characterized by its great importance as a commercial port in its golden days. Its main buildings are: Temple of the Frescoes, the Great Platform and of course The Castle in which you can enjoy an incredible view, as well as you can’t miss the sea from the cliff.
Take note and don’t forget to prepare your bathing kit so you don’t get caught off guard, the beaches are located less than a kilometer away.
Coba
The city of Cobá shone in the Classic period according to history, it maintained a very close contact with the Mayan cities located to the South, like Calamar in Campeche and Tikal in Guatemala. The highest pyramid of the Yucatan Peninsula is located here, with 42 meters of height and of the Estela Uno; Nohoch Mul, famous for believing to indicate the date of the end of the world on 12/12/2012 when in fact it was the end of an era.
You can’t miss visiting La Iglesia and climbing the pyramid Nohoch Mul since it is one of the few archaeological zones where you can still climb to appreciate the jungle from the heights, but always try to ascend very carefully since it is somewhat risky, you can also ride a bicycle, among other tours.
King’s Ruins Archaeological Zone
One of the largest archeological zones in Cancun, it dates back to the year 300 and according to what we have as a reference, it was occupied until the year 1550. Its flourishing period is from the Middle Preclassic to the Late Postclassic between 1200 and 1550 A.D.
One of its main characteristics is the careful bowl of a roadway that runs from north to south, where on its sides they built platforms with residential rooms that differ in some details that make each building very particular. There are 47 structures in an administrative area and another religious area, there are also two main squares limited by two streets.
According to the fact that the platforms of the North Road are aligned with the pyramidal base of the archaeological zone called San Miguelito, it is believed that the two sites are part of a single settlement that extends up to three kilometers. This Zone is related to the astronomical practices of ancient civilizations.
It is located in the Hotel Zone of Cancun at km 18 of Kukulkan Boulevard and is open to the public from Monday to Sunday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
San Miguelito Archaeological Zone
The San Miguelito Archaeological Zone is also among the places to visit within Cancun. San Miguelito was occupied during the Late Postclassic period from 1200 to 1550 A.D.
It is located in the Hotel Zone of Cancun at kilometer 16.5 of Kukulcan Boulevard from Monday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. To reach the site, you must follow a walking trail that starts at the lower corridor of the
Mayan Museum of Cancun and that passes through a wonderful vegetation of the region. It is constituted by four groups that include structures that could have contained palm and wood houses.
Chichen Itza
Famous for belonging to the New Wonders of the World, the Pyramids of Chichen Itza are located in the Yucatan, 197 kilometers from Cancun. Influenced by having a particular Toltec culture, they have something tangible in the figures of Chaac Mool and the Temple of a Thousand Columns found in this architectural zone as in Tula in the State of Hidalgo.
They played an extremely important role in the years of the end of the Classic and beginning of the Post Classic, and even though it wasn’t habilitated when the Spaniards arrived, it functioned as a center of reverence.
When you are visiting these pyramids, wait to see the descent of Kukulkan or equinox that can be seen at the beginning of spring and autumn. You should also not miss the opportunity to witness the sound and light show, Kukulkan Nights.
The main buildings are: The Kukulkan Castle, Ball Game, the Snail Observatory and the Temple of a Thousand Columns.
El Meco Archaeological Zone
This place played a very important role in the Mayan navigation route. Its prosperous era was between the Early Classic and Late Post Classic between 1200 and 1500 A.D.
Here, you can appreciate 14 buildings, including El Castillo, a pyramid with five levels and 12.5 meters in height, and the main plaza with an adornment in its central part where different political and ceremonial functions are carried out.
The Archaeological Zones in Cancun of El Meco are located 5 kilometers to the north near Puerto Juarez and are open from Monday to Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There is another structure that is one of the temples enclosing the plaza to the north that has a distinctive appearance because a fig tree has grown inside.
These are the 6 most known and visited archaeological zones in the city in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, but the truth is that there are more than 20 archaeological sites and we will soon add them here.
In this post we will tell you how to get to Tulum from Cancun and we will present you 5 options you have to come and visit this paradise of the Riviera Maya
You think of the Rivera Maya and imagine its clubs, nightlife and beaches with their landscapes full of the most colorful turquoise blues, a tropical paradise. However, there is a unique tourist attraction that your adventurous spirit will surely want to discover and it is a millenary archaeological site in Quintana Roo.
If you have heard of the famous ruins of the Mayan city of Tulum, you will surely want to visit the magic of this spectacular site that you can access from Cancun.
But if you don’t know how to get to Tulum from Cancun, here are the options available to enjoy this popular and unforgettable destination on the Caribbean Sea.
But before you start we remind you that you have a 10% discount on your transportation service to Tulum using the code TRANSFER10
How to get to Tulum from Cancun
Tulum is a famous and much visited archaeological site in Mexico and is made up of famous ruins such as the House of Columns, the House of the Cenote or also called the Temple of the Wind God, the Great Palace, the House of Halach Ulnic, the Castle and the Temple of the Descending God.
All of them located in front of the imposing immensity of the Caribbean Sea, that is why we do not doubt that immersing yourself in all the history that this place offers will be one of the best experiences you will ever have.
So, to start off on the right foot, we bring you first 5 ways to get there without problems.
The town of Tulum is located approximately 130 kilometers from Cancun, that is, almost 2 hours, regardless of whether your point of departure is the Cancun airport or a lodging site there.
The only way to get to Tulum is by land, so the options we offer are only the different available transportation of this type.
If you are looking to avoid all kinds of complications, the best alternative is to hire a private transfer service to Tulum.
These services will pick you up at your hotel and return to it no matter how long you are in Tulum and the best thing is that many of them offer you the opportunity to visit the nearby cenotes during the trip.
Visit in Tour
As you may have an idea, this is such a popular and visited tourist attraction that it is logical that you have the opportunity to choose between the different tourist tours that have to get to Tulum and each one offers different services for all tastes.
A tour can offer local bilingual tour guides who will make your clients understand the great history behind each place of the ruins, organized and well distributed time and transfer to and from the ruins.
A very experienced company in tours to the Riviera Maya destinations is Transfer Cancun Airport, in their web https://transfercancun-airport.com/ you can explore the services and amenities they offer in their tour to Tulum, entrance fees, types of transportation, visits to the beaches like the one located in Akumal and even hydration during the tour.
Car Rental
If you are one of those who likes to have a tour in which you can control the time in your own way, you can always count on the option of renting a car. With this alternative you can make your own way to Tulum.
To have control of your time you will obviously want to make stops along the way to rest or to get to know the local crafts and food while you travel. The time of the tour will be longer, but we know that the experience will be rewarding.
Bus
You have classic options such as taking a bus, the terminals are located near the same airport in Cancun have different destinations including the famous ruins.
Economically speaking if you are a small group of people, taking a bus to Tulum is a very comfortable and attractive option, the trip is about 2 hours and they leave the terminal every half hour. In spite of this, you will have to take maybe two, if you need to go to a hotel in the area before traveling to Tulum.
Cab
Let’s say you have a limited amount of time for your visit, if you want to make this happen you can choose cabs that will take you in a timely manner to your destination, either from the airport to your hotel or from the hotel to the ruins.
However, all pro’s have their downside, and in this case it is the cost. When you travel by cab to Tulum you must be prepared to pay for the opportunity of the speed that this service offers you, and yes, the costs are quite high.
Vans
This option is very popular among visitors and locals thanks to the low prices offered by their tickets, which leave in 15 to 20 minutes, are easily distinguished by the fact that the vans to Tulum are white with details in red.
The detail that you should take into account is that these vans make stops along the way, which implies more travel time.
Although its 1,000-year-old ruins deserve a visit there are more than six places in the Riviera Maya, the Mayan influence is not the reason for the recent increase in tourism. The New Age atmosphere of Tulum, the restaurants surrounded by jungle and the white sand beaches have made it the warmest place on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.
Yoga in Sanara: The yoga studio facing the sea in this ecological complex is characterized by sliding glass doors that open to allow the air to caress your skin during practice. The establishment is open from 8:30 a.m. at 10:15 a.m. or at 5:00 p.m.
Tacos in La Eufemia: In front of the sea, it allows to be relaxed all day; being pampered with a refreshing drink at the oriya of the beach. You can not miss the fish tacos or the freshly squeezed orange juice. Dining at Mezzanine: If you’re looking for an elegant night, most people agree; with the project that started a couple in Brooklyn many years ago. And although the food is of good quality, the wood chops are exquisite. The best fusion of Thai-Mexican food is found in Mezzanine, where the Thai curry pad and the massaman rival the view of the waves.
Drinks in Gypsy: The influence of New York in many places of Tulum does not happen by apperception. This bar of drinks surrounded by living nature deserves a visit. It must be taken into account that this is a mezcaleria, therefore, the choice of liquor is somewhat limited. On Friday nights you see Gypsy becoming a party.
Very Mexican breakfast in Zamas: Many consider it worthwhile to visit Zamas breakfasts. Many boast about huevos rancheros, but we went through a special chilaquiles (fried tortilla strips covered in salsa, cheese and fried eggs) that were worth ruining the benefits of yoga class that morning. It’s worth losing lunch and dinner.
Burritos in Burrito Amor: People get excited about the authentic Mexican sensation. The food is undoubtedly good, though cheap enough that you almost do not care. Opt for the newly opened Burrito Amor (shown below), which, although touristic, is one of the most outstanding meals for both breakfast and lunch.
Do you want to visit this six places of the Riviera Maya or other places of the Riviera Maya? Do not wait more! Book your transport with us and travel comfortably and safely, without worries and completely rested. Do it directly at www.transfercancun-airport.com, call US phones. US: 1-210-757-0376 or MEX: 998-208-0538, or send us an email to reservation@transfercancun-airport.com. We are waiting!
CHICHEN ITZA, Named by the UNESCO as World Heritage and considered one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”, is the most famous and best restored of the Yucatán Maya sites.
Chichen Itza is able to impress even the most jaded visitor. Many mysteries of the Maya astronomical calendar are made clear when one understands the design of the ‘time temples’ here.
The famous Maya pyramids of this archeological site are over 1500 years old and located only 75 miles from Mérida. The name Chichen Itza is a Maya word: CHI (mouth) CHEN (well) and ITZA (of the Itza tribe). Some believe people were occasionally thrown into the nearby cenote as sacrifices, and those who survived were believed to be seers.
The site is divided into three sections. The north grouping of structures is distinctly Toltec in style. The central group appears to be from the early period. The southern group is known as “The Old Chichén”.
The main attraction is the central pyramid, also known as El Castillo. The spectacular, massive Mesoamerican step-pyramid that dominates the Chichen Itza archaeological site. Today El Castillo is one of the most popular and recognized tourist sites of Mexico. Built by the Maya sometime between the 1000 and 1200 AD, El Castillo served as a temple to the god Kukulkán and is believed to have served as a calendar.
Just beyond El Castillo you will find a large ball court where Maya men played a game called Pok Ta Pok. Anthropologists believe that the object of the game was to hurl a ball through a ring that was mounted on a wall, seven meters above the ground.
Also, at the entrance of Chichen Itza, there is an informative museum, a dining room, clean restrooms, a few gift shops, and vendor stands. If you didn’t bring a hat, it’s a good idea to buy one from one of the vendors outside before you go in.
If you are on vacation at Cancun or the Riviera Maya, Chichen Itza is a must do on your list, and nothing better to make the trip comfortable in a private excursión with your friends and family.
In Transfer Cancun Airport we guarantee you that this amazing road trip (2 hours and 15 minuts from Cancun) is going to be fun and interesting. Our service includes the round trip transportation from your hotel, access to the archaeological site of Chichen Itza (specialized bilingual guides), a bottle of wáter during the walk, visit to Cenote Ik Kil, free time to enjoy swimming in the Cenote and a buffet in the restaurant Ik Kil (excluding drinks).
You probably heard about Cenotes, being one of the best attractions of Cancun & Riviera Maya. Cenotes are holes on the ground which have over thousands of years old and usually lead into a system of caverns; its clear and cold waters are a must see when you come to vacation in Riviera Maya.
Today we will tell you 3 things you probably didn´t know about this misticals water wells.
Cenote-cancun
Type of Water
The difference between the Caribbean sea and a cenote is that the cenote has fresh water, even certain kinds of species of flora & fauna are only found in cenotes. Usually they have clear blue water and because is underground tends to be cold.
Need more options for your tours check out this options!
Why are they consider mystical
Before Spaniards conquered the ” Peninsula de Yucatán ” Mayan civilization used to think Cenotes were sacred, so as part of their culture they sacrificed Mayan virgins as an offer to their Gods, along with treasures.
Cancún & the Riviera Maya its all made of caverns so all the water from cenotes goes all the way to the sea, some adventurous divers always try to explore the massive caverns down cenotes, even new species have been discover, but they are so big its impossible to know where they will end.
So now you know the best way to get a dive in this fresh waters is to discover all the mystic behind them.
If you wish to have a Cenote Adventure book your transportation here.
If you’re traveling to the Riviera Maya you must make a list of the places and activities you wanna visit, here are the 5 things we select for you to have an amazing vacations!
The Mayan city of Tulum stands 130 km south and 700 years away of Cancun. But the contrast between the two can be measured in more than just distance and time. Visiting Tulum is a perfect day trip for those who tire of idly lounging around the pool. What sets the site apart from other ruins in Mexico is both the fact that it is well preserved and it boasts its own, inviting beach.Xcaret It’s a natural sanctuary where the history of Mexico combines with fun traditions and the splendor of the Mayan culture. I open my doors along the Caribbean Sea and invite you to discover magical experiences where underground rivers await you, along with the fauna of the Mayan jungle and unforgettable shows.
Playa del Carmen.- beautiful, quiet vacation paradise 45 minutes up the coast from the crowded and overgrown Cancun Mexico. Playa del Carmen is known mainly for white sand beaches, turquoise waters and a laid back vibe. Not too long ago it was a fishing village that has become the #1 destination in Mexico.
Xel-Há.– Regarded as one of the world’s greatest Natural Wonders, Xel-Há provides one of the best experiences in the heart of the Riviera Maya. Practice snorkeling and see hundreds of colorful fish and a great diversity of marine species that inhabit its cove and cenotes.
Chak Balam Prehispanic Park.- Visit Chak Balam Prehispanic Park and delve into a stunning universe that offers an exciting mix of adventure, exploration, and culture. Learn about the ancient Mayans through interactive displays and demonstrations performed by shamans, then get your adrenaline pumping with ziplines and games.
Xcaret It’s a natural sanctuary where the history of Mexico combines with fun traditions and the splendor of the Mayan culture. I open my doors along the Caribbean Sea and invite you to discover magical experiences where underground rivers await you, along with the fauna of the Mayan jungle and unforgettable shows.
