Road distance and driving time from the town of Playa del Carmen, by car, from the Mexican transport ministry's Traza tu Ruta calculator (SICT), checked October 11, 2026. Times are the ones SICT calculates. SICT does not list Ek Balam as a destination: the figure reaches Temozón and the site is further on. Locations from INAH's site listings.
Tulum
The most spectacular — the only Mayan ruins facing the Caribbean Sea
The only ancient Maya city built on cliffs overlooking the Caribbean. The views from El Castillo with turquoise water behind it are unmatched anywhere else in the world. Small but incredibly powerful.
Cobá
The tallest pyramid you can still climb — pure jungle
You can climb Nohoch Mul pyramid — 42 meters high, surrounded by jungle and lakes. The most physically engaging of all Mayan ruins accessible from PDC. The view from the top is breathtaking.
Chichén Itzá
The most famous in the world — UNESCO & New 7 Wonders
The iconic one everyone wants to see. El Castillo pyramid and the Ball Court are impressive at real scale. The key is managing the crowds — arrive before 9 am.
Ek Balam
The hidden gem — stunning stucco and almost no crowds
Far fewer people than other major sites, extraordinarily well-preserved stucco reliefs and you can climb the Acropolis. For those who've already seen Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam is the next level.
Set apart: Xaman-Há
Xaman-Há
Mayan ruins inside Playacar, in Playa del Carmen
It cannot be recommended as a simple visit: the ruins are inside Playacar, a private gated development.
INAH records eight groups of Late Postclassic buildings, from 1200 to 1550 AD, and the three best preserved are groups B, C and D. They are inside Playacar. INAH charges no admission and has no ticket office, and its listing shows the site as temporarily closed.
Admission is free, but the visit has to be requested: according to the Ministry of Culture's record, since INAH has no permanent staff at the site, you ask the INAH Quintana Roo office at least five days ahead. On top of that, Playacar is a private development: there is a private security gate and no visitor parking. The story of Playacar covers it in full.