Mayapan

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The Mayapan ruins

  Forty five minutes south of Merida, off of I-184 is the archaeological site of Mayapan. It is an easy site to visit, as the ground is pretty level and clear of debris. Like previous sites we've visited, there are more uncovered areas on the perimeter of the cleared and restored area. The big draw of the site is its main pyramid, the Temple of Kukulcan. The temple, and the other structures found at this site are generally considered inferior to those found at Chichen Itza. But, unlike Chichen Itza, this place has fewer crowds. So if you get there early (like we did), you will have the site to yourself.
   Even if you show up later and a bus shows up (as one did near the end of our visit) it's not a real crisis. People will beeline to the main pyramid (pictured at the top of this post), so your view of carvings and the mural at the site will likely go unmolested as other tourists scramble to clamber up pyramids in order to get selfies or group shots.


Mayapan Carvings

 There are a lot of original carvings (and a preserved partial mural) at the site, which is why it is worth coming here. As it is not very crowded you will be able to get a good look at these carvings, and the mural, without feeling rushed. The structures are climbable, and anything that is off limits is clearly blocked off. It is generally kid friendly save for one place at Mayapan, a cenote to the left of the temple. There is a very basic rope fence blocking off the hole, so kids need to be careful. The rest of the site is great for kids to explore.  There is a lot of serpent iconography here, Quetzalcoatl makes an appearance, and there are plenty of Mayan carvings (like this face and a similar one which live at the base of the Temple Redondo platform) to see on your visit. Just keep an eye out for them, as some are more apparent than others.


If you go:

Entrance fee is 45 pesos per person. When we went, the man at the ticket booth did not charge us for the kids, but YMMV. Expect that you may very well have to pay for the kids too if you go- as these sites usually charge the same (or a reduced price) for kids admission. A bathroom is at the entrance. There is no gift shop at this site, nor are they selling any local art at the ticket booth.





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