From Merida to Uxmal: Your Complete Ruta Puuc Travel Guide
Uxmal, located along the 60 km Ruta Puuc, is an incredible Mayan temple in Mexico. Though often overshadowed by its more famous Yucatan neighbors, such as Chichen Itza and Tulum ruins, it offers a unique and fascinating experience. The advantage of this lesser-known site is that Uxmal and the entire Ruta Puuc offer the perfect Mayan area to explore without feeling overcrowded or overly touristy.
If you are looking for a hidden gem worth exploring off the beaten path, look no further. This Uxmal and Ruta Puuc travel guide provides key information, including the best way to travel there from Merida, ticket details, personal experiences, and tips to help you decide how to spend your time here. I highly suggest having a plan before you arrive. It will give you some direction even if you do not follow it exactly.
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Merida to Uxmal Travel Guide
Let's start with some basics!
What Is The Ruta Puuc and Uxmal?
Ruta Puuc refers to the entire 60-kilometer-long collection of ancient Mayan ruins sites, including Uxmal. This Unesco World Heritage site begins at Uxmal, making it one of the more accessible sites to visit along the route. Uxmal has the tallest building in the area, standing over 100 feet! I believe this is taller than Chichen Itza. Following Uxmal are Kabah, Sayil, Xlapak, and Loltun caves, all open for visitors.
Distance Between Each Site:
Uxmal: Around 80-90 KM from Merida, depending on where you are (a 1 hour drive)
Kabah: 22 KM from Uxmal
Sayil: 9.4 KM from Kabah
Xlapak: 5 KM from Sayil
Labna: 3.4 KM from Xlapak
Loltun Caves: 20 KM or so
The term 'Puuc' translates to mountainous, mound, or mountain range, symbolizing the hilly terrain where the site was discovered.
The sites differ from its neighbors like Chichen Itza, because of their intricate and diverse carvings that are unlike the others–now referred to as Puuc style. You can find numerous geometrical configurations, Chaac (the Mayan god of rain), and other symbolic animals and symbols carved into the structures. They are truly mind-blowing considering how these structures and facades were built so long ago with stone on stone.
Similar to the other Mayan sites, the reason for these five sites' collapse or abandonment remains unknown and highly speculated.
You can find more history and in-depth details on Uxmal here.
The House or Pyramid of the Magician - Uxmal
How much is it?
There are 2 fees you must pay to enter Uxmal and an additional fee per each other Ruta Puuc site you wish to visit.
For foreigners, the Uxmal entrance fee is 461 pesos plus an additional 95 pesos for the INAH fee (556 total).
Children under 13 may enter for free.
Mexican Residents can enter for 157 pesos, plus the INAH fee (95 pesos).
Yucatan residents can enter for 95 pesos. Don’t forget your I.D.!
Mexican and Yucatan residents can enter for free on Sundays!
The Kabah entrance fee was around 100 pesos. I did not visit the other sites, but there are small additional fees for each (around 75-100 pesos).
There is likely an additional professional camera fee and parking fee, similar to other Mayan ruins.
If you are not visiting with a tour, I recommend bringing cash to buy entrance tickets.
When Is It Open?
Ruta Puuc is open Monday - Sunday from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. The ticket counter closes at 4:00 PM.
I recommend heading to the area at 8:00 AM to avoid peak heat hours. Surrounding trees can offer some shade, but the structures themselves are out in the open sun. There was a nice breeze throughout the area when I visited in July.
Best Time to Visit:
Hurricane Season: June - October | Dry Season: November-April
Ruta Puuc and Uxmal are located somewhat near the western coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and are best visited during the "cooler" months from November to March.
If you prefer higher temperatures and do not mind the chance of rain or even a hurricane, you can visit during the rainy season from May to the end of November. Just remember more rain means more mosquitos! I was lucky during my visit in July as it had not rained in a week.
How Much Time Do I Need?
I recommend dedicating 1.5 to 2 hours per site, depending on interest. I spent around 2 hours in Uxmal and 2 hours in Kabah with a guided tour. For those planning to drive themselves to see all five open ruins, I recommend dedicating an entire day to exploring Ruta Puuc.
Where Should I Stay?
Merida is around 1 hour from the Uxmal and Ruta Puuc, making it the perfect place to stay.
The best area to stay in Merida is either near the Plaza Grande area or along the Paseo de Montejo road. Plaza Grande offers a lively, city atmosphere, while Paseo de Montejo provides a more upscale, 'financial district' vibe, with old colonial mansions lining the streets. I have listed some of the best options below!
Best Backpacker/Hostel Option: Hotel & Hostal Boutique Casa Garza | Che Nomadas Mérida Hostel Adults Only
Best Low-Budget: Hotel Santa Ana | Hotel Santa María Mérida
Best Mid-Budget: Villa Orquídea Boutique Hotel | Viva Merida Hotel Boutique |Acqua In Bocca | Hotel Boutique Casa Flor de Mayo
Best Mid-Budget - High-End: El Palacito Secreto Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa
Best High-End Budget: The Loft Room at Viva Merida Hotel Boutique | The Patio Suite at Cigno Hotel Boutique- Adults Only
For more information on Merida, head here!
How do I get there?
You have a few options for visiting Uxmal. Remember on Sundays, residents can enter for free, so this day could be much busier.
Option 1: Car Rental
You can always opt to rent a car and venture to the site on your own. The ride is around 1 hour, and this option will allow you to visit all the sites at your own pace. You will have to pay a parking fee at each site. Be sure to have your driver’s license and passport with you in case you reach a police stop.
You can head here to find all the rental car options in Mexico.
Option 2: Guided Tour
I opted for a guided tour because I did not want to rent a car or drive in Mexico on my own. The guided tour felt like the easiest option for peace of mind and was cost-efficient, including the entrance tickets, transportation fees, and a guided tour. The guided tour is a necessity for these sites, in my opinion. Without them, I am not enough of a history buff to fully comprehend what I am looking at, and the tour guides often can point out small details and facts that you would not have known otherwise.
You can find the tour I did here!
Can I go on my own or do I need a tour guide?
As mentioned above, both are an option. I opted for the guided tour for ease and peace of mind. However, if you do want to see all of the Ruta Puuc, and not just Uxmal or Kabah, you would likely need to rent a car to go on your own or search online for a more expensive guided tour of them. There are guides available at Uxmal when you arrive, and supposedly Kabah (I did not see them), but I do not believe the other sites along the route have any guides available.
Is there a dress code?
Nope! However, I highly recommend wearing comfortable and breathable clothing due to the potential humidity. Pack LOTS of water, snacks, sunscreen, a hat, mosquito spray, etc. Of course, bring a rain jacket along if it is in the forecast for the day.
A structure that was used to collect rainwater.
Is there any food or water in the park?
Yes, Uxmal has restrooms, a gift shop with some snacks, and an ATM. Kabah had nothing open while I was there, and even the bathroom was closed. Each site should have a bathroom, but whether it is functioning, I am unsure.
Is It Safe at Uxmal and Ruta Puuc?
Yes, most definitely. BUT, I recommend following basic safety precautions and staying up to date on your country’s travel advisories. Since this site is less visited, hide valuables and lock up your car if you drive yourself.
A Few Safety Tips:
Always keep an eye on your belongings.
There are mosquitos about, so bring lots of spray.
Plack plenty of water to avoid overheating and heat exhaustion.
Sunscreen may also be necessary.
Never travel without the right insurance in case of any sickness, injuries, or theft. Safety Wing is by far the best travel medical insurance. It has saved me numerous times by covering hospital visits when I was sick during my travels in Asia.
Emergency Contact Number: 9-1-1
Highlights of Uxmal
The House/Pyramid of the Magician
The Nunnery
Pok Ta Pok Area. A Mayan ball game.
Uxmal Fun Facts:
The photo to the top left shows the House or Pyramid of the Magician. It is the tallest structure in Ruta Puuc, towering over 100 feet.
It is believed by some that the god of heaven, day, and night, Itzamná, built this structure overnight!
The Nunnery (center photo above) has nothing to do with Nuns! Its coined name comes from the Spanish Influence, who thought the structure reminded them of a European Nunnery.
The Nunnery features many unique and symbolic carvings on the upper half of the structure, above the openings. See how many animals you can spot carved into it!
Similar to most Mayan ruins, Uxmal has a Pok Ta Pok game arena, featured in the photo to the top right.
The Governor’s Palace (bottom left photo) is where you can find many Chaac, the god of rain, carvings, serpent carvings, and the dual-headed jaguar sculpture shown in the bottom right photo. The sculpture is known as the “throne of the jaguar.”
There are a few other structures in Uxmal, including The House of Turtles, The House of Doves, and the Great Pyramid.
There are no cenotes in Uxmal, only a massive well used to collect rainwater. Mayans would pray to the god Chaac (god of rain, thunder, and lightning) for rain each season. No rain meant not drinking water.
Governor's Palace
The Throne of the Jaguar
Highlights of Kabah
The Palace
Kabah Fun Facts:
Kabah is the second Mayan site along the Ruta Puuc.
The word “kabah” translates to “the powerful hand” in the Mayan language.
The main building (shown above) is two stories tall and has over 32 rooms throughout it. This one stood out to me since it was the first structure I saw that resembled more modern-day architecture. The following site, Sayil, has a three-story building!
An 18 km or 11-mile dirt path connects Uxmal to Kabah, which is assumed to have been regularly traveled.
Shown above are some incredibly restored sculptures of what is believed to have been the rulers of Kabah. The head of one sculpture has been removed and placed in a museum.
The Codz Poop (yes you read that right), or Palace of the Masks, has over 200 masks of Chaac, the rain god. This was by far my favorite Mayan structure in Mexico. See below for some photos.
The Palace of the masks, covered with Chac faces.
I was fascinated by the face carvings here, they were by far the most intact ones I had seen in Mayan Ruins.
If the nose was facing up towards the sky, the Mayans were asking the God Chac for rain.
Ruta Puuc Tips & Review
Pack plenty of water, snacks, and sunscreen!
MOSQUITO SPRAY is a must!
Sundays are a busy day! Residents can enter the park for free.
Merida is the ideal place to stay for your trip here.
You only need 1.5 to 2 hours to explore EACH site.
I recommend this guided tour to fully enjoy both Uxmal and Kabah.
If you want to see all 5 sites, you will most likely need to rent a car or do some Google searching for a more extensive guided tour visit.
Keep your eyes open for tarantulas! I did see one—featured to the left.
