Uxmal: A Site of Pyramids & Enormous Iguanas
Uxmal Archaeological Site Guide
Use our realist Uxmal Guide to plan your next trip to this archaeological site. Uxmal, UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located in the southwestern part of Yucatan state. We visited Uxmal during our winter Mexican road trip. Uxmal was the second archaeological site we visited after Chichen Itza and the first stop on the second day of our trip.
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Getting to Uxmal
Uxmal is off the main Highway 180 that connects Yucatan peninsula and continental Mexico. However, this archaeological site is still a short one hour drive from Merida. Due to its proximity to Merida, Uxmal attracts a decent amount of visitors but is far less crowded than Chichen Itza.
Where to Stay
Uxmal’s geographic proximity to Merida makes an answer to this question very obvious. Merida is a large city and a tourist center with abundant accommodation options. You should be able to find a property that satisfies your criteria while still staying within reach of Uxmal.
Entrance Requirements & Passes
Uxmal’s location further away from Cancun is reflected in slightly lower admission fee of about MXN 1,000 ($50) for two adults at the time of writing. As with most Mayan sites on the Yucatan peninsula, Uxmal admission fee consists of the state and federal admission fees. While you can pay both fees in one window at most other sites, Uxmal has a somewhat inefficient system that requires separate payment of the fees in a sequence and queuing twice.
Sights & Places of Interest
Once we made it past the admission office, we started to admire Uxmal’s impressive pyramids, palaces, and structures. Uxmal is believed to be founded around 500 AD and was rediscovered in the 19th century. Once a capital of the Mayan state, Uxmal still features structures of great archeological significance.
Pyramid of the Magician
Right after the site’s entrance we got a gorgeous view of the Pyramid of the Magician.
The pyramid features a very different style compared to El Castillo in Chichen Itza. It has round edges and steeper stairs and is shaped as a rectangle rather than a square. Similar to Chichen Itza, climbing and entering most of the structures is prohibited in Uxmal.
Nunnery
The Nunnery is a structure closest to the Pyramid of the Magician. It is relatively well preserved and features nice ornaments and mosaics.
From the top, the Nunnery resembles a rectangular castle with massive walls and a large inside yard.
The Nunnery also brought our first encounter with iguanas. Let’s see if you can spot one here.
The Nunnery has a central entrance that leads to other structures of the site, including the Governor’s Palace and the West Group.
Ball Court
Once we left the Nunnery, we found ourselves in the Ball Court. These two structures are very common in the Mayan architecture and we encountered them at most archaeological sites we visited.
Governor’s Palace
The Governor’s Palace is a massive structure with picturesque mosaics, ornaments, and windows.
The Government’s Place has a staircase from the western side that brings visitors to the upper level and the roof. The upper level offers impressive views of the site and its major structures, including the Pyramid of the Magician and the Nunnery.
House of the Doves
After admiring the scenic panorama, we proceeded with further exploration of the West Group. We found the House of the Doves to be one of the most interesting structures in this group.
This part of the archaeological site is full of iguanas. These reptiles are everywhere, from tourist trails and rocks around them to structures and even pyramids.
After a thorough exploration of the West Group, we returned to the Pyramid of the Magician via the Ball Court and proceeded on our route to Edzna.
Takeaways: Uxmal
Uxmal is a beautiful Mayan site that is worth a visit. It is less crowded than Chichen Itza and is more suited to exploring at your own pace. The Pyramid of the Magician, the Nunnery, the Ball Court, and the Governor’s Palace are impressive structures full of ancient history. Hurry up to visit this site since the admission fee is likely to keep increasing to reflect the site’s proximity to Merida.
Take a look at our Uxmal Video Guide and visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Pyramid of the Magician, Nunnery, Ball Court, Governor’s Palace, and House of the Doves are major structures at Uxmal Archaeological Site.
Budget about MXN 1,000 ($50) for two adults to visit Uxmal Archaeological Site.
Uxmal Archaeological Site opens at 8am.
Safe realist travels!
