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Visiting Ek Balam Mayan Ruins – Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Ek Balam Mayan Ruins Location & Hours
Ek Balam is located just north of the Yucatan city of Valladolid. It is a quick 30-minute drive from the city on a well-paved road. Plan to visit the Ek Balam Mayan Ruins for 2-3 hours, plus an additional 2 hours for visiting the nearby cenote. The ruins are open daily from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. There is a well-maintained parking lot with plenty of parking for your day touring the ruins. There are parking guards patrolling the parking area ensuring your vehicle is safe. They will expect a tip before or after your stay.
Ek Balam Mayan Ruins Entrance Fee
To enter the Ek Balam Mayan Ruins there is a general admission entrance fee of $456pesos ~ $23USD. Purchase your tickets on-site. Do not pre-purchase tickets online. Keep in mind they only accept cash, NO CREDIT CARDS. There is an additional $50pesos ~ $2.50USD tax fee for video cameras and GoPros. We brought our GoPro but the gentleman did not have us pay the extra $50peso fee. You can download a free self-guided audio tour before arriving or purchase a guided tour at the front entrance.
Top Tips for Visiting the Ek Balam Ruins
- Wear the Right Shoes
- Bring lots of Water – Osprey Water Pack
- Wear Sunscreen and a Sun Hat
- Arrive Early in the Day
- Purchase your Tickets for the Ruins and Cenote on-site. Do not pre-purchase Tickets Online
- Pack Snacks – My Favorites are Think! High Protein Bars
- Watch the Weather and Pack a Rain Coat
Ek Balam Mayan Ruins Map & Layout
El Torre – The Main Building #5
The most impressive and grand building in the Ek Balam Mayan Ruins is the El Torre in the Central Plaza. This is a large pyramid at 500 feet long, 200 feet wide, and 100 feet tall. The large structure was home to the highest leader in 800 A.D. The tomb/pyramid is protected by built in palapas roofs to reserve that structure and art detail.
Can You Climb the Ek Balam Mayan Ruins?
One of the best parts of visiting Ek Balam is that you can still climb the pyramids. At the more famous Mayan Ruin, Chichen-Itza (one of the World Wonders), you cannot climb the pyramids at all. This was a big deciding factor when choosing which Mayan Ruins to visit. Climbing the structures is a lot of fun and shows how massive these structures really are. After you climb the massive El Torre pyramid, snap some photos and take in the views of the lush forest.
*Make sure to wear good tennis shoes when climbing. There are a lot of steps that are steep and uneven. I wore my New Balance Sneakers, these are my favorite tourist walking shoes because they are comfortable, great for all activities, and stylish.
Stone Detail
One of my favorite parts of the Ek Balam Mayan Ruins is the intricate stone details. On the side of structure #5, are detailed stone decorations that tell a story about the Mayan culture. On the top are sculpted men guarding the entrance. These details are molded from stucco and limestone mortar which makes this is a distinct feature of Ek Balam. Chichen-Itza and surrounding ruins do not have this feature, instead, the details are in the form of rock carvings.
Temple + Ruins
The creativity and ingenuity of the Mayan culture is very impressive and surreal. These structures were built with their bare hands and intelligent minds with the natural resources around them. The layout and details of each building is well thought through and amazing to see in person. Take your time and enjoy the full beauty each structure has to offer.
Lush Forest + Wild Iguanas
The lush green forest surrounding the Mayan Ruins is an attraction of its self. There are well-marked paths throughout the plazas that tour you around the area. Take the path all the way around the grand pyramid to immerse yourself in the lush vegetation. You will spot many large iguanas while adventuring through the forest.
Cenote X-Canche
Another added feature to visiting Ek Balam is the nearby cenote. Cenote X-Canche is located right next to the ruins. To get to the cenote from the ruins you can either take a short walk down a dirt road or drive. The cenote is NOT included in the entrance fee for the ruins. You will need to purchase a separate ticket for the cenote at the small palapa on your way to the cenote. The entrance fee for the cenote cost us $170pesos ~ $8.50USD per person.
This is a great cenote to visit because of all the fun activities it has to offer. There are showers, bathrooms, and lockers available for use. You must shower off before diving into the cenote. Sunscreen and bug replant will mess up the natural water and vegetation. There are life jackets and inner tubes to float around in. There is no additional charge for these items. We arrived in the afternoon and were the only few people here. Take a swing on the rope and jump into this refreshing all-natural pool!
Visit the authentic Yucatan City of Valladolid, Mexico
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