Seeking to determine out how to see the El Rey Mayan ruins in Cancun’s Lodge Zone? You’ve come to the appropriate spot!
I a short while ago explored these Mayan ruins even though I was in Cancun on a 1.5 month journey via Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula. I frequented 7 Mayan sites through that journey (and have visited other folks on earlier visits), which include the legendary Chichen Itza and expansive Tikal.
In this guide to Cancun’s El Rey Archaeological Zone I share anything you need to have to know before checking out this historical internet site. Additionally, I solution routinely asked thoughts like, is it really worth it to stop by the El Rey archaeological site if you have already been to Chichen Itza?
Ahead of you study on, be confident to bookmark any appropriate journey guides for foreseeable future journey planning!
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🌴 My Major Cancun Recommendations 👙
🥾 Day Excursion to Chichen Itza & Valladolid: Really don’t overlook Mexico’s most iconic ruins at Chichen Itza and my beloved Yucatan city, Valladolid! For the ideal encounter, e book this VIP non-public tour from Cancun, or check out this budget-welcoming possibility.
⛵️ Boat Adventures: Kayak by the mangroves in Cancun, working experience a sunset cruise to Isla Mujeres, or rent your individual luxurious yacht for the day!
👙 Swim in Cenotes: The Yucatan is home to countless numbers of magnificent cenotes (all-natural sink holes) that make the great swimming holes! Hire a car or truck and go discover them!
🏺 Mayan Museum: Learn about Quintana Roo’s Mayan heritage at this museum, located in Cancun’s resort zone, then examine the San Miguelito ruins onsite!
🌊 Seaside Hop: What would make Cancun so common? Its seashores! There are a lot of to pick from and each are different—check out a couple of on your Cancun holiday vacation!
🌺 Wherever to Continue to be: Oceanview penthouse with non-public pool at Nizuc Resort & Spa, swim out suite at beachfront luxurious Atelier Playa Mujeres (all-inclusive, grown ups only), lagoon look at suite at Casa Tortugas, or funds-friendly quirky La Villa du Golf à Cancun.
Cancun’s El Rey Archaeological Zone
It was not right until my 2nd go to to Cancun that I realized there are Mayan ruins in Cancun! But if this latest 1.5 month vacation as a result of the Mayan planet taught me something, it is that there are Mayan ruins virtually everywhere in this article.
These unique Mayan ruins were being ‘discovered’ by present day archaeologists in 1923. To date, the original name of this site is not known, but it was named ‘El Rey’ (the king) for the reason that of a statue uncovered that seems to depict a person of nobility, supposedly a king.
El Rey dates all the way back again to the yr 300 when it was a foundation for nearby fishermen. Nevertheless, the inhabitants improved substantially the late Write-up Classical interval (1300-1550 Advertisement). El Rey was deserted just after Spanish make contact with, when the nearby Mayan population fled inland.
Apparently, proof suggests that El Rey and the close by San Miguelito Mayan ruins have been aspect of a single more substantial settlement that would have been two miles in duration together Cancun’s Hotel Zone island.
Visitor’s Info: Cancun’s El Rey Ruins
🌿 Official identify: Zona Arqueológica El Rey (El Rey Archeological Zone)
⏰ Opening hours: 8am-5pm each day (last entry at 4:30pm)
💵 Entrance payment: $75 pesos for grownups, cost-free for children
🎥 More charge: $50 pesos to use videocameras or ‘professional’ camera devices
🪙 Means to pay out: Dollars, card, even Apple Pay!
🗺 Spot: Cancun’s lodge zone, together Kukulcan Blvd near Playa Delfines
How to get to the El Rey Ruins
From Cancun’s Resort Zone (Island of Cancun)
The El Rey Archaeological Zone is situated along Kukulcan Blvd in Cancun’s Hotel Zone. You can reach it by rental auto, taxi, or pubic bus.
If you are coming from the northern section of the Hotel Zone, travel south towards Playa Delfines. As you pass the past aspect of Playa Define’s parking whole lot, the archeological website will be on your ideal.
From the southern section of the Cancun Resort Zone (Punta Nizuc, and many others), head north. Suitable right before Playa Delfines you are going to pass a Subway and a Go Mart, then El Rey ruins will be on your still left.
To reach the archeological internet site by way of bus, capture just one of the red buses going the suitable route based on your location. The bus expenses $12 pesos and you have to pay in hard cash. Get off the bus at Playa Delfines and wander down the road to El Rey.
From downtown Cancun
The El Rey Mayan ruins are about 30 minutes absent from downtown Cancun. Just take a taxi, bus, or generate toward the Resort Zone.
You will arrive at El Rey ruins suitable immediately after Playa Delfines, one of the most popular seashores in Cancun (tricky to miss out on).
If you consider the bus for $12 pesos, get off at Playa Delfines and stroll to the archaeological site.
El Rey Ruins Cancun FAQs
Where by can you see ‘The King’ statue?
Cabeza de El Rey, the statue that gave El Rey Archaeological Web page its title is now found inside of the Maya Museum just a several miles down the street.
Is it well worth going to El Rey Mayan ruins if you have been to Chichen Itza?
Probably! Each individual Mayan web page is distinctive and signifies a different settlement—comparing El Rey to Chichen Itza is like comparing Paris to a smaller town in the French countryside. 1 is definitely more considerable thanks to dimensions and populace, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the more compact place is any fewer attention-grabbing.
The El Rey Archaeological Zone is a great deal more compact than Chichen Itza, and the structures are smaller. But, you will not get the variety of crowds you get at Chichen Itza, and El Rey is so simple to get to if you are remaining in Cancun’s Resort Zone.
As well as, it is a low-cost thing to do in Cancun, so what do you have to eliminate?
That getting said, I would not hurry to go to the El Rey ruins if you’re small on time in Cancun and have now been to other Mayan sites like Chichen Itza.
How lots of structures are at El Rey Archaeological Zone?
Appropriately to archaeologists, there are 47 buildings at El Rey. On the other hand, as I outlined over, some proof indicates that El Rey may possibly be linked to one more close by Mayan site, which means there could be a lot more constructions in between the two websites.
When is the best time to pay a visit to the El Rey Archaeological Web site?
I visited the El Rey Mayan ruins about 1pm on a weekday and there have been only a couple of other people at the site. However, it was warm!
To conquer the heat, and almost certainly get the position to yourself, I’d go to El Rey in the early morning.
What was El Rey utilised for?
El Rey started off out as a smaller internet site settled by fisherman, and afterwards grew to turn out to be a much more major location on the Mayan maritime trade routes. The web page options a principal plaza, a smaller temple, household properties, and other stone buildings. It also is property to several grave web sites.
What else is there to do nearby El Rey Archaeological Web site?
If you’re striving to make the most of your time in Mexico, be strategic with your Cancun itinerary. Some other matters to do nearby these Mayan ruins involve:
⛱ Stress-free at Playa Delfines: A person of Cancun’s most legendary shorelines is just methods absent from El Rey!
🏺 Going to the Mayan Museum of Cancun: Just a 3 minute push from El Rey! See the King statue right here, in addition tons of other putting artifacts from Mayan sites about the Yucatan.
🥾 San Miguelito Archeological Site: Nearby San Miguelito could have been related with El Rey, go examine it out for by yourself! As a reward, your entry below consists of entry to the Mayan Museum.
🐠 Mangrove Kayaking Journey: This kayaking tour was my preferred matter I did in Cancun! It leaves even further north on the Hotel Zone and features a scenic kayak by way of the lagoon’s mangroves. You should book in progress.
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