Things To Do in Uxmal, Yucatan, Mexico 2024

Things to do in Uxmal in the Yucatan Peninsula

Our guide on what to do at Uxmal and the Choco Museum, where to eat and where to stay. 

Nestled in the lush jungles of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Uxmal stands as a testament to the magnificence of ancient Mayan civilization. With its awe-inspiring pyramids, intricate stone carvings, and well-preserved architectural wonders, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is an absolute must-visit for history enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Offering far more than just a glimpse into the past, Uxmal provides an immersive experience where visitors can explore towering temples, marvel at mysterious structures, and uncover the secrets of this ancient city. Whether you are captivated by archaeology or simply yearn for an otherworldly escape like no other, here are some incredible things to do in Uxmal that will transport you back in time while leaving an indelible mark on your soul.

Uxmal in the Yucatan State of Mexico had always been on our bucket list.  We had travelled to many regions around Mexico but had never quite made it, even when we were close by in Cancun and the Mayan Riviera.

What was drawing us to this region? The Colonial towns of Merida and Izamal – the Yellow City, the Mayan Ruins of Chichen Itza and Uxmal as well as seeing Celestun and its pretty pink flamingos in the wild. A mix of colonial architecture, the best Mayan ruins and nature, what more could we want, except great Mexican food? We got that too!

We have been so blown away by what we saw and experienced we will be back to visit some of the other towns we missed on our 4-day itinerary. If you can spend longer in this region we would highly recommend it, even suggest spending a week or more.

Mexico is one of our favourite countries and we have spent many months enjoying the people, culture, sights and we love Mexican cuisine.  We have written an e-book – A Mexico Travel Guide with where to stay, eat, what to do and some great tips for you to plan your visit.

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Map of Yucatan Mexico

Where is the Yucatan 

The Yucatan Peninsula is located in the southeast of Mexico. The state of Campeche borders it to the southwest and Quintana Roo to the South East.  The Gulf of Mexico borders the North Coast.

Where is Uxmal

Uxmal is 80 km south of the city of Merida and 150 km southwest of Chichen Itza.

Things to do in Uxmal

Take a Private Tour from Merida to Uxmal

• Enjoy a private tour of one of the most impressive archaeological sites of the Yucatan Peninsula
• Customize your own itinerary
• Visit Uxmal’s Archaeological Site with a private bilingual guide
• Use all of the facilities at the hotels – The Hacienda Uxmal and The Lodge at Uxmal – including swimming pools and restaurants
• Visit the Choco Museum to learn about the history of cocoa, its importance to the Mayas, the way it is cultivated and the traditional process to make chocolate.

If you are visiting Uxmal on a Self Drive Tour

Uxmal Tips: How to plan your day at Uxmal

08.00 to 12.00

We would recommend arriving at Uxmal when it opens at 8 am giving you the morning at leisure to wander around and enjoy the ruins without rushing it.

12.00 – 13.30

Lunch can be enjoyed at  The Lodge or one of the many local restaurants that are recommended on Tripadvisor.

13.30 – 15.30

Visit the Choco-Story Museum at Uxmal.

Uxmal one of the many Mayan Ruins Mexico

Uxmal Ruins Map

Stunning magical Uxmal in the Yucatan in Mexico!  What a beauty you are!  So much quieter to visit than your famous sister Chichen Itza.  With so many Mayan ruins to visit in the Yucatan, we are not sure we have a favourite. Do you?

The Maya are one of 5 civilisations from ancient Mexico. You could easily become ruined out if you try and cover them all in one go.  In fact, we highly recommend you don’t.  We did that in Asia with the temples in Thailand, Laos and Myanmar and after 2 months the last thing we wanted to visit was another temple.  Some of you will know that feeling.

In Mexico, we have visited Teotihuacan, Tulum, Chichen Itza, Monte Alban and Palenque Ruins, not to mention Guatemala, Mexico’s neighbour and its spectacular Tikal. In our 4 day itinerary of the Yucatan, we even visited the smaller site of the Kinich Kakmo pyramid at Izamal, just 50 miles away from Merida.

Uxmal pronounced ‘oosh-mahl’ which means built 3 times in Mayan is not so touristy as Chichen Itza. Why 3 times?  It seems to suggest that for example that buildings were built over 3 times as was the Pyramid of the Magician.

You should allow a couple of hours to visit Uxmal.  If you use the services of a local guide (which we highly recommend) the tour will take about 2 hours. Our guide was passionate about Uxmal, he could wax lyrically about each Rain God mask located on the temples, what to look for, why one was different in style to the other.  He told stories of life during this time, how they managed to get their water, their celebrations and their astronomical calculations for planting crops and worshipping Chac, the Rain God.

For 2 hours he talked non-stop, even joking that his wife loves him doing this job.  We asked him “why was it because of the money or his passion”, no he laughed, “she was fed up with his non-stop talking at home, and now he was so tired from talking so much during the day, she had peace and quiet at night now”.

Pyramid of the Magician

The Pyramid of the Magician is also known as the Pyramid of the Soothsayer and stands 35m tall and is the tallest structure in Uxmal.  It certainly is impressive, and unusual as a pyramid as it has rounded sides, 60-degree angle and 90 very steep steps that lead to the top.  One can wonder whether the word pyramid is the right description here.

If you are visiting on April 12th or August 13th you will note that the doorway at the top of the pyramid aligns with the setting sun. The Mayan Rulers were great astronomers and relied on the transitions of the Sun and in particular Venus to plan their crop planting and harvesting and for their celebrations.

We love legends and no better than this one “Itzamna, a magician God supposedly built the Pyramid single-handed in one night”. There is another similar legend – “the Pyramid is also known as the Pyramid of the Dwarf.  Apparently, the Dwarf was hatched from an egg, grew to an adult in just one day and then constructed the pyramid single-handed in one night.” We think we like the latter one!

Governors Palace at Uxmal

The Governor’s Palace was constructed around 987 AD.  Another unusual structure with a mosaic facade that reaches up to 320 feet in length.  Their skilled stonemasons created masks in the shapes of gods, snakes, birds, and flowers. There are in fact on the East side of the structure 103 masks of Chac the Rain God. This is one structure that you can climb to the top, unlike Chichen Itza which has banned people.

Researchers have discovered that the central doorway aligns with the planet, Venus.  When looking at this photo we are still stunned at the carvings and how they have lasted over centuries with the ravages of the weather.

The Nunnery Quadrangle at Uxmal 

4 low-level buildings (North, South, East and West)  joined at the sides are known as the Nunnery Quadrangle. Each was constructed at different times – the North first, followed by the South, East and the West.  You must check the West building out – the impressive facade is made up of intertwining snakes and masks of the Rain God – Chac.

The name Nunnery was given by explorers, but researchers are unsure still what the building was used for.

The Ball Court at Uxmal

The Ball Court was built in 649AD.  The Ball Court here is not as impressive as the one at Chichen Itza. The game played on both is the same as has been played throughout the centuries from North America to Nicaragua.

There are 2 teams of 7 players.  The Captain of each time is responsible for getting the heavy rubber ball into the ring that is situated on each side of the court without the use of hands-only forearms, thighs and waist.  The winner is the first one to put the ball through the hoop.  The score will always be 1-0. Images show that the team players wore protective clothing made from leather, they would have needed it with the rubber ball weighing up to 4kg.  Some games ended in human sacrifice.

The Aztec people, another one of the 5 ancient civilisations of Mexico, played a similar game, called ōllamalitzli, the difference being this was played by the young nobles as a fun pastime.

House of the Turtles at Uxmal 

You will find the Turtle House at the south end of the ball court next to the Palace of the Governor.  Aptly named because the facade is made up of a frieze of turtles around the top of the small rectangular building.  The story goes that turtles prayed to the Rain God Chac as they needed water to survive as did the Mayans.

If you visit in May, watch where you walk,  you will find tortoises all over the grounds.

The Great Pyramid of Uxmal

The Great Pyramid sits behind the Governor’s Palace with a height of 79m on each side. It is still only partially restored. Researchers believe that before Uxmal was abandoned plans were made to build another structure over the Great Pyramid.

 Uxmal Facts

Uxmal is different to Chichen Itza, Chichen Itza had cenotes to provide water whereas Uxmal collected rainwater in ‘cisterns’ for their people.  It is a mystery why Uxmal was constructed in this location. Uxmal was one of the largest cities in the Yucatan region and was located in the Puuc region (Puuc means hilly country). Uxmal flourished between the 7th and 10th centuries AD, and during this time it was home to over 15,000 people.

Uxmal was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1966.

Uxmal Location

Uxmal is about 62km south of Merida, the drive from Merida takes approximately 1.5 hours.

There are several bus services from Merida but we would recommend hiring a car.

Tours to Uxmal Mexico

Uxmal Ruins Entrance Fee

Adults: MXN413 per person USD20

Opening Times

Daily from 08.00 to 17.00

To Travel Too Pro Tips

Ensure that you:

• wear sunscreen
• wear comfortable shoes
• bring water
• arrive early before the heat of the day
• allow time to enjoy the ruins and not rush the experience
• use a local guide it is worth the cost because of the knowledge that they impart
• always take out travel insurance when you travel
• hand sanitiser
• face masks (if required – check before you go)

Lunch at the Lodge Uxmal Yucatan Mexico

The Lodge is well located at the entrance to Uxmal a few minutes’ walk away.  Its location in the tropical forest that surrounds Uxmal and the way it has been designed makes it a serene and peaceful place to either have lunch or stay in one of its private bungalows.

The thatched roof open-sided restaurant serves an a la carte international cuisine menu with local specialities of Mexican stews and Yucatecan dishes.

Choco-Story Museum Uxmal

A few minutes’ walk from the Lodge is the Choco-Story Museum. Do we love chocolate? Yep, sure do, doesn’t everyone. We were looking forward to the tour and of course the end where we hoped that we would have some complimentary chocolate to sample.

What we can say is that if you are expecting a typical Museum this is not what you are going to get.  The history of chocolate comes later after you wander through a small botanical garden, a Mayan ceremony and meet the animals at the fauna refuge of the Environmental Management Unit for Wildlife Conservation.

You wander through a variety of small thatched huts that present the history of chocolate from the Americas to Europe to its present day. Displays highlight how chocolate was used in Mayan culture.  We learned how cacao was given to the Mayans by the feathered serpent Quetzalcóatl. When cacao was made into a beverage it was drunk by royalty and the aristocracy for ceremonies and festivities such as birth, death, marriage and entry to puberty.

Cacao beans were also used as currency e.g. 1 rabbit = 10 beans and for 1 healthy slave 100 beans.

The last thatched hut gave us the opportunity to taste the cacao beverage that was being brewed.  If that was our first experience of hot chocolate we would have certainly stayed with our preferred beverage – coffee. Even with a lot of added sugar it tasted like soil and was bitter.

When can we taste some chocolate? You could see the looks on others faces after their hot chocolate tasting and knew that they were in search of something sweet. At the entrance is the gift shop and on the middle table is about 8 different samples of chocolates that you can buy. Our favourite – chilli chocolate.

Disability Access:  The buildings had ramped entrances for easy access.

The Choco-Story is #2 tourist site in Uxmal.

Where to stay in Uxmal – Uxmal Hotels

One of the best ways to enjoy a Mayan site is to stay in a hotel that is close by.  In hindsight, when we visited the ancient site of Palenque in Mexico we chose to stay in the town itself, there was not much around and in fact staying within walking distance to Palenque Ruins would have given us more time to enjoy the site.  In the end, it comes down to what time you have available and what other sites or attractions you are also visiting.  We give you some suggestions on where to stay around Uxmal.

 Hacienda Uxmal Hotel & Museum

Address: KM 78.5 Carretera Merida Campeche Uxmal

The 4-star hotel offers historic accommodation in Uxmal with a terrace, outdoor pool, lounge bar, restaurant and massage services.

Guest review: “it is a beautiful hotel. The style is a bit more twentieth-century and if you prefer the palapa style you should check out the lodge opposite which is owned by the same company. The location is great to visit Uxmal – a five-minute walk away. We did the land rover tour of the hacienda with guide Luis Felipe – this was an amazing experience learning a little about the history of the hacienda and Mexico generally, driving a vintage land rover and eating lots of fruit straight from the tree. Marco at the bar makes a brilliant margarita / mescalita and is very inventive with the bar snacks.”

The Lodge at Uxmal

Address: KM 78 Carretera Merida Campeche

Our favourite 5-star hotel in Uxmal offers guests a rooftop terrace, outdoor pool, kids pool and childminding services and free bike rental. The restaurant at the Lodge is highly recommended for a range of local cuisine.

Guest review: The hotel is located at the feet of the archaeological area, mystical sounds at night make you feel in Maya mood. Very enjoyable. Good margaritas and good food. The room is large and clean. We enjoyed a lot the swimming pool after the visit. thanks

Merida Hotels

We chose to stay at the Wyndham at Merida (read our review here) because we had 4 days to spend in the Yucatan region and it was centrally located for what we needed to do.  We thank them for their hospitality during our sponsored stay.  A perfectly located hotel in Merida, comfortable rooms with a swimming pool which was ideal after a day of sightseeing.

Latest guest review: “It’s an amazing hotel with a lot of facilities. I enjoyed every second of my staying and I’m willing to stay here every time I visit Merida again.”

Related Reading: Best Places to Stay in Cancun

We thank Visit Mexico and Yucatan Turismo for assisting us in our 4-day itinerary of the Yucatan and in particular our driver George and Maria from Yucatan Travel.

Our other travel articles on  what to see and do in the Yucatan and nearby

Things to do in the Yucatan Peninsula Mexico

How To Make The Most of Your Visit To Chichen Itza 

Why You Should Visit Tulum Mayan Ruins

Private Tour of Merida

Luxury Accommodation in Cancun

How to travel to the Yucatan Peninsula by air

The above shows the list of airports on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Flight Deals

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Find the cheapest flights with Skyscanner here.

Bus Travel

Mexico has very good bus services. Most of our travel throughout Mexico was on ADO Buses – they were safe and reliable and very comfortable.

For the latest schedules and ticket prices click here.

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Disclosure:  We enjoyed our visit to Uxmal as guests of Visit Mexico and Yucatan Turismo but received no further remuneration to write this post.  As usual, our opinions are of our own.

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In conclusion, Uxmal offers a rich tapestry of ancient history and architectural marvels that are sure to captivate any visitor. From the intricate details of the Pyramid of the Magician to the grandeur of the Governor’s Palace, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a treasure trove for history enthusiasts and avid explorers alike. With its serene atmosphere and well-preserved structures, Uxmal provides an immersive experience of the Mayan civilization like no other. Whether you are strolling through the lush grounds or climbing to breathtaking heights, there is no shortage of things to do in Uxmal that will leave you in awe of this ancient wonder. So pack your bags and embark on an unforgettable journey back in time at Uxmal – where history comes alive before your very eyes.