The Ultimate Guide to Ek Balam: The Secret Mayan Ruins of Cancun

When most travelers think of exploring the ruins of Cancun with a guided tour, they generally think of the legendary Chichen Itza. This is the Archaeological spot that everyone is familiar with. But what about a lesser-known historical site?

Take a look at the well-preserved Mayan ruins of Ek Balam. This is a place that still holds many secrets, it allows visitors to explore without too many restrictions, and it is relatively unknown by the less savvy travelers. 

Let me show you exactly why Ek Balam should be on your bucket list for your next Cancun excursion. 

How far is Ek Balam from Cancun?

How about we start off with the easy access to Ek Balam's location? Bearing 51 Kilometers northeast of Chichen Itza, these ruins are a lot closer and more accessible to tourists staying in and around Cancun. 

To give you a better idea of the distance, an average Car journey from a resort in Playa Mujeres to Ek Balam would be about 2 and a half hours long. Alternatively if staying in the Riviera Maya, it may only take you Just over 2 hours. 

What is the history behind Ek Balam?

Studies suggest that this thriving city was constructed sometime around 100 B.C. and may possibly have continued to be inhabited by the time of the Spanish arrival in the 16th Century. This means that this seat of a Mayan kingdom was fully functioning for over 1000 years.

These ruins hold a wealth of culture and stories that we have only begun to uncover or understand. Research shows that this city was a capital that belonged to a kingdom called Talol and its first ruler was a king called Ukit Kan Le´t Tok. 

The name “Ek Balam” literally translates to “Black Jaguar” which is an animal that held great importance and symbolic power to Ancient Mayans and was a huge part of the Mayan mythology and belief system.

This is just the tip of the ancient iceberg. Much more history awaits!

What is there to explore here?

Nobody wants to go to ruins only to find out that there is not much to see. So what does Ek Balam have to offer?

The entire ruins that are visible have 45 different structures throughout this acropolis. These include:

• Ancient Mayan walls: Both decorative and defensive
• El Trono: The tomb of the late king
• Wall painting: Mythological scenes and depictions
• Ballcourt: For a popular Mayan sport
• Oval Palace: Connected to unique Mayan ceremonies
• And more!

Discover the Ek Balam Cenote

In addition to the Ek Balam ruins, you may want to take advantage of the local area while you are here. A lot of people talk about a secret cave near Ek Balam that they have heard about. Does it actually exist? Well, yes and no.

The secret cave of Ek Balam that people talk about is actually a videogame concept. However, something similar does actually exist: The Ek Balam cenote. This little cenote oasis is just 2 kilometers away from the main ruins and has a wooden staircase that takes you down into paradise. Relax by the water, go for a swim, and enjoy the light-trickling waterfall that falls into its center.   

If searching for the Ek Balam cenote on a map, you will find it under the name “cenote Xcanche”.

6 Fun facts about Ek Balam

1. Ek Balam covered an area of about 12 square kilometers
2. Archaeologists have only excavated the middle of Ek Balam (1 Square kilometer)
3. Ek Balam is older than Chichen Itza and at one point was more powerful too. 
4. Unlike other Mayan ruins, you can still climb the ancient stairs of Ek Balam
5. Ek Balam had a population of between 10,000 to 20,000 people.
6. Archaeologists are still unsure as to why this major city was abandoned.

How to plan your Cancun ruins tour!

So now that you know a bit more about the Ek Balam ruins in Cancun, what is the next step in your adventure? Surely, the only thing left to do is to plan your tour of this site for your upcoming vacation. But, how do you do that? Where should you go? Who should you email?

First, you need to find a place to stay. Check out some of the top resorts in Cancun and the Riviera Maya so that you are within easy driving distance of Ek Ballam. Next, once you have figured out where you will be staying, you need to contact a tour operator.

This will be someone who picks you up from your resort, takes you where you need to go., and then makes sure that you have a wonderful experience and get back to your All Inclusive accommodations on time. For this, you can email Seasons Tours and they will be able to give you all the excursion information and prices for your Ek Balam ruins tour.