All about Ek' Balam in Mexico

The excavation site "Zona Arqueológica de Ek' Balam" is located about 30 km north of Valladolid. It is one of the lesser known Mayan ruins and, like many other ruins, Ek' Balam is surrounded by jungle.

The name Ek' Balam is Mayathan and means "black jaguar". Depending on the pronunciation, however, "Ek" can also mean "star".

Compared to Chichén Itzá, the site is much less crowded and there are fewer hawkers who can be annoying. A guided tour can be booked on site if desired.

Most of the buildings can be entered and the pyramids can be climbed. This is a great advantage, especially if you have children with you, because they will have much more fun. From the top of the "acropolis" you have a great overview of the site and far into the jungle.

The world of archaeology

Some interesting figures about Mayan archaeological sites on the Yucatan Peninsula:

History and structures

The earliest traces of the settlement date back to the period between about 100 and 300 AD. The settlement experienced its heyday in the years 700 to 1000. The decline of the cult centre probably began around the year 1200.

The centre of Ek' Balam, enclosed by a double ring of walls, is about 1.25 km² in size. Outside the walls, the settlement extends over an area of just under 12 km²:

Ek' Balam was excavated in the 1990s and opened to the public in the early 2000s. The site is dominated by the building that is now usually called the "Acropolis". It is the largest preserved building of the Maya culture in the north of the Yucatán Peninsula.

The Acropolis has an area of 160x70m and is about 30m high (it was originally about 6m higher). Ek' Balam is also known for its stucco facades, which are considered the largest and best-preserved relief in the Maya world.

Admission and further tips

Unfortunately, the entrance fee has been raised several times in recent years and is now 500 pesos. There are also some beautiful cenotes near Ek' Balam, for example cenote Hubiko, a few kilometres away.

We have more background information and travel tips on Mayan archaeological sites.

How do you get to Ek' Balam from Mérida?

By car, take Highway 180 towards Valladolid, then continue north on Highway 295 to Ek' Balam. There are plenty of parking spaces available. There’s no direct public transport from Mérida to Ek' Balam. From Valladolid you can take a collectivo to Ek' Balam.