El Meco Archaeological Site image

El Meco Archaeological Site

Tourist attraction Archaeological site

One of the Best Places To Visits in Benito Juarez


Address

Carretera Puerto Juarez, López Portillo, 77520 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico

Rating on Google Maps

4.50 (1K reviews)

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Working Hours

  • Sunday: 8 am to 4 pm
  • Monday: 8 am to 4 pm
  • Tuesday: 8 am to 4 pm
  • Wednesday: 8 am to 4 pm
  • Thursday: 8 am to 4 pm
  • Friday: 8 am to 4 pm
  • Saturday: 8 am to 4 pm

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: site (19) ruins (16) iguanas (14) beautiful (12) nice (9) pesos (8) area (8) history (7) person (7) walk (6)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 Trish Y. 4 years ago on Google
    Great place to see Mayan ruins. It was right down from our resort- about a 2 mile walk. It was a larger site than I anticipated which was a pleasant surprise. It only costs 55 pesos to get in- so well worth the price. However I do wish the historical plaques where better. Oh and There are a plethora of large iguanas there that adds to the fun! Also There is an excellent restaurant right down the street- flamingos. Great food excellent staff right on the beach. I recommend a pitcher of sangria
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Andrea M. 8 months ago on Google • 571 reviews
    Great quick stop to see something historical in Mexico. Had the taxi driver stop after a walk around Cancun and surrounding areas. It was a great price and also had plenty of Iguanas which were great for me as someone who doesn’t experience that on the daily.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 d-jemme 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful but small site that doesn't take long to walk around. It's worth the trip if you're in the area just to get out of the hustle and bustle of Cancun. It's quiet, peaceful, and there are iguanas everywhere of all different sizes that add to the experience (there are signs asking you not to feed them when you first walk in, which I thought was a little strange until I realized that this, for some reason, is where iguanas literally rule). A guide will offer to take you around - if you have the money to support him, please do. Otherwise, just go on in and when you've walked around and read the signs, have a seat somewhere and just listen and soak up some ancient history and what it might have been like before... all of what this is now. There is also a nice expanse of beach and some seafood restaurants (although I ordered some fish and it was mediocre, especially for the price). This is a more Mexican-frequented area, so if you want to get out of the tourist vibe this is a nice place to spend an afternoon - ruins, seafood, beach. They don't clean the sea grass up in this area like they do in the hotel zone though.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kelsey S. 1 year ago on Google
    We went in the morning. Friendly staff greeted us, spoke a bit of Mayan, provided hand sanitizer. The tickets are so affordable & they’re good quality as a keepsake. It was really quiet compared to other archaeological sites, there are no vendors bothering you and there was only one other couple there at the same time as us. The structures are closed off for preservation but still worth it. The iguanas are all over the structures and shade and don’t bother you. It’s absolutely beautiful.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Steve Z. 3 months ago on Google • 596 reviews New
    Great small site, close to town, no crowds and inexpensive. Several mayan towers on site pretty well presented. Lots of mosquitoes - ask the attendant to spray you before entering.

  • 5/5 Chris B. 1 year ago on Google
    What a great place. Stroll around this bijou Mayan site and have the place to yourself. We sat for half an hour in the main courtyard under the shade of a tree and chatted about the civilizations that have come and gone. Very relaxed, very nice. Oh, and count the iguanas that are everywhere.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Heather W. 1 year ago on Google
    Really nice place to stop by for a visit. It was about a 15min drive from our resort in Costa Mujeres. Admission was pretty cheap-about 4.00 per person. There are some signs and translations in English so that you can understand more about the site. My girls were very excited to see the multiple iguanas that are on site-there are quite a few. Bring some bug spray I was bitten by a few mosquitoes, but otherwise it was pretty shady and a nice easy walk.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 JuJu 4 years ago on Google
    A beautiful sacred piece of history tucked off in the cut. It was clean, quiet and no one was there with the exception of 3 others. I was able to pray in piece and take in the beauty of this ancient ruin. There were giant iguanas (they were pretty big but were no bother) and Mexican raccoons. The man at the front was a perv and just downright disgusting and inappropriate. He was the ONLY downside to our visit. Go here if you want to avoid the overpriced and very long trip to the other spots which are also over crowded. The tours to the other ruins were about $60 and the travel from the hotel area of Cancun was 1.5 hours minimum. You have to get up super early also. We did this and paid cab fare of about $30 (500 pesos round trip) and he waited for us there (I would recommend bc it’s a long walk to where taxis are from the park) and we spent about 30 minutes (which was totally doable) inside after paying $3 per person to enter.
    4 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Travel G. 1 year ago on Google
    What a beautiful place with so much history! This was just up the street from our condo and we felt no need to go to Chichen Itza after visiting this smaller site. This is a beautiful location with lots of iguanas, greenery and history. Definitely spray yourself with bug repellent beforehand. It’s very lush and there are a lot of mosquitoes. It was well worth the three American dollars for admission. Also, there were only three other people there while we visited. It’s a photographer‘s dream!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michelle M. 4 months ago on Google • 9 reviews
    We had the place all to ourselves. We went in December before Christmas. Wear cinnamon essential oil to combat the mosquitoes because there are a lot of them. Dragonflies, butterflies and iguanas are everywhere. They take 5 USD for entry and it was well worth the money. Highly recommend.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lori N. 4 months ago on Google • 120 reviews
    I met a friend here for a cleanse ritual but there are small cabins for rent with a bed bathroom tv and refrigerator. There's a food menu too. There's places to camp and park your RV. It's the most northern tip of the island before the cartel and that area is prohibited. It's a nice place but bring your bug spray the mosquitoes are mean! I saw a big iguana there too. There is a fee to enter but my friend paid so I'm not sure how much. Not far there are mayan ruins to explore. Very close to the ultramar ferry.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ronald C. 4 months ago on Google • 206 reviews
    Was a great place to visit and only a short bike ride to the site. Very interesting and the people there were knowledgeable. They need donations if you can help.

  • 5/5 Julie 4 months ago on Google • 41 reviews
    The site was surprisingly large with 3 plazas and 8 or 9 exposed buildings. Wouldn’t take the tour with one of the local resorts - too much bad information (e.g., only visitors to X resort are allowed on site), but otherwise 70 pesos per person well spent.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Cricket 1 year ago on Google
    Very beautiful site! It’s a quick time around the sites very small but still breathtaking and a nice break from the city. Do not worry about busses to this sit. I took an Uber and costs just $10 to get from the city. I would recommend a little store to the owners and sell water. Definitely would make money this way. Also, i would add little stereos with headphones for a walkthrough. Costs 60 pesos.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jennifer H. 4 years ago on Google
    These are some easy and fun Mayan Ruins to visit. Easily accessible via car and fun for all ages. The structures are amazing and the grounds are kept pristine. No person is allowed physically on the ruins and there are ropes to limit access to the ruins. The ruins are covered with beautiful camouflaged iguanas in all shapes and sizes. This is a government funded facility and it all belongs to the Mexican Government. Donations are accepted. There are picnic table spread out in different areas... the ruins make a fantastic backdrop!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ildiko S. 1 year ago on Google
    Friendly staff greeted us. It was really quiet compared to other archaeological sites & there are no vendors bothering you. The iguanas are all over the structures and shade are really cool. It’s absolutely beautiful.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Mojmír R. 1 year ago on Google
    Lovely ruins close to the Cancun city center. When visiting we were alone there so the atmosphere was superb. It is also a great spot to watch iguanas. Entrance is 70 pesos per person.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Leana T. 1 year ago on Google
    I absolutely loved this place! Got to see the beautiful ruins with no crowd. You can take a collectivo for 10 pesos
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michael C. 1 year ago on Google
    A beautiful site with a lots of ruins to look at! Well excavated and maintained with extremely polite staff! The street was super accessible and easy to find, and it's conveniently close to a beach! A bus route also services this location for an easy return to cancun! Overall a great piece of history relatively close to the cancun central area
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Judith P. 1 year ago on Google
    Entrance is $4 per adult. No guide so you're on your own to figure out the place. There's lots of mosquitoes and bugs so make sure you take insect repellent
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Not D. 8 months ago on Google • 92 reviews
    We arrived shortly after opening at 0800 and had the place to ourselves for an hour and a half. Not very large, but impressive, well kept, and an easy bus ride from Cancún. 70 pesos admission.

  • 5/5 David 3 months ago on Google • 49 reviews New
    The site is not as well preserved or large as chichin itze. We enjoyed walking around the ancient ruins.

  • 5/5 Scott F. 4 months ago on Google • 18 reviews
    Small ruins in comparison to others in the area. A hidden gem? 70 pesos each for entry. Kids free. Bathrooms on site. Signs explaining the structures. In and out in 30 minutes. Daughter counted 30 iguanas!

  • 5/5 Katie C. 11 months ago on Google
    We walked through on our own and it is absolutely beautiful. There is a sign in the front in Español, Mayan as well as English. Highly recommend!

  • 5/5 Ben F. 1 year ago on Google
    Small but beautiful site, only 4usd and easy to navigate. Great stop for some cultural history

  • 5/5 Lena D. 11 months ago on Google
    I was able to be the only person there when I attended. Walking the ruins and photographing was amazing. Small but mighty piece of history

  • 4/5 M M. 1 year ago on Google
    Small archeological ruins. Good location from Cancún. You can hire a guide for more factual information or explore on your own. You are not allowed to climb the ruins. Video allowed for an extra fee but taking photos is free. Lots of iguanas! Wear bug repellant!

  • 5/5 Kurt L. 9 months ago on Google
    20 min hike from the resort. Very nice guides who explain the historical significance of the site as a trading hub for the area. Includes a brief Myan language lesson. Only Myan natives can own/work on the site to keep the historical line of it.

  • 5/5 Allen P. 8 months ago on Google • 4 reviews
    Being close to tourist attractions, 30 minutes from Cancun Hotel Zone and 5 minutes from coast Mujeres, this Maya ruin is a hidden gem that more people should visit. We got there at around 9am and were the first visitors that day. The site is very clean and well maintained. Don't expect to see something like Chichen Itza, but the archeological value is still very significant. Iguanas are everywhere in the park, rarely disturbed by visitors.

  • 5/5 carlos g. 8 months ago on Google
    it was a nice little place with too much History. Not crowded at all. Don Jose was very funny and warm person.

  • 5/5 Maksim V. 1 year ago on Google
    Not very big but very beautiful archeological site. Cheap and not many ppl here.


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Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance

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