The Perfect Day Trip to Secluded Maya Sites around Bacalar, Mexico.
Immerse yourself in ancient Maya towns without the crowds on this curated day trip from the famous Mexican magical town.
Looking for the detailed itinerary? Click here. For concrete details and tips? Go straight to the Practical Information section.
This article covers part of a larger trip through the undiscovered region of the southern Yucatán peninsula. I was based in Bacalar for three nights to discover the magical town and nearby Mayan ruins of Dzibanché & Kinichná, Ichkabal and Oxtankah.
The Yucatán peninsula is one of the Central American regions with the most incredible examples of Maya architecture. Beyond UNESCO World heritage sites like Chichén Itzá, Uxmal and Calakmul lie many other archeological zones, many of them stunning, but away from the main tourist circuit. Rarely visited, they represent a fantastic opportunity to get a glimpse of the pre-Colombian Maya world without the crowds. Among the hundreds of ancient settlements in Yucatán, four are open to visitors within 90 minutes of the magical town of Bacalar, where I stayed a few day in the fall of 2025. While Bacalar itself is worth a visit (especially now, before it gets any more on the map), the Maya sites near it are absolutely worth a detour if you’re passing by the famous lagoon.
Given the distance between them, it is impossible to hit the four sites in just one day, yet feasible, although ambitious, to hit three of them. Instead, I suggest a one-day trip to the two most interesting.
Maya sites near Bacalar ranked by enchantment level
#1: Dzibanché & Kinichná: grand pyramids amidst the jungle
Palacio de los Dinteles in Dzibanché.
Dzibanché and Kinichná are technically two different sites for the Mexican National Institute of History and Anthropology (INAH), but they are so close to each other that there is only one visitor center for both of them, where you will have to stop to get tickets.
The immense power amassed by the Kaan dynasty explains the grandeur of Dzibanché, which counts with several pyramids, some of them only partially excavated. The site lies within the Maya jungle and you’re likely to see spider monkeys up in the trees. Dzibanché felt like a miniature version Calakmul, more intimate and compact but still visually very impressive. Beyond its imposing constructions, the site is also notable for Plaza Pom, a small, nicely preserved plaza surrounded by trees that feels like an human-scaled town square, which was reserved to the elite in pre-Colombian times.
Kinichná, a few minutes away by car, is famous for its Acropolis, also known as House of the Sun, a massive temple at the top of which the view over the Mayan jungle is incredible. The Acropolis’ scale is humbling. Like some of Dzibanché’s building, it can be climbed all the way up.
Entrance fee: MXN 80 per person at the visitor center plus MXN60 per person and MXN50 per car as a community contribution to be paid in cash right after the turn off to Dzibanché (after passing the village of Morocoy).
Opening hours: 8am to 5pm (last entry to the sites at 4.30pm)
Visit should last 45-60 minutes in Dzibanché, and about 20-30 minutes in Kinichná. Add another 20-30 minutes checking out the Tutil zone as well.
Travel time by car from Bacalar 75mn.
Full article on Dzibanché and Kinichná with practical information on how to get there here.
#2: Kohunlich: an ancient city feel and amazing stucco masks
Less than an hour away south of Dzibanché, Kohunlich offers a very different experience. The site feels like a small, airy city with less trees in its center, various palaces instead of pyramids, and commanding, perfectly restored stucco masks adorning them. You can cllimb all the buildings and get a view over the whole site from various points of view, and even walk in the jungle surrounding it.
Entrance fee: MXN 100
Opening hours: 8am to 5pm (last entry to the site at 4.30pm).
Visit should last approximately one hour.
Travel time from Dzibanché is a little less than one hour, and 60 minutes from Bacalar.
Full article on Kohunlich with practical information on how to get there here.
#3: Ichkabal: newly opened to visitors with partially excavated pyramids the size of Chichén Itza’s
The view atop one of the biggest pyramids at Ichkabal.
Not yet ready for prime time as a rival to Chichen Itzá, Ichkabal is nonetheless worth a visit for the sheer size of the site and to witness the patient discovery of a critical part of Maya history, still hidden under thick foliage. The pyramids on site are huge, indeed, but the biggest ones are still partially excavated and surrounded by a thick tropical forest that prevents them from standing out. It requires a little bit of projection to understand the visual impact these must have had in Maya times. It’s a great experience, but it lacks the wow factor of sites like Dzibanché and Kinichná further south.
Ichkabal has been described as the “next Chichén Itzá” by enthusiastic press articles and a Mexican tourism industry eager to bring more people to the area, but don’t believe the hype (at least not yet). The site is nice, but definitely not as visually satisfying as Dzibanché/Kinichná and Kohunlich.
Entrance fee: free for now
Opening hours: 8am to 5pm (last entry at 4pm)
Visit should last approximately forty-five minutes to an hour.
Travel time is 45 minutes from Bacalar (do not trust Google Maps on this and instead, follow the directions in my Ichkabal article to save 40 minutes of travel time).
Full article on Ichkabal with informationon how to get there here.
#4: Oxtankah: remote and serene with that Indiana Jones vibe
Enjoy Oxtankah for its isolated surroundings, and the magic feeling of walking in a jungle full of ruins. To me, it felt like I was the first one stumbling onto the site, still hidden under a thick canopy of trees. It helped that I was the only visitor present for most of my visit - Oxtankah gets a very limited number of tourists every day, given its location north of Chetumal.
It’s a great side trip if you’re exploring the Chetumal Bay, and before or after having lunch in the cute outpost of Calderitas, to the south of the site.
Entrance fee: MXN75 at time of writing
Opening hours: 8am to 5pm (last entry at 4pm)
Visit should last forty-five minutes to an hour.
Travel time is 65 minutes from Bacalar.
Full article on Oxtankah with information on how to get there here.
Suggested itinerary for a day of exploration from Bacalar
While it isn’t feasible to pack these four sites in one single day, it is technically possible to visit the top three sites in a day - I didn’t do this myself, but it requires an early rise, careful planning, and, ultimately, very little downtime or space for the unexpected.
Instead, I suggest a one-day itinerary below that cover my two favorite sites. You can then decide which other site you’d want to see, if time allows. Ichkabal is an easy half-day excursion from Bacalar, and Oxtankah can be added to a day of checking out Chetumal and its beautiful bay.
Itinerary - A Day of Exploring Maya Sites - Dzibanché/Kinichná and Kohunlich
The details
Departure from Bacalar at 8am: drive west to Dzibanché/Kinichná (80 mn). Buy tickets at the visitor center for both sites.
9.30am: start visit of Dzibanché site (60mn)
10.30am: drive a few kilometers to Kinichná, check out the Acropolis (45 mn total)
11.15am: drive south towards Kohunlich, with a stop in Morocoy to grab cold water and a few snacks (60mn with stop). There are no restaurants along the way, so the earliest you could eat unless you packed lunch will be back in Bacalar.
12.15pm: visit Kohunlich (60 mn, more if you choose to explore all the paths in the jungle around the ruins)
1.15pm: drive back to Bacalar (60 mn)
2.15pm: have an early lunch (by Mexican standards) in one of the Bacalar restaurants (recommendations in the Practical Information section of the Bacalar article)
4pm: stroll along the lagoon or into town, visit the San Felipe defensive fort built by the Spanish to cap your day
Can Ichkabal be added to this itinerary?
It is technically feasible to start earlier to be at the first site (Dzibanché) at opening time (8am), which shifts the whole schedule forward by 90 minutes, so that lunch in Bacalar ends at 2.15pm. The trip to Ichkabal lasts 45mn (do not trust Google Maps on this), which means getting there around 3pm, leaving ample time to visit - the site’s last entry is 4pm, and closing time is 5pm. I don’t recommend this because each Maya site is a feast for the senses, and it might be a bit overwhelming to explore three on the same day, never mind getting up by 6am and spending almost 5 hours driving to do so. It can be done, however, if you only have one day and want to hit as many sites as possible.
Practical information
(everything you need to know about Bacalar, the base for exploring these Maya sites - updated as of January 2026)
In a nutshell
The Bacalar lagoon.
I came to Bacalar to see its amazing Lake of Seven Colors and loved its sun-drenched, Mexican simplicity, as well as easy access to stunning yet hardly-ever-visited Maya ruins.The region as a whole is barely on any tourist’s radar so it’s a great time to come check it out. My full article on Bacalar is here.
Getting to Bacalar
How to get to Bacalar from the United States: Bacalar, in southern Quintana Roo, is close enough to Chetumal and its airport that it is easy to get to. Chetumal (CTM) has no direct flights to and from the US, making a connection in Mexico City (MEX) indispensable. Bacalar is about 40 minutes away from CTM. From the airport, taxis are available, as well as the cheaper (and slower) colectivos to get you to the pueblo mágico. You can also take a quick 5-mn taxi ride or walk 30 minutes to Chetumal’s bus station, where ADO buses calling at the Bacalar station depart hourly, or pick up a rental car in the airport.
Another option could be to fly into Tulum (TQO), if planning a trip spanning more of the Yucatán peninsula, as US and Canadian airlines fly non-stop to the new Tulum airport, but travel time from TQO to Bacalar is over 2 hours. This option works more easily with a rental car.
Speaking of car rental, it is your best bet to visit the region if Bacalar isn’t your only destination (if it is, you can very well spend a few days in town and not ever need a car, so bear that in mind), and the Chetumal airport has several local and international options, which were fairly priced at the time of my visit (provided you don’t fall for the additional insurance coverage some rental agents will try to sell you). Renting a car makes the most sense, especially if planning to visit nearby Maya sites.
How to get to Bacalar from Mexico City: while it is technically possible to take an ADO bus from the the capital all the way to Chetumal, where a change to Bacalar is needed, it isn’t recommended. The trip lasts 24 hours, in a first class bus that’s comfortable enough for a 3 to 4-hour ride, but we’re talking about a trip that’s a lot longer than that. The walk-up fare is close to MXN 2,000 (about USD120 at time of writing) which isn’t super competitive with flying.
The best way to reach Bacalar is indeed to fly into Chetumal airport (CTM), from Mexico City’s main airport (MEX) or its secondary airport (NLU). Aeromexico, VivaAerobus and Volaris operate once a day between MEX and CTM while Mexicana and Viva fly several days a week from NLU to CTM, with base prices starting around USD75. Car rentals are widely available at Chetumal airport, from a variety of Mexican and international companies. Bacalar is 40 minutes away on a well-maintained highway. Taxis and cheaper colectivos are also available, as is the option to get a cab to the Chetumal bus station and take an ADO bus from there to Bacalar. If you’re looking to explore the region, a rental car makes the most sense, and it is fairly easy to get one at the Chetumal airport.
When to go to Bacalar
The best months weather-wise to enjoy Bacalar are during the dry season, between December and April, with January and February the (relatively) coolest months. This is also peak season so the town may be a little crowded. The Maya sites, however, rarely ever see a big crowd, so you’ll have plenty of space no matter which one you pick.
I went to Bacalar in October, which is low season as the combination of possible afternoon showers and intense heat can turn off travelers. I loved the lack of crowds, and the slightly overcast weather which made the heat more tolerable. Yes it rained almost every day around 5pm for a few minutes to a few hours, but it was all pretty manageable.
Safety in Bacalar
The Yucatán peninsula is one of the safest areas in Mexico, and Quintana Roo is considered fairly safe: it is labeled a level 2 “Exercise Increased Caution” state, just like Mexico City, or the UK as a whole. Digging deeper, busy cities like Cancún are more likely to be where crime happens, and the advisory shouldn’t, in theory, apply to a sleepy village like Bacalar. As such, it is not an area of Mexico where you would have to be a fairly experienced traveler to travel to. As everywhere else in the country, keep in mind the following: know where you’re going, keep your wits about you, do not flash expensive clothes or phones, don’t do things you shouldn’t do, stay in touristy areas, avoid walking at night..
Food & lodging in Bacalar
The 7-color lagoon in Bacalar.
Hotels
Bacalar is, for now, a relatively affordable place to stay, and it is fairly easy to find good hotels. I stayed at AmarBacalar, somewhat away from the bustling part of town (which meant the loud music blasting from bars until 4am would barely reach me). If you have a car, it’s fairly convenient as you can be in the center of the village in a few minutes. It’s relatively easy to find parking. My room was basic but super well designed, at the bottom of a two-floor casita surrounded by lush trees, with a terrace and a hammock. It cost me just a little more than USD50 per night.
If you want to be in the center of the action, I heard good things about the Yak Lake House, a party hostel on the water, but haven’t checked it out in person.
Restaurants
Everyone in town raves about Mr Taco so I had to give it a go. In the center of the village but not on the main drag, it’s a cheerful place that’s a backpacker favorite for its cheap menu items (MXN 25 a taco, which is a steal for a sit-down place like this). Are the tacos the best I ever had? No, but for the price, the quality is incredible. I wanted to go there again. You can have a meal and a beer for MXN150.
La Playita, on the water, is also a Reddit backpacker favorite, but I was a little disappointed with the food. The restaurant banks on its amazing location on the water and on a great design but underwhelms a bit in terms of food quality. Definitely a place to check out for the vibe more than for the tacos. I wouldn’t go back. Price for a meal is closer to MXN400.
Navieros Bacalar: a no-thrills seafood restaurant with tight seating but delicious, fresh seafood. Located on the Costera but far enough from the cool part that it doesn’t have to pretend to be anything more than a simple pace for great mariscos, this restaurant delivers super well on value for money (my shrimp plate and the accompanying beer cost me MXN350).
Keep in mind these travel tips
The Yucatán peninsula is one of the safest regions in Mexico, and its main roads are well maintained. This isn’t enough to forget the #1 driving advice in Mexico: do not drive at night. Driving at night, on poorly lit roads means you won’t see the motorcycles without lights, the potholes and the ubiquitous topes, these notoriously hard speed bumps that spring out of nowhere. You may encounter wildlife or, more prosaically street dogs crossing right in front of you (especially in Bacalar, where there are many). Plan your itinerary to be at your next destination before night fall. It’s important.
No matter what the season, there will be bugs in Yucatán. While you may only see the gigantic Tarántula Yucateca spider on the roads leading to Calakmul, you’ll find mosquitoes pretty much everywhere, and especially in the shaded forests surrounding the Maya ruins. Be ready with repellent at any time of the day. It’s also a good idea to wear clothes that cover your limbs (pants, high socks, long sleeve t-shirts) while you’re in the jungle. Mosquito-borne diseases are fairly uncommon in the state of Quintana Roo, but not unheard of.
SPF will be your best friend. The UV index may be low in the morning and evening, but during the day, it gets pretty high.
Do not forget to hydrate. While OXXOs aren’t as ubiquitous in this rural region as in other ones, you’ll find plenty of abarrotes, these tiny stores selling cold water and sodas along the way. Make sure you always have water handy and drink to make the heat more bearable.
Cell service isn’t the best near Bacalar, although Telcel offers 4G coverage in and round town (it did fail one day while I was there though). Telcel is actually the only provider with decent service in the broader region If you’re roaming, check that you can roam on Telcel, or investigate a Mexican eSIM that uses this network. If not, think about downloading maps for offline use, it may prove very useful.
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