Traveling to Ek Balam ruins in Yucatan Mexico? Grab this handy Ek Balam travel guide with the best things to do at Ek Balam Mayan ruins, how to get to Ek Balam, and lots of travel tips to plan a memorable Ek Balam trip. #EkBalam #Mexico

Mayan Ruins Of Ek Balam Mexico: The Complete Travel Guide


Last Updated on August 19, 2023 by Soumya

Ek Balam Mexico, also known as the Jaguar City of Mexico, is an ancient Mayan city in the Yucatan Peninsula. Far lesser-known than the world wonder, Chichen Itza, and therefore, much less visited, the Mayan ruins of Ek Balam are a pretty offbeat Yucatan destination.

That said, the ancient city of Ek Balam Mexico is stunning and unique!

Here’s my definitive guide to visiting Ek Balam ruins with tips from my own trip there. You will learn

  • All about the history of Ek Balam
  • Practical information to help plan your trip
  • Tips for getting to Ek Balam Mayan ruins from Valladolid
  • Ticket information and recommended tours

Plus, there are loads of tips for you to decide if you need to visit this hidden Mayan pyramid in the jungles of Yucatan or not.

If you find this guide a little too overwhelming, take a look at this highly-rated day trip that covers the ruins of Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, and a nearby cenote in one day. Or read on for a do-it-yourself Ek Balam ruins tour with our top tips.

Quick tips for visiting Ek Balam ruins

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Traveling to Ek Balam ruins in Yucatan Mexico? Grab this handy Ek Balam travel guide with the best things to do at Ek Balam Mayan ruins, how to get to Ek Balam, and lots of travel tips to plan a memorable Ek Balam trip. #EkBalam #Mexico
  • Ek Balam ruins are absolutely worth visiting because they are not as crowded as the other, more famous sites of Chichen Itza or Tulum. Plus, they are unique because of the presence of beautiful stucco sculptures that you won’t find anywhere else.
  • The entrance fee for Ek Balam is a little over the top, quite comparable to Chichen Itza. That is because of inclusion of a state and federal component in the ticket prices at both these places.
  • You can still climb the Ek Balam pyramid or Acropolis. However, be careful because the stairs aren’t in great shape and are slippery in many places.
  • Ek Balam makes for a great day trip option from Valladolid, Cancun, or Playa del Carmen.
  • Good news: You can easily visit Ek Balam and Chichen Itza on the same day. Find out how here.

Ek Balam History

The Mayan city of Ek Balam in Mexico thrived for more than a thousand years from 100 BCE to 900 CE. It reached its peak around the 8th century. Most buildings here were built around that period.

Ek Balam means “Black Jaguar” in the Yucatec Mayan language. The Black Jaguar, or the “Sun Jaguar” as it is often referred to, was a powerful symbol of the Mayan civilization.

Ek Balam was the seat of power of the Kingdom of Tlalol. Its first king was King Ukit Kan Le’t Tok. He was a promoter of culture and arts as well as technological developments in the kingdom.

Le’t Tok is said to have built the sumptuous pyramid of Ek Balam called the Acropolis which is the tallest standing structure in the region. 

It is believed that the king was buried inside the Acropolis in a chamber called the White House of Reading along with more than 7000 ceramic objects, shell objects, and other riches.

Things to do at Ek Balam ruins

Ek Balam pyramid or Acropolis
The impressive Ek Balam pyramid is still open to climbing.

The ruins of Ek Balam taken together form a cluster resembling a city. Restoration started only in the 20th century. You can spot remains of the city walls as you walk in.

Apparently, only 10% of the entire area of ruins at Ek Balam has been excavated! So there’s more to come.

But for now, there is an entrance gate, an oval palace, the twin pyramids, the main temple called the Acropolis, and several smaller structures. Let’s see how each one looks.

Ek Balam Pyramid or The Acropolis

The Acropolis is the tallest structure inside the Ek Balam archaeological area. It is 95 feet or 30 m tall.

It is quite unlike the other Mayan pyramids in Yucatan because of the palapa-roofed rooms that flank its sides. You can digress from your climb and take a little detour to visit some of these palapa-covered sanctuaries.

While climbing your way to the top of the Acropolis, you will notice these thatched roofs or palapas on your sides. Original stucco sculptures are preserved under these roofs.

Underneath one of these roofs on the upper left-hand side, lies the tomb of King Ukit Kan Le’k Tok’. This makes the Acropolis a very important structure in the Kingdom of Tlalol.

Recommended: How to visit the majestic pyramid of Chichen Itza?

Original stucco sculptures

Stunning stucco work at Ek Balam
Stunning stucco work at the Mayan ruins of Ek Balam.

The stucco art at Ek Balam is one of its kind and quite distinctive because of the following reasons.

  • Most of the other Mayan ruins have stone-carved sculptures and stucco work is hard to come by. Ek Balam in Mexico is one place that boasts of excellent stucco work.
  • Among these stucco figures, are the figures of winged warriors that have interested historians for a long time. You can see a couple of them in the picture above on the left.
  • There are multiple theories on who the winged warriors of Ek Balam could be. They could have been angels but apparently, Mayans did not believe in angels. They could have been Mayan warriors with supernatural powers. Or they could have been creations of artists influenced by global seafarers who brought learnings from lands far away. It is not uncommon to find winged creatures in Hindu and Buddhist architecture.
  • Of great interest is the huge teeth-like structure in front that makes the entrance look like a big monster mouth. For Mayans, this door was probably an entry to the underworld.

Also read: 18 Best things to do in Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Ek Balam’s Oval Palace

Oval Palace of Ek Balam Mexico

After you finish exploring the main pyramid of Ek Balam, the next place of interest is the Oval Palace at a 2-minute walk from the pyramid. Burial relics have been found here.

It is believed that the Oval Palace was used for cosmological ceremonies. The fact that it is comparable to the rounded observatory at Chichen Itza or Tulum confirms this. Therefore, it is also known as the La Redonda.

From the top of the Oval Palace, you can get some stunning views of the entire site.

Read next: Visit the stunning, sea-facing Mayan ruins of Tulum.

Twin Pyramids of Ek Balam

Mayan ruins of Ek Balam in Yucatan Mexico
The twin pyramids at the ruins of Ek Balam archaeological site.

Right in front of the Oval Palace on the left, lie two identical pyramids called The Twins. These pyramids are constructed on a single platform.

A little ahead lies the Ball Court, albeit a smaller one than the one at Chichen Itza. Further ahead, you can see the Acropolis with the palapas.

Entry Arch of Ek Balam

Entry archway of Ek Balam

At the entrance of Ek Balam, you will find this beautiful arched-gate that once connected Ek Balam to the rest of the Mayan kingdom.

The gate is believed to have connected to an ancient road called the sacbe.

The concept of sacbe is interesting. It is believed that sacbes crisscrossed the Mayan empire connecting major cities at their intersections. Much like the freeways and highways of our time. This sacbe probably connected Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, and Coba together.

Recommended: Learn more interesting facts about Mayan pyramids in Yucatan.

Ek Balam cenote

Right next to Ek Balam is the Cenote Xcanche which is also known as the Ek Balam Cenote. It is a stunning, open air swimming pool complete with waterfalls and rope swings. Enjoy a swim in the cool waters here after exploring the ruins nearby.

The cenote requires a separate ticket – priced at 170 Mexican pesos per person.

There are some other attractive cenotes nearby too. For example, you could visit the majestic Cenote Maya along with Ek Balam ruins on this full-day tour from Cancun. Or do this trip from Playa del Carmen where you could visit the Hubiku Cenote. All Ek Balam tours usually include a cenote or two.

Practical information for visiting Ek Balam

Ek Balam entrance fee

The entrance fee for Ek Balam is 499 Mexican Pesos (approx. $27) for international tourists. This fee is split into two parts: Yucatan State (409 Pesos) and Federal (90 Pesos). Mexican citizens and locals from Yucatan have to pay lower amounts.

Honestly, I feel the admission fee for Ek Balam is high, especially when it is not as big as the ruins of Chichen Itza or Uxmal.

To add to that, the fee keeps on changing quite often. You can check the latest federal fee on INAH website here but the state component can be quite a mystery.

Like other archaeological sites in Mexico, locals can enter for free on Sundays. Expect a bigger crowd on Sundays and if possible, plan your Ek Balam tour between Monday – Saturday.

Make sure you have pesos with you when you get here. They do not accept any other currency.

I feel it is always a great idea to take a guided tour to explore the Mayan ruins of Ek Balam. Local tour guides come with such an abundance of information, local myths and legends.

Here are some of my favorite guided tours for the Ek Balam ruins.

Ek Balam opening hours

The archaeological park is open between 8:00am – 5:00pm, Monday to Sunday. The ticket office closes at 4 pm. They are open every day of the year.

Best time to visit Ek Balam

The best time to visit Yucatan is from late October to early March. This is the colder season with average daily temperatures below 86 Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).

However, December and January can get very crowded. So, it makes sense to visit during the shoulder season if that’s feasible.

We went in March and had to encounter smaller crowds. April and May are unbearably hot. June, July, and September get really wet due to rains.

Other helpful tips for visiting Ek Balam ruins

  • Carry sufficient water because it can get pretty hot during the day.
  • Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Wear comfortable, airy clothes. You can refer to this packing list for Mexico to help you decide.
  • There is a restroom at the site.
From the top of Ek Balam pyramid

How to get to Ek Balam?

Ek Balam is often done as part of any Yucatan road trip. You can hire a car and drive down to Ek Balam, one of the most visited Mayan ruins near Cancun and Valladolid.

Valladolid to Ek Balam

Since we had our base at Valladolid, we did a day trip from there. The distance between Ek Balam and Valladolid is around 20kms.

You can either take a colectivo van or a taxi from Valladolid to Ek Balam. We took a collectivo taxi and since there were three of us we reserved it to get to Ek Balam and back.

The collectivo fare is usually 50 pesos per person if you are sharing it with others. We paid 200 pesos to reserve the taxi.

The journey from Valladolid takes about 30 minutes. These taxis run from the corner of Calle 44 and Calle 37 in Valladolid and leave only when they have 4 passengers. You can get a taxi back to Valladolid from the Ek Balam parking lot or ask your driver to wait for an extra charge.

Cancun to Ek Balam

Ek Balam is a longish day trip from Cancun. The drive takes about 2.5 hours, one way. But it is absolutely worth it if you are looking for a calmer, more peaceful heritage experience in the Yucatan.

The best way to do this is to take a guided tour from Cancun that usually includes a cenote swim as well. I especially love this full-day tour from Cancun because it has got rave reviews + includes blessings from a Mayan shaman + has a cenote swim. History, culture, and nature – all rolled into one!

Also read: 12 Majestic Mayan ruins to visit near Cancun

Where to stay near Ek Balam?

We stayed in Valladolid for a few days and made day trips to Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, and Rio Lagartos.

Valladolid is a pretty little town in Yucatan that has a rich colonial history. Here, you can see pastel-colored colonial buildings, old churches, and experience some amazing local culture.

I would highly recommend spending a couple of days in Valladolid and tour the surrounding area which includes Ek Balam, Chichen Itza, and several pretty cenotes.

Click here to book your stay in Valladolid.

Posing among the ruins of Ek Balam in Mexico

Ek Balam ruins FAQ

Is Ek Balam worth visiting?

The Mayan ruins of Ek Balam are absolutely worth visiting because of their unique stucco work which you will not find elsewhere in Yucatan. The winged warriors and the big open mouth of hell are fascinating. Plus, this is one of the few Yucatan pyramids that is still open to climbing.

Can you still climb Ek Balam?

Yes, you can still climb Ek Balam. The main pyramid is 7-8 floors high and you get an impressive view from the top. They say on a clear day, you can even spot Chichen Itza or Coba in the distance!

However, I would also like to mention that the stairs of the Ek Balam pyramid are not exactly in a great condition. Most of them are worn out. And it can get slippery and dangerous especially when climbing down. Plus, there is nothing to hold on to. So, be careful while climbing up and down.

What does Ek Balam mean in Mayan?

In the Mayan language, Ek Balam means “Black Jaguar”. Ek refers to the color black and Balam means Jaguar.

Who built Ek Balam?

A powerful king, Ukit Kan Le’t Tok, from the Kingdom of Tlalol built the city of Ek Balam.

What is Ek Balam known for?

Ek Balam is known for its unique stucco sculptures that are usually not seen anywhere else in the Yucatan Peninsula. Be sure to look out for the sculptures of the winged warriors and the big mouth of hell that are the highlights of Ek Balam ruins.

How high is Ek Balam?

The Acropolis or the main Ek Balam pyramid is 95 feet (30 m) tall.

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Traveling to Ek Balam ruins in Yucatan Mexico? Grab this handy Ek Balam travel guide with the best things to do at Ek Balam Mayan ruins, how to get to Ek Balam, and lots of travel tips to plan a memorable Ek Balam trip. #EkBalam #Mexico

Soumya is an acclaimed travel writer who has traveled to 30+ countries and lived in 8 while pursuing her passion for history and culture. Her writings have been published in BBC Travel, Architectural Digest, National Herald, and many more. She loves exploring world heritage sites and has a deep affinity for everything ancient, especially the lost civilizations of Mesoamerica!

53 thoughts on “Mayan Ruins Of Ek Balam Mexico: The Complete Travel Guide

  1. Ek Balam the town nearest has cabins to rent they are awesome and they include breakfast and supper.

    1. Thanks for the info, John. This will be really helpful for my readers who want to visit Ek Balam. Do you have a name for the place that rents cabins and provides breakfast?

  2. Ek Balam name sounds so Indian and even the structure bears some resemblance. It seems to be an offbeat gem and I would love to visit it in winters. It’s a bonus that there are good photo spots in the area.

    1. Even I thought the same when I first heard about. Who knows there could be that Indian connection with the stucco work, the architecture, and the name! Pretty exciting stuff

  3. Ek Balam in Mexico looks breathtaking, historic and so unique. It is architecturally beautiful and love those scultures! Thank you for introducing a new place in Mexico for us. The pictures gave a virtual tour and we would definitely like to visit this place and use this post as reference guide. Love it.

  4. Ek Balam seems like an incredible place to visit! I have never heard of this place before, but would surely consider visiting there on my trip to mexico. Great pictures too! Thanks for the highly informational guide!

  5. Thanks for the post! I’m not sure I’ve even heard of Ek Balam before. But I’m a sucker for well-preserved frescoes, so I’ll do my best to get there the next time I’m in the Yucatan! (And I think I’d much rather go here than crowded Chichen Itza.) 😉

  6. Love this place!! It looks amazing and I will definitely keep it in mind when visiting Mexico the next time if I make it down to the Peninsula.

  7. This is quite an interesting place. I love the stucco work. You are right about it seeming similar to the Indian art. Glad to see that some preservation efforts have been made

  8. Ek Balam looks like a fantastic place to visit! The ruins hold so much history and so many stories; it would be fascinating to experience them. I especially love the views from the Oval Palace. Thanks for the practical tips about food availability and best time weather-wise; those are things that it is especially important to take note of when traveling with children.

  9. We are travelling to the Yucatan in five weeks. We’ll have to put Ek Balam on the list. We are spending a couple of days driving through the interior checking out all the Mayan ruins and cenotes we can find. It’s fascinating to think that there wasn’t just one city but rather a full Mayan civilization connected by roads and commerce. The Mayan world was so much more advanced than we give it credit for.

    1. That’s so true. And it’s so exciting to go around discovering all the little pieces. I hope you have a great time there.

  10. What a lovely guide to visiting Ek Balam, a ruin I hadn’t read as much about, compared to Chichen Itza. I love reading about the history and details of the site; the black jaguar theme is interesting as I have come across that symbolisation in other Mayan historical references. You mention that only 10% of the site is currently excavated, so I am thinking there will only be more and more to see over the next few years. I must try and visit before it becomes more known and more crowded!

  11. What a beautiful location! I’m actually planning a trip to Valladolid after the new year and this article gave me a lot of useful information about my upcoming trip. It’s really fascinating that most of the remaining Mayan ruins have stone-carved sculptures. Lovely read btw, thank you for sharing

  12. Ek Balam looks beautiful! I would love to visit one day. It sounds like it is full of history! Thanks for the great tips. I would love to visit during the winter months when the weather is cool.

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