Ek Balam, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

5BigSur707 5:00 PM Feb 3, 2021

Well worth it
Spectacular ruins in a jungle setting. Much less touristy than the other major sites like Chichen Itza or Coba. We came mid afternoon on a week day and there was almost no one there. It is out of the way, about 30 minutes north of Valladolid. Access to the Acropolis / main pyramid was OPEN when we visited in late January 2021. The view from the top is amazing. The stucco reliefs about two thirds of the way up the pyramid are some of the best preserved in the Maya world and are really spectacular and wonderful to see up close. You can climb on some of the other smaller temples. There is a well preserved ball court and some other more minor monuments. We found a guide who charged 300 pesos (Spanish only), which was worthwhile to get more detailed explanations of the site. The entry price is pretty expensive, which was the only negative, but the state of preservation of the ruins, the fact that you can climb to the top of the main pyramid, and the beautiful jungle setting very much make a visit worthwhile.

5Jaimee G 5:00 PM Mar 20, 2022

Worth it for the Climb & the Cenote
When I heard you could no longer climb the stairs at Chichen Itza and that Coba was closed for maintenance (and those stairs had also been closed due to Covid previously) I looked into Ek Balam. It is privately owned by the community and they still allow you climb the pyramid and many of the other structures. While the entrance fee is very high, the money is going straight into the local community. Walking up the pyramid was a thrilling experience. What a view! The stucco carvings and structures on El Trono are intriguing & several of the other structures at the site were fun to climb on as well. It's set back in the jungle and has a more secluded, ancient feel than Chichen Itza. We also visited the cenote next door- XChanche and that was a really fun experience as well! Well worth the detour from Valladolid when driving over to Chichen Itza.