Ezná: Chichen Itzá and Uxmal are not the only ruins to see

Perhaps it is not as famous as Chichen Itzá and Uxmal, but Ezná is no less striking. With its impressive and well-kept structures, you’re bound to find it mentioned in many must-see Riviera Maya ruins checklists.

Where is Ezná?

Glad you asked—this is important. Ezná is in Campeche, which is a whole different state. If you’re staying all the way in the Riviera Maya, know the trip won’t take you less than 6 or 7 hours by road. Better to turn it into a few days-long adventure.

The history of Ezná

By the time the Europeans were erecting their medieval castles, Ezná already was a 15-square-mile capital city, inhabited by 25,000 people, which ruled for six hundred years. A couple of centuries later, however, in 1450, this huge city was suddenly abandoned—a mystery that still puzzles historians today.

The structures at Ezná ruins

There are many and well-preserved. Over 130 feet high, the Pyramid or Temple of the Five Floors is perhaps the most impressive. Unfortunately, it’s also the one place in all of Ezná you can’t climb. Also quite extensive, you can enter the palace—facing the pyramid—and see the four large rooms where the royalty used to live.

Another notable building is also the most recently discovered. Unearthed in 1988, the Temple of the Masks features two figures (maybe gods?) that represent the sunrise and sunset. Incredibly, you can still see their original red and blue pigments clinging onto the stone. And these are just a few of the many structures to see.

The Facilities

As is the case with most archeological sites, there’s not a lot of shade here, so you should bring something to protect yourself from the sun. If you’re visiting during the summer months, you should also bring some environmentally friendly—but lethal—bug spray. Finally, know that a vending machine is the only source for snacks and drinks here, as there is no restaurant or cafeteria.

This place is open all week, from 9 am to 5 pm.