Muyil, the Beginning of an Impressive Settlement

Generally speaking, there seem to be two kinds of Mayan ruins along the Yucatan Peninsula. Some, in the middle of cities and towns, are impossible to miss. You can walk right by the others, buried deep in the jungle, without ever knowing there’s a huge settlement behind the tree line. Muyil belongs to this second group, despite its many accolades.

Muyil’s impressive records

Muyil predates pretty much every other settlement in Yucatan, like the rest in the Sian Ha’an Biosphere Reserve and the other coastal cities, like Tulum and Xel-Ha. Not only that but it’s even older than Chichen Itza and Uxmal. And here’s the catch: it lasted longer, too; until the arrival of the Spanish, making it one of the longest enduring Mayan settlements.

Although there are two archeological sites in Muyil, only one is accessible to the general public. However, being a lost city in the jungle, it’s so striking that you’ll soon forget about the other—and wait ’till we tell you about the lagoon nearby.

The Structures

There’s another surprising record to Muyil’s name. At 57 feet high, its pyramid (sometimes referred to as “castle”) is the highest of all the settlements along the Riviera Maya coastline.

And it seems the Muyilians had a thing for tall structures, as that’s not the only one. I mean, who can blame them? The surrounding area is nothing but great vistas. Some of the best, of the lagoon and the jungle, are seen from the top of the lagoon lookout.

Sail the Muyil lagoon, travel the canals

Let’s talk about this lagoon. Its proximity to the city turned Muyil into an important maritime trade center linked to other important settlements, such as the gigantic Coba. Astonishingly, the Muyilians made the best out of their lagoon by carving out an impressive canal system that reaches all the way to the Caribbean! That’s seven-and-a-half miles away!

And get this: it’s open to the public. Visitors are welcome to sail the lagoon and swim along the canals.