The Museum of Mayan Culture in Chetumal: The Tree of Life

The Museum of Mayan Culture in Chetumal is one of the few museums in the world that manages to delight with a unique exhibition without displaying items, figures, or archaeological remnants. It is the state’s most comprehensive museum dedicated to Mayan civilization. The Museum houses a significant collection of original works as well as replicas of great masterpieces. Indeed, there are eight rooms in which the Mayan culture’s evolution, beginnings, and components of daily life are described: agriculture, trade, science, technology, and cosmovision.

The Museum of Mayan Culture in Chetumal: What to expect

When you first arrive at the site, you’ll see an ambience that makes you feel like you’re in a tree. It has excellent lighting and spaces to show the Xilbabá “The land of the heavens” in the Mayan world. A similarity to what represents hell, earth, and heaven in the Catholic religion. Indeed, the museography is in the hands of Jorge Angostoni, designed to achieve the best experience. It has excellent lighting and spaces to show the Xilbabá “The Land of the Heavens” in the Mayan world.

See a Mayan house

You’ll find a scale replica of a Mayan house, complete with its surroundings and customary elements in one of the patios. The descriptive models show community life, sculptural works in the most representative Mayan cities. Also, territorial coverage in the current countries where this ancient culture thrived. You’ll come across a glass floor as you travel through the main hall of the Museum of Maya Culture in Chetumal, and below it you’ll find the enormous replicas of Maya cities.

The Museum of Mayan Culture in Chetumal: Some useful info

The Museum of Maya Culture in Chetumal offers guided tours at various times; the full tour with a  guide takes around an hour and a half to two hours. It is open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The hotel zone surrounds the complex, and along it you can reach the Bay of Chetumal as well as several government buildings. All of this may be seen on foot. There are constant route buses and rotating cabs, and transportation is comfortable and plentiful.

Av. Héroes esq. Mahatma Gandhi s/n

Centro

CP 77000

Chetumal, Othón P. Blanco, Quintana Roo

Tels.: 983 832 68 38