Visit Uxmal, Mexico: Things to See, Getting There & More

6 Best Things to See in Uxmal

1. Pyramid of the Magician

The Pyramid of the Magician is the first thing you'll see when entering Uxmal, and what a first impression it makes! This enormous pyramid has a distinctive rounded shape that makes it unlike almost any other Maya pyramid in Yucatán.

Fun fact: the pyramid wasn't actually built all at once but was constructed and enlarged over several centuries, with the earliest parts dating back to around the 6th century. Its unusual rounded shape is also quite unique among Maya pyramids, so I was mighty impressed to finally see it in person.

It dominates the entrance plaza and is easily one of the most impressive structures in the entire site. Take some time to walk around it and appreciate just how massive it is before continuing on to other site.

2. Nunnery Quadrangle

The Nunnery Quadrangle is probably one of the most impressive parts of Uxmal, especially if you take the time to look closely at the incredible carvings covering its facades.

The large courtyard is surrounded by four beautifully decorated buildings, each with its own intricate geometric patterns and representations of Chaac, the Maya rain god. Despite its name, it wasn't actually a convent or "nunnery." It was the Spanish who gave it that name because the layout reminded them of a European convent.

Really spend some time observing the facades of these buildings. They are packed with symbolic Maya imagery and intricate details that make Uxmal so much more interesting to me than Chichén Itzá!

3. House of the Doves

The House of the Doves is one of the most distinctive structures in Uxmal. For one, it was named after the unusual cresting along the top of the building that looks like a row of dovecotes.

The building is now mostly ruined, but you can still see the distinctive cresting, and the remaining structure gives you a good idea of just how elaborate Uxmal's architecture once was. When you see it, you'll know exactly why they called it the House of the Doves!

4. Governor's Palace

The Governor's Palace is another of my favorite buildings in Uxmal, with a stunning facade covered in intricate geometric patterns, carvings, and detailed stonework. The building is located on top of a hill and you can see it from miles away.

Don't just admire it from the ground, though. Make sure to climb the stairs all the way up to the platform in front of the palace, where you'll get a fantastic viewpoint over the surrounding ruins.

From up there, you can see the two grand pyramids of Uxmal, yes, there are two, and we'll get to the next one shortly, rising above the vast area as far as the eye can see. It was quite a sight to see.

5. Great Pyramid

Yes, they have 2 pyramids here in Uxmal! Although the Pyramid of the Magician was impressive, if we go by scale, the larger one is actually the Great Pyramid, located deeper inside the archaeological site.

In fact, it is one of the largest structures at Uxmal and is well worth the walk to see it. It may not have the instantly recognizable shape of the Pyramid of the Magician, but its enormous scale and position within the wider complex give you a good sense of just how important Uxmal once was.

The area around the pyramid is also much quieter, so it's a great place to appreciate the ruins without the crowds. Be sure to take your time and walk around this part of Uxmal. It's so nice and quiet here when I was there, it felt like I had the whole place to myself!

6. Choco-Story Museum

If you finish exploring Uxmal earlier than expected and don't want to sit around waiting for the 3 PM bus back to Mérida, you can visit Museo Choco-Story, located just across the road from the archaeological site. It's a great way to fill an hour or so while learning something completely different about the region, and you can easily visit it before heading back to Mérida.

The museum is spread across a series of small huts and outdoor exhibits, with each section telling a different part of the story of chocolate and its importance to the Maya. You'll learn about how the Maya cultivated cacao and, more importantly, how chocolate was treated as something much more than just a sweet treat. It was highly valued and even played an important role in Maya religious and cultural practices.

Along the way, you can also join a short chocolate-making demonstration and taste chocolate in its pure form. Don't expect something sweet, though! Without sugar or other ingredients, the chocolate is incredibly bitter, but it's a fun way to experience what cacao would have been like before it became the chocolate we know today.

Other than the exhibitions, the place also runs an animal rehabilitation center. You can see animals such as jaguars, monkeys, and crocodiles being cared for here. These aren't animals kept in cages simply for people to see like at a zoo; they are being kept in protected enclosures because they have been injured or are otherwise unable to survive safely in the wild. You can even see some of them struggling to walk.

The whole experience should take around 1 hour, making it a particularly useful stop if you have some time to kill before your afternoon bus. And don't leave without stopping at the café afterward for a chocolate frappe. It was absolutely delicious!

The entrance fee is around 280 MXN (17 USD), and the museum is open daily from 9 AM to 7:30 PM, with last access at 6 PM. If you're visiting after Uxmal, you can simply walk over after finishing at the archaeological site and spend an hour or so here before heading back.

Where to Stay in Merida?

For most travelers, I recommend using Mérida as your base and visiting Uxmal as a day trip. Mérida has far more restaurants, cafés, accommodation, and things to do, and Uxmal is only around 1.5 hours away by bus. This is what I did, and it worked really well. Here are some recommended places to stay in Mérida:

Budget

Hostik Hostal

$ | Dorm

See Availability

👍 Top Pick

Mid-Range

Casa Lool Beh

$$ | Double Room

See Availability

High-End

Casa Lecanda Boutique Hotel

$$$ | Patio Room

See Availability

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When to Visit Uxmal?

The best time to visit Uxmal is generally between November and March, when the weather is cooler and drier. Uxmal is a large archaeological site with very little shade once you're away from the main entrance, so the cooler months make a noticeable difference when you're walking around.

I visited in late April, and the heat was intense. By midday, it was hot enough that I was more than ready to finish exploring. If you visit during April or May, I strongly recommend arriving as early as possible, so you will have cooler temperatures, softer light for photography, and fewer people wandering around the main structures.

How to Get to Uxmal from Merida?

Getting to Uxmal independently from Mérida is fairly straightforward, although it takes a little more planning than visiting Chichén Itzá. The easiest budget option is the local SUR bus, which runs directly from Mérida to Uxmal. The journey takes roughly 1.5 hours, although current schedules can vary, so I recommend checking at the terminal before your trip.

The bus leaves from the ADO terminal in Mérida. When I visited, there were morning departures around 8 AM and 9 AM, which are the ones I'd recommend taking so you have plenty of time to explore Uxmal before the heat gets too intense.

The fare I paid was around 114 MXN plus 15.72 MXN one way. The local bus uses a prepaid card system, so you'll need to get a card and load money onto it before traveling. I recommend arriving at the terminal early enough to sort this out rather than showing up right before departure. The person at the ADO kiosk should be able to help you with it.

For the return journey, the schedule is much more limited, so check the return times with the person selling you the ticket before you leave Mérida. When I visited, buses were scheduled to return around 3 PM and 5 PM. The lady that sold me the ticket was kind enough to write them down for me on a Post-it 😅.

Unfortunately, we actually finished exploring Uxmal and the Choco-Story Museum around 1 PM and didn't want to wait until 3 PM, so a couple of other travelers and I decided to take a taxi to Muna and continue to Mérida by colectivo instead.

If you find yourself in the same situation, you can ask one of the local vendors near the Uxmal entrance to help arrange a taxi to Muna. We paid around 200 MXN for the taxi, which we split between four people, and then around 50 MXN each for the colectivo from Muna to Mérida. The colectivo dropped us off at this terminal. Both were cash only, so keep some pesos with you.

If you don't want to worry about bus schedules or arranging your own transportation, joining an organized day tour is the easier option. However, I personally think Uxmal is perfectly doable independently, and taking the local bus gives you much more flexibility once you're there.

Uxmal Entrance Fee & Opening Hours

The entrance fee for Uxmal is currently around 604 MXN (36 USD) for international visitors, consisting of a 499 MXN Yucatán state fee and a 105 MXN INAH archaeological site fee. The two fees are charged together, so you don't need to go to two different counters.

Unfortunately, tickets must be paid in cash only, so make sure you bring enough Mexican pesos with you. If you run out, there should be an ATM at the entrance that you can use. Uxmal is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM, with the last access at 4 PM.

How Long to Spend in Uxmal?

I recommend setting aside around 3–4 hours to properly explore Uxmal. The archaeological site is quite large, with plenty of impressive structures, detailed carvings, and smaller ruins to discover, so you'll want to give yourself enough time to wander around without rushing.

I spent about 2–3 hours exploring Uxmal before heading over to the Choco-Story Museum, and I still felt like I had seen most of the main highlights. If you're really into Maya history, architecture, or photography, though, you could easily spend 4 hours or more here.

Uxmal One Day Itinerary from Mérida

• 7:00 AM: Head to the ADO terminal in Mérida and get your SUR bus card and ticket.
• 8:00 AM: Take the 8 AM bus to Uxmal. The journey takes around 1.5 hours.
• 9:30 AM: Arrive at Uxmal and start exploring the archaeological site.
• 9:30 AM–1:00 PM: Visit the Pyramid of the Magician, Nunnery Quadrangle, Governor's Palace, House of the Doves, Great Pyramid, and the other ruins around the site.
• 1:00–2:00 PM: Walk across the road to Museo Choco-Story for the chocolate exhibits, animal rehabilitation center, and a chocolate frappe.
• 3:00 PM: Take the afternoon bus back to Mérida. If you finish earlier and don't want to wait, you can take a taxi to Muna and continue to Mérida by colectivo instead.
• ~5:00 PM: Arrive back in Mérida and spend the evening enjoying the city's restaurants, cafés, or Plaza Grande.

Tips for Visiting Uxmal

• Bring plenty of water: The site is quite large with very little shade, and there are no shops inside the archaeological site, so bring enough water before entering.
• Arrive early: The Yucatán heat can get intense later in the day, so starting early will make exploring much more comfortable.
• Bring cash: The entrance fee is cash only, and you'll also want some pesos for buses, taxis, and colectivos.
• Check the return bus: There are only a few buses back to Mérida each day, so confirm the schedule when buying your ticket.
• Don't rush: Uxmal is large and there is plenty to see beyond the main pyramid, so give yourself at least 3–4 hours if you can.
• Wear comfortable shoes: You'll be doing plenty of walking around the archaeological site, often on uneven surfaces.
• Bring sun protection: A hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses are essential, especially if you're visiting during the hotter months.
• Visit Choco-Story afterward: If you finish Uxmal early, the museum just across the road is a great way to fill the time before the afternoon bus back to Mérida.

Uxmal FAQs

How much in total does it costs to visit Uxmal from Merida?

If you take the SUR bus, expect to pay around 229 MXN (14 USD) for the one-way bus fare and prepaid card, plus 604 MXN (36 USD) for the Uxmal entrance fee. That works out to around 833 MXN (50 USD) for a round-trip bus journey and entrance fee, excluding food and drinks.

If you return via Muna like I did, the taxi and colectivo will cost around 250 MXN (15 USD) more, depending on how many people you share the taxi with.

Can you visit Uxmal without a tour?

Yes, absolutely. I visited Uxmal independently from Mérida using the local SUR bus, and it was relatively straightforward. You'll need to plan around the limited bus schedule, but there's no need to join an organized tour if you prefer exploring at your own pace.

Is Uxmal better than Chichén Itzá?

Personally, I prefer Uxmal. Chichén Itzá is undoubtedly impressive, especially for seeing El Castillo, but Uxmal gets considerably fewer visitors and feels much more relaxed. The site is also quite large, with tons to see and some incredible Maya carvings and architecture. If you have time, I'd visit both, but if I had to choose just one, Uxmal would be my pick.

Can you climb the pyramids at Uxmal?

No, visitors can no longer climb the main pyramids and other major structures at Uxmal. You can explore the designated areas around the ruins, but climbing the structures is prohibited to help preserve them.