During my last journey through Yucatán (2024), I included a visit to Muyil. A small Maya site, only a 20 minutes drive away from the popular beach town of Tulum.
Introduction
Muyil is a surprisingly beautiful site, which – in comparison to better-known Maya sites like Tulum or Chichén Itzá – is visited only by few people. For me, just an extra reason to visit Muyil.
Besides that, the Muyil Maya site is bordering a beautiful tropical park – the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve (a World Heritage site since 1987) – which we hiked through immediately after visiting the temple ruins.
A Short History of Muyil
Muyil, also known as Chunyaxché, was in its time an important city on the eastern coast of Yucatan. A transit port & trading center for products exchanged between the peninsula & Central America.
- Muyil had strong connections with other Maya cities inland. Particularly Cobá, which is located about 44 kilometers to the northwest.
Its history spans a vast period, beginning in the Late Preclassic period around 300 BC. Continuing through the Postclassic period and only ending around 1500 AD. This makes Muyil one of the earliest and longest-inhabited Maya cities on the Yucatan coast.
Rediscovery of Muyil
There’s no clue to who rediscovered the site for the outer world. We know the famous explorers John Lloyd Stephens & Frederick Catherwood visited the region in 1843 – staying for a while in nearby Tulum – but they didn’t mention Muyil/Chunyaxché in their later work.
- For a short introduction to the North-American Stephens & Scottish Catherwood, go to: Introduction to the Maya World.
Although during the 20th century the first archaeologists arrived, serious research of the temple ruins & other monuments only began in the 1980s & 1990s. Leading investigator was the US archeologist Walter R.T. Witschey.
A process which is still going on, as we noticed soon enough. At several spots workers were restoring parts of the buildings.
In 1997 Muyil was opened to the general public and receives more & more visitors every year.
A visit to Muyil – How to get there
Muyil is just a short ride – 20 minutes – from Tulum, along Highway 307. You can’t miss the entrance to the temple ruins on the left hand side.
TravelTip: When you buy your tickets at the entrance to Muyil (just under $4), they ask you if you want to include a boat ride ($50) through the mentioned Sian Ka’an Reserve. If you do, you have free entrance to reserve. If not, you have to pay an extra ticket to enter the reserve ($2.50).
The reserve is located right behind the Maya site itself. At the end of the trail a boat is waiting for all visitors who booked the tour.
Impressions of our visit to the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. The watch tower provides impressive views of the surrounding area, the mangrove forest & the lakes that lead to the Caribbean Sea.
The Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve
A boardwalk leads through the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve. A jungle-like mangrove forest, which is home to hundreds of different birds, as well as different mammals. To mention a few: pumas, ocelots, tapirs, spider & howler monkeys, snakes, turtles & frogs. On the boat tour you have a chance to spot dolphins, manatees & sometimes also whales.
Besides birds, we – unfortunately – didn’t see too much during our visit to the Muyil site & the Reserve. However, I felt lucky though to spot a Jaguarundí. Too fast to take a picture -again (!), as I spotted one before in the Maya site of Yaxhá in Guatemala – but to get an idea…
Visit Muyil on a Tour
GetYourGuide offers a half-a-day guided tour to Muyil, as well as the Sian Ka’an Biosphere from Tulum. Including the boat tour, all entrance fees, lunch, snacks & drinks.
To learn more, go to: Muyil & Sian Ka’an Reserve Tour
Visit Muyil – Where to stay
A perfect place to stay in nearby Tulum is the Kaab Tulum. Comfortable, with spacious rooms, a central swimming pool & spa for an earnest price. Besides that, it has one of the best restaurants in Tulum.
- The restaurant to all visitors to Tulum. Highly recommended.
To learn more, go to: Hotel Kaab Tulum
Some Last Photo Impression of Muyil
Overview of My Top #15 Maya sites
Click on their name to go to the respective post:
1. Copán, Honduras
2. Yaxchilán & Bonampak, Chiapas, México
3. Tikal, Guatemala
4. Palenque, Chiapas, México
5. Quiriguá, Guatemala
6. Kabah & Labná, Yucatán, México
7. Ek Balam, Yucatán, México
8. Yaxhá, Guatemala
9. Uxmal, Yucatán, México
10. Toniná, Chiapas, México
11. Cobá, Yucatán, México
12. Chichén Itzá, Yucatán, México
13. Tulum, Yucatán, México
14. Calakmul, Yucatán, México
15. Muyil, Yucatán, México (under construction)
For a complete overview of my personal favourites in one single post, go to: Top #15 Maya-sites
For an overview of all travel posts of my blog, go to: My Home Page
