What it looks like
Mexico's INAH describes the Temple of the Magician as about 32 meters tall, with stairways on the east and west sides leading to the upper temple. It stands at the eastern end of the Quadrangle of the Birds, with which it's symbolically linked.
A pyramid in layers
Like many Maya pyramids, it wasn't built in one go. It went through several building stages that produced its current shape, recognizable by its rounded corners.
Chaac and the Chenes Temple
The decoration includes masks of Chaac, the rain god, so important in a region without surface water. At the top, INAH describes a Chenes Temple, an architectural style different from the Puuc style of the rest of the city.
The legend of the dwarf
The name "of the Dwarf" comes from a legend recorded in the 19th century saying a dwarf built it in a single night. INAH is clear that the legend isn't archaeological evidence; the building phases show it took a long time. But it's part of the region's oral heritage.
Tips
- The pyramid is admired from below; respect restricted areas.
- Walk around it to see both stairways and the rounded corners.
- Bring water and a hat: Uxmal has little shade.
Seeing the Magician from Mérida
The Pyramid of the Magician is the first thing you'll see as you enter Uxmal. Mary Tours' Uxmal and Yaxcopoil transfer takes your group by air-conditioned van to the Uxmal ruins, the former Yaxcopoil hacienda, Cenote Peba and the Chocolate Museum; entrance fees are extra and the driver waits at each stop. The office is at Calle 61 #518-B in Mérida's historic center; schedule and price are in the booking section.
Fun facts
- The Pyramid of the Magician has rounded corners.
- Its upper temple is Chenes style, not Puuc.
- The dwarf legend was recorded in the 19th century.
Related tours
Transfers · 10.5 h
Transfer to Uxmal and Yaxcopoil
The Puuc route at your own pace, with the van waiting
from $2,550 MXN per vehicle
Cenotes · 7 h
Hacienda Mucuyché
A stone channel joining two cenotes
from $1,800 MXN per person
See itinerary
9:30 AM – 4:00 PM · daily
- 9:30 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to the estate, in the municipality of Abalá.
- 10:30 AM Check-in and historical tour — A guide from the estate itself explains how the henequen business worked and what survives of it.
- 11:00 AM Carlota and Azul Maya cenotes — Two hours in the water. To move between the cenotes you cross the channel, swimming or along the stone path.
- 1:00 PM Time for lunch — Yucatecan food at the estate restaurant, paid per order. There is a pool for anyone who wants to stay in the water.
- 3:00 PM Back to Mérida — An hour back.
Included: Transport, Guide, Entry to the hacienda and cenotes
Not included: Food, Drinks
Archaeology · 11 h
Chichén Itzá, Izamal and Valladolid
Four stops in one day, and none of them rushed
from $1,200 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Izamal. The guide uses the drive to set up what comes next.
- 9:00 AM San Antonio de Padua Convent — The story of the 16th-century Franciscan convent told in its atrium, then free time to walk the yellow town.
- 11:15 AM Chichén Itzá — Guided walk through the Temple of Kukulkán, the Sacred Cenote, the Ball Court, the Tzompantli and the Jaguars and Eagles platform.
- 1:45 PM Regional lunch in Kaua — Buffet of Yucatecan dishes: cochinita, relleno negro, lime soup and meat-free options.
- 3:00 PM Selva Maya cenote — The swim lands exactly when the sun is at its worst. Changing rooms and showers on site.
- 4:20 PM Valladolid — Francisco Cantón Rosado park with its original railings, the church of San Servacio and the murals in the town hall.
- 8:00 PM Back in Mérida — We drop you off where the day started.
Included: Air-conditioned transport, General culture guide, Regional buffet lunch
Not included: Chichén Itzá entrance, Cenote entrance, Drinks
Frequently asked questions
How tall is the Pyramid of the Magician?
About 32 meters, according to INAH.
Why is it called the Pyramid of the Dwarf?
From a 19th-century legend that a dwarf built it in one night; it isn't archaeological evidence.
Was it built all at once?
No, it went through several building stages.
What's at the top?
A Chenes-style temple.
