Uxmal, the jewel of the Puuc style
INAH, Mexico's national institute of anthropology and history, describes Uxmal as the most representative site of Puuc architecture, the style of the hill country in southern Yucatán. Its main period is the Late Classic (AD 600–900), and INAH's guide credits it with regional dominance until around AD 950.
What sets it apart are its façades: mosaics of carved stone with masks of Chaac, the rain god, stepped frets, glyph panels and tall roof combs. The city is laid out in groups of buildings arranged around quadrangles.
What to see at Uxmal
- The Pyramid of the Magician, the tallest structure, with an oval base.
- The Nunnery Quadrangle, a courtyard enclosed by four lavishly decorated buildings.
- The House of the Doves, with its lattice-like roof comb.
A detail few people notice: the Puuc region has no cenotes near the surface, so the Maya built chultunes, cisterns carved into the rock, to store rainwater, along with reservoirs and other water systems. That's why Chaac appears so often on the façades.
The other three stops
The Mary Tours transfer adds three more stops to the day, where you go in on your own with your ticket:
- The former Yaxcopoil hacienda, an old henequen estate.
- Cenote Peba, to cool off after Uxmal.
- The Chocolate Museum, devoted to the history of cacao.
The driver drops you at each entrance and waits until you come out.
How the transfer works
You leave Mérida in the morning heading south. INAH lists access to Uxmal via federal highway 261 toward Santa Elena. The transfer includes an air-conditioned van, a driver and traveler insurance. It doesn't include a guide, entry fees, food or tips: each entry is paid on site.
The price is per van; current rates are in the catalogue. Bookings from this page are for groups of 4 or more.
Tips for Uxmal
- Comfortable closed shoes: the ground is uneven and there are steps.
- A hat, water and sunscreen: Uxmal has little shade.
- Cash for the entry fee at each stop.
- A swimsuit if you want to swim in the cenote.
- If you want to really understand what you're seeing, consider hiring a guide at the archaeological site entrance.
Fun facts
- At Uxmal, rainwater was stored in chultunes, cisterns carved into the rock.
- Masks of Chaac, the rain god, repeat across many of Uxmal's façades.
- The Pyramid of the Magician has an oval base, which is rare in Maya architecture.
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
Where is Uxmal?
In the municipality of Santa Elena, south of Mérida, reached via federal highway 261.
Does the transfer include Uxmal entry?
No. It includes the van, a driver and insurance; entry to Uxmal, the cenote, the hacienda and the museum is paid separately.
What is the Puuc style?
A Maya architectural style from southern Yucatán, with stone-mosaic façades, Chaac masks, stepped frets and roof combs.
Is there a guide on the transfer?
No. The driver takes you and waits; you can hire a guide at the archaeological site if you like.
How old is Uxmal?
Its heyday was the Late Classic, between AD 600 and 900, according to INAH.
