The Playa del Carmen ruins are something that many Maya Riviera visitors hope to include on their itineraries. The area in and around Playa del Carmen is home to numerous Mayan ruin sites. Tour operators offer to take visitors out to the main sites, and you can always go it alone if you prefer. Having a guide can be a good thing, however, as it will help you make sense of the various landmarks and attractions. Guides can also provide insight into the history of the Maya people, who flourished in the region before the Spanish arrived.

The Playa del Carmen ruins that visitors to the Maya Riviera have in mind aren't found in Playa del Carmen proper. As such, visiting them on an arranged tour is the most popular option. The Mayan ruins near Playa del Carmen that are most commonly visited on tours include famed Chichen Itza. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Chichen Itza offers an unparalleled experience and should be the ruin site that you focus on first. It has the best preserved ruins in the region, which date to around 600 AD. Immaculate landmarks await at Chichen Itza. Among them is a temple that was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Tulum is another Mayan ruin site that many Playa del Carmen tourists make it a point to visit. Found just an hour south of Playa, these ruins can be found right on the coast, which is a relatively rare thing in terms of significant ruin sites. The Caribbean Sea and the ruins pair together magically, and while it is no longer possible to climb to the top of the tallest structures, you can ascend to the peak of smaller ones to enjoy sumptuous views. Tulum reached its apex between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, and among its features are numerous well-preserved buildings and a wall that some believe was erected to keep the common people out. This in turn leads to the theory that Tulum fell as the result of a peasant revolution.

Playa del Carmen Map

Chichen Itza and Tulum aren't the only Mayan ruins near Playa del Carmen. Others include Coba and Ek Balam. You can also consider visiting the Xel Ha ruins, which are very easy to pair with a visit to nearby Xel Ha Park. The tours for all of these ruins are reasonably priced, and you can hope to add various things to a tour package, such as a stay at a nearby hotel or a snorkeling session that sees you dipping into a cenote. The options are as numerous as you want them to be, and whether you are staying in Playa proper or are based in other area destinations like Cancun, all of your transportation can be arranged.

It can be a good idea to bring certain things along with you when visiting the Maya ruins near Playa del Carmen. For starters, a comfortable pair of walking shoes is recommended, and a good pair of sunglasses can come in handy. A shade-bearing hat, sunblock, and a camera are also items that you might pack for the trip, as well as a good guidebook.