HOW TO VISIT EK BALAM: AN ALTERNATIVE TO CHICHEN ITZA.
Just North of Valladolid, you can find Ek Balam, a lesser-known archaeological marvel that silently challenges the fame of its more celebrated counterpart, Chichen Itza.
While the latter may reign as a renowned symbol of Mexico’s ancient wonders, Ek Balam beckons adventurers and culture seekers to discover an alternative, offering an immersive journey into the mysteries of the Maya civilization without the crowds and clichés associated with more popular sites.
Read on to find out whether Ek Balam is an alternative to Chichen Itza and how to visit from Valladolid.
Don’t have time to read the full blog post?
If you don’t have time to read the full blog post – here’s a link to book the tour that we did. It includes Ek Balam, Chichen Itza and a Cenote – all with transport from Valladolid.
Is Ek Balam an alternative to Chichen Itza?
If you’re visiting the Yucatan province, no doubt you’ll plan to visit Chichen Itza. Whilst we are not saying that you should avoid Chichen Itza (far from it, we really enjoyed it), there is a less crowded, less touristy and slightly cheaper alternative nearby – Ek Balam archeological park.
Chichen Itza is a modern wonder of the world and a famous and spectacular site, but Ek Balam also has much to offer.
Firstly, it is much less crowded. When we visited, there were between 20 and 30 other people there. Whereas Chichen Itza on the same day was absolutely rammed full of thousands of people. Ek Balam remains quiet throughout the day, so you don’t have to get there at the crack of dawn either.
The other big difference between Chichen Itza and Ek Balam, is that you’re allowed to climb the ruins at Ek Balam. We found this experience to be much more interesting and interactive. Plus, The Acropolis (the tallest structure in Ek Balam) is actually higher than the equivalent in Chichen Itza.
Ek Balam is a huge site, but only a fraction has been excavated. We thought this gave Ek Balam a bit of an interesting edge, as there remains some mystery to it. The area of the site that hasn’t yet been explored is covered in jungle, which is quite special to look out on.
Finally, Ek Balam is slightly cheaper. Not by much, around 100 Pesos – the cost of a Margarita.
What is the history of Ek Balam ruins?
Once upon a time, the Mayan city of Ek Balam, or “Black Jaguar,” roared with life during the Late Classic period (600-900 AD). It was the talk of the town around 800 AD, a place of power and piety that held court as a major political and religious hub. It is believed to have been the capital of the ancient Maya kingdom of Talol.
What can you see at Ek Balam archeological site?
Ek Balam’s archaeology site is a whopping 12 sq. km of Mayan wonderland, showcasing ceremonial areas, forts, and residential spaces. You’ll be awed by the intricate stucco façades and carvings, all so well-preserved and cleaned that you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled upon a time machine.
The Acropolis is a must-see, soaring over 30 meters high with its unique oval-shaped base, differentiating it from other pyramids in the area.
The most exciting aspect is that you can actually clamber up to the top and catch views out to the rest of the site. The climb is surprisingly challenging with steep steps, but you’ll be rewarded with a jaw-dropping view of the lush jungle and a sense of amazement as you ponder the city’s former glory.
Make sure to take a peek at the stelae, which are the stunning, carved stone slabs depicting the lives of rulers, warriors, and religious rituals.
These carvings serve as a portal into the Maya civilization’s complex social structure, religious beliefs, and artistic skills. Before you enter the sacred city, you’ll be greeted with one of Ek Balam’s most unusual features, the Monster Mouth entrance. Scholars are still guessing the significance of this structure, adding an air of mystery to the site.
Can you climb on Ek Balam?
As of December 2023, you can still climb on Ek Balam and that doesn’t look set to change. This makes a visit really quite cool and different to visiting Chichen Itza and other sites in the area. Aside from Coba and Ek Balam, most Mayan archeological sites in the Yucatan province do not allow visitors to get very close to the ruins.
Ek Balam is great, because apart from one or two areas, you can get up close and personal with the ancient wonders – giving you much more of an authentic Mayan experience.
The climb up The Acropolis is quite steep and we recommend wearing sturdy shoes if you plan to visit Ek Balam. Our tour guide also recommended that we climb the stairs in a diagonal pattern, making sure we always had a hand on the steps – a great tip. It’s well worth the climb up and thankfully, no sacrifices are required when you get to the top!
What else do you need to know about Ek Balam?
Ek Balam Opening Times
The park opens at 08:00 and closes at 17:00. At around 16:45, the rangers will come round to ask you to leave. We suggest visiting either early in the morning or late in the afternoon for the quietest times.
That said, Ek Balam really does not get that busy, so if you can only visit in the middle of the day then that’s fine too. Personally, we loved being in Ek Balam just before closing when the weather was cooler and the park quiet.
What to wear to visit Ek Balam
We recommend wearing comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes to visit Ek Balam. Much of the ground is uneven and if you want to climb the structures, it’s best to do so in safe footwear. As always, it get’s pretty hot during the day so we suggest bringing sunscreen, a hat and some clothing to cover up from the sun.
Facilities in Ek Balam
You can buy drinks and refreshments near to the entrance, as well as the usual souvenirs. Everything is cash only, including the entrance fee. There is one toilet at the entrance and nothing in the grounds at Ek Balam.
How long do you need at Ek Balam
We suggest around 2 hours to see the main sites and climb The Acropolis at Ek Balam. Although the site is large, only a portion has been excavated so you will be able to see it all within 2 hours. Of course, if you wanted to spend longer, perhaps with a picnic enjoying the surroundings, you could do so.
Ek Balam Entrance Fee
The entrance fee for adults to visit Ek Balam is 531 Mexican Pesos in total. This comprises of two tickets, as with Chichen Itza. You’ll see this a lot in Mexico, normally one ticket is for the national park and one of the government, or similar intricacies depending on the state.
Ek Balam Tour
You can visit Ek Balam without a tour guide. It’s entirely possible to do this. However, we visited with a tour and would recommend doing the same. The reason that we think taking a tour to Ek Balam is preferable, is that there is not a huge amount of information available around the ruins. If you travel here independently, you may not get the best of the experience.
The tour we took was a perfect day out from Valldolid. We arrived to Chichen Itza in the morning, visited a cenote for a swim and lunch and then had time to enjoy Ek Balam. You can book that exact tour here on Viator.
As a compromise, if you want to visit Ek Balam independently, you could consider booking an audio guide to make the most of your visit. Find out more here.
How to get to Ek Balam from Vallaldolid
Ek Balam is located here (google maps) North of the beautiful town of Valladolid. You could visit Ek Balam from Merida, but we recommend staying in Valladolid for a couple of days and visiting Ek Balam from there.
If you have a hire car, you can drive from Valladolid to Ek Balam archeological park. There are two things to be aware of if you do this – firstly, the road is a toll road and you’ll need to pay cash to pass. Secondly, it will cost you 100 Mexican Pesos to park. In good traffic, you can expect the journey to take around 35 minutes.
The other option is to take a taxi, these are very easy to find in Valladolid and it should take around 35 minutes to arrive to Ek Balam.
Another option is to take a Colectivo. These are like mini-buses used by tourists and locals. The rule is, they will leave once they are full and they don’t really run to a timetable. In Valladolid, the “colectivo” is actually just a taxi service – you have the option to wait for others and pay 80 pesos per person, or take the taxi privately. The collection point is here “Colectivo Ek Balam” near to the centre.
If you book a tour to Ek Balam, such as the one we did with MexiGo tours, then your transport to and from your hotel in Valladolid will be taken care of. Bliss! You can book the same tour as us directly via MexiGo tours of through Viator here.
Where to next in the Yucatan?
- Cancun – beaches & food
- Tulum – beaches, yoga and nightlife
- Holbox – island paradise
- Bacalar – paddle boarding and relaxing
- Celestun – flamingos & laid back beach
- Progreso – fun beach town
- Sian Ka’an – nature reserve
- Merida – gastronomic city & culture
- Campeche – glamorous historical city
- Valladolid – history & culture
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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3 responses to “How to visit Ek Balam: An alternative to Chichen Itza”
[…] thrill any traveller. From white sand beaches, to vibrant cities like Mérida, incredible history at Chichen Itza and stunning natural parks. There’s plenty to enjoy for a few weeks and have a fun but relaxed […]
[…] the exhibits are about Ek Balam and another Mayan Archeological site. If you plan to visit Ek Balam or have visited, the museum is potentially more interesting for you. Exhibits are in Spanish but […]
[…] Yucatan is brimming with history and culture. Of course, you’ll know about the Mayan Ruins of Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. This is a must visit. But you may not have heard of Ek […]