Kohunlich
4.5
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
About
This ancient Mayan city was built around 500 AD and is famous for its Temple of the Masks.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
277 reviews
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Hev E
4 contributions
Jan 2024 • Solo
Do not choose this from Costa Maya as a cruise excursion from NCL for the foreseeable future! There is HEAVY construction as they build a new train line through the area. Our bus ride was 2 hours and 50 minutes each way. We had ~40 minutes at the ruins before they packed us up and fed us like school children who forgot their lunch $. One slice of bologna and cheese on white bread with a small apple. 6 hours on a bus and literally being rushed through the ruins is not my idea of $$ well spent. I am going to talk to NCL tomorrow morning as I’m too hot right now. Just FYI the actual cost per person to enter the park is $4.50. Most of the excursion cost is travel expenses. Definitely not the food either. And they only have portapotty bathroom options at the park right now. Our guide told us the best bathroom we would see was the one on the bus.
Written 26 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ricky305
London, UK2 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
It is true that it took us 2.5hr to get there and more than 3hrs to get us back to port due to heavy heavy roadworks. They are building train track to the site even the site entrance looks like a construction site. This is place is awesome. Its Mayan ruins are breathtaking and you can go and climb up. It’s beautifully preserved. Our guide was amazing. We took so many pictures etc. We had a great day. It’s worth it and you should be fine if you rave a comfy coach.
Written 1 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sybil_unrest
Tucson, AZ190 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
An absolutely incredible site. We didn’t know what to expect, but were overwhelmed by the extent of the site, by the access to the ruins, by the incredible masks. What we weren’t overwhelmed by- crowds! It seems that the long drive means that it doesn’t attract many visitors, allowing you to really enjoy the ruins without crowds.
Written 20 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RuediWyss
Herzogenbuchsee, Switzerland72 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
These ruins located in the jungle are worth seeing it. Altough there are many more famous ruins, these are not spoiled after ten o‘clock as the well known ones!!!
About one hour from Bacalar. Good explanations on Signs will be found about these former village. Entrance about USD 5.-
About one hour from Bacalar. Good explanations on Signs will be found about these former village. Entrance about USD 5.-
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ahaskell
Cincinnati, Ohio256 contributions
Feb 2020
Kohunlich is the site of a Mayan palace. It still has a good number of rooms intact. It is easy to see how the people lived. There was a good part of the Mayan city still intact. There was a sport complex where a ball game was played to the death.
Written 3 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GBJ-Cookies
South Shields, UK1,800 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
Located a two and a half hour drive from our cruise port in Costa Maya, this was our 4th set of Mayan ruins on our trip and we were not disappointed. The site is set amongst lush green forest and all the sights are easily accessible. The area was very quiet when we visited except for the noise of the monkeys in the trees, we climbed the 27 steps for great views of this large site.
Written 14 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexandra
Nice, France20 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
Certainly a little far from Bacalar, the road at the end is a little difficult because it is quite damaged but it is definitely worth it because the site is magnificent. We went there in the morning and we were alone! Lesser known site but full of history that we do not regret having seen
Written 16 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mary C
Brentwood, TN157 contributions
Oct 2015 • Family
The Kohunlich Mayan ruins provide a glimpse back in time of how people in a village in Costa Maya lived. This tour was booked through Norwegian Cruise lines. The adventure began with boarding a modern well air-conditioned bus. The drive is approximately 2 hours. However, our tour guide regaled us with interesting information and history for an hour or so followed by a siesta time.
There are many buildings on the site and our guide provided information on each one. The Temple of the Masks building has an impressive display of I believe a total of five 10 foot carved masks. There are 27 steps that you can climb to see them up close. However, I could see them from the bottom! There is also one building which displays two constructed arches, which were created long before the Roman's famous arches.
Another great caveat to this site is being able to actually climb the structures; touch the stones. So often, as a travelers you must stand behind velvet ropes and simple enjoy them with your eyes. This site allows you to touch and climb. When tired, you can find a seat on stone steps the Mayans themselves sat upon and also climbed. This brings the sight to life.
Another great caveat was being able to take photographs without tourist in them. As the tourist numbers are small, you can get amazing photos. I took several of my family standing by themselves in front of the structures.
There are restroom facilities. I do not believe there was a place to purchase water. We were provided a lunch bag, which had a sandwich, chips, juice box and snack. You may wish to bring adequate water. Mosquitoes live in the jungle and much to my surprise, they will actually bite through your clothing. Definitely spray your self thoroughly with bug spray. The bites whelp up and and itch for days! As a person with mobility issues (bad knees) there were a few "sticky" spots. The guide escorted me back down from the Temple of the Masks as it is moss covered ground with some steep places. If you know your limits, you can still find this an amazing, insightful adventure. There is plenty to see for those with mobility issues.
There are many buildings on the site and our guide provided information on each one. The Temple of the Masks building has an impressive display of I believe a total of five 10 foot carved masks. There are 27 steps that you can climb to see them up close. However, I could see them from the bottom! There is also one building which displays two constructed arches, which were created long before the Roman's famous arches.
Another great caveat to this site is being able to actually climb the structures; touch the stones. So often, as a travelers you must stand behind velvet ropes and simple enjoy them with your eyes. This site allows you to touch and climb. When tired, you can find a seat on stone steps the Mayans themselves sat upon and also climbed. This brings the sight to life.
Another great caveat was being able to take photographs without tourist in them. As the tourist numbers are small, you can get amazing photos. I took several of my family standing by themselves in front of the structures.
There are restroom facilities. I do not believe there was a place to purchase water. We were provided a lunch bag, which had a sandwich, chips, juice box and snack. You may wish to bring adequate water. Mosquitoes live in the jungle and much to my surprise, they will actually bite through your clothing. Definitely spray your self thoroughly with bug spray. The bites whelp up and and itch for days! As a person with mobility issues (bad knees) there were a few "sticky" spots. The guide escorted me back down from the Temple of the Masks as it is moss covered ground with some steep places. If you know your limits, you can still find this an amazing, insightful adventure. There is plenty to see for those with mobility issues.
Written 3 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ffoley
Riverside, CA25 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
We visited this Mayan ruin as a shore excursion from the NCL Dawn. It is about a 2 hour bus ride from the port but well worth the time.. This was a seven hour excursion that left the ship at 9am and returned on time around 4pm. The bus ride was comfortable as the bus had A/C, and padded seats, As we passed by the varied landscape featuring flat swamp lands, sugar cane and small villages, our english speaking guide, Diana, provided much information about the countryside, and the Mayans who had once lived at this ruin. The tour provided a standard box lunch with a drink.
Since Kohunlich is only visited by people with access to transportation, usually cruisers and tourists, this site was not crowded. There were about three other guided groups there at the same time that we were there. At the entrance, there were clean well functioning bathrooms. Also at the entrance was a site map showing the layout of the ruins.. We had dry weather, and insect repellent was not really necessary. Parts of the site were shaded by the large jungle trees surrounding the edge of the site while its center was open to the sky with little shade. There were pathways, usually pebbled, around the edge of the site,
The site covers about 21 acres , surrounded by dense sub-tropical rain forest, and it contains almost 200 mounds, that remain largely unexcavated. The city was elaborately planned and engineered, with raised platforms and pyramids, citadels, courtyards,ball courts and plazas surrounded with palace platforms.
Each ruin had an information board which identified the ruin and gave a short description in Spanish and English of its significance to the inhabitants of this abandoned city. Our guide augmented these brief descriptions with much more in depth information
For example, along the path to the ruins, she pointed out a thorny tree that played an important part in how this Mayan group saw their world in 3 levels and the numerous gods in each level. She also explained that this site was only partially excavated and that it had once been a large city (300 -900AD).. We were seeing the center of this city with its administrative buildings, 2-3 temples, ball court, and a few of the residences of the ruling and warrior class who protected the king.
She pointed out the stone beds in some of these residential ruins; she commented on how the Mayans built on top of existing buildings or increased their size to make them seem more important. You could actually see these different levels through the exposed structures.
She explained that as this site was not close to any water supply, the Mayans laid out the city to channel drainage into a system of cisterns and an enormous reservoir to collect rainwater to then flow into aqua ducts.
She also explained the purpose of the ball court, its players, and the eventual human sacrifice. This is a good sized ball court. Close by to this ball court, there appeared to be a good size altar, which perhaps was used for this ritual. She also explained that the temples had an East-West orientation to follow the sun's movement.
One of the main attractions here is the Temple of the Masks. Three large size heads that were at least 3 feet high flanked each side of the steep stairs so 6 masks all together.
Some of the masks as well as another nearby structure were in the process of being restored when we visited and it was interesting to see the meticulous work that was involved. Diana, our guide explained the symbolism reflected in the masks such as the tongue hanging our meant the life. Visitors can climb up all stairs at each temple, usually just the one set of stairs.
The temple was covered over with a Classic palm leaf construction, which protected the masks and accounts for the state of their preservation today.
This site is well of the beaten path but well worth the visit!
Since Kohunlich is only visited by people with access to transportation, usually cruisers and tourists, this site was not crowded. There were about three other guided groups there at the same time that we were there. At the entrance, there were clean well functioning bathrooms. Also at the entrance was a site map showing the layout of the ruins.. We had dry weather, and insect repellent was not really necessary. Parts of the site were shaded by the large jungle trees surrounding the edge of the site while its center was open to the sky with little shade. There were pathways, usually pebbled, around the edge of the site,
The site covers about 21 acres , surrounded by dense sub-tropical rain forest, and it contains almost 200 mounds, that remain largely unexcavated. The city was elaborately planned and engineered, with raised platforms and pyramids, citadels, courtyards,ball courts and plazas surrounded with palace platforms.
Each ruin had an information board which identified the ruin and gave a short description in Spanish and English of its significance to the inhabitants of this abandoned city. Our guide augmented these brief descriptions with much more in depth information
For example, along the path to the ruins, she pointed out a thorny tree that played an important part in how this Mayan group saw their world in 3 levels and the numerous gods in each level. She also explained that this site was only partially excavated and that it had once been a large city (300 -900AD).. We were seeing the center of this city with its administrative buildings, 2-3 temples, ball court, and a few of the residences of the ruling and warrior class who protected the king.
She pointed out the stone beds in some of these residential ruins; she commented on how the Mayans built on top of existing buildings or increased their size to make them seem more important. You could actually see these different levels through the exposed structures.
She explained that as this site was not close to any water supply, the Mayans laid out the city to channel drainage into a system of cisterns and an enormous reservoir to collect rainwater to then flow into aqua ducts.
She also explained the purpose of the ball court, its players, and the eventual human sacrifice. This is a good sized ball court. Close by to this ball court, there appeared to be a good size altar, which perhaps was used for this ritual. She also explained that the temples had an East-West orientation to follow the sun's movement.
One of the main attractions here is the Temple of the Masks. Three large size heads that were at least 3 feet high flanked each side of the steep stairs so 6 masks all together.
Some of the masks as well as another nearby structure were in the process of being restored when we visited and it was interesting to see the meticulous work that was involved. Diana, our guide explained the symbolism reflected in the masks such as the tongue hanging our meant the life. Visitors can climb up all stairs at each temple, usually just the one set of stairs.
The temple was covered over with a Classic palm leaf construction, which protected the masks and accounts for the state of their preservation today.
This site is well of the beaten path but well worth the visit!
Written 13 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hans-Juergen H
Scharbeutz, Germany152 contributions
May 2013 • Couples
The Mayan ruins of Kohunlich are located in the south of the Yucatan peninsula about 40 miles (about 70km) northeast of Chetumal and can be reached by leaving the the Mexican carretera 186 from Chetumal to Escarcega at kilometer 60 and following a country road 9 km to the site. While driving on the federal highway was ok, the detour to Kohunlich was no fun. Pot hole after pot hole and many cracks in the road made driving difficult. But the arqueological site of Kohunlich is impressive.Though far more visitors than at the ruins of some 30 km away Dzibanche, an afternoon visit at Kohunlich should make you enjoy the various structures as most tour busses would drop off the cruise paasengers around noon time. The arqueological site of Kohunlich is also surrounded by jungle but has been cleared in most areas. The major attraction is its" temple of the masks" at the far end of the site. This temple has a pyramid like structure with a central stairway which tourists may still climb up to the top without too much effort. The magnificent stucco masks are on the side of the staircase and represent the Mayan sun god. The time for visiting Kohunlich should not be less than 2 hours and my wife and I found the afternoon light after 3 pm ideal for taking pictures.
Written 19 June 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
is it possible to see and photograph the mask without climbing
and are there places to sit and just enjoy the views
Written 29 June 2018
There is no climbing necessary to see the mask, but a fair amount of walking. You only need to climb if you want to get atop of the pyramid. There are benches on the way to to pyramid and spaces to lean on. Bring water please.
Written 25 July 2018
It all depends on the health of the person, it could go around in wheelchair. But if he can walk definitely is a must to visit.
Written 14 November 2018
aaronpass
Southampton, United Kingdom
Would you recommend taking children on this trip?
Written 1 May 2017
Depends on age and their ability to enjoy the historic site. This is not a playground even though there is plenty of space. There are plenty of opportunities to get lost so you need to keep a close eye on them.
Written 3 May 2017
Will be in october on Oceania cruise in Costa Maya
There are 2 excursion and we have difficult to make our choice!
- Kohunlich Mayan Ruins
or
Chacchoben Mayan Ruins
What would be the best choice and why???
Written 4 August 2016
Hi
I desperately want to see the Kohunlich ruins but cant seem to find a nice resort in the area. Was there a resort you stayed at that you would recommend?
Thank you
Written 31 July 2016
We went on a cruise. I don't think there are any resorts anywhere near the ruins. I did see there are a lot of private tours . Try searching Quintana Roo Mexico. That's where the ships come in. It might even be worth finding a Spanish speaking travel agent to help you. I think the drive from Cozumel is probably also an option. Hope this helps
Written 15 August 2016
I can climb steps but have some vertigo. Is there any type of railing to help going up and down? Thanks. I'm wanting to book either this or the Chaccoben ruins for our Costa Maya shore excursion during a cruise in November.
Written 1 May 2016
Hello, unfortunatelly, there are no railings on the structures for preservation purposes, but the temple of the Masks in Kohunlich is the only that has some ropes and wood posts that can be used to help visitors on their way up and down, it is on top of a small hill which it is not difficult to hike, at least you can make it to the base of the temple on top of the hill and then decide whether go up or not. Most structures are not very tall and I am sure you'll be fine. I'd just recommend you to be careful if you decide to climb the biggest structure in the west residential complex (the acropolis) because is quite tall as well as the stairway steps; it is a quite wide stairway but be careful considering your vertigo. Kohunlich is 2hr away each way from the port but it is definitely worht it, is bigger than Chacchoben, no crowds at all (because is remote) and beautiful. Chacchoben is only 1hr ride each way, is smaller and has tallest buildings although has way more restrictions for climbing them, so basically anyone is allowed to go up on any of the structures but the great base which is a platform that has two more temples on top of it but the stairway is very similar to the one in the acropolis in Kohunlich, although one of tis two stairways has tall walls so you may be able to hold on the stones using them as a handrail.
Written 6 May 2016
Can I get there on my own from Isla Mujeres?
Written 4 April 2015
Lindsay, thank you for your recommendations about long pants and long sleeve shirt. I am wondering about foot wear. Are good walking shoes adequate? or would light weight hiking boots be better? I am 71 yrs old and in reasonably good shape. My travelling companion a several years younger. Thank you for any additional advice you might give. We also decided to book the tour from our cruise ship-given the distance and the fact that the tour is listed as 8 hours. Phil Gray, Vancouver, Canada
Written 22 February 2015
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