· MEXICO ·
How to Visit the Edzná Mayan Ruins – a Complete Guide
Scribbled by Claire ◊ 09 Sep 2024
This guide has everything you need to help plan your trip to the Mayan site of Edzná independently, with all the transport, costs, and logistics information necessary to experience these exceptionally well-preserved ruins!
Located in the western Yucatan Peninsula, the Edzná Mayan ruins are an ideal excursion if you are staying in the colonial city of Campeche. Surprisingly, this spectacular archaeological site is one of the much lesser-visited ancient ruins across Mexico and makes for an outstanding day out.
It was up there in our favourite experiences across the entire region!
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About the Edzná Mayan Ruins
Edzná is a Mayan archaeological site located in the Campeche region of Mexico, about a 45-minute drive, 55 km southeast from the city of Campeche. It dates to around 400 B.C. and features numerous religious and residential buildings in a roughly 25 square kilometre area, housing 25,000 people at its peak. This Mayan centre was inhabited until around 1400 A.D. and has various features such as a ball court and unique glyphs.
The Temple of the Five Floors (Piramide de los Cinco Pisos), a 50-meter-high building, originally a residence and shrine, is the focal point of the site. It is probably, to this day, our favourite Mayan pyramid/temple (maybe joint favourite with the Pyramid of the Magician at Uxmal!). For lots more information on the history of Edzná and where the name ‘Edzná’ originated, check out the official website.
EDZNÁ QUICK FACTS
OPENING TIMES | 8am – 5pm Every day (Remember Campeche is in a different time zone to Quintana Roo)
NEAREST TOWN | Campeche, Campeche City
COST | MX$100
BEST SEASON | any, but avoid the rainy season between June and October if possible
CROWDS | expect around 50 people at a time
TIME NEEDED | about 1.5-2 hours
CLIMBABLE | all but the largest structure
AVOID | visiting on Sundays, it is free for Mexican nationals so generally busier
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11 LESS TOURISTY THINGS TO DO AROUND THE YUCATAN | EXPLORING CALAKMUL
What We Loved About Edzná
Affordable | including transport and entry fee this cost us 310 pesos for two people
Ease | even with our abysmal Spanish abilities it was easy to get to Edzná
Iguanas | these love Edzná more than any other ruin we have been to – they were scuttling about everywhere
No tourists | it was a stunning silence as we walked around
No hawkers/vendors | anywhere at the entrance or inside the park
Unique architecture | this makes Edzná ruins well worth the visit – the Gran Acropolis features a five-story building called the Edificio de los Cinco Pisos which is very distinctive
How to Get to the Edzná Mayan Ruins
There is no dedicated bus service to the ruins which means you will have to drive, take a private taxi or use a colectivo. There is a free car park at Edzná, which was empty when we arrived at opening time for our visit.
Driving to the Edzná Mayan Ruins
Car hire is easy and driving is so simple in the Yucatan! If you are thinking of renting a car, consider doing it through Discover Cars, that we use exclusively due to their outstanding insurance that has saved us more than once!
Driving Directions
If you have your own transport, then you can take the 261 East of Campeche before going South on the 188.
The other option is to head south of Campeche onto the Campeche-China Hool and then turn onto the 188 towards Edzná. Either way you are looking for the area marked by the red circle on the map below. You can then follow the signs on the paved road to the car park at the site.
Google Maps works well for directions.
CAR HIRE FOR YOUR MEXICO TRIP
We always rent our vehicles all over the world, including our recent trips in Mexico, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Jordan and Morocco, with Discover Cars. They’re often the most affordable, plus they paid out immediately on an insurance claim we made when our car took some heavy damage in Sicily. We fully recommend them.
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TAKE A LOOK BELOW OR CHECK CAR RENTAL
Taking a Colectivo to the Edzná Ruins
This is the cheapest way to reach the ruins. It is also pretty easy.
To find the colectivos that go towards Edzná, head to the corner of Calle Nicaragua and Calle Chihuahua near the market in Campeche City. Red and white minivans wait here along the side of the street. Confirm with the driver which vehicle is headed for Edzná – it will be on a vehicle heading for Bonfil. These buses appeared to wait until nearly full (this was our experience). The bus drivers do not speak much English however, if you look like a tourist they will ask if you are heading to Edzná! It was a very easy process.
We were dropped off directly at the gate because our colectivo had a bunch of Edzná staff members arriving on it to open up (good timing by us!), but the colectivos generally stop on the main road instead, a few hundred metres from the entrance.
To return, wait out on the road after the entrance to the ruins (on the opposite side to ensure you get the colectivo back towards Campeche). There should be a sign at a junction which says Campeche – we waited here. Colectivos pass by regularly and will stop for you if you signal. Keep an eye out for the tell-tale red and white vans.
You might be offered a lift back to Campeche – this is really normal! Go for it if you feel comfortable hitchhiking – it is a very common way to travel across Mexico. Trust your instincts if you’re not sure.
We paid 45 pesos per person each way between Campeche and the Edzná Ruins.
Edzná Facilities and What to Bring
Facilities | there are minimal facilities at the Edzná Mayan ruins. We would suggest bringing all the food and drink you need for the trip along with plenty of water. There are bathrooms at the entrance and a guide can also be acquired here. We also saw a vending machine but since we already had our snacks, could not confirm if this was working.
Shade | there is not a lot of shade at the ruins – it is quite an open site, so bring clothes to cover up, a hat and sunblock. All the usual items for hot, exposed weather. It is super-warm though, be advised! We found this to be one of the hottest Mayan ruins we visited in the Yucatan.
Footwear | the trails/paths are not particularly uneven or muddy but bring decent footwear. You could get away with flipflops here, but I wouldn’t advise it! There are quite a few snakes and larger lizards, we could hear them all scuttling away as we walked through the structures. This made me glad to have shoes with covered toes!
Insect repellent | this is recommended, although during our August visit we did not need it. You may need some, if it has recently rained.
Rain | during the rainy season (June to October) you will want to consider a waterproof jacket and bag covering.
Maps and Signs around the Edzná Mayan Ruins
Below is a map provided by the Edzná official website. There are also signs written in English and Spanish around the site.
Final Thoughts – Edzná
The archaeological ruins at Edzná were one of our favourites across the many that we have visited throughout Mexico and Central America. If you are looking for a site with some solitude (maybe Chichén Itzá drove you a little crazy like it did us!), consider checking out Edzná, and spend a weekend in Campeche. You can enjoy this beautiful oceanfront walled city too.
Are you are spending some time travelling across in the Yucatan? If so, consider checking out the list of all of our favourite Mayan ruins, with pros and cons to help you decide which might be best.
Have a fantastic visit!
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Thank you, Claire + Nick
DIY directions for taking a collectivo were spot on. The price of a one way trip is now 55 MP. The driver also dropped me off at the entrance to the ruins. On my return I waited at the front of an under construction bus park that appears to be for the ruins. A worker brought me a chair to sit on while waiting for the collectivo.