Cancun: Iguanas and History at El Rey Ruins

In 1200 A.D. the El Rey Ruins was the home and trading location for the Mayan civilization. Although the El Rey Ruins isn’t as well-known as the Chichen Itza Ruins, it is still an amazing archaeological site that you won’t want to miss visiting when you are in Cancun, Mexico. The El Rey Ruins are easy to get to as they are located in the well-known hotel zone, which makes it easy to explore as you don’t have to travel a long distance. The ruins aren’t very big so visitors will have the ability to explore all the ruins grounds quickly making it an ideal excursion for the day.

History at El Rey Ruins

In the past, an amazing and ancient Mayan city existed where the El Rey Ruins are located today. The Mayan people inhabited many different areas in Honduras, El Salvador, Belize, Guatemala, and in Mexico. Archeologists have since discovered that they inhabited these areas since 1800 BC. The Cancun El Rey Ruins was once a very populated area, but the arrival of the Spanish made the Mayan people abandon the area. The El Rey Ruins have 47 stone structures, so you will want to make sure you take the time to explore each of these stone structures, and this will allow you to get a glimpse on how the Mayans lived in this city that was later forgotten. Comfortable walking shoes is a must when you visit the ruins. This will allow you to climb to the top of the buildings, so you can visit the temple and the burial site, too.

Murals and Paintings

When you are exploring the ruins, you will be able to see some very impressive artwork and paintings from the former Mayan people. Over time the colors have faded, but the paintings are clear enough that you can make out images of kings and other important members of the Mayan people. Visitors can get a glimpse into daily the life of these ancient people by looking at the murals and paintings. It is true that the El Rey Ruins are not as popular as the Chichen Itza, but it a very nice location that shows the original people that inhabited Cancun.

Cancun Iguanas and History at El Rey Ruins

In addition to the amazing ruins, there are also an impressive amount of iguanas at the El Rey Ruins today. You don’t have to fear the iguanas as they are very friendly and comfortable around large crowds of people that come visit the ruins daily. Many visitors take advantage of close interactions with the iguanas by taking a lot of photos with them. Bread and fruit is allowed at the ruins, and visitors bring them so they can feed the iguanas. You might be surprised that your pictures of the iguanas at the ruins may turn out to be the best pictures of your Cancun vacation.

Cancun El Rey Ruins Location & Hours

The Cancun El Rey Ruins are open at eight in the morning and they stay open until 4:30 in the afternoon. The cost to enter the ruins is approximately fifty pesos or $2.50 USD. If you plan ahead to visit the ruins on a Sunday, you will not have to pay any admission as Sundays are free. It is recommended that everyone that visits the ruins wear sunscreen and a hat as there isn’t much shade at the ruins. A tour guide can be provided if you want to learn more about the history of the ruins, or you can explore the ruins at your own pace. There is plenty of parking available if you drive, but you can also take a taxi, uber or a bus via R1 or R2.

The next time you come to Cancun for your vacation, you should make sure you visit the El Rey Ruins. You will not be disappointed with the beauty and history that is at the ruins along with the local iguanas that make the visit unique and memorable.