Chichen Itza or Uxmal?

Mexico is home to a number of Mayan ruins, all of them unique in their own way. It would be ideal to visit all of them, but realistically, many travelers are short on time and only have time to visit one. Having visited both, I will highlight the pros and cons of each and help you answer the question: “Chichen Itza or Uxmal?”

 

Chichen Itza Advantages

1) Easily accessible: about a two-hour ride from Cancun. You can go by yourself or arrange a tour through your hotel.

2) 1 of the 7 Wonders of the World!

3) Very safe since you can’t climb anything. The chances of getting injured is slim to none.

4) The Grand Ball Court: In the past, Mayans played games with a rubber ball that weighed between 3-4 kilograms using their hips, shoulders, knees and elbows. It is said that the captain of the winning team was often sacrificed after!

Chichen Itza Disadvantages

1) There are a massive number of tourists. Tour buses arrive hourly. It took me a while to capture a photo of Chichen Itza without people in it.

2) You’re prohibited from climbing anything (roped off).

3) There are a huge number of vendors trying to sell you items you don’t want.

Uxmal Advantages

1) In Uxmal there are practically no tourists. Uxmal is as empty as it gets. Uxmal is massive and I probably saw less than 20 people in the middle of March.

2) Impressive structures. While Chichen Itza is one of the world’s 7 wonders, I would argue that the ruins at Uxmal are much more impressive. They are larger and better constructed in my opinion.

3) Freedom! You’re pretty much free to roam as you please for the most part. Unlike Chichen Itza, there are multiple structures for you to climb.

Uxmal Disadvantage

1) It’s a bit out the way for most people. It’s 90 minutes from Merida and 5 hours from Cancun.

Chichen Itza or Uxmal?

Uxmal is every bit as impressive as Chichen Itza, without the tourists, and unlike Chichen Itza, there a number of things you can climb, which is a big selling point. Also, you can wander around without anyone trying to sell you anything.

Chichen Itza is also great, but entirely too crowded, after all, it is a Wonder of the World. For that reason alone, it is worth visiting, especially if you’re like me and want to see them all. Chichen Itza is photogenic, fascinating, and historical, but you can get all of that in Uxmal with fewer people. If you have time, then you should definitely see both of them, but if you can only pick one, go with Uxmal!