Up until recently, Ichkabal was hidden away in the Mexican Jungle, but this Mayan city has now been opened to travelers. Moreover, this city is much larger than the famous Chichen Itza and makes a fascinating visit.

Visit Ichkabal as the Mayan city opens to the public in Mexico

Mexico and the Mayan pyramids have been fascinating for years now, with many travelers marveling over Chichen Itza, with its Temple of Kukulcan, or the Cliffside Mayan ruins on a cliffside in Tulum. Meanwhile, more than 4,000 Mayan archaeological sites have already been documented, it turns out there is plenty more to uncover and explore.

For those who have already seen these top Mayan sites, more history is available in the heart of the Mexican jungle. This comes as fascinating Ichkabal is revealed to the public in all its glory and it is only a short drive away from the resort zone.

Bacalar is a sleepy town in the south of Quintana Roo, nestling on Lake Bacalar, which is renowned for its many shades of blue and the many rustic boutique hotels to house travelers. Last year, a Maya Train station opened in the town, making it easier to visit than many other destinations in the country.

Before the train station was opened, travelers had to use unreliable bus services or expensive private transfers to get there. Now, it is easy to visit Bacalar and explore the previously hidden Mayan pyramid of Ichkabal.

About the previously hidden city

Ichkabal is one of many overgrown Mayan cities in the jungle of Mexico and it was only discovered again fairly recently, at the end of the 20th century. Meanwhile, the settlement dates back to the Middle Preclassic period of the Mayan civilization making it around 2,400 years old.

To get an idea of just how big the Mayan city actually is, it comprises six main architectural sites scattered over an area of 37 miles. As compared to Chichen Itza, that site only covers four square miles.

The site consists of many pyramids, all of which are visible above the canopy of the trees and rising as high as 150 feet. Since it was discovered in 1995, the city has remained mostly off-limits to tour groups while archaeologists carried out their research and restored the site for visitors. Now, it is time for people to visit.

How much of Ichkabal is open to the public?

According to Riviera Maya News, Ichkabal opened in January 2025, and initially, areas of the zone will be subject to a phased opening. Only a small area will be accessible this year after the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) started to prepare the site for visitors.

Prieto Hernández, General Director of INAH, has said that Ichkabal will become a “great cultural attraction” in southern Quintana Roo due to its size and history, but also because of its proximity to a Maya Train station.

While the Maya Train was initially a controversial subject for conservationists, it has gone on to revolutionize travel in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico. It offers hassle-free travel to colonial cities like Merida and Campeche, along with nature reserves that were previously inaccessible.

The best way to visit Ichkabal is to first travel to Bacalar or Chetumal, the largest city in the south of the state and its capital and then join a tour group. See more of this fascinating Mayan site in the video below.