Calakmul ruins
We are experts on Calakmul ruins. So the night before your planned adventure into the archeological site, ask for Diane at the bar for information and suggestions on making your visit truly unique.
The whole site is gigantic – therefore be prepared to spend at least 5 hours exploring. The site is far more photogenic in the afternoon. Besides that, the animals are more visible than in the morning.
There are no services at the site, not even water. For this reason we advice to have a good breakfast at our restaurant and order your packed lunch.
The road is paved but does have has potholes . Please note that taxis are not allowed past the gate at H 186. However, there is a Collectivo daily from Xpuhil to Calakmul, who waits there and brings you back. In fact this Collectivo will pick up guests at Rio Bec Dreams. Cost for the round trip is 400 pesos.
There is a small museum at Km 20 . It is split into 2 sections. That is to say, one explains the archeological site and the Biosphere. In addition the other explains the evolution of the Yucatan. It also shows some of the history of the Yucatan as well as a model of the murals inside the CHIC NAB acropilis which is closed off to the public . In short, it is worth the visit, assuming it is open.
Please find below some useful information when you visit the ruins
Distance to the archeological site from Rio Bec Dreams.
44 km on highway 186 then 60 km on Calakmul Road
Driving time to the site.
20 to 30 minutes on the highway then 1¼ to 1 ½ hours on Calakmul Road
Opening hours of the ruins.
Ruins officially open at 8AM but you can bypass the building and pay on your way out. Moreover, the gate at Km 20 will usually let you through very early but will not allow entry after 2:30 PM
Entrance price per person: approximate
There are 3 entry fees. Firstly, at the highway the people of Conjuas charge 50 pesos per person to travel on their portion of the road, to km 20.
Secondly, next at the Biosphere entrance, km 20 there is a charge of 80. pesos per person.
In addition, at the site, the rate is 80 pesos each.
The south of the Yucatan Peninsula is packed with archeological sites. Therefore it is often easy to combine the same day a visit to one site with a visit to a nearby site. We recomend to combine a visit to the ruins of Calakmul with a visit to the site of Balamku, a lovely site just 3 km from the corner of Highway 186 and the Calakmul Road.
