Ancient Maya Site Muyil Reopens in Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

Tulum, Quintana Roo — The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) announced the reopening of the Muyil Archaeological Zone on Tuesday, February 10, following restoration work connected to the Maya Train project. The site is located in the heart of the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.

A ceremonial reopening event will begin at 10:30 a.m., with Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa in attendance. Other officials expected include INAH’s technical secretary José Luis Perea, Felipe Carrillo Puerto Mayor Maricarmen Hernández Solís, INAH Quintana Roo Center Director Margarito Molina Rendón, Chunyaxhé ejido commissioner Arsenio Chan González, and academic project lead Enrique Alcalá Castañeda.

In promotional material, INAH highlights Muyil as one of the oldest and most continuously occupied Maya sites on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, with remains dating from the Late Preclassic period (around 300 B.C.) to the Late Postclassic. Its architecture shows influences from Guatemala’s Petén style, and its location made it a key point on Maya trade routes, connecting coastal and inland communities across the Yucatan Peninsula.

“This unique site is immersed in the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, where nature and archaeology intertwine,” INAH stated. “Here you can explore architectural vestiges, such as platforms, temples, and sacbés (ancient roads), and feel the history these stones tell.”

The restoration process included the construction of a service area with a ticket booth, parking, and restrooms, along with the installation of signage. Visitors will now have access to two architectural complexes that were excavated and studied starting in the latter part of 2024.

Muyil is accessible via the Chetumal-Cancún highway, with its entrance at kilometer 211. It is about 20 minutes from Tulum International Airport and the Maya Train station, within the Chunyaxché ejido in Felipe Carrillo Puerto municipality. The site lies 73 kilometers north of Felipe Carrillo Puerto city and 23 kilometers south of Tulum.

The reopening was originally anticipated in February 2025 but was delayed by a year. The site consists of two building groups—one ceremonial and one civic-administrative or domestic—which can be toured in 30 to 45 minutes.

Archaeological work uncovered a characteristic temazcal (sweat bath) from the period, containing offerings such as a complete ceramic cup depicting a god’s face with a headdress, diadem, and ear flares, as well as a complete necklace with a carved marine shell pectoral and jade end pieces. To the north, researchers uncovered the large platform complex, considered both an administrative center and a residence for the city’s elite. This structure features an 18-meter-long base with walls over two meters wide, housing storage areas that supplied food.

“Come rediscover a millennia-old place that speaks of trade, identity, and relationships between ancient communities, and which now reopens its doors to the public,” INAH invites.