San Miguelito: Maya Port Hidden in Cancún’s Hotel Zone

Cancún, Mexico — The San Miguelito archaeological zone preserves the remains of a Late Postclassic Maya port dating between 1200 and 1350 AD, whose architecture, burials and trade networks reveal a history not visible from the beach. Additionally, it is believed that during those years San Miguelito had links with Tulum, Xcaret and Xelhá because the architecture of all four sites is similar, belonging to the Eastern Coast style.

San Miguelito was part of the ancient cacicazgo of Ecab, a political and economic articulation that controlled various coastal points of the Caribbean. Its location between the sea, the Nichupté lagoon and land routes made it a strategic point for fishing, salt production, the exchange of cotton, honey, copal and tools, as well as for navigation to other Maya settlements.

The Museum as Gateway

To reach San Miguelito, one must first pass through the Maya Museum of Cancún, which houses one of the most important archaeological collections in southeastern Mexico. The integration of the museum and the site is not coincidental. The pieces found in the hotel zone, including sculptures, ceramics and funerary offerings, allowed for an understanding of daily life in this coastal stretch, and the museum design was created to complement the archaeological tour experience. Moving from the white, minimalist building to the jungle trail creates a bridge between academic research and the original landscape of the Maya city.

Why It Is Inside a Museum

When the National Institute of Anthropology and History decided to create the museum, it chose to integrate the archaeological zone within the complex to ensure its conservation and to connect visitors with the original landscape of the pre-Hispanic city. The museum opened in 2012 with a contemporary architectural design that avoids competing with the ruins and, at the same time, protects the territory through walkways, gardens and hurricane-resistant elevated rooms.

This model makes the visit a complementary experience: the museum offers historical context and pieces excavated in Quintana Roo, while the tour of San Miguelito allows visitors to see in situ the place where that life unfolded. It is one of the few archaeological experiences in Mexico where museum halls and pre-Hispanic city coexist without barriers.

What to See in the Museum and the San Miguelito Archaeological Zone

The Maya Museum of Cancún has three halls, two permanent and one exhibition hall that houses collections from different sites on the peninsula: polychrome ceramics, sculptures, ritual pieces, stone tools and funerary items that show the cultural complexity of the Maya.

The archaeological tour takes place amid tropical vegetation. The site is divided into four architectural groups connected by a shaded trail. The Northern complex preserves the foundations of ancient dwellings and more than twenty burials. The Chaak Palace stands out for its original columns and the relief of the rain god on the staircase. The Dragon complex contains remains of a marine mural suggesting symbolic links with the coastal environment. The final stretch, the Southern complex, houses the San Miguelito pyramid, whose orientation toward El Rey evidences the relationship between both settlements.

Information for Your Visit to the San Miguelito Archaeological Zone

The museum and archaeological zone are open from Tuesday to Sunday between nine in the morning and six in the evening. The last access to San Miguelito is at four thirty. General admission: 100 Mexican pesos and includes both areas. Students, teachers, children under thirteen, seniors and visitors with disabilities have free admission. On Sundays, Mexicans and residents with valid identification do not pay.

The complete visit requires between two and three hours. It is advisable to bring water, repellent and comfortable footwear, as the walk takes place on natural trails. Arriving early allows enjoying the site with softer light and fewer visitors.

How to Get to the San Miguelito Archaeological Zone

San Miguelito is located at kilometer 16.5 of Kukulcán Boulevard, in the Hotel Zone of Cancún. From downtown, it can be reached via R1, R2 and R27 bus routes, which travel the entire Hotel Zone and stop near the museum.