Xel Há Archaeological Site Reopens in Quintana Roo

Chetumal, Quintana Roo — The Xel Há archaeological site in the municipality of Tulum reopened to the public on July 6, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) announced.

The reopening marks the completion of the Program for the Improvement of Archaeological Zones (Promeza) in Quintana Roo, which upgraded all 11 archaeological sites in the state. Margarito Molina Rendón, director of the INAH Quintana Roo Center, said visitors will now enjoy an improved experience thanks to conservation work on monuments, rehabilitation of trails, and new signage.

Molina also noted that two new museums created as part of the Maya Train project are now open: the Regional Museum of the Eastern Coast in Tulum and the Historical Museum of the City of Felipe Carrillo Puerto.

The site is open Monday through Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is 210 pesos for adults. Mexican nationals and foreign residents who can prove their status receive a 50% discount, as do students, teachers, seniors, and members of nearby Indigenous communities with proper documentation. Admission is free on Sundays for Mexican nationals and foreign residents.

Xel Há, whose name comes from the Mayan words xel (piece or entrance) and há (water), meaning “entrance of water,” had two main pre-Hispanic occupations: the Early Classic period (250–600 AD) and the Late Postclassic period (1200–1550 AD), according to INAH. The Maya city was abandoned after the arrival of the Spanish, with many inhabitants dying from European diseases such as smallpox, yellow fever, and diphtheria, while others fled inland.