Mayan Museum

Maya Museum (Museo Maya de Cancun)

The Maya Museum is an archaeological museum in Mexico with over 3,500 exhibits relating to ancient Mesoamerican civilizations. It is located in the city of Cancun.

The Mayan Museum was founded thanks to the initiative of Mexican President Felipe Calderon in 2011. The ceremony took place on November 1.

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The building of the museum was erected over a period of six years. This huge structure became the largest such institution (after the Templo Mayor Museum). It took more than 15 million dollars to build, half of which was donated by Mexican patrons.

Museum Exposition

At the moment, the Mayan Museum is home to 350 interesting artifacts. Many of them have been studied for decades. Among the relics there are some that have never been exhibited before. The museum’s collection continues to be enriched thanks to excavations on the territory of the cities of the ancient civilization.

Near the museum building is an open-air archaeological site that showcases the Great Pyramid, the North and South Buildings, the Temple of Dragons, and the Temple of Chaaca.

Inside the Mayan Museum, there are two permanent and one temporary hall. Their total area exceeds 4,400 m². The temporary room serves as a venue for international exhibitions.

The very first exhibits that tourists who have just entered the museum see are the human skeletons, which are over 14,000 years old. They were discovered 12 years ago in the underwater caves of the city of Tulum. These remains will help learn more about the arrival of man on the American continent.

The first exhibition hall of the museum is dedicated to the population of the ancient Mayan civilization. Here are images of Indians created from their skulls, so each visitor to learn what people who lived about 10,000 years ago looked like.

The second hall of the Mayan Museum introduces the regions that were part of the area of this tribe. Items about Maya architecture, cosmology, art and daily life are on display here. These include jade statuettes, weapons, and utensils.

The third hall is designed for temporary exhibitions.

All exhibits are labeled in Spanish and English. A gift store and a café are available to visitors. The exhibition spaces are adapted for people with special needs.

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Practical information

Address: Boulevard Kukulcan, Km 16.5, San Miguelito, Cancun 77500, Mexico.

Opening hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday-Sunday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Thursday 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Monday off.

Cost: 57 pesos, free for those over 60 and under 13 years old.

How to get to the Mayan Museum: The museum is located in the hotel zone between the Omni Cancun, Royal Mayan and Grand Oasis Cancun resorts and can be reached by cab or public bus from any of the hotels.

Phone: +52 998 885 3842; +52 998 885 3843