Ek Balam Ruins Climb and Cenote Refresh: Day trip from Playa

Ek Balam was a thriving Mayan city dating back to the 1st millennium BC. Around the start of the Common Era, it was the regional capital and remained inhabited up until the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century. Today, the site consists of around 45 buildings, with many dating from around the 8th to 11th centuries. Unlike other Mayan cities, the intricate decorations on the building were made from plaster, rather than carved into stone, allowing for the artisans to create some of the most intricate motifs found in the Yucatan. The facade of the ruler Ukit Kan Leʼk Tokʼs tomb, for example, is styled like the open maw of a jaguar. The tomb sits atop a pyramid that’s 150 meters long and 30 meters high- one of the largest Mayan structures in the Yucatan!

Located in a cavern with a large opening in its dome, Cenote Hubiku combines the mystique of swimming in a cave with the comforts of sunlight. The cavern’s moss-covered walls, the hanging vines, and the deep turquoise of the water make for a marvelous natural spectacle. The circular pool is nearly 150 feet deep, and its waters a refreshingly brisk 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which has made it a popular attraction for locals and tour groups alike. The facilities here make the cenote more like an underground swimming pool, with showers to rinse off in before you get in the water, bathrooms, a restaurant, and souvenir stalls.