Explore the Enchanting Dzibanché Ruins

The Mexican Ministry of Culture, via the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), has announced the reopening of the Dzibanché archaeological site in southern Quintana Roo. The pre-Columbian complex has undergone renovations under the Archaeological Zone Improvement Program (Promeza), a part of the Maya Train project.

The site now boasts modern infrastructure in public areas, including ticket offices, restrooms, parking facilities, trails, and informative signage. Recent archaeological conservation efforts have also been implemented to provide visitors with a more enjoyable, safe, and educational experience. The site, which was first occupied in the Late Preclassic period (300 BC) and remained so until the 16th century AD, has been given a new lease on life.

Dzibanché is composed of four monumental complexes in the Petén-style architecture. During its prime in the Classic period (250-650 AD), it was governed by the Kaan or Kaanu’l dynasty, as revealed by the numerous hieroglyphic texts found on monuments, steles, and stairs. The four architectural complexes are known as Dzibanché or Main Group, Central or Lamay Group, Tutil, and Kinichná, all interconnected by the Mayan sacbe'ob (white roads).

Systematic study of the site began in the 1990s, with the recent renovations being led by Sandra Balanzario Granados, an archaeologist from the INAH Quintana Roo Center. Notably, in October 2024, three facades featuring stucco reliefs were discovered. These reliefs, depicting ancestors, mythical animals, and symbols of power such as stone snake images, allude to the power of the Kaanu’l dynasty.

The reopening of Dzibanché is in line with the reopening of other archaeological sites in the region, including Kohunlich, Oxtankah, Chacchoben, and Ichkabal in southern Quintana Roo, as well as El Meco, located between Cancun and Isla Mujeres.

The Dzibanché archaeological site is open to the public from Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entry costs 80 pesos, with certain exceptions as per the law. On Sundays, admission is free for Mexican citizens and foreign residents, with proof of residency.