Ek Balam self-guided walking audio tour from Cancun
Your tour of Ek Balam begins near the visitors center. As you head deeper into the site, you will learn of the fascinating history of Mayan civilization before Europeans arrived. This history dates back thousands of years. You’ll also hear about the arrival of the Spanish, and how their conquest forever changed the continent and its people.
After crossing through the remnants of an ancient defensive wall, you’ll arrive at a ball court and learn about how the ancient Mayans played an intense, sometimes dangerous game that was something like a cross between soccer and basketball. The catch? They used a ball that weighed about 20 pounds!
As you make your way to the Circular Steam Bath, you’ll learn about Mayan architecture, and why they built things in the way that they did. The bath was used for religious ceremonies, but also to heal the sick and wounded. You’ll get more familiar with Mayan religion on your way to your next stop.
Next comes the Acropolis, the largest standing structure on the peninsula. This immense building is King Ukit Kan Le'k Tok’s most enduring legacy. What’s more, you can actually climb the stairs to the top!
Along the way, you’ll notice a pair of hieroglyphic serpents, which the tour will help to explain. The Mayans used a great deal of animal imagery in their art, and everything had a specific meaning.
After that comes the tomb of Ukit Kan Le'k Tok’. It is considered the best-preserved tomb of any Mayan king, and it fittingly impressive for such an effective ruler.
Finally, you will reach the top of the pyramid. From here, you can see for miles in every direction. You’ll even be able to see the outline of Chichen Itza on a clear day! The tour concludes there, after detailing the plaza visible below.
Main features
Additional features
Why you’ll love this…
- Ek Balam is one of the few Mayan ruins where you can still climb to the top of an ancient pyramid
- Discover the tomb of Ukit Kan Le'k Tok’, an ancient Mayan king
- Unlock the secrets of the ancient hieroglyphics which are found throughout this unique site
- Learn about the ancient Mayan culture, from their art and architecture to their complex religious convictions
Important to know
Know in advance:
- Please note that this tour is an audio tour guide, and not an attraction entrance ticket
- This is a self-guided tour; no guide will accompany you. The tour operator's app functions as a guide, an audio tour, and a map all in one
- Please arrange for a vehicle before you take the tour. You only need to book one tour per vehicle, not per person
- After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions immediately to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Please don't wait until you are on-site
- Works perfectly without cellular or Wi-Fi with offline maps
- The audio stories play on their own based on your location. You can start anytime and pause anywhere
- Most stops along the tour have animated videos allowing you to visualize what you cannot see, such as snapshots from different centuries or interior rooms
- You can use the self-guided tour for one year. It is Ideal for extended visits and return trips over the next 12 months
Cancellation policy
Receive a 100% refund if you cancel up to 24 days before the experience begins.
What’s included
- Self-guided tour taken via the app
- Static map on your phone
- Audio narration
- Written text explanations
- Unique password (sent by email) for access to app
What’s not included
- Entrance fees to paid attractions
- Food or drinks
Booking fee
Good news! No extra fees are applied to this booking.
Location
Provider
ACTION TOUR GUIDE
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