Dirt Roads ~ High Heels: Iguanas and The El Rey Ruins

Monday, August 13, 2018

Iguanas and The El Rey Ruins

Right in the heart of what the locals call the Zona Hotelera lies the amazing ancient El Rey Mayan Ruins which date back to 1200 A.D. The ruins include 47 stone buildings and a temple shaped as a pyramid. This region marks the entrance known as the Mundo Maya or Mayan World. These ruins will take you back in time as you walk the grounds in which they rest. The Mayans abandoned this area once the Spanish settlers arrived. Although many of the ruins have deteriorated with time, you can still make out images that resemble kings or other significant members.

The Zona Archeologica del Rey is a self guided tour which can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to see. It just depends on how fast you can run from the Iguanas! Just kidding, but they are everywhere and another attraction to the ruins. They are used to people so there is nothing to be afraid of, however, I kept my distance. I did manage to snap an iguana selfie, of course. The iguanas do blend in very well with their surroundings, so there's your warning! There is little to no shade so make sure and bring plenty of water and sunscreen. The day we visited it had rained that morning, so it was very hot and humid! But well worth the small fee to tour the historical site and being drenched in sweat! Although these ruins aren't as grand as some of the others a bit further from Cancun, I am glad we made the short bus ride there. It's located at the edge of the Nichupte lagoon, near the center of the hotel district which makes it convenient to get to.