The Maya city the world knows: UNESCO World Heritage, one of the New 7 Wonders, El Castillo at the center. Two and a half hours from Playa, so go before the buses arrive at ten.
WHY IT’S WORTH IT
1UNESCO World Heritage + one of the New 7 Wonders: the canonical Maya site.
2El Castillo, the Great Ball Court, the Sacred Cenote.
3A cenote on the way back, Ik Kil or Suytun, breaks the heat.