Cancún Maya Museum

Cancún Maya Museum (Museo Maya de Cancún) is on Blvd. Kukulcán at Km marker 16.5. This architecturally impressive museum, built over a 6-year period by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), was the largest INAH project undertaken since the construction of the Templo Mayor Museum in Mexico City in 1987. Around 400 archeological artifacts are displayed in three large exhibition halls; some were unearthed during recent excavations and others had not been exhibited previously.

One of the highlights when visitors first enter is a collection of 14,000-year-old skeletal remains discovered in one of Tulum's underwater caves. Room 1 is dedicated to the Mayan civilization and contains items acquired over 30 years of archeological research, along with a historical timeline of human habitation on the Yucatán Peninsula.

Room 2 showcases the regions occupied by the Mayan people—southeastern Mexico, neighboring Belize and Guatemala, and parts of El Salvador and Honduras. Exhibits feature aspects of daily life and an overview of Maya art and architecture. Room 3 presents temporary changing exhibits. There are covered and exposed areas. Wear a hat, sunscreen and comfortable walking shoes, and bring up to 20 oz. of water.

Guided tours are available. Time: Allow 2 hours minimum.