In the residential zone of Playacar in Playa del Carmen you can find this small but magical place: the ruins of Xaman-ha. Also known as “the secret ruins of Playacar”, this Mayan archaeological settlement has three important buildings hidden among nature and with a beautiful view of the sea. It’s a perfect spot for a mid-day picnic!
We recommend you to go walking or by bike. The path to the ruins is surrounded by endemic flora and fauna of the region. On your walk, you can meet iguanas, sereques, squirrels, deer, and even small wild boars! There is also a wide variety of birds that can be seen and heard along the way.
As it is an archaeological zone with few tourist visits, you can still see murals with fragments of paintings in good condition and it is the only building preserved in a private area.
History Of The Ruins of Xaman-Ha in Playacar
Although it is not a great archaeological site like Tulum or Chichen, I consider it important to visit it, because as a curious fact, it is here where the city of Playa del Carmen originated.
Xaman-ha in Mayan means “water from the north” since it is located on the shores of the sea. Thanks to this, year after year, the Mayans made a canoe pilgrimage from there to the sanctuary of the goddess Ixchel in Cozumel. Therefore, it was considered an important crossing point.
Sometime later, the area also served as a fundamental landing port for the Spanish; in fact, it is thought that it was one of the first places in which they had settlements.
In its beginnings, the site was made up of eight buildings in a row that were used as housing and food warehouses.
They were inhabited from the year 1200 to 1500 carrying out civic and religious activities.
During the first stage of the conquest of Yucatan, Alonso Dávila, lieutenant of Francisco de Montejo, founded the Spanish settlement in this place and called it Salamanca de Xamanhá; however, it had to be abandoned in 1529 due to food shortages and the poor conditions of the Spanish soldiers who were there.
It was not until the colonization that the city was named Playa del Carmen in honor of the Virgen del Carmen.
Cost and Access to The Xaman-Ha Ruins
Admission is free. However, if you do not live or stay in the area, it is necessary to make an appointment at the National Institute of Anthropology. Their contact number is 983 837 24 11 ext. 318002. It is also possible to access from the beach.
How To Get To The Xaman-Ha Ruins Playa Del Carmen
Entering through phase one of Playacar, which is located on 10th Avenue and at the end of the Paseo del Carmen shopping center, you will see a cobblestone path that will take you inside the residential complex. At the first deviation, take the path to the right; this will take you right to the ruins that you will find on your right side.
Check out our Playacar post to know more about this zone in Playa del Carmen.