Costa Maya, Bacalar & Chetumal
Kohunlich & Dzibanché
Two great Maya cities in one day: the stucco masks of Kohunlich and Dzibanché, first capital of the Snake dynasty.
At Kohunlich, the Early Classic Temple of the Masks is known for the large stucco faces beside its stairway, painted red and black and representing rulers with solar attributes. The city covers about 14 square kilometres, and most of what you see today was built in the Late Classic (AD 600–900).
Dzibanché, "writing on wood", is named after the carved wooden lintels of its Temple VI. INAH describes it as the first great capital of the Kaanu'l, or Snake, dynasty. Its four groups of monumental buildings, including the Temple of the Owl and the Building of the Captives, spread over more than 40 square kilometres.
Pickup at your hotel in Chetumal or Bacalar.
Photos: Norberto Fotografía Negrete, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; HJPD, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Duration
- About 8 hours
- Guide language
- English · Spanish
- Pickup
- At your hotel in Costa Maya, Bacalar & Chetumal (other areas on request)
What's included
- Private transport with hotel pickup
- Guide
Not included
- Entrance fees, meals, equipment and boat: to be confirmed when we reply to your request
Sample itinerary
- 1Pickup at your hotel
- 2Drive west along the Chetumal–Escárcega highway
- 3Guided visit of Kohunlich and the Temple of the Masks
- 4Guided visit of Dzibanché
- 5Return to your hotel
Good to know
When are the sites open?
INAH lists both Kohunlich and Dzibanché as open Monday to Sunday, 08:00 to 17:00 (checked September 2026). Last-entry times differ between INAH's pages, so we confirm them when we reply to your request.
Is there a lot of walking?
Yes. Both are large sites in the forest, so wear comfortable shoes and bring a hat and water.
