National park · Mexico
KohunlichZona Arqueológica de Kohunlich
Go if you are driving or riding the Tren Maya between Chetumal and the Calakmul road: budget 2–3 hours on site, arrive at 08:00 opening to have the Temple of the Masks almost to yourself, and skip it if you only have a Cancún beach week.Go if you are driving or riding the Tren Maya between Chetumal and the Calakmul road: budget 2–3 hours on site, arrive at 8:00 AM opening to have the Temple of the Masks almost to yourself, and skip it if you only have a Cancún beach week.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²)
approximate
Established
1969
Best months
Nov–Mar
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
- Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
- Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
- Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.
At a glance
- Country
- Mexico
- Area
- 0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²)
- About 9 hectares of excavated and restored core, with roughly 200 unexcavated mounds in the surrounding forest (check).
- Established
- 1969
- Best months
- Nov–Mar
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Chetumal
Kohunlich is a mid-sized Maya city in the rainforest of southern Quintana Roo, about 70 km west of Chetumal on the Escárcega highway. Its draw is the Temple of the Masks: a pyramid stair lined with large stucco sun-god faces, unusual in the Maya world and unusually well preserved because a later building was raised over them. The site is small enough to walk in two hours and lightly visited enough that you often share it with birdsong rather than crowds. It pairs naturally with Dzibanché, 20 km further on the same road, and with the Tren Maya station at Nicolás Bravo.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1969.
Size and age
0 km² (0 sq mi)0 sq mi (0 km²) · national park since 1969
About 9 hectares of excavated and restored core, with roughly 200 unexcavated mounds in the surrounding forest (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Chetumal.
Why go
- The Temple of the Masks: eight stucco sun-god faces on one stairway, a form found at few other Maya sites.
- A two-hour visit that fits a driving day between Chetumal, Bacalar and the Calakmul road.
- Rainforest setting with howler monkeys, toucans and iguanas on the walk between plazas.
- Far quieter than Chichén Itzá or Tulum; you can photograph the main pyramid without a crowd in frame.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanDry, cooler mornings; clearest light on the masks
- FebDry and bright
- MarDry; heat building by midday
- AprHot; go at opening
- MayRain starts; humid, mosquitoes up
- JunWet; short heavy showers most days
- JulWet and hot; paths muddy
- AugWettest stretch; some sites close for maintenance
- SepWet; storm season
- OctRain easing; green forest
- NovDry season returns; comfortable
- DecDry and busy with regional visitors
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howler monkeys (saraguatos) heard and sometimes seen in the canopyAll year · Loudest at dawn; listen from the plaza. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Migratory birds among roughly 200 recorded speciesNov–Mar · Winter migrants add to the resident species. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Iguanas and basking reptilesNov–May · Common on stonework; keep distance. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Mosquitoes and biting insectsMay–Oct · Worst in the wet months; repellent with DEET. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Chetumal
Drive west on MEX-186 about 70 km (43 mi) to Francisco Villa, turn left onto the Kohunlich access road, 7 km (4.3 mi) to the gate.Drive west on MEX-186 about 43 mi (70 km) to Francisco Villa, turn left onto the Kohunlich access road, 4.3 mi (7 km) to the gate.
1.5 h
Open the page →
From Bacalar
Same highway route via Chetumal or the Chetumal bypass; a car is the practical option.
2 h
From Xpujil and Calakmul road
Drive east on MEX-186 about 70 km (43 mi) to Francisco Villa, then right onto the access road for 7 km (4.3 mi).Drive east on MEX-186 about 43 mi (70 km) to Francisco Villa, then right onto the access road for 4.3 mi (7 km).
1.5 h
From Tren Maya
Estación Nicolás Bravo Kohunlich, then 14 km (8.7 mi) by taxi or hotel transfer to the site.Estación Nicolás Bravo Kohunlich, then 8.7 mi (14 km) by taxi or hotel transfer to the site.
1 h train plus 20 min road
From Cancún or Tulum
Tren Maya or ADO bus south to Chetumal or Nicolás Bravo, then road transfer; long as a day trip.
5–7 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Temple of the Masks | The main pyramid, its stairway lined with stucco sun-god masks and jaguar reliefs. | Open with a ticket; climbing is restricted or closed depending on condition (check). |
| Central Plaza and Palace | Courtyard complex and the plaza that formed the civic core. | Open; walk on marked paths. |
| Acropolis | A large raised platform that once carried residential and administrative buildings. | Open; steep in places. |
| Rainforest and unexcavated mounds | About 200 mounds under forest, with howler monkeys and birds around the cleared core. | Stay on the marked paths; the forest is not a walking area. |
Sketch map
- 1Kohunlich entrance gate · Gate≈18.419, -88.791Map ↗
- 2Temple of the Masks · Viewpoint≈18.418, -88.792Approximate; inside the excavated core.Map ↗
- 3Central Plaza · Trail≈18.420, -88.789Approximate.Map ↗
- 4Francisco Villa village · Village≈18.478, -88.838Approximate; junction of MEX-186 and the access road.Map ↗
- 5Estación Nicolás Bravo Kohunlich (Tren Maya) · Ranger station≈18.576, -88.898Map ↗
- 6Chetumal · Town≈18.500, -88.300Approximate city centre.Map ↗
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate, taken from the site entrance, the highway junction and the Tren Maya station, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site entry (INAH ticket) | MXN 85–95 (≈ US$5–6) | person | 2026 estimate; the published rate has been M$85 and rises with inflation. Camera fee sometimes charged separately (check). |
| Guide hired in Chetumal (day trip, site plus Dzibanché) | MXN 1,500–2,500 (≈ US$85–140) | group | 2026 estimate; price depends on group size and whether lunch is included. |
| Tren Maya, Chetumal to Estación Nicolás Bravo Kohunlich | MXN 120–140 (≈ US$7–8) | person | 2026 estimate, tourist class; about 1 hour. Then 14 km by taxi or transfer to the site (check). |
| Taxi or transfer, Nicolás Bravo station to the site | MXN 200–400 (≈ US$11–25) | vehicle | 2026 estimate; agree the fare and a return pickup before leaving. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Site entry ticket permit or guide
Drone flight permit or guide
Tripod or professional video no permit
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- MX$85–95≈ US$5–6
- MX$1,500–2,500≈ US$85–140
- MX$120–140≈ US$7–8
- MX$200–400≈ US$11–25
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on INAH — Zona Arqueológica de Kohunlich before you go.
Park rules
- Stay on marked paths
- Venomous snakes and insects live in the surrounding forest, and unexcavated mounds are unstable.
- Do not touch the masks or reliefs
- The stucco is fragile and skin oils and sunscreen damage it.
- Climbing
- Where climbing is allowed, use the marked route; some structures are closed to protect them (check).
- Drones
- Not permitted without INAH authorisation.check
- Opening hours
- Generally daily 08:00–17:00; last entry is earlier than closing and hours can change (check).Generally daily 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; last entry is earlier than closing and hours can change (check).check
Where to stay
Near the park
Francisco Villa village
Budget roadside hotels on MEX-186, a few minutes from the access road; the practical base for an early start.
Near the park
The Explorean Kohunlich area
Mid-range jungle resort on the same highway with villas, pool and transfers from Chetumal airport or the Tren Maya station.
Near the park
Chetumal
Full range of hotels, restaurants and services, 90 minutes away; best if you are also flying or taking the train.
Near the park
Bacalar
Lagoon-side guesthouses about two hours away; combine the ruins with a lagoon stay.
Safety
Heat and sun on cleared plazas medium
Mosquitoes and insect-borne disease medium
Snakes and biting insects off-path medium
Uneven stone and roots low
Isolation on the access road low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The entrance, ticket area and the flat path to the Central Plaza are walkable for most visitors.
- The Temple of the Masks stairway and the Acropolis are steep and uneven; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility.
- No wheelchair-accessible toilets or paved routes are documented at the site (check).
Visiting lightly
- Carry out all rubbish; there are few bins and no shop at the site.
- Do not feed or approach monkeys and iguanas; keep voices low near the forest edge.
- Buy food and fuel in Francisco Villa or Chetumal so the local economy benefits from your visit.
- Combine Kohunlich with Dzibanché in one trip rather than making two separate drives.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Kohunlich?
The INAH entry ticket has been around M$85 per person, with a 2026 estimate of M$85–95 as rates rise; a camera fee is sometimes charged separately. Guides hired in Chetumal for a day trip including the site and Dzibanché run about M$1,500–2,500 per group. Check the current price at the gate.
What are the best hikes in Kohunlich?
There are no long trails: the site is about 9 hectares. The best walking is the Temple of the Masks circuit (45–60 minutes), the flat Central Plaza and Palace loop, and the short steep climb to the Acropolis platform. All are on marked paths inside the excavated core.
When is the best time to visit Kohunlich?
December to March is driest and most comfortable, with the clearest light on the masks. April and May are hot; May to October is the wet season with daily showers, mud and more mosquitoes. Whatever the month, arrive at the 08:00 opening for cooler air and fewer people.
How do I get to Kohunlich without a car?
Take the Tren Maya to Estación Nicolás Bravo Kohunlich, about an hour from Chetumal, then a taxi or hotel transfer for the 14 km to the site. ADO buses and combis run along MEX-186 between Chetumal and Xpujil and may drop you at Francisco Villa, but the 7 km access road then needs a taxi or a lift.
Can I combine Kohunlich with other ruins?
Yes. Dzibanché is about 20 km further west on MEX-186 and makes an easy half-day pairing. The Calakmul reserve is a much longer drive east and needs its own day.
Is Kohunlich crowded?
Rarely. It is far quieter than Chichén Itzá or Tulum, and even in high season the main pyramid is often uncrowded in the first hour after opening.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go