The archaeological zone of Kulubá is located between Tizimín and Colonia Yucatán, an area where ranches are a main part of the landscapes and the local economy. Kulubá is a jewel from the northeastern Yucatan.


The archaeological zone of Kulubá It officially opened this year 2018 to visitors, after years of archaeological studies where they have been conditioning the enclosure.

The hidden ruins are reached by a hard sand road, which in the rainy season gets muddy and can make driving difficult. This path takes you to the cattle ranches of Culubá and Emmanuel, the land where the ruins are located.

Kuluba Yucatan archaeological zone

HOW TO GET TO KULUBA

Tizimín is the nearby reference town to go to the Kulubá archaeological zone. The path is not very well indicated, so later I leave you photos of the path so that you have better reference to get there.

  • FROM TIZIMÍN BY CAR: take the highway towards Colonia Yucatán. You must take the detour towards Tixcancal. Along that road, once past the town of San Pedro, there is a sign indicating the "Kulubá Ruins." From here it is 2 kilometers along a dirt road to the entrance, a ranch gate.
  • FROM TIZIMÍN BY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: you can get there in the buses that leave near the Benito Juárez park to the junction of the entrance to the Kulubá archaeological zone by public transport, and from here walk 2 kilometers to the entrance to the site.
  • FROM TIZIMÍN BY TAXI: you can agree on a price with a taxi driver from Tizimín

Mexico state: Yucatan

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The last section to the Kulubá archaeological zone takes you along a dirt road for two kilometers to the entrance. 

Drive until you pass an old house in ruins, later pay attention because on the right you can see one of the main structures. There your adrenaline is already pumping, and while you smile, breathe and think about stopping, you immediately see a wooden sign with almost erased letters indicating that you have arrived at the ruins of Kulubá.

Do not miss the 5 archaeological sites of Yucatán most impressive

Kuluba ruins
Kuluba Ruins indication on the road that leads to Tixcancal, coming from Tizimín
Kuluba Yucatan archaeological zone
From the detour there are 2 kilometers along this dirt road to the entrance to Kulubá
Kuluba Yucatan archaeological zone
When you get to this house, you are close to Kulubá
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Poster that is barely read indicating the entry
Kuluba ruins
Entrance to Kulubá

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ENTER KULUBÁ?

Kulubá remains free access until 2024. The ranch watchman welcomes you and asks you to register (he keeps the official registration for the INAH) and you can now visit the area. You register in a palapa that serves to receive the visitor and preserve some of the few pieces that we can see in situ.

There is no entrance fee, unless you want to tip the waiter who greets you. Sometimes he accompanies you to see part of the premises. He arrives daily on his bike from Tixcancal along an inland road. How angry because I don't remember his name and I've been to Kulubá a lot of times.

Most likely, you will be alone visiting Kulubá, and you will be able to explore the area with complete peace of mind. That is why I reaffirm that Kulubá maintains that adventurous charm that the most visited Chichén Itzá and Ek Balam, neighbors of the area, have undoubtedly lost.

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Kulubá table
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Museum of site in Kulubá

KULUBÁ ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREA

The entrance to Kulubá brings you a small smile when you border a ranch wooden door, you enter a cow field literally recycled in an archeological area for the public.

As a curiosity, the cow is an animal that did not inhabit these lands in ancient Mayan times, it was introduced in colonial times.

Kulubá retains the charm of the adventure of a beautiful and surprising place

After the gate, a path leads you to what is known as the Temple of the Masks, one of the three main structures of Kulubá. In front of this beautiful building, the frieze that adorned the main façade is protected by a shade, a gem of Mayan art.

There are several rooms where you can enter the temple and see the interior shape of the place. Sometimes birds, bats and wasps occupy these spaces, so when you look at the ceiling, try to do so with your mouth closed.

Kuluba Yucatan archaeological zone
Kuluba ruins
Kuluba Yucatan archaeological zone

Just a few meters away, another of the main buildings that make up the enclosure, the Palacio de los Chenes, is covered in undergrowth. This is another gem, you can see many architectural details in Kulubá. The three main buildings are restored, and many architectural details and ornamentation of different architectural styles are visible.

At Lóleo Eventos, Mexican Archeology Magazine you can read about the research and conclusions of the latest studies of Kulubá (the printed version is much more complete). His conclusions say that Kulubá had interaction with Ek Balam in the Late Classic (from 600 AD to 900 AD), with whom he shares the architectural styles of Puuc, Chenes and Río Bec.

Beginning in the ninth century, Kulubá is governed by the influence of the emerging Chichen Itza, with whom he shares style in ceramic, obsidian and mural samples. Fascinating the clues that build and rebuild the history we did not see, our human footprints.

Kuluba ruins
kuluba

Once you explore the buildings and surroundings of this first group, you can return to the entrance where is the other building known as Palace of the U, for its ornamentation. This building is trapped among nature, something that gives a bucolic touch to the place.

I love this corner, enjoying the place alone with the birds and the sounds of the jungle is wonderful. That is already one of those corners of the Mayan world that brings me my best smiles.

Kuluba Yucatan archaeological zone
Kuluba archaeological zone

THE NEW EXPLORED AREA OF KULUBÁ

During the last years the INAH has continued working in the area. A large part of the southern area of ​​the enclosure, where tombs were found, has been rebuilt. It is really exciting to tour this area of ​​high jungle, where spider monkeys live.

Several years ago, I visited this area as always, browsing, and everything was still in a dilapidated state. Since the work of the INAH it has been restored. I have seen this area of ​​Kulubá transform, it has been very nice for me to see it.

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Walking towards the new reconstructed area of ​​Kulubá
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I can't find the photo I took when this building was just a mound of stones.

TIPS FOR VISITING KULUBÁ

I'll warn you right away that at some times in Kulubá there are a lot of ticks. This is due to the cattle in the area, which usually graze within the archaeological zone. Being a very rarely visited place, it is not suitable for tourism, it is not fumigated, that is why there are so many ticks.

I have visited the place more or less 8 times, since half of them have touched me with ticks, and they are terrible. Even with good boot shoes, they have gotten in. I recommend that you learn a little about how to protect yourself from ticks, it is better to be safe.

How to bring mosquito repellent, the months from June to November are the months with the most insects. Since the rainy season is changing now, it is better to always wear it even if it is a dry season.

Bring water for your trip, if you can use your thermos it is better to not use so much plastic.

kuluba yucatan

PLACES NEAR KULUBÁ TO VISIT

1 hour by car from Kulubá you have several interesting destinations to visit. I leave you the map of eastern Yucatán so you can snoop around to discover what to discover here. This area of ​​Yucatán is where we have lived for years, our home.

I leave you some recommendations:

  • Ek Balam archaeological zone: It is the closest you have to Kulubá, and it is one of the most impressive. With a 29 meter high Acropolis to climb and have views, one of the great tombs of the Mayan world, it is a must for me.
  • Cenote Aka'ab Che'en: At one of the exits from the town of Tixcancal, you will find this cave cenote.
  • Santa Cruz Cenote: In Ángel's ranch, which is next to the town of Chan Cenote, is this beautiful semi-open cenote.
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Photo © Google Maps: click on the image to open the map

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Sandra Salvadó Training photographer, traveler by vocation and certified tourism guide by the Government of Mexico. We promote natural wonders and contemporary Mayan culture. Great fan of pre-Hispanic history. Author of the blog and co-founder of The Shortest Path Travel, agency that guides you through alternative paths in Mayan lands. Social and sustainable tourism in the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas.
I am at your disposal for whatever you need. Let's talk.

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