Which one to choose in Calakmul
Two ancient sites in Calakmul. Balamku has no online ticket listed; Calakmul has 9 tickets and tours to book. The table and the two notes below put them side by side; the full pages have what to see, the ticket and the timing for each.
Calakmul, Mexico
Balamku is a small Maya site in the forest of southern Campeche, about 50 km north of Calakmul, discovered only in 1990. It is famous for one of the largest surviving stucco friezes in the Maya world, nearly 17 metres long, which shows rulers, toads and crocodiles and is preserved under a protective roof.
Calakmul, Mexico
Calakmul is the great Maya capital of the Snake Kingdom, deep in the rainforest of southern Campeche, 35 km from the border with Guatemala. Its Structure 2 rises more than 45 metres above the canopy and can still be climbed, and the city was the main rival of Tikal for most of the Classic period.
| Balamku | Calakmul | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Ancient City | Ancient City |
| Civilisation | Maya | Maya |
| Founded | 300 BC | — |
| Area | 25 ha | 20 km² |
| Height | — | 45 m |
| Entry | A small INAH fee at the gate | MXN 210 INAH, MXN 215 reserve, plus a local road fee |
| Hours | Daytime opening, roughly from morning to late afternoon; check locally | 8 am to 5 pm daily, last entry 4 pm; the reserve road opens earlier |
| Time needed | About an hour | 3 to 4 hours on site |
| Booking | Pay at the gate; no booking needed | Book tours a few days ahead; independent visitors pay at the gates in cash |
| UNESCO | — | yes |
| Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide | none listed | 9 |