The Mayan Museum of Cancún, officially named the Museo Maya de Cancún in Spanish, is an archaeology museum situated within the Hotel Zone of Cancún, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo. Set upon a 20-acre property, the institution serves as a dedicated center for preserving and displaying ancient regional heritage.
Initial work on the facility began in 2006, leading up to its public opening on November 2, 2012. The timing of its inauguration was planned to correspond with interest in the 2012 event marking the conclusion of the Mayan Long Count calendar on December 21 of that year. Designed by architect Alberto García Lascurain, the development required an investment of $15 million. More than 70 percent of this total was supplied by the federal government of Mexico via the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia. The institute regarded the venue as its most prominent project since the 1987 opening of the Museo del Templo Mayor.
The main structure occupies 55,000 square feet and is managed under the direction of anthropologist Carlos Alberto Esperón Vilchis. Within its indoor exhibition spaces, the site houses a collection exceeding 350 historic artifacts created by the Mayan culture, gathered from various locations across the broader Yucatán Peninsula.
Beyond the primary museum facility, the surrounding 20-acre grounds include the San Miguelito archaeological site. Visitors exploring the exterior landscape can view 40 distinct Mayan structures, highlighted by a central pyramid that reaches a height of 26 feet.
See the full Cancún travel guide for where to stay, the best time to visit and the top things to do.