MUSEO MAYA DE CANCÚN & SITIO DE SAN MIGUELITO
Museum that exhibits one of the most important collections of the country, with more than 3,500 objects found in Quintana Roo.
Inaugurated in 2012 to replace Cancún's old archaeological museum, which had been destroyed by successive hurricanes, the Museo Maya features modern architecture that blends in quite well with the site, close to the Mayan ruins of San Miguelito. The museum exhibits one of the country's most important collections, a pleasant surprise in a city better known for its partying and lounging than for its culture. On display are over 3,500 objects discovered in Quintana Roo, as well as pieces from more distant sites such as Palenque, Chichén Itzá and Comalcalco. The first exhibition room chronologically traces the history of the region's Maya peoples, while the second covers various aspects of Maya culture: art, cosmovision, daily life, architecture... The third room houses temporary exhibitions on the Maya. Just behind the museum, a path leads to the San Miguelito archaeological zone. While the site is not as impressive as others in Quintana Roo, it nevertheless offers a good introduction to the Mayan world and a little piece of jungle amidst the noise and bustle of the hotel zone. The city was inhabited during the Postclassic period (1200 and 1550 AD) and is considered the most important Mayan settlement in the region. Some forty buildings have been discovered here, fourteen of which are open to the public, including a small pyramid and a columned palace.