Chichen Itza or Ek Balam? Which Mayan Ruins Are The Best To See?

Chichen Itza Ek Balam are both wonderful Mayan Ruins to see and have become top tourist sites to see from Cancun, Tulum and surrounding areas.  

Which is best to see,  Ek Balam or Chichen Itza?

The deal breaker for me is the fact that you can climb the pyramids of Ek Balam while you can’t do that at Chichen Itza. For that reason, I choose Ek Balam.  The climb to the top of Ek Balam will reward you with breathtaking views over the jungle canopy while standing atop ancient ruins. There is no experience like it. I truly enjoyed my visit the Ek Balam and would go again.

Want to avoid crowds? 

At Ek Balam, there are not many people and you can enjoy the sounds of birds and wildlife echoing through the jungle (without the many voices of people!).  You’ll see butterflies of all colors flutter in and out of the Mayan ruins. It’s magical!

See what the experience is like to visit Ek Balam in this video.

Should you visit Chichen Itza?

Chichen Itza is one of the top wonders in the world to see. Most travelers that have visited both Chichen Itza and Ek Balam say they are glad they saw Chichen and that they got a chance to cross it off their bucket list, but that they did not enjoy the crowds. 

So, is Chichen Itza worth seeing? Yes it is, however, if I had to choose between Chichen Itza or Ek Balam, I would choose Ek Balam. At the end of the day, if you can see both, go for it and you can choose from first hand experience which one you enjoyed the most.

Have you seen Ek Balam and Chichen Itza? Let me know which you liked best in the comments below.

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