structure 8                                                                 steve mellard

EL MECO

structure 5                                                    steve mellard

structure 2 dance platform                                    steve mellard

str 1 el castillo                                                           steve mellard

structures 11 & 12                                                   steve mellard

structure 12                                                    steve mellard

techcatl/sacrifificial stone  structure 6         steve mellard

structure 12 new palapa                                           steve mellard

structure 18 on private property                                steve mellard

structure 7 plaza view                                        steve mellard

el castillo   plaza A                         rodrigo perez gonzales.

site map                                                                         inah

structure 12 serpent altar stone                                                        inah

old site map showing buried platforms                              steve mellard

structure 1 el castillo                                              steve mellard

east view to isla mujeres              mauro i bareag.

structure 6                                                  steve mellard

structure 1 before restoration                                       hjpd

plaza B                                                                steve mellard

structure 10 north side                                          steve mellard

chen mul censer str 6                     steve mellard

structures 6 & 6b                                steve mellard

structure 12                                        alvaro de la paz franco

serpent heads ala chichen itza                steve mellard

small temple east side                                 steve mellard

new infrastructure                                                   steve mellard

structure 11 during excavations                             steve mellard

new infrastructure                                                 steve mellard

​​​​​​​EL MECO- Quintana Roo (Yucatan), Mexico

DESCRIPTION
El Meco is a small archaeological zone located on the northern outskirts of the city of Cancun on the coastal road to Punta Sam. The ruins are very well maintained by INAH which reopened the site in January 2025 with new infrastructure and restoration work. There are numerous shade trees, birds and flowering plants that enhance the visitor’s experience. It is very easy to reach by car, taxi, or minivan as it is only 4 miles/6 kms from the city center. It has the tallest pyramid on the northeast Yucatan Peninsula.

This site is situated along the coast and is divided by a public roadway. The coastal portion has been leveled and now supports new infrastructure including a new entrance kiosk, bookstore, library, and an overpass connecting to the ruins themselves. Unfortunately, the residential platforms that were earlier reported on have been either buried or leveled. One of them is shown on an old site plan as being nearly as large as Plaza A. The remains of a pier have been reported, but a search of the beachfront did not produce any results.

There are three plazas that make up the core site. A number of platforms are located on private property both to the north and south of the archaeological park. A sacbe, white stone road, has been identified coming in from the southwest. This is a very pleasing, compact site.

HOURS: 8 A.M-5 P.M.
ENTRANCE FEE: U.S. $4.50/75 Pesos
GUIDES:  check at kiosk
SERVICES: Restrooms, book store and library
ON-SITE MUSEUM: No
ACCOMODATIONS: The site is located in Cancun.
GPS: 21d 12’ 38” N, 86d 48” 05” W
MISC:

HISTORY AND EXPLORATION
El Meco, whose ancient name may have been Yax Kin (First Sun), had its beginnings in the Early Classic (200-600 CE) as a small fishing village. The major site of Coba exerted a strong influence upon the entire east coast during this time frame, including El Meco. A population decline and possible abandonment occurred during the Classic Period (600-900 CE).

The site again returned to prosperity under the influence of Chichen Itza in the Terminal Classic (900-1150 CE). It reached its prominence in the Post Classic (1150-1500 CE) becoming the main embarkation point for devotees traveling to the sacred island shrines on Isla Mujeres just off the coast.  The site acted as an important port, part of an extensive trade network up, around, and across the Yucatan Peninsula. There are no known stelae or glyphic inscriptions recovered from the site that would help identify its rulers or direct political relationships with other sites.

El Meco was first reported on by Augustus Le Plongeon in 1887, followed by the renowned explorer and photographer Teobert Maler in 1891. In 1918 Samuel K. Lothrop and Thomas Gann of the Carnegie Institution produced descriptions and drawings. Fernando Robles C. and Anthony Andrews led official excavations under INAH in the 1970’s. The site has seen recent restoration and infrastructure efforts and was reopened to the public in December 2024.

STRUCTURES
El Meco comprises three plaza groups. There are a few scattered platforms located outside the archaeological zone on private property. The architecture is in the “East Coast style” as exemplified at the well-known site of Tulum.

Plaza A is held down on the west side by the main pyramid of the site, El Castillo, which has some similarities to its much bigger cousin at Chichen Itza. This structure consists of 3 building phases, one over the other as was common practice among the Maya. It stands about 44 feet/13.6 meters in height. A broad stairway flanked by balustrades features two eroded serpent heads at the base and leads up four levels to a small terrace. A second, smaller stairway then ascends to a temple structure having three entrances between two columns. From this vantage point a beautiful view of Isla Mujeres is achieved. Halfway up the backside of the pyramid is an entryway to an earlier, interior temple now sealed off, that contains an original, wood lintel beam.

There are two small structures at either side of the pyramid base that face east across the main plaza. The south structure, a small temple, is to the side of the pyramid. It has a single entryway and the only structure at the site with an intact roof. The north structure is larger and built against the side of the main stairway. A set of steps leads up to two columns through which one could enter the single chamber. A small bench/altar is against the rear wall. These two structures were part of the last construction phase. Several small altars are set in front of the pyramid.

 An interesting note here is that on the northside of the pyramid one can see a portion of an older structure. The difference in workmanship is quite evident. The older structure has smooth finished uniform stone block with rounded edges at the corners where the sides meet. Very nice quality workmanship. The final construction phase consists of roughly cut stone of dissimilar size and shape. It was finished off with a thick coating of stucco to hide the imperfections. One could probably draw an analogy to some of todays’ construction techniques.

In the center of the plaza is a small ritual platform, Structure 2, having steps on both the east and west sides. Surrounding the plaza are other structures rising off platforms in a partial states of restoration. These are thought to have been of a civic or ceremonial nature.

Structure 3 is on the northside of Plaza A. It consists of two separate structures set upon a low, shared platform. There are stairs on both the south, north, and east sides. The northeast structure is the larger of the two. It is a two-room suite that is now occupied by a rather large banyan tree. While the roof has long ago collapsed, the walls are mostly intact. The northwest structure, a single chamber, still has a portion of its corbeled roof visible.

Structure 4 occupies the northeast corner of Plaza A. Stairs ascend on both the north and west sides. This is a single chamber construction having a number of columns that once supported a flat roof. A central bench/altar is against the back wall. The remains of a mural have been identified within the building. An original passage leads into the plaza from the north between it and Structure 3.

Structure 5 is on the east side of Plaza A, and abuts against Structure 4. It is set on a long, rectangular base. Fourteen columns, all still standing, once supported a flat roof. A bench is located against the back wall.

A small structure is sandwiched in between Structures 5 and 6, here called Structure 6b. This structure has a wide stairway that leads up to a small, single chamber. Some low walls are still in place. A small terrace is on the north side of the structure.

Structure 6 is the last, and most impressive structure on the east side of the plaza. This building rises off of a raised platform base, and features one large chamber entered between twin columns. Most of its walls are still in place. Columns once supported a flat roof. An altar was located at the back of the chamber where several ceramic vessels were recovered including a Chen Mul effigy censer, typical of Mayapan design. Also recovered was a Techcatl/sacrificial stone incised with a figure of Tlaloc, the Central Mexican rain deity. Two lower chambers flank the central stairway.

Structure 7 is located on the southeast side of Plaza A.  This single chamber structure has some nice standing walls. A stairway from the plaza leads up to a small terrace. A small platform is noted on the east side of the structure. A low platform supports a rectangular building exhibiting a plaza-facing entryway. A bench is situated against the back wall. A stucco relief of a descending bird is located on the upper wall and may be associated with the maize/corn god, God E. A side entryway opens up to a north terrace that forms the back side of Structure 8.

The narrow end of Structure 8 is on the south side of Plaza A sharing the same platform base with Structure 7, though the majority of this structure is located within Plaza B.

Plaza B has 4 structures (8-11) that ring the plaza with Structure 8 being the principal structure here.

Structure 8 is a colonnaded building that takes up the entire east side of the plaza with a length of around 115 feet/35 meters. There are 23 columns that once supported a huge, flat roof. This may have been a market or administrative center, and faces west into the plaza. At the end is a standing portion of a semi-enclosed chamber that has traces of what once must have been a beautiful mural. Only the lower border is faintly visible. Stairways are on the north, east and west sides.

An altar/platform, Structure 9, is located in the center of the plaza. It has steps on both the east and west sides. A small mound is located on the south side of the plaza.

Structure 10 is at the west end of the plaza. This building is set on a low, “L” shaped platform shared with Structure 11. A central stairway leads into the multi-chamber building. Several standing columns once supported a flat roof. Several burials were located within the structure. A north doorway opens out onto a small terrace. A stairway leads down into Plaza C.

Structure 11 resides on the north side of Plaza B. This rectangular building rests on a low platform terrace. It features several interior columns that once supported a flat roof. Steps lead up from the plaza on the south side. A chultun (storage well) is visible within the structure. A secondary chamber is observed on the west end of the structure. Excavations in 2011 unearthed a small offering cache beneath a very well-preserved stucco floor. North facing steps lead down into Plaza C.

Plaza C incorporates three structures, including Structure 11 that anchors the south side of the plaza. The main structure, Structure 12, is similar in design and orientation to Structure 8, and takes up the entire west side of the plaza. It has a length of around 126 feet/38.6 meters. A decorative medial molding extends along the remains of a standing wall. Twenty-four interior columns once supported a flat roof. There are the remains of a mural and original stucco on portions of the south wall. A continuous stone bench lines the west wall with an altar at the midpoint that features a stucco serpent head in profile. Benches are also seen along the south and north walls.

A small, raised platform, Structure 13, forms the north side of the plaza, and shows a few scattered foundation stones. An altar was located atop the platform. The back side of Structure 1, El Castillo, completes the east side of the plaza.

To the north of Plaza C, on private property, are several platforms. Structure 18 is the largest with steps on its south side. There is no standing architecture atop the platform, and it is thought that any structures would have been made of perishable materials. Lidar sensing may help to discover more platforms and determine just how large El Meco was during its heyday.

 A very nice way to spend a morning or an afternoon.
updated February 2025  

structure 8                                                       steve mellard

​​​​​welcome to the mayan ruins website .

mid-level temple west side                         steve mellard

drone image                                                                            ray guy

structure 10                                                              steve mellard

structure 3 northwest                                    steve mellard

structure 4 northwest view                   steve mellard

structure 3 northeast view                            steve mellard