Visiting the Edzna Archaeological Site in the State of Campeche, Mexico. Off the main tourist route and definitely worth your time to go and have a look! Updated August 2026.
It was the most important pre-Columbian city in Western Campeche. It was founded around 600 BC and occupied until AD 1500, when, along with most Mayan cities, it was simply abandoned for reasons unknown.
I visited the Edzna Archaeological Site in August 2021. Details have been updated where necessary.
Having visited Tikal and Palenque in the last 10 days, both of which are superb, I wasn’t expecting too much at Edzna. I mean, if they were going to be good, then there would be at least a backpackers’ hostel in Campeche to cater for the travellers, right?
I am always happy to blaze my own trail by visiting lesser-known sites as well as the most popular ones, making my own comparisons and drawing my own conclusions.
Is Edzná worth visiting?
The Edzna Archaeological Site was quite the surprise for me and is definitely worth visiting. It’s one of the lesser-visited sites, so if you are tired of the crowds, then Edzná is for you.
The highlights of Edzná include:
Edificio de los Cinco Pisos (The 5-Story Pyramid)
La Gran Acrópolis
The Nohoch Ná (Great House) & Main Plaza
The Plataforma de los Embajadores:
The Nohoch Ná (Great House):
Nohoch Ná is a 130-meter-long structure on the west side of the Main Plaza. The large steps were possibly used as bleachers for spectators watching events in the main plaza:
It was very common to find buildings decorated with masks. Here, 1 of 2 stucco (similar to plaster) masks found in 1988, which represent the sun god:
The Building of the Five Floors (Edificio de los Cinco Pisos):
This is the highlight of Edzná and the main focal point of La Gran Acropólis:
El Templo del Norte – The North Temple:
La Gran Acrópolis:
El Templo del Noroeste:
La Gran Acrópolis – the Great Acropolis:
The Edificio de los Cinco Pisos:
“Nomadic Backpacker woz ere” August 2021
Practical information for visiting the Edzna Archaeological Site
Where is the Edzna Archaeological Site
The archaeological site of the ancient city of Edzná is 55 km from Campeche.
How to Get to Edzná from Campeche by Colectivo
Where to Catch the Colectivo in Campeche:
Colectivos run, as and when, from Calle Chihuahua, opposite the main market, just outside the walled historic centre, marked as Combis Edzna on Google Maps.
The journey takes about an hour.
Update: Getting to Edzná on the Tren Maya. There is now a dedicated Tren Maya – Estación Edzná, but it is located 16 km away from the archaeological site. No details on how to make the connection. Perhaps a reader can provide some practical information in the comments below.
