Playacar Mayan Ruins (Xamen Ha)
Playacar Mayan Ruins
About Playacar Mayan Ruins, Quintana Roo, Mexico
The Playacar Mayan Ruins (Xaman Ha) lie along the beautiful coast of Playa del Carmen in the popular state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. These ruins were an important place of worship and the starting point of a pilgrimage for ancient Mayan women. These particular ruins were constructed as a launching point for their journey to Cozumel Island to honor the Goddess Ixchel. This pilgrimage was an annual event and to the Mayans, it was a crucial ritual that was essential for fertility and childbirth.
The Playacar Mayan Ruins aren’t the most complete examples in the region, but they are free of charge which makes them a great visit when visiting the Playa del Carmen area. Originally there are said to have been eight buildings at the site, with only three remaining today. Xaman Ha, which is the original Mayan name for the ruins meaning “waters to the north”, was much like today used as a launching point for boats traveling to Cozumel.
Xaman Ha was also a prominent trading and fishing community being part of the historical Mayan trade route. Most trading was done with villages to the north called El Meco and El Rey. Eventually, the town was abandoned around 1526 due to the arrival of Spanish conquistadors who had landed on the shores of the Mayan territories.
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