Chicanná

Information

It is an archaeological site in the state of Campeche in Mexico, located within the Yucatán Peninsula. It's in a region where several Maya ruins are very close to each other such as Becán, Xpujil and Hormiguero. In fact the ruins of Becán are just 3.5 km away, which makes it easy to combine visits in a single day.

To get there you have to take a road that branches off from Route 186, 9.5 km from Xpujil, and follow it for about 500 meters until reaching the entrance where there is a checkpoint. It's usually not very crowded, so you can explore it in complete tranquility. It's important to keep in mind that there are no shops in the area or nearby, so it's recommended to bring everything you might need: water, mosquito repellent and any other items that could be useful.

Chicanná reached its peak between the years 500 and 700 AD and was a Maya center that depended on Becán. It functioned as a kind of suburban area, which in fact declined when Becán, its main hub, fell into decay.

The ruins are set in an area of lush vegetation and rich biodiversity. While this archaeological site doesn't feature large buildings, it offers a route where you can see a good number of smaller structures, many of them well preserved. Completing the visit takes about an hour. The most striking structure is number II which features delicate decoration and a mask representing a god. There are also other buildings with masks and ornamental details that reflect the architectural style typical of the region.