The Uxmal archaeological site is certainly not a “back roads” location–it’s one of the most ON the beaten track locations in Yucatan. But here’s a YBR way to experience it.
There is a 1.5 km hiking trail from the Hotel Uxmal Resort Maya to the entrance, so if you’re staying at the hotel (which is not a bad choice at all), you can have a nice walk to the archaeological site and save the 80 peso parking fee in the bargain. (Alternatively, feel free to do this as a walk in the reverse direction.)
Here’s the sign to look for at the hotel 
Following the arrows gets you to the trailhead
If you’re coming from the archaeological site, you walk out on the sidewalk next to the main entrance, and turn left to walk on the shoulder of the highway. You’ll walk a short way and see the obvious sign at your left facing the oncoming traffic (first photo). Walk past it and you’ll see the obvious dirt road (second photo). Walk just a few meters and you see the unmarked (!) but very clear trail to the right (third photo).
SOME NOTES ABOUT UXMAL:
This information is accurate in early December 2021. Things change constantly as the federal and state governments work to get the sites open; if you have a different experience please let us know!
- You can not just wander thru Uxmal any way you like. There is a roped, prescribed route to follow that does take you through or near most of the main buildings. If this is your first visit, be assured that you’ll see the most important parts of the site.
- Tickets for extranjeros cost MX$481, for Mexicans (including Residents) MX$80, free for INAPAM card holders. Parking is MX$80.
- If you visit the Ecos de Uxmal (Echoes of Uxmal) sound/light/video mapping show at night, know the following:
- You can buy tickets online ahead of time, or at the ticket booth. Ticket prices may change, but at this time were MX$500 per person (plus the parking fee). Although they could be sold out if there’s a tour busload, the three of us were the only ones there this particular night.
- This is a nighttime walking tour totaling about an hour, and you are walking or standing the entire time. Staff with flashlights will guide you to the five stops. The first is video mapping of the Magician’s Pyramid. Then there are three stops with music, narration and lighting. Each stop to this point is about 5 minutes.
- The final stop is inside the huge quadrangle with video mapping on three sides. This is about 20 minutes long, and you will be standing up. (In our case, with only three of us, we sat on the grass.)
- The tour tells some interesting stories, but the narration is entirely in Spanish. If you are not bilingual, you can enjoy the beautiful imagery but will not understand the story. Mid-December UPDATE: There are now electronic translators available! No other details right now.
- There’s a first-person review of the show on the Yucatan Magazine Website. If you want to go, reading that will at least give you an idea of what the different stories are about. This one-minute Spanish-language video will show you much better than the photos what the show looks like.
Video mapping on the Magician’s Pyramid 
Lights at the ball court 
Mapping inside the Quadrangle