Yamil Lu’um Ruins (Scorpion’s Temple) in Cancun, Mexico

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The Yucatan Peninsula was home to the Maya Civilization for thousands of years. Today, notable ruin sites such as Chichen Itza and Tulum draw in hordes of tourists. However, these aren’t the only ruins in the Cancun area. The city has a few small archaeological sites that have been preserved amongst the beach resorts. One such ruin is Yamil Lu’um, also known as the Scorpion’s Temple.

Getting to the Yamil Lu’um Ruins

If you want a quick break from sitting on the beach or by the pool in Cancun, the Yamil Lu’um ruins are an interesting way to take in a bit of Mayan history. For the easiest access, stay at one of the two hotels surrounding the property: The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas & Spa and Park Royal Cancún.

We stayed at the excellent Hotel NYX Cancun, which I have also reviewed. From that hotel, it’s a short walk along the beach to Yamil Lu’um.

If you’re not staying at one of the two hotels I mentioned above that surround the ruins, the easiest way to access Yamil Lu’um is from the beach.

There’s some conflicting information online about access. Several reviewers have mentioned needing to be escorted to the ruins by security if they accessed via the Westin staircase off the beach.

We tried going that way, but there were no security guards present or even employees to ask.

Not wanting to get in trouble for trespassing on resort property, we opted not to go underneath the building and head toward the ruins.

Instead, we returned to the beach, headed up a different staircase to the Park Royal Cancun, and had better success.

This staircase led from the beach right to the pool area and a back bar. We asked a staff member about the ruins, and they pointed us to a sidewalk leading away behind the bar right into lush greenery.

From there, it was a short walk (less than a minute) to the stone steps leading up to Yamil Lu’um, which is on federal property.

The steps are a bit jagged and uneven, so be careful, especially if you’re wearing beach footwear.

Exploring Yamil Lu’um (Scorpion’s Temple)

Yamil Lu’um sits atop a stone platform. It might not seem like it due to the towering hotels nearby, but this actually the highest point on the beach.

There are nice views of the beach and the Caribbean Sea. Not many people come up to see the ruins, so it’s pretty quiet. It’s a nice place to see the sunrise or sunset.

A sign gives a bit of information about the historic site.

SCORPION’S TEMPLE
Its name is attributed to the remains of a scorpion’s sculpture found in one of the walls of the temple.
The temple stands on a base of vertical walls with a staircase of four steps limited by two stones in the form of a dice. The upper part a platform was built that supports the temple with a single chamber whose interior is accessed through three clearings formed by two columns. The flat roof that covered it was made up of a wooden architrave of a series of andirons placed one very close to the other, the walls show a slight outward slope: the frieze is limited between two cornices and crowns it a single inclined plane.
The entire construction was stucco and painted, of which, at present, no trace remains.
This temple is chronologically located in the late post-classic period (1200-1550 A. C)

Not only is this a way to see a bit of local history in Mexico, but it’s also a way to encounter some wildlife.

There were dragonflies flittering about, as well as iguanas.

It doesn’t take long to see Yamil Lu’um, but if you want to see a bit of local history, it’s a nice break from relaxing at the beach.