Xcaret
Xcaret (Polé) · Pole Sanctuary (Sian Ka'an shore)
Postclassic (c.1200–1519 CE) East Coast – Mayapan league; Late Classic hamlet antecedents·Maya (East Coast Coastal)·🇲🇽 Quintana Roo, Solidaridad, Riviera Maya, Mexico
About
About Xcaret
Xcaret (ancient Polé) is the walled Postclassic port-temple town on a Caribbean caleta 5 km south of Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, at 8 m. Its coastal cliff houses low limestone temple-pyramids (6m) on the caleta rim that doubled as port shrines and beacons for canoe caravans ferrying pilgrims to Cozumel's Ix Chel (San Gervasio). The settlemet – 150×80m with palisaded warehouses, plazas and intra-site sacbe – was the mainland terminus of the Cozumel ferry and a node in the circum-peninsular cotton–salt–obsidian trade before 1518. The modern Xcaret Eco-Archaeological Park (INAH–Xcaret SA) preserves the cliff temples within the theme park.
Why it mattersXcaret (ancient Polé) is the walled Postclassic port-temple town on a Caribbean caleta 5 km south of Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, at 8 m. Its coastal cliff houses low limestone temple-pyramids (6m) on the caleta rim that doubled as port shrines and beacons for canoe caravans ferrying pilgrims to Type-site defining regional sequence.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing of construction
- 02Function of elite vs communal architecture
Theories
- 01Regional capital coordinating irrigation and exchange
- 02Ritual-ceremonial amphitheatre aligned to astronomy
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c.1200–1519 CE port-pyramids; 300–900 CE fishing hamlet
- Period
- Postclassic (c.1200–1519 CE) East Coast – Mayapan league; Late Classic hamlet antecedents
- Culture
- Maya (East Coast Coastal)
- Builders
- Maya (Xcaret–Polé)
- Purpose
- Mayan Caribbean port-pyramid town and Polé ferry-crossing shrine to Cozumel Ix Chel pilgrims with coastal temple-marinas
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c.1200–1519 CE port-pyramids; 300–900 CE fishing hamlet
Initial construction
c.800–900 CE
Major occupation / refurbishment
c.1000–1532
Late horizon / Inca incorporation where applicable
On the ground
Structures & features
20.5800° N · 87.1200° W · 8 m · 2 mapped features
Caleta Temple-Mirador (Port Shrine Pyramid)
temple6m temple pyramid on caleta cliff rim with beacon niche overlooking ferry landing
20.5802° N · 87.1199° WPort Warehouse Plaza and Sacbe (Polé Causeway)
port150×80m plaza with palisaded warehouses and sacbe inland to Coba road
20.5798° N · 87.1201° W
Gallery