Yamil Lu'um (Quintana Roo)

Yamil Lu'um, "hilly land" located in Cancn on the highest point of land. This archaeological site is lodged between the Westin Laguna Mar and the Park Royal Pirmides, Yamil Luumon. The ruins are on the land owned by the Park Royal Pirmides, Yamil Luumon, Cancn, Blvd. Kukulcn, Km. 12, Zona Hotelera, Cancun, Yucatan 77500. The Yamil Lu'um site consists of two small temples that were built between 1200 AD and 1550 AD. The Templo del Alacrn (Temple of the Scorpion), owing its name to the remains of a scorpion sculpture on one of its walls, and the Templo de la Huella (Temple of the Handprint), named so because of a hand print in the stucco. Unfortunately, neither the scorpion sculpture nor the hand print is visible these days. The ruins are well above the beach on Cancns highest point, suggesting that the two small temples were used as watchtowers, lighthouses, and navigational aids. Yamil Lu'um is the smallest of the Cancn ruins. It was first visited by John Lloyd Stephens in 1842. This site is open daily with no entrance fee. To see the ruins, go to the concierge at either the Westin or the Park Royal Pirmides and ask if you can walk through to the site. If you are refused, head to Playa Marlnat the very least, you can see them from afar. This site is open daily with no entrance fee.