Museum sights in Yucatán Peninsula
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Zoh-Laguna Museum
Zoh-Laguna's interesting history is illustrated photographically in the small Zoh-Laguna Museum, opposite Hotel Bosque Modelo.
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Museo de la Isla de Cozumel
Exhibits at the fine Museo de la Isla de Cozumel in San Miguel present a clear and detailed picture of the island’s flora, fauna, geography, geology and ancient Maya history. Thoughtful and detailed signs in English and Spanish accompany the exhibits. It’s a good place to learn about coral before hitting the water, and it’s one not to miss before you leave the island. A courtyard in the back contains a na (thatched Maya hut) with someone in attendance who will explain (in Spanish) the various elements that made up Maya domestic life: the toys, utensils, foodstuffs, a raised garden bed for kitchen herbs and more.
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Museo Arqueológico de Campeche & Fuerte de San Miguel
This stunning colonial fortress is home to an excellent archaeological museum, where you can see objects found at the ancient Mayan sites of Calakmul, Edzná and Jaina, an island north of the city once used as a burial site for Mayan aristocracy. Among the displays are stunning pieces of jade jewellery and exquisite vases, masks and plates.
The star attractions are the jade burial masks from Calakmul. Also displayed are stelae, seashell necklaces and clay figurines. Equipped with a dry moat and working drawbridge, the fort itself is a thing of beauty. The roof deck, ringed by 20 cannons, affords wonderful harbour views.
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Museo de la Arquitectura Maya
The Baluarte de Nuestra Señora de la Soledad contains the fascinating Museo de la Arquitectura Maya, the one must-see museum in Campeche. It provides an excellent overview of the sites around Campeche state and the key architectural styles associated with them. Five halls display stelae taken from various sites, accompanied by graphic representations of their carved inscriptions with brief commentaries in flawless English.
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Museo de la Ciudad
Named after Spain’s King Carlos II, the Baluarte de San Carlos houses the Museo de la Ciudad. This small but worthwhile museum chronologically illustrates the city’s tempestuous history via well-displayed objects: specimens of dyewood, muskets, a figurehead from a ship’s prow and the like. The dungeon downstairs alludes to the building’s use as a military prison during the 1700s. The museum was closed during research.
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Museo INAH
Closed for the past two years from Hurricane Wilma damage (even the museum's director doesn't know when it'll be opening its doors), Museo Inah is on the south side of the Centro de Convenciones in the Zona Hotelera. Skulls exhibiting the deformities caused intentionally by Maya parents to beautify their children are a bit creepy but also on display are jewelry and artifacts.
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Chilam Balam Auditorio
The Chilam Balam Auditorio next to the museum, sometimes has video shows about Chichén and other Mexican sites. The picture quality can be truly abominable, but the air-con is great. In the central space of the visitors center stands a scale model of the archaeological site, and off toward the toilets is an exhibit on Edward Thompson's excavations of the Cenote Sagrado.
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Museo de Los Grandes Maestros del Arte Mexicano
Southeast of the Convento de San Antonio de Padua on the plaza is the small Museo de los Grandes Maestros del Arte Mexicano, an art museum and gallery showcasing pop art from around Mexico.
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Museo de San Roque
Previously a church, the Museo de San Roque has models and exhibits relating the history of the city and the region. Other displays focus on various aspects of traditional Maya life.
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A small museum commemorates Pope John Paul II's 1993 visit to the monastery. He brought with him a silver crown for the statue of the patron saint of Yucatán, the Virgin of Izamal.
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Baluarte de San Juan
Closed at research, Baluarte de San Juan is the smallest of the seven bulwarks, containing a permanent exhibition on the history of the bulwarks.
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The visitors center has a small but worthwhile museum, with sculptures, reliefs, artifacts and explanations in Spanish, English and French.
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E
Museo de la Cultura Maya
The Museo de la Cultura Maya is the city’s claim to cultural fame – a bold showpiece beautifully conceived and executed.
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Centro Cultural Chan Santa Cruz
The Centro Cultural Chan Santa Cruz has art exhibitions, workshops and the occasional exhibit on the War of the Castes.
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