The Templo del Alacran (The Scorpion’s Temple) sits on the highest point in Cancun at the Park Royal Cancun Resort. The temple gets its name from the remains of scorpion sculpture on its walls. Entrance to see the ruins is free and I highly recommend visiting during the day as the stone steps are steep and somewhat rugged. With a lack of lighting and a few mojitos, it’s a twisted ankle waiting to happen.
This hidden archeological site is easily overshadowed by the towering hotels that surround it but it’s a beautiful reminder of what this land once was in the Mayan days. Many more of these structures were erected along the coastline and were used as watchtowers and navigational aid to guide sailors towards Chichen Itza.
Julio, the tour guide for the duration of the press trip, told us that Mayans also used these coastal temples to warn them of storms and hurricanes. Some of the structures were built so that when the wind exceeded a certain level, the towers would begin to whistle. This served as a warning to the locals to take shelter and that a storm was coming.
If you’d like to visit the ruins, it is recommended to speak to a staff member at the Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort. If you cannot gain access to it, then you can view it from the beach.
This press trip to Cancun, Mexico was made possible by Cancun Caribe Park Royal Grand Hotel. Thoughts and insights are strictly my own.
