Oxtankah is a small Maya site with the remains of a maritime city occupied principally in the Classic period (200–600 AD) and developed to exploit ocean resources specifically salt. Allegedly, it was also the site of the first mestizaje, where shipwrecked Gonzalo Guerrero married into a Maya family and fathered mixed-blood children. What remain are the ruins of several buildings around two squares, with an architectural style similar to that of the Petén region, and a chapel built by the Spanish conquerors. It’s a peaceful wooded place with trees ceiba, yaxche and other flora neatly labelled.

Original name of the city is unknown. In 1937 the researcher Alberto Escalona Ramos called it Oxtankah, a name that can have three interpretations: "in the middle of three villages", "three quarters" or "place surrounded by Ramones". Ramon is a tree (Brosium alicastrum) blooming in summer.

Cultural significance: is the largest and most important pre-Hispanic city that has been discovered in the Bay of Chetumal. The first Maya groups settled residence in Oxtankah around 600 a. C., remaining there until 1100. At that time space occurred three moments of high population density: Late Preclassic (300-50 BC) Early Classic (250-600 AD) and Late-Terminal Classic (600-900 AD). The maximum prosperity of their socio-political system was reached during the Early Classic, when leaders Oxtankah groups served as presidents of the neighboring populations, reflecting its power even in architecture. At that time several buildings were expanded markedly doubling their original proportions; the extension of the city exceeded the limits of the coast to the island incorporating Tamalcab.

The core area of the settlement contained at least ten people and two sunken courtyards bordered by buildings, more than thirty isolated structures and a cenote. The dominant architectural design of structures is Peten style: superposed with sloping walls, with rounded corners and tucked whose essential element is the molding Call "on Apron". To stock up on fresh water wells and built chultunes, where they captured rainwater. Navigation was a common activity, so in canoes channels toured the region and across the bay from Chetumal to transit the Caribbean sea from north to south, interacting with other coastal populations and systems involved in long distance trade, for foreign marine and terrestrial products distributed to other communities living inland. At the entrance of the Spaniards, Oxtankah had about 400 years of being abandoned.

Services available in the park, and health center information.

Hours Monday through Sunday from 8:00 to 17:00 pm (last entry at 16: 30 hrs.).

Quintana Roo INAH Center. Insurgentes 974, Colonia Blacksmiths, Chetumal, Quintana Roo. CP 77025. Tels. 01 (983) 837 24 11 and 837 0796, ext. 318002 and 318003.

Wear comfortable shoes, water, insect repellent and sunscreen.

Seven kilometres north of Calderitas, you’ll need your own transport to get there (follow the shoreline north through Calderitas) or a taxi.

To reach the archaeological zone Chetumal-Calderitas the road is taken and upon reaching this town continue along the paved road along the bay; 4.5 kilometers to the north, is the indication that marks the access to the site. The total distance from the center of Chetumal, takes approximately 25 minutes.