The original name of the site is unknown. According to chroniclers of the sixteenth century, the site name could be Belma. "The Meco" was the nickname of a local resident of the nineteenth century, whose nickname referred to a malformation of the lower extremities; He was associated with the ruins, as was the caretaker of a small ranch on the beach, located near the current lighthouse. Cultural Importance The Meco is located on the northern coast of Quintana Roo, right on the bay of Isla Mujeres, by which is very likely to have had a role in the Mayan route navigation along all costs. In its early stages, in the Late Classic (600-800 AD), the settlement was linked to Coba, a fishing village of materiality. The building known as "The Castle" is the highest in the region and from its top can be a privileged view of the island of Cancun and its surrounding areas, which should give it a strategic importance in ancient times.Its port was the center of a major business and from there surely access to the nearby Isla Mujeres, which served as one of the most important shrines of Late Post Classic (1200 - 1500 AD) was monitored.

Services available in the area: parking, restrooms and seating area.

Opening hours Monday to Sunday from 8:00 to 16:00 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. Respect the roped off areas, avoid introducing foods and alcoholic drinks and not use flash in buildings with murals. The realization of any kind of ceremonies requires the prior approval of INAH.

The monumental core of the ancient settlement is located at kilometer 2.7 of the road between Puerto Juarez and Punta Sam, in corresponding to the continental part of the municipality of Isla Mujeres, north of Cancun terrain. Visitors can reach the site by public transport.