A trip to Cancun should include a visit to one of the famous nearby archaeological sites.

A miniature sample of these sites is right on Cancun island. The Ruinas del Rey, or King's Ruins, which border the lagoon on the south end of the island, date back to the Late PreClassic period (300 B.C.-100 A.D.).

The site's original Mayan name is unknown; it derived it current name from the discovery of a stone figure whose headdress and ear plugs were believed to depict a person of high ranking.

Though minor compared to other sitcs, Del Rey did reveal something of the way its inhabitants lived, subsisting primarily from fishing and mollusk gathering. They also developed a far-reaching trade system that bartered seafood, and conch and snail shells used to make utensils and omaments, for imported items such as grinding stones and flint knives. The stone figure and other artifacts, including conch and jadeite ornaments, have been removed, but visitors can still see remnants of a mural painting, glyphs, and human figures painted in red, black, yellow and blue.

Artifacts from this and other sites in the state reside in the small Museum of Cancun at the Convention Center. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.