Some evidences indicate that Xel Ha Park was actively occupied during Classic and Postclassic times, but most of the buildings were rebuilt in the Late Postclassic. It was probably not fully abandoned until the 19th Century. In 1841, the explorers Stephens and Catherwood discovered a stela with an Early Classic date of 9.6.10.0.0 (564a.d) from Xel Ha, Mexico.

Xel Ha, Mexico was an important merchant port of the Mayan city of Coba. It was likely used as an exchange point between the Maya and other sea-navigating people between the 7th and 12th centuries, and eventually was a beacon to which European colonial navigators were drawn.

In December 1526 one of Cortés’ party, the wealthy nobleman Francisco de Montejo, after persistently lobbying the Spanish crown for several years, was granted a royal contract to raise an army and conquer Yucatán. This involved three separate campaigns from 1527 to 1546.

Xel Ha, Mexico was used as a base by Spanish forces, during their first failed expedition (1527–28) led by the conquistador Francisco de Montejo, In his first attempt (1527-1528) he brought three ships with several hundred men to Santo Domingo from Spain, landing at Cozumel in September 1527 with two ships and about 200 men. They crossed over from the island of Cozumel to make landfall at Xel Ha and Xcaret, Mexico called Pole in colonial times.

Montejo pretended to be the first Spanish settlement on the peninsula, which he named “Salamanca de Xelha” like his birthplace in Spain, Salamanca. However, the supplies they had brought were not enough to sustain their task. Eventually Montejo’s forces stabilized and made expeditions, heading out with some 125 men north towards Ecab near Cabo Catoche while other 65 men stayed on these coastal lands. Early in 1528, after two months in Ecab, they fought a large battle at Aké, 10 miles north of Tizimin. There, while Montejo lost half his men, over 1200 Maya were killed. He returned several months later. The 65 conquistadores who had been left behind at Salamanca de Xel Ha fared no better, many of them perished from disease or had been  massacred in raids with Maya, leaving Montejo with only about a third of his original troop.

Returning to Xel Ha and Xcaret, Mexico  with only 60 of 125 men (some having died from disease), Montejo realized his men left there had been massacred and he headed South to explore Chetumal and determine the size of Yucatan´s region, receiving  information from Cortés. In 1524 he left to Honduras after failing to meet up with d’Avila at Chetumal as it was planned.  Montejo knew that Guerrero, the other Valdivia survivor, now an effective Maya war leader, was nearby. Montejo attempted but failed to make contact with him. Then he sailed as far south as the Río Ulúa, which he determined to be the southern portion of his administrative domain. Finally rejoining d’Avila at Xamanha near Xel Ha, Mexico Montejo returned to Veracruz.

Nowadays, Xel Ha Natural Park  is one of the most famous Ecological Parks in the world. It is know for its ecological ambiance and visted by millions of tourists each year. Ask your Travel Agent for Tickets to Xel Ha.