We’d heard great things about Mystika Museum in Tulum, including a post from a parent of a child with autism who recently visited and said it was fantastic for her kid, so we headed down there with Harriet and Luca to see what all the fuss was about.
What Can You Expect in Mystika?
Located in the same complex as the Tulum ruins, Mystika is a fun way to spend another hour at the site. It’s entirely indoors, so also offers some welcome relief from the heat and humidity if you’ve just spent a long time exploring the ruins themselves (indeed, it is one of many great indoor attractions in the Cancun area).
The activity is part museum and part sensory experience. There are lots of paintings and exhibitions, including a section entirely dedicated to horses (which Harriet is a big fan of and kept her fascinated for a long time).
The sensory aspects are split into several parts. There is a planetarium-like installation where you can sit and watch a Mayan-themed video that revolves around Tulum, a room of mirrors in which a video plays to give the impression of sitting inside a kaleidoscope, and a room in which paintings appear to “drip” off the walls and onto the floor.
You will also find lots of smaller light-based exhibits that the kids can explore and play in.
READ MORE: Check out our full list of articles about museums we have visited on our travels with Harriet and Luca
Is Mystika Suitable for Kids?
Yes, but with some caveats. The sensory experiences are very much aimed at adults, and they can be overly intense for some very small kids. Harriet, for example, was horrified during one exhibition when Mars was shown on the screen, only for the planet to explode and a Mayan dragon to emerge from it.
Similarly, the room of mirrors gives the impression of standing in the centre of an infinitely-large tube, which again, could be a little overwhelming for very young kids.
Of course, light stimulation is an important part of the development program for many children with disabilities and learning difficulties, but due to the intensity of the installations, it is not necessarily a good option for parents who are looking for a way to keep up with their child’s program while on holiday.
Ultimately, it depends on your child’s personality. Luca hasn’t fully developed his sense of fear yet, so found the entire thing delightful. Our advice is to use your common sense.
How Much Does Mystika Cost?
Entry is $450 pesos per person, and kids under the age of five are free. Packaged tickets that also include entry to the ruins are also available. You need to allow about one hour to explore the entire installation.
When you leave, make sure you grab the parking discount ticket from the museum entrance. And a word of warning—when we went, we tried to use the discount at the machine where you pay your parking fee, but it did not work. We ended up paying the full price. It turns out that you need to pay at the exit to get the discounted rate.
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