tourist attractions in chichen itza

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Chichén Itzá

The most famous and best restored of the Yucatán Maya sites, Chichén Itzá, while tremendously overcrowded – every gawker and his or her grandmother is trying to check off the new seven wonders of the world – will still impress even the most jaded visitor. Yes, it's goosebump material. Many mysteries of the Maya astronomical calendar are made clear when one understands the design of the ‘time temples’ here. Other than a few minor passageways, climbing on the structures is not allowed.

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Attractions

Must-see attractions.

El Castillo

Upon entering Chichén Itzá, El Castillo (aka the Pyramid of Kukulcán) rises before you in all its grandeur. The first temple here was pre-Toltec, built…

Gran Juego de Pelota

The great ball court, the largest and most impressive in Mexico, is only one of the city’s eight courts, indicative of the importance the games held here…

East of the Nunnery, the Puuc-style Akab-Dzib is thought by some archaeologists to be the most ancient structure excavated here. The central chambers date…

Grupo de las Mil Columnas

This group east of El Castillo pyramid takes its name – which means ‘Group of the Thousand Columns’ – from the forest of pillars stretching south and east…

Called El Caracol (the Snail) by the Spaniards for its interior spiral staircase, this observatory, to the south of the El Osario, is one of the most…

Edificio de las Monjas

Thought by archaeologists to have been a palace for Maya royalty, the so-called Edificio de las Monjas (Nunnery), with its myriad rooms, resembled a…

The Ossuary, otherwise known as the Bonehouse or the Tumba del Gran Sacerdote (High Priest’s Grave), is a ruined pyramid to the southwest of El Castillo…

Plataforma de los Cráneos

The Platform of Skulls (Tzompantli in Náhuatl, a Maya dialect) is between the Templo de los Jaguares y Escudos and El Castillo. You can’t mistake it,…

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Aug 11, 2020 • 6 min read

Here's everything you need to know to explore the legends of the Maya at Chichén Itzá, Mexico.

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks

Get to the heart of Chichén Itzá with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

Chichén Itzá: The Complete Guide

 TripSavvy / Angelina Pilarinos

Chichén-Itzá

Chichén Itzá is a Maya archaeological site in the Yucatan Peninsula that served as the political and economic center of the Maya civilization between 750 and 1200 A.D. Its impressive structures which remain standing today demonstrate the Maya's extraordinary use of architectural space, vast astronomical knowledge, as well as their keen sense of artistry. It is a must-see site on a visit to Cancún or Mérida, although it is about a 2-hour drive from either of those tourist destinations, it is definitely worthy of a day trip.

The name Chichén Itzá roughly means "at the mouth of the well of Itza." The city was established close to several cenotes, water-filled sinkholes , and the final layout was established in 900 A.D. Chichén Itzá was a pre-Columbian city that was an a major regional economic power. Due to its location and port at Isla Cerritos, Chichén Itzá could obtain resources otherwise unavailable to Mayans like obsidian and gold. Chichén Itzá was a prominent Mayan city from around the 7th century through the 11th century when the city's decline began. The exact cause of the decline is unclear, but even when trade activities slowed and Chichén Itzá lost prominence, the city wasn't completely abandoned. When Spanish conquistadors arrived on the Yucatán Peninsula in the 1500s there was still a local population in the area and may have been a deciding factor in where the conquistadors placed their capital.

Things to Do at Chichén Itzá

On your visit to Chichén Itzá, you shouldn't miss the following features:

• El Castillo: This is one of the most striking buildings in Chichen Itza. It is dedicated to Kukulkan, the Plumed Serpent. Every year on the fall and spring equinox the sun strikes the side of the building making a play of light and shadow which appears as a snake along the steps of the building. Excavations have discovered that the stepped pyramid was built over an older, smaller temple, and some experts believe that there is a hidden cenote underneath El Castillo.
• Temple of the Warriors: Hundreds of columns surround a massive temple structure carved with reliefs. Square columns remain that once held up the roof of the temple. These columns are carved on all four sides with figures of feather-bedecked warriors.
• Great Ball Court:  This is the largest known ball court in Mesoamerica, at 545 feet in length and 225 feet in width. Each end has a raised temple area. The acoustics of the ball court are remarkable: A whisper from one end can be clearly heard at the other.
• Sacred Cenote: This sinkhole was the recipient of a great many sacrificial objects. It was a place of pilgrimage for many Maya. There was a belief around the 13th century that people thrown into the Sacred Cenote who survived the fall were granted the gift of prophecy.

Getting There

Chichen Itza is located 125 miles from Cancun and 75 miles from Mérida . It can be visited as a day trip from either location, and there are also a few hotels nearby in case you would like to arrive the previous day and get an early start visiting the ruins before the heat of the day sets in and the crowds begin to arrive.

Essential Information

The site is open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Time spent visiting the site generally ranges from 3 hours to a full day.

As of 2019, the admission fee for Chichén Itzá archaeological site is 480 pesos per person (for non-Mexicans). There is an extra charge for use of video camera or tripod on the site.

Visitor Tips

Dress appropriately: Choose natural fiber clothing that will protect you from the sun (a hat is a good idea too) and comfortable walking shoes. Use sunblock and take water with you.

If you visit Chichen Itza as part of an organized day trip from Cancun you will find that it makes for a long day, and you'll arrive at the hottest time of day. Another option is to rent a car and either make an earlier start or arrive the afternoon before and stay overnight at one of the nearby hotels.

Take a bathing suit and towel to enjoy a refreshing dip at the nearby Ik-Kil cenote after your tour of Chichén Itzá.

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Your Complete Guide to Visiting Chichén Itzá in 2024

Visiting Chichen Itza is a highlight of any trip to the Yucatan and for a lot of people, it is their entire raison d’etre for venturing into this part of the world in the first place.

The ancient Mayan city is one of the new seven wonders of the world and has enjoyed UNESCO-protected status since 1988. At its peak, more than 50,000 people called the city their home and today, more than two million travelers pass through its gates every year. 

This comprehensive guide to visiting Chichen Itza has been written by a British Travel Writer based in the Yucatan. It will run through everything you need to know before planning your trip – how to get to the site, where to stay in the area, purchasing tickets, and important structures to look out for when exploring the ruins.

Table of Contents

Visiting Chichén Itzá: Everything You Need to Know 

Chichén Itzá was a major city of religious, political, and commercial importance during the days of the Ancient Mayan empire. At its height, is believed that as many as 50,000 people called it their home.

Although the famous pyramid, known as ¨El Castillo¨ or ¨The Temple of Kukulkan¨ is the most photographed sight within the complex, Chichen Itza is larger than many people realize and the city occupies a surface area of around 4 square miles.  

Archeologists still debate about the exact date at which the city was founded, but the site is generally believed to date back to the early 400s A.D. It really flourished and thrived between 600 and 1200 AD before it was eventually abandoned, and its residents moved to Mayapan.  

Purchasing tickets for Chichén Itzá

Chichen Itza is open every day, from Monday to Sunday from 8 am until 5 pm with the last admission at 4 pm. If you are visiting the site independently, it is possible to purchase tickets online in advance, or in person at the ticket office. 

Ticket prices may be subject to change in the future but as of January 2024, a general admission ticket is $571 pesos for foreign travelers and $253 pesos for Mexicans. Yucatecans can enjoy a discounted admission price of $85 pesos. 

Mexican citizens should prepare to show a valid ID document. 

The 571 pesos admission fee for foreigners is made up of a 486 pesos archeological site fee and an 85 pesos charge for federal tax. Concessions are available for children aged 3-12 who can enter the site for just 85 pesos. 

It is a good idea to purchase your ticket online, in advance so that you know that everything is paid for and organized before you arrive. 

Go it alone versus guided tour 

You can opt to visit Chichen Itza independently or you may wish to reserve a spot on a small group or private guided tour. The best option is arguably subjective, depending on you and your personal preferences. 

If you have access to a car and you are road-tripping around the Yucatan, it is very easy to drive to the site and visit independently. You can take buses to the ruins from most major cities across the peninsula but if you are traveling from Cancun, Playa Del Carmen, or Tulum, these require a change and they don’t get you there until later in the morning when crowds have already formed. 

Opting to do a Chichen Itza tour takes a lot of the stress out of planning the logistics of your trip yourself. Tours include a pick-up and drop-off from your hotel accommodation in an air-conditioned vehicle so you don’t have to worry about getting to bus stations or taking multiple buses. 

If you visit the site independently, depending on where you are starting from, it is often worth spending a night in a hotel close to the archeological site or in nearby Valladolid. Then, you can get up very early the next morning and be one of the first people on the site. 

(That’s what we did and that’s why there are no people in these photos. We were literally the first people through the doors when we visited in May!) 

Best Chichen Itza tours and tickets for 2024

Many reputable travel companies operate in Mexico. Some of the best Chichen Itza tours from various starting points around the Yucatan are summarised below for your consideration.

Reserve your place online in advance to avoid disappointment!

• Chichen Itza, buffet lunch, cenote, tequila tasting, and Valladolid tour (pick up from Cancun, Puerto Aventuras, Riviera Maya, Playa Del Carmen, and Tulum)
• Chichen Itza, cenote, and Valladolid all-inclusive tour
• Chichen Itza, Ek Balam, cenote, and traditional buffet lunch tour
• Skip-the-line entrance ticket to Chichen Itza
• Chichen Itza, cenote and Valladolid private tour
• Chichen Itza, the pink lagoon, and pink flamingos

Important sites and structures to look out for at Chichen Itza

The Mayan city of Chichen Itza is an expansive site made up of more than 20 different groups of buildings separated by 75 different roadways. Although each of the structures is special in its right, some of the most notable ones to look out for are summarized below. 

El Castillo/The Temple of Kukulkan  

El Castillo, also known as ¨The Temple of Kukulkan¨ is no doubt the most famous and most photographed structure at Chichen Itza. The grand stepped pyramid reaches a height of 95 feet and is one of the first things that you see when you enter the complex. 

It takes its name from Kukulkan – a Mayan deity that appears as a feathered serpent (similar to Quetzalcoatl in Aztec culture). The creators of the temple pay homage to this deity in the form of detailed serpent carvings that sit on either side of the structure. 

Fascinatingly, there is a spring and autumn equinox that takes place at Chichen Itza once a year, every year around March 21 and Sept. 21. During the late afternoon, the shadows of the sun create the illusion of a serpent climbing up the steps of the pyramid and thousands of locals and visitors flock here on this date especially to see it. 

( Dzilbilchaltun also has a similar equinox). You cannot enter the pyramid, however, it was built on top of a smaller, older pyramid and if you were to venture inside, you would find a grand red jaguar throne with eyes made of precious jade. 

You will note a lot of people clapping as they walk around the pyramid. When you do so, an obscure sound that almost resembles a rattlesnake is emitted from the structure. To this day, archeologists are unsure whether that was intentional or a mere coincidence.

Tzompantli Platform

As you make your way towards the grand temple of El Castillo, keep your eyes peeled for a small rectangular stone platform on your left-hand side. Intricately carved skulls and skeletons can be found along the sides of this platform, known as the Tzompantli . 

Thousands of years ago, the Mayans would stack the severed heads of any traitors or members of enemy tribes on top of this platform as a warning not to mess with them. 

El Caracol/ The Observatory

The Observatory at Chichen Itza is one of the most unique structures on the site that is quite unlike anything found in other Mayan cities in Mexico. It is affectionately nicknamed ¨El Caracol¨ (meaning the snail/the shell) because of its conch-like appearance, in particular, the spiral staircase that leads to the upper part of the building. 

The Ancient Mayans were keen astronomers. They are said to have read constellations and to have documented and analyzed every movement of the sky above them because they believed that from it, they could understand the will of the gods. 

Archeologists believe that at Chichen Itza, El Caracol was the site of a lot of this stargazing. The structure was most likely constructed between the Terminal Classic and the Early Post Classic periods. 

The Temple of the Warriors 

The Temple of the Warriors can be found in the main plaza of Chichen Itza, just north of the El Castillo pyramid. It is immediately recognizable from the rows and rows of stone pillars and columns that are lined along the lower and upper platforms. 

Although you cannot climb or enter the building, you can see a small Chac Mool sculpture at the top of the structure, even from a distance.

You will get used to seeing Chac Mool a lot if you visit one or two Mayan cities during your Yucatan itinerary . He is a reclining figure that has his knees drawn up together and his head turned to one side. 

In his hands, he holds a flat dish that was used for sacrifices. Sacrifices could be anything from human sacrifices and human blood to things like flowers, tamales, and tortillas.

Carvings of serpents and jaguars can be found along the sides and facade of the temple.  

The Sacred Cenote 

There are a couple of cenotes (freshwater sinkholes) scattered throughout the Chichen Itza complex. There are over 7,000 cenotes across the Yucatan peninsula today that were formed when the Chicxulub meteor crashed into the earth over 65 million years ago, weakening the surface of the ground in the Yucatan. 

For the Ancient Mayans, cenotes were places of spiritual importance and they were believed to connect the human world with the underworld that they referred to as Xibalba. (Xibalba literally translates to mean ¨place of fright¨ or  ¨K’iche’ Mitnal¨ in Mayan). 

Between the 5th and 16th centuries AD, people from across the Yucatan would make a pilgrimage to the sacred cenote and make offerings in the hope of being granted health and fortune by the Mayan Gods. Sacrificial rituals would take place here where people (mostly adult men and children) would be killed and thrown into the water. 

Precious stones and gems and luxurious jewels of jade, silver, and gold were also thrown into the cenote for the gods of Xibalba. The water of the cenote is 6 to 12 meters deep but you cannot enter or swim in it, it is only to be observed from a distance. 

The Great Ball Court 

The ball court at Chichen Itza is the largest of its kind in Mesoamerica. Millennia ago, the Ancient Mayans would play a game called Pok ta Pok. (If you find yourself in Merida on a Saturday evening, you can see a re-enactment of it close to the cathedral in Plaza Grande). 

The rules of the game were that players had to whack a heavy rubber ball through the stone hoops mounted high on the walls of the court using just their hips. The game was played for fun, but it was also sometimes used as a way to settle debates and disagreements. 

Occasionally, the losing team was sacrificed. The Chichen Itza ball court has a long wall on each side, and on one end of the court, you can find carvings and images depicting the sacrifices of ball players. 

The stone hoops here are interesting because they have been carved with plumed serpents. 

La Iglesia and the Nunnery 

La Iglesia (¨the church¨) is a small structure with only one chamber that sits in the southern part of Chichen Itza and is quite a walk away from El Castillo and the center of the site. Its facade, as well as the facades of the nearby ¨nunnery¨ building, are remarkably detailed and well-preserved. 

Along the front of the structure, there are masks of the big-nosed rain god Chaac, which is representative of the Puuc style of architecture and is quite similar to the designs that you will see at the palaces of Labna, Kabah, and Sayil along the Puuc archeological route .

The nunnery sits beside La Iglesia although the name is misleading as this building was not a convent and was most likely a home for some of the city’s nobility. Carvings of people on one side of the wall are believed to represent Pok ta Pok ball players. 

The Venus Platform

Most historians believe that most buildings at Chichen Itza were once painted in bold, vibrant colors. (However, time and the elements have washed away most of the paint and so today, only the original grey color of the stones remains). 

The Venus Platform is a small platform close to El Castillo/The Temple of Kukulkan. It was likely used for dances, ceremonies, and rituals and is believed to have been painted in red, blue, green, and black. 

On one of its panels, is a carving that depicts the serpent bird man (Kukulkan or Quetzalcoatl). When the structure was excavated, archeologists found a severed human skull here which was most likely placed on the platform as an offering to the Mayan Gods.  

Sacbe/Sacbeob 

Sacbeob were white-paved roads that were built by the ancient Mayan to connect various structures and plazas in different cities together. They also ran between cities – like from Uxmal to Kabah, etc. 

There are more than 74 sacbeob at Chichen Itza. This is interesting because the Ancient Mayans started creating paved roads well before European civilizations did. 

The Temple of the Bearded Man 

The Temple of the Bearded Man is one of the best-preserved buildings close to the Great Ballcourt at Chichen Itza. It is also known as the north temple of the great ball court and the 10m long, 6m wide structure sits on top of a platform measuring 14 m long and 8 m wide. 

The temple only consists of one room, but at its rear and in its interior, you will note several detailed friezes that depict scenes of everyday life in the Ancient Yucatan, as well as various representations of Kukulkan/Quetzalcoatl sitting on a jade throne. 

The Marketplace 

El Mercado/The Marketplace is a building in the southernmost part of the Chichen Itza site. It sits atop a platform 266 feet long and 49 feet wide and boasts row after row of tall pillars that alternate between rounded pillars and square pillars. 

Although the original purpose of this structure has been lost in time, a popular theory is that it had a commercial purpose and was used for trade. The site was built between 900 and 1200 AD in the Maya – Toltec style. 

Where to Stay Near Chichen Itza 

If you want to be one of the first people at the Chichen Itza site when it opens at 8 am and avoid the crowds, it is a good idea to spend the night before your visit at one of the hotels or Yucatan haciendas nearby.

There are some great hotels near Chichen Itza that are located within the archeological complex and some even have an exclusive entrance to the ruins for their guests. We stayed at the luxurious Hacienda Chichen Resort & Yaxkin Spa which meant that we were right outside the entrance to the archeological site and were literally the first people inside. 

There are also plenty of budget-friendly options in the nearby village of Piste. If you opt to stay here, you have a plethora of excellent restaurants, bars, and supermarkets right on your doorstep for everything you could possibly need. 

Valladolid isn’t a million miles away either and is home to some very affordable and comfortable accommodation options. You can often find double rooms in modest hotels here for as little as $30 a night, but keep in mind that if you stay here you need to wake up a little earlier to allow for the 40-minute journey from Valladolid to the ruins. 

Best hotels near the ruins 

An overview of some of the best accommodation options close to the archeological site is summarised below. Despite the fact that Chichen Itza is one of Mexico’s most famous tourist attractions, hotel rooms in the area are surprisingly reasonable and you can easily secure a comfortable room for between $60 and $100 per night, even during the high season. 

• Hotel Ikaan – Rooms start from just $60 a night in this charming, rustic property that sits just off the Carretera Merida – Puerto Juarez close to cenote Ik Kil. All rooms have a private bathroom with complimentary toiletries, cable TV, and spacious balconies with breathtaking views over the Yucatecan jungle
• Hacienda Chichen Resort & Yaxin Spa – Elegant rooms and suites inside this renovated, colonial-era hacienda offer an indulgent experience right within the Chichen Itza hotel zone. Guests are treated to a complimentary welcome cocktail on arrival, and the on-site restaurant serves farm-to-table Yucatecan specialties. If you really want to treat yourself, you can indulge in a spa treatment or a temezcal ceremony at the Yaxin spa.
• Villas Arqueologicas Chichen Itza – You couldn’t possibly get any closer to the Chichen Itza site entrance than the Villas Arqueologicas Chichen Itza which is located within the Chichen Itza hotel zone. The rooms and communal areas celebrate the Yucatan’s heritage and culture and have been decorated with hand-carved wooden furnishings and indigenous artwork pieces. 

Attractions Close to Chichen Itza 

It is a good idea to arrive at Chichen Itza as early as you can so that you can avoid the crowds and the intensity of the midday sun during your visit. Allow 3-4 hours for exploring the archeological site, grab lunch in nearby Piste, and then spend your afternoon exploring one or more of the below attractions near the site.

• Izamal – One of four pueblo magicos in the Yucatan state, known as ¨the yellow city¨ because all of its houses and buildings have been painted in the same bright shade of yellow. Home to one of the oldest convents in North America.
• Ek Balam – An impressive Mayan city that was not discovered until the 1980s. Famous for its remarkably well-preserved tombs and stucco masks and the 95-foot pyramid of El Torre which you can climb in order to enjoy the views over the jungle canopy.
• Valladolid – A charming town and pueblo magico home to centuries-old churches and convents, as well as interesting mercados and refreshing cenotes
• Cenote Ik Kil – Gorgeous open cenote close to Chichen Itza
• Homun cenotes – A village with more than 25 cenotes that range from cavernous cenotes to cenotes out in the jungle which receive far fewer tourists than the Instagram-famous Cenote Suytan and Cenote Ik Kil. 

Getting to Chichen Itza 

Public transport links in the Yucatan are not the best in the world but with that being said, there are plenty of buses and colectivos that connect you from cities like Tulum, Cancun, Valladolid, Playa del Carmen, and Merida, with the Mayan ruins. 

With the Tren Maya train also scheduled to be up and running by December 2023, getting to the site is due to get a whole lot easier soon. If you are renting a car in Mexico , it is very easy to drive across the Yucatan peninsula as the roads are all well-paved and in excellent condition. 

If you are not nervous about the idea of driving overseas, this can be one of the best options for getting to the site as it gives you a lot more freedom and flexibility of schedule. 

The distance to Chichen Itza from various cities across the peninsula is summarised below. 

• Cancun to Chichen Itza: 197km/122 miles distance. Circa 2.5 hours driving time 
• Valladolid to Chichen Itza : 45km/28 miles distance. Circa 50 minutes driving time
• Merida to Chichen Itza: 120km/75 miles distance. Circa 2 hours driving time
• Tulum to Chichen Itza : 151.5km/94 miles distance. Circa 2.5 hours driving time
• Playa del Carmen to Chichen Itza: 185km/115 miles distance. Circa 2 hours driving time

Driving to Chichen Itza 

It is very easy to drive to Chichen Itza, whatever your starting point. Yucatan roads are excellent and have no potholes, damage, etc. There is a large parking lot at the site entrance, although you need to pay a small parking fee of around $60 pesos (circa $3 USD). 

It is easy to rent a car in Merida , Cancun, Tulum, and Playa Del Carmen and numerous reputable international rental companies operate here. Depending on the time of year that you are traveling, you can easily rent a car for prices starting from around $20 USD a night. 

I always recommend using the Discover Cars rental platform as it allows you to compare and contrast prices between different rental companies so that you can secure the best deal. 

Taking the ADO bus to Chichen Itza 

Taking public transport in the Yucatan is surprisingly convenient and comfortable. ADO and Autobuses Oriente run frequent services between Cancun, Tulum, Playa Del Carmen, Merida, and Chichen Itza. 

Some buses are more modern and luxurious than others, but all are generally clean, with spacious seats, bathrooms, air conditioning, and entertainment on board. Some even offer free wifi.

From Merida, you can take a direct bus to and from the ruins. However, from Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, and Cancun, you usually have to transfer in Valladolid and the wait time between buses is often about an hour. You might find that it is worth spending at least one night in Valladolid so that you can break up the journey. 

This is particularly worth considering if you want to arrive at the site early before the tour buses arrive as, for example, the earliest bus from Cancun doesn’t get you to Chichen Itza until around 11.20, by which time the site is already heaving with sightseers.

You can buy bus tickets online via the ADO website or the ADO app (although it often glitches and won’t accept foreign cards.) Busbud is another alternative, although the site charges a small commission. 

You can also purchase your tickets in person at the ticket office. During the high season, early buses do sell out so it’s a good idea to book your seat(s) a couple of days in advance where you can. 

Amenities at Chichen Itza 

There are plenty of amenities at the Chichen Itza Visitors Center that offer everything that you could possibly need during your visit. Although it is a good idea to bring plenty of cash with you so that you can purchase any souvenirs and trinkets that you may want to buy from the artisanal vendors inside the site, there is an ATM at the Visitors Center too. 

Here, you will also find a Starbucks Cafe and a couple of local restaurants serving sandwiches, tacos, light bites, and Yucatecan delicacies. There are ample bathrooms at the site – both in the visitors center and behind El Castillo, and the toilets are clean and in good condition. 

Be sure to buy plenty of water and make use of a sunhat and sunscreen as there is little to no shade throughout the complex. Since you are going to be walking around uneven terrain for at least 3-4 hours, be sure to wear comfortable shoes. 

If you get hungry/thirsty during your visit, there are plenty of little stores and shacks selling drinks, snacks, and ice creams. 

FAQs About Visiting Chichen Itza 

Do you have any further questions about visiting Chichen Itza? The answers to some frequently asked questions on the topic are detailed below. 

Hopefully, you will find the information you are looking for there. If not, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Can I visit Chichen Itza on my own?

Yes. It is possible to visit Chichen Itza independently. 

You can simply buy your entrance tickets online or at the ticket office for the site. Once inside, there are plenty of information plaques outside all of the various structures and ruins which explain their history and original purpose. 

It is not obligatory to explore the ruins with the help of a tour guide. However, once inside, if you do decide that you want a little more context to the things that you are seeing, you can hire a local guide for as little as 600 pesos for around 3 hours. 

Is Chichen Itza worth the money?

Visiting Chichen Itza is well worth the money, even if the site is easily one of the most expensive things that you can do in the Yucatan .  The Chichen Itza entrance fee is currently $571 pesos which works out to around $33 USD or £26. 

This is substantially more expensive than some of the lesser-known ruins in the Yucatan like Edzna and Xcambo which are only around 80 pesos to enter. However, when you visit Chichen Itza, you are not visiting just any old ruins, you are visiting one of the seven wonders of the world and one of the most important cities of the Mayan civilization. 

If you only visit one Mayan city during your time in the Yucatan, you should make it this one. You can easily spend half a day here and it will certainly be something that you remember for a long time. 

What is the best time of year to visit Chichen Itza?

It is possible to visit Chichen Itza all year round and there is arguably no such time as a bad time to visit. However, as someone who lives in the Yucatan, I would say that the best months are November and March/April. 

This is because the peak tourist season here runs between December and March and as crowds flock to the resorts along the Riviera Mayan, hordes of people take day trips to Chichen Itza. You have a very small window of opportunity very early in the morning (From 8 am to 8.30 am) to enjoy some rare quiet at the site before the tour groups arrive. 

From May onwards, it gets incredibly hot and humid in the Yucatan, and spending extended periods of time outside can often feel unbearable. From June to October, it is the hurricane season in this part of the world and although showers usually don’t go on all day, you can expect a lot of heavy downpours in August and September and there is no place to take cover at the site. 

How much time do you need at Chichen Itza?

You should allow at least 3-4 hours for exploring Chichen Itza as the site is vast. 

What is the least crowded day at Chichen Itza?

Since Chichen Itza is one of the most visited tourist sites in Mexico, thousands of people pass through its gates every day so it is hard to find a day when the site isn’t busy. Still, weekdays are definitely better than weekends, and Sundays are best avoided where possible. 

(Most Mexicans work Monday to Saturday and the site is free for Mexicans on Sundays which usually means it is more crowded than ever). 

What is the busiest day at Chichen Itza? 

Sundays are the busiest day at Chichen Itza as admission is free for Mexicans on this day and locals are all enjoying their day off work. Visiting the ruins on this date is best avoided if possible.

Public holidays like Benito Juarez’s birthday, Semana Santa (Easter), etc, can also be quite busy. 

Can you climb the structures at Chichén Itzá?

No. It is no longer permitted to climb the structures at Chichen Itza – both for their preservation and for your safety. 

In the past, this was allowed but decades of tourists clambering up and down the stairways of the temples and pyramids has caused the stones to wear down and become slippery. In 2006, a woman sadly slipped and fell to her death when climbing down El Castillo, and climbing the ruins has been prohibited ever since. 

Is there a limit to how many people can visit Chichen Itza each day?

No. I have seen various websites and sources online state that only 3,000 people are permitted to enter Chichen Itza each day but as someone who lives nearby and has visited the site numerous times, I can tell you that that is completely false. 

This seems to be something that people regurgitate to try and sell you tours etc that they get commission for. Please don’t worry about it as you are never going to be turned away from the site because they reached their maximum number of admissions for the day. That’s nonsense. 

Do you need a guide at Chichen Itza? 

It is not compulsory to have a guide at Chichen Itza and there is plenty of free information on the info boards throughout the site. That being said, if you have a keen interest in Mayan history, guides are very reasonably priced and it might be a worthwhile thing for you to consider. 

Final thoughts on visiting Chichen Itza

Visiting Chichen Itza is a highlight of visiting the Mexican Yucatan. Even if you have already visited countless other Mayan and Aztec ruins during your time in Latin America, nothing can compare to seeing the ancient city’s famous pyramid with your own eyes for the very first time. 

Are you traveling to Mexico for the first time? I live just a couple of hours from Chichen Itza, in the beautiful colonial city of Merida where I’ve been based for the last two years.

If you have any questions about planning a trip here, feel free to reach out to me. You might also find this guide to safety in the Yucatan, or this post on the best time to visit the Yucatan useful.

Safe travels! Buen Viaje! Melissa xo 

Melissa Douglas

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Visiting Chichén Itzá: 12 Highlights & Tips

Written by Bryan Dearsley Updated Dec 28, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Just 200 kilometers west of the resort destination of Cancún is Chichén Itzá, widely considered to be one of Mexico's best-restored archaeological sites. With only the briefest of interruptions, Chichén Itzá served as a sacred Mayan site for more than 700 years, and by the 11th century had become the political and religious capital of a revived Mayan empire under Toltec rule.

Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site , Chichén Itzá is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions, luring more than a million visitors annually and ensuring its place on the must-see list of any traveler heading to the beautiful Yucatán Peninsula.

Widely regarded as one of the top things to do from Cancún , it is an easy day trip out to this magnificent Mayan ruin, with a variety of options available. With a car rental, you can get from Cancun to Chichén Itzá on your own, although depending on how well you know the area and the size of your group, it may be cheaper and easier to join an organized tour. And be sure to save time for many of the other top attractions in Cancun , as well. Near the ruins are fantastic cenotes, lush jungle, and historic towns that will take you worlds away from the typical beach scene in Cancun.

On This Page:

The history of chichén itzá.

• Highlights at Chichén Itzá
• Tours to Chichén Itzá from Cancun and Playa del Carmen

Visiting Chichén Itzá on Your Own

Where to stay near chichén itzá, things to do near chichén itzá.

Mayan for "near the well of the Itzá," Chichén Itzá was founded around AD 450 by Mayan tribes migrating from the south and is believed to have remained occupied long after they left. Research suggests that Toltec tribes from the central Mexican highlands also visited this part of Yucatán in the 7th century, mingling with the resident Maya. The merging of these advanced civilizations resulted in a renaissance of Mayan architecture in which Toltec influences dominated, leading to Chichén Itzá's remarkable similarity to the old Toltec capital of Tollán.

At the time of the Spanish Conquest in 1533, Chichén Itzá was virtually uninhabited, though it remained a place of pilgrimage. By the 19th century, the site had become a place of a different sort of pilgrimage as archaeologists from around the world visited and unearthed many of its most important structures. Chichén Itzá's archaeological zone covers eight square kilometers, much of which has never been excavated.

12 Highlights at Chichén Itzá

1. the chacmools of the northern ruins.

Toltec influences at Chichén Itzá are principally seen in the buildings making up the northern group, including the site's famous Chacmools, statues of reclining figures holding sacrificial vessels with their heads turned to one side and which served as temple guardians.

Other notable Toltec statues are Los Atlantes, stone carvings of warriors supporting the site's temple roofs and altars. You'll also see many references to the plumed serpent, Kukulkán, along with scenes of battles and sacrifices, which appear far more often here than is usual in Classic Maya art.

2. El Castillo: The Pyramid of Kukulkán

The Pyramid of Kukulkán (El Castillo) dominates the northern part of the site and was built in accordance with strict astronomical and astrological rules. Standing 30 meters high, this excellently restored four-sided pyramid impresses with its classic simplicity. Notable features include its nine-tier terracing and four stairways, one on each side, symbolizing the nine heavens and the four points of the compass.

Also of interest are the large serpent heads at the feet of the stairways leading to the upper platform on which the actual Temple of Kukulkán stands, its main entrance flanked by a pair of Toltec serpent columns (a pure Mayan-style temple was discovered under the temple, crowning an even older pyramid).

For a truly unforgettable experience, try to plan your visit to coincide with the equinoxes (March 21st and September 21st/22nd), when the Kukulkán Pyramid becomes the scene of a spectacular shadow show. As the setting sun falls on the corners of El Castillo's nine terraces, it casts an undulating shadow onto the west-facing wall of the north staircase. Running all the way down the edge as far as the great snake's head at the foot of the pyramid, the effect is of a huge serpent slithering earthwards.

3. Temple of the Warriors

Standing on a platform east of El Castillo is the Temple of the Warriors (Templo de los Guerreros), a magnificent structure comprising several spacious columned halls that unmistakably mimic the larger version of the Temple of the Morning Star at Tula. Several rows of square pillars guard the foot of the stairway, at the top of which squats a Chacmool.

The main temple entrance is again flanked by two massive serpent columns, heads on the ground and tails pointing skyward. Behind them, four atlantes support a large stone altar where archaeologists uncovered the remains of an earlier, smaller Temple of the Warriors concealed inside the pyramid.

4. The Hall of the Thousand Columns

Adjoining the Temple of the Warriors on its south side is the Hall of the Thousand Columns (Grupo de las Mil Columnas), believed to have served as an indoor market or place of assembly. Nearby are a small ball court (Juego de Pelota); the Mercado (Market); and a steam bath (Temazcalli), of which the vestibule, the bath itself, and the heating room can still be seen.

5. The Tomb of Chacmool

A hundred meters or so north of El Castillo lies the Tomb of Chacmool (Tumba del Chacmool) where, more than 100 years ago, French archaeologist Le Plongeon found a stone figure, which he christened Chacmool. The structure is also known as the Venus Platform due to its interesting reliefs featuring both Kukulkán's symbol along with that of the Morning Star.

6. Sacrificial Waters: Cenote Sagrado

North of the Tomb of Chacmool, a six-meter-wide causeway runs for 300 meters to the large sacred cenote-Cenote Sagrado, or Cenote de los Sacrificios-the existence of which was probably the reason for the Maya settling here. This almost perfectly round natural water hole is 60 meters across, its sides plunging 24 meters to the surface of the water below, itself some 82 meters deep.

From the 7th century until after the Spanish Conquest, the cenote was a place of pilgrimage, with the sweat bath at the water's edge serving a ritual function. In times of drought, precious objects and even human sacrifices were thrown in as offerings to the Rain God Chac. Between 1904 and 1907 a number of exploratory dives were made that found 50 human skeletons- mostly men and children-together with numerous artifacts of ceramic, stone, gold, copper, and jade.

Further exploration in the 1960s, carried out at greater depths, brought to light another 4,000 such objects, some made of copal (resin), along with rubber and wooden dolls, as well as human and animal bones.

7. Tzompantli: The Wall of Skulls

Not far from Cenote Sagrado is a large square platform called Tzompantli (Náhuatl), the Wall of Skulls. This rather gruesome site served as a base for the stakes on which the decapitated heads of human sacrifices were impaled, hence the reliefs consisting of rows of skulls decorating the sides. Next to Tzompantli stands a smaller platform known as the House of the Eagles (Casa de los Aguilas), its stairway embellished with stone serpents and its walls adorned with reliefs of eagles and jaguars holding human hearts in their claws, symbols of the two orders of Toltec warriors.

8. The Ball Courts

Like most Mayan cities, Chichén Itzá had several arenas built for ritual ball games. Seven such courts have been found, the largest measuring 146 meters by 37 meters with vertical walls almost nine meters high, in the center of which is a heavy stone ring with serpent ornamentation. The game involved hitting a hard rubber ball through the stone rings using only the elbow, knee, or hip while the ball, representing the sun, was not permitted to touch the ground lest its symbolic course be interrupted.

Transgressions led to the loser being ritually sacrificed, evidence of which can be seen in the reliefs on panels decorating the bases of the walls showing players being decapitated. Also of interest are the small temples-the Edificio Sur and the Templo Norte-dedicated to the gods of the Sun and Moon.

9. The Temple of the Jaguars

The Temple of the Jaguars (Templo de los Tigres) occupies a platform built into the southeast wall of the ball court and takes its name from the carved stone animal in the lower shrine. The upper temple, reached by a steep stairway at the side, looks westwards onto the ball court. As in the Temple of the Warriors , serpent columns flank the entrance. Also of interest is the façade with its friezes, the majority of which depict jaguars, while still visible inside are murals depicting a battle between the Maya and the Toltec.

10. The Tomb of the High Priest

In the southern group of buildings comprising what is known as Old Chichén (Chichén Viejo) is the Tomb of the High Priest (Tumba del Gran Sacerdote). When excavated, this 10-meter-tall pyramid was found to contain seven tombs and some valuable artifacts.

11. Caracol: The Observatory

Just a short distance from the Tomb of the High Priest is one of the most interesting of all the buildings at Chichén Itzá, the Caracol (Snail), thought to have been an observatory. Inside the circular building stands a two-tier platform and a passageway winding upwards in a gently ascending spiral. Of special interest are the narrow slits in the walls, positioned to allow the sun's rays to penetrate the building for a few seconds twice a year, a simple but reliable method used by priests to accurately determine the date.

12. The Nunnery

The elaborately ornamented Nunnery (Edificio de las Monjas) is a superb example of the Mayan Chenes style, with virtually every inch of the façade being decorated with symbols of the Mayan Rain God, Chac. The so-called Church (Iglesia) is a particularly fine example of Puuc architecture, an early style in which the façades are decorated with geometric patterns and animals as well as Chac masks.

Other Buildings

Also of interest is the Temple of the Panels (Templo de los Tableros), with its fine reliefs of Toltec warriors and jaguars, as well as the Building of the Unknown Writing (Akab Dzib), so named because of the undeciphered characters above the door of the second room. Other notable buildings are the Temple of the Window Lintel (Templo de los Dinteles), the Red House (Casa Colorada or Chichan-chob), and the Cenote Xtoloc , an ancient reservoir.

• Driving to Chichén Itzá : You can rent a car and drive to Chichén Itzá from Cancún on your own. The quickest route is along a direct toll road (180) that will take you a little more than two hours each way; there's nothing to see along this route, but it is quick. From Playa del Carmen take 180D, which is also a toll road. Alternatively, you can take the non-toll highway, which goes through numerous towns along the way. While more scenic, it's extremely slow and can add an hour or more each way to your trip. If you want to see the towns, take the toll road one way and the free highway on the return trip.

We recommend these great-value hotels and resorts in the jungle near Chichén Itzá:

• The Hacienda Chichen Resort is a colonial-style luxury hotel situated in a fantastic location, with lush tropical grounds and a lovely garden terrace.
• For a good-quality, mid-range jungle resort set in beautiful grounds, the Hotel & Bungalows Mayaland has palm-lined pools, horseback riding, and a wonderful spa.
• Hotel Oka'an offers an affordable holistic retreat in a remote rainforest setting featuring a multi-level swimming pool and medical spa.
• If you're looking for a good quality budget hotel, Hotel DORALBA INN Chichen features clean rooms, a cenote pool, and a complimentary breakfast.

While there's more than enough to keep you busy when visiting Chichén Itzá, those with a little more time can enhance the experience further by visiting nearby Mayan communities. Experiences include sampling traditional cooking, witnessing religious ceremonies, and checking out their traditional arts (usually best accomplished as part of an overnight stay).

A nearby attraction worth visiting is Balankanché, with its many ancient caves and large collections of pottery and idols, part of an extensive labyrinth of underground caverns and waterways. Also of interest is the 16th-century church of San Bernardino in the town of Valladolid , 42 kilometers east of Chichén Itzá. The town is also famous for its cenotes, natural waterholes accessible via a gangway leading down to the water's edge some 45 meters below. Particularly popular is Cenote Dzitnup , a delightful spot with warm cobalt-blue water.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

More on Mexico: Another popular attraction on the Yucatán Peninsula is the seaside ruin of Tulum , but there are numerous places worth visiting on day trips from Cancun along the Mayan Riviera . You can also hop a ferry and visit the nearby island of Cozumel , another popular tourist destination.

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10 Things to See in Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is the most famous of all the great Mayan cities. This is somewhat ironic because its most famous structures do not have a typical Classic Mayan architecture but show strong influences from other civilizations from Central Mexico. It is also the most developed of the many Mayan ruins and can get crowded. But the combination of grant scale monuments and the mysterious precise astronomical calculation in the buildings make Chichen Itza truly amazing.

10. Casa Colorada [SEE MAP]

The Casa Colorada (Spanish for “Red House”), is one of the best preserved buildings at Chichen Itza. In one chamber there are extensive carved hieroglyphs that mention rulers of Chichen Itza and possibly of the nearby city of Ek Balam, and contain a Maya date inscribed which correlates to 869 AD, one of the oldest such dates found in all of Chichen Itza. The Casa Colorada may have been an elite residence.

9. Temple of the Bearded Man [SEE MAP]

The Temple of the Bearded Man or the North Temple is a small masonry building with detailed bas-relief carvings on the inner walls, including a center figure that has carving under his chin that resembles facial hair. At the south end is another, much bigger temple, but in ruins.

8. La Iglesia [SEE MAP]

Named la Iglesia (the Church) by the Spanish, probably because it was located right next to the Nunnery, this temple is one of the oldest buildings at Chichén Itzá. Masks of Chac decorate two upper stories. Among the crowd of Chacs there are also an armadillo, a crab, a snail, and a tortoise. These represent the Maya gods, called bacah, whose job it was to hold up the sky.

7. Tomb of the High Priest [SEE MAP]

The Tomb of the High Priest or Osario Temple is a step-pyramid temple with staircases on each side. The temple stands atop a natural limestone cave in which skeletons and offerings were found, giving the temple its name. Archaeologists today believe the structure was neither a tomb nor that the personages buried in it were priests.

6. Sacred Cenote [SEE MAP]

The Sacred Cenote is a sinkhole that is connected to Chichen Itza by a raised pathway. This large natural well may have given Chichén Itzá (“Well of the Itzáes”) its name. There is a second karst cave in the center of Chichén Itzá that was used as a source of water for Chichén Itzá’s residents. The use of the Sacred Cenote was exclusively ceremonial. Over the years, the murky water has yielded many artifacts including gold, jade, copper, turquoise, obsidian, copal or incense, pottery, rubber, shells and the bones of around 200 people who were thrown in as a sacrifice.

5. Temple of the Skulls [SEE MAP]

Alongside the Great Ball Court is the Tzompantli (Temple of the Skulls), one of the most gruesome temples in Chichen. It is a low platform covered on all sides by rows of carved skulls. Similar platforms are found in central Mexico, most famously in Tenochtitlan. The heads of sacrificial victims were displayed here, together with those of the players who lost the ball game (see below).

4. Main Ball Court [SEE MAP]

Chichen Itza contain no less than 8 ball courts, but the Main Ball Court is by far the most impressive. At 166 by 68 meters (545 x 223 feet) it is the largest ball court in Mesoamerica. It was dedicated in 864 AD and is radically different than any other Mayan ball court, which are smaller and have sloping sided courts. The two vertical walls of the Main Ball Court are 12 meters (39 feet) high with rings carved with intertwining serpents in the center of each wall. Both walls are carved with scenes showing teams of ball players. One panel shows a headless player kneeling with blood shooting from his neck, while another player holds the head.

3. El Caracol [SEE MAP]

El Caracol or Observatory is a round building on a large square platform dating to around 906 AD. It was probably an ancient Maya observatory with doors and windows aligned to astronomical events, specifically around the path of Venus. From the tower the Mayans could view the sky above the vegetation without any obstruction. The Spanish name, which means “snail,” refers to the stone spiral staircase inside.

2. Temple of the Warriors [SEE MAP]

The Temple of the Warriors is a large stepped pyramid that was named after the surrounding carved columns depicting warriors. This temple is similar to Temple B at the Toltec capital of Tula, and indicates some form of cultural contact between the two regions. The one at Chichen Itza, however is much larger. At the top of the stairway on the temple’s summit sits Chac Mool, a statue depicting a reclining figure supporting itself on its elbows with a bowl or a disk upon its stomach.

Along the south wall of the Temple of Warriors are a series of exposed columns. When Chichen Itza was inhabited these would have supported an extensive roof system. The columns are in three distinct sections: a west group, that extends the lines of the front of the Temple of Warriors; a north group, which runs along the south wall of the Temple of Warriors and contains pillars with carvings of soldiers in bas-relief; and a northeast group, which apparently formed a small temple at the southeast corner of the Temple of Warriors.

1. Temple of Kukulkan [SEE MAP]

Located in the center of an open court stands the Temple of Kukulkan, also referred to as El Castillo (the castle in Spanish). Dedicated to the feathered serpent god Quetzalcoatl, this is the most famous landmark of Chichén Itzá. On the Spring and Autumn equinox, at the rising and setting of the sun, the corner of the pyramid casts a shadow in the shape of a snake, representing the god Quetzalcoatl. As the sun moves, the serpent slowly descends into the earth.

The temple contains many references to the important Mayan calendar. Each of El Castillo’s four sides has 91 steps which, when added together and including the temple platform , equals the 365 days of the solar year. Each of the nine terraces are divided in two, which makes 18, symbolizing the number of months in the Maya calendar. The terraces contain a total of 52 panels, referring to the 52-year cycle when both the solar and religious calendars converge.

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Reader interactions.

January 18, 2019 at 9:07 am

I was very lucky to tour Chichen Itza and I actually climbed Temple of Kukulkan.

March 30, 2017 at 9:45 pm

On my bucket list, before I die, to visit Chichen Itza.

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How to Visit Chichén Itzá (Yucatan): The Definitive Guide

Chichen itza guide: everything you need to know ( 2024).

Chichen Itza is the most famous Mayan site in the world . It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the 7 New Wonders of the World .

It is also the second most visited archaeological site in Mexico , after Teotihuacan near Mexico City .

That’s why it’s very important to plan your day to make the most of your visit!

In this complete guide to Chichen Itza in Yucatan , I will give you all the practical information you need to organize your trip.

You’ll discover all the top attractions in and around Chichén Itzá , how to get there, my tips for visiting on your own or with a group , and my recommendations for the best guided tours!

So, are you ready to explore Chichén Itzá, find out where to stay , and see what else you can do? Let’s go!

• Chichen Itza Guide: Everything You Need to Know (2024)

Visiting Chichen Itza: Booking tickets

Short history of chichén itzá, 1. the great plaza, 2. the pyramid of kukulcan, 3. the venus platform, 4. the tzompantli, 5. the temple of the eagles and the jaguars, 6. the mayan ballcourt, 7. temple of the warriors and the thousand columns, 8. the observatory, 9. akab dzib, 10. the sacred cenote, 11. the ossuary, 12. the house of the deer, 13. the nunnery complex, 14. the red house or chichan chob, 15. the noches de kukulcan show, 16. buying souvenirs in chichen itza, 17. swim in the cenote ik kil, 18. explore the balankanché caves, hiring a local guide: is it worth it, visit chichén itzá on your own (without an agency), 2. visiting chichen itza with a tour, where to stay to visit chichén itzá, how much do the tickets to chichen itza cost.

• Which are the opening hours of Chichen Itza?

How long does it take to visit Chichén Itzá?

When is the best time to visit chichen itza, my tips for visiting chichén itzá, find the best flight deal to mexico, you’re traveling in mexico these articles will help you.

If you want to buy your tickets to visit Chichen Itza at the best price , without reading the article, (even though I suggest you read it for more insights and tips!), here is the summary table of the available tickets.

Click directly on the names of the tickets to book them:

Chichen Itza means “at the mouth of the well of the Itzaes” in Mayan. It was the name of the Itzaes who founded this city in the 6th century.

At the end of the 10th century, it was invaded by the Toltecs and then abandoned around 1250, for reasons that are still a mystery today.

But what we do know is that Chichén Itzá was the most powerful city in the whole Yucatán Peninsula!

It was so influential that even after its decline, it remained an important place of pilgrimage.

What to see and do in Chichén Itzá

Chichen Itza is an important archaeological site where there are numerous buildings (temples, platforms, etc.), connected by sacbes , the Mayan roads.

Here are the best things to see and do in Chichen Itza :

The Great Plaza is the first thing you see and the ideal place to start your exploration of Chichen Itza.

Why? Because it’s the heart of the city!

That’s right, it’s where you can find the main buildings , with the impressive pyramid of Kukulcan towering in the center.

The Temple of Kukulcan , also known as El Castillo , is the most iconic pyramid of Chichen Itza and it’s in every picture!

It honors Kukulcan , a major Mayan god (the same as the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl ) who took the form of a feathered serpent.

It has a 9-level pyramid with 365 steps in total… Just like the 365 days of the year!

Its symbolism and accuracy make it one of the most amazing pyramids of the Mayan world .

A few years ago, a 66 ft deep cenote was found under the pyramid and more recently two hidden structures were discovered. It probably still hides many secrets!

The spring (March 20-21) and autumn (September 22-23) equinoxes draw lots of visitors, as a stunning display of light and shadow appears on the north staircase. It is said that it is the Serpent God who comes down to earth…

There are two structures known as the Venus Platform , but the more famous and significant one is in the Great Plaza , not far from the pyramid of Kukulcan.

It is also called the Temple of Venus because it has carvings of the planet Venus, or the Tomb of Chac Mool because of a statue that was found inside.

Both Venus platforms were used as public stages for ceremonies, rituals, dances and speeches.

One of the important monuments to see in Chichen Itza is the Tzompantli , in the Great Plaza, right next to the Temple of the Jaguar and the House of the Eagles .

The “wall of skulls” was an altar where the Maya displayed the heads of enemy warriors as offerings to the gods.

This was a common practice among many Mesoamerican people!

There are no human remains, but you can see the many skulls carved in low relief (there are more than 500!).

It is the smallest temple in the complex around the Great Plaza, located between the Tzompantli and the Temple of Venus.

It is a platform that gets its name from its amazing carvings of eagles and jaguars eating human hearts .

The Mesoamerican ballgame – Pok Ta Pok in Mayan – was a game played for over 3000 years in Mesoamerica that had ritual and political significance and served to settle different kinds of conflicts.

How was the game played?  The game involved hitting a ball (only with the calves, elbows and hips) to make it go through one of the rings on the court.

And it was very hard : the ball weighed almost 9 pounds, the rings were only 1 feet in diameter and were placed about 26 feet high.

The game could end in sacrifice to the gods, by burning, beheading or even removing the heart.

In Chichén Itzá there are 8 courts of this type, but the main one is considered the largest Mayan ball game court in Mesoamerica.

There are other ball courts at other archaeological sites – such as Edzná and Uxmal – but the one at Chichén Itzá is the best preserved I’ve seen!

The stone rings (where the ball had to go through), as well as the stands and players’ bench are in good condition, as are several carvings on the walls.

To the north of the court is the Temple of the Bearded Man where the elite watched the game.

The Temple of the Warriors , surrounded by “a thousand columns” is, in my opinion, the most stunning structure in Chichen Itza !

It is a pyramid-shaped structure where you can see – only from afar – a sculpture of Chac Mool and a table where human sacrifices were performed.

As for the “thousand” columns, there are actually only 200, but the name makes it sound more impressive 😉

El Caracol was Chichen Itza’s astronomical observatory , named for its shape (“the Snail”).

This structure, built around the year 900, was used to watch the sky and make important decisions for the city.

This observatory allowed the Maya to observe 29 astronomical phenomena (equinoxes, eclipses, etc.)

Behind the Caracol, you can find the Akab Dzib or Akabdzib , which means “The house of the mysterious writing” in Maya.

This was probably the home of the Chichén Itzá administrator Kokom Yahawal Cho’K’ak.

The structure is quite large, measuring 177 feet in length. It has a central building with two rooms at the ends and 18 other rooms attached to it.

This was a sacred place where the Maya honored Chaac , the rain god, with ceremonies and offerings.

They threw gold, jade, copper and human bones into the water, some of them from faraway lands like Central America and Colombia!

Today, this murky, green cenote (not very pretty or clean) doesn’t look like much. But despite its appearance, it was the hub of religious activities in the whole region!

Many people mix it up with the cenote Ik Kil , but they are very different.

The sacred cenote is inside the Chichen Itza site, linked by a long path to the Kukulcan pyramid, and you can’t swim in it.

Visit it if you want to see it from a historical point of view, but if you’re looking for a nice cenote to take photos , you can skip it – there are much better ones around!

The Ossuary, also called Tomb of the High Priest , looks like a smaller version of the Pyramid of Kukulcan , but with beautiful mythological carvings, such as the god Chaac and snake heads.

At the top of the pyramid, there is a vertical opening that goes down to 10 m underground.

It leads to a natural chamber where bones, shells and sculptures have been discovered!

This chamber might be connected to the cenote under the Pyramid of Kukulcan , but the passage is still blocked, so the mystery remains unsolved…

The House of the Deer is located south of the Ossuary. It gets its name from a painting of a deer that used to be inside the building, but has disappeared.

Unfortunately, there is not much left of the original structure.

The Spanish conquerors called this building the Nunnery because it reminded them of a convent.

But in fact, it would not have had any religious purpose, but rather served as the residence of someone important.

It is a Puuc style building – the same elaborate style that you can admire at Uxmal and Kabah – with many stone mosaics, amazing!

The Red House (Casa Colorada) gets its name from the traces of red paint found inside and Chichan Chob means “little holes” in reference to the holes in the upper part of the structure.

This small Puuc style temple is located in the Nunnery plaza, and it is one of the best preserved buildings in Chichen Itza .

It has a small ball court in the back.

Noches de Kukulcán (Nights of Kukulcan) is a night show of light and sound at the Chichen Itzá site.

The first part is an audio-guided tour (45 min) that takes you through the main illuminated structures.

Then, you sit in front of the pyramid of Kukulcan and watch the amazing projection show (25 min) that showcases the Mayan culture.

It’s a fantastic show, something you don’t want to miss in Chichen Itza!

• At 7 pm in summer and at 8 pm in winter
• You can buy your tickets online on the website (strongly recommended), or when you get to Chichen Itza, but you will have to wait in line.
• Important : if you don’t have a car, there are no buses at this time, so you will need to book a tour or take a taxi.

Souvenirs are more pricey here than elsewhere – they know tourists will buy them anyway!

If you really want a souvenir from Chichen Itza, try bargaining with the vendors when it’s almost closing time (around 4 pm).

Ik Kil is one of the most beautiful cenotes in the Yucatan ! and it’s only 4 km from Chichen Itza.

When you get to the site, you are greeted by an amazing natural sight: a blue cenote that lies 28 yards underground, surrounded by walls covered with plants and long vines.

Unfortunately, it is also one of the most touristy cenotes , so, to be honest, it’s hard to feel connected to nature with so many people around.

But on the bright side, it has a variety of services : gift shop, lockers, changing rooms and a large parking lot.

You can reach the cenote through a stone path, and then you can choose to jump into the water from a small platform or use the stairs.

The cenote is easy to access for the whole family and there are ropes in the water that you can hold on to if you need them.

• Entrance fee 180 pesos (with vest and locker), children 100 pesos, or with buffet lunch 400 pesos.
• How to get to cenote Ik Kil : from the entrance of Chichén Itzá you can take a taxi or colectivo (20 pesos). From Valladolid , the trip takes 40 minutes, by bus (33 pesos) or colectivo (40 pesos) from Calle 39.

If you don’t want to worry about transportation, I suggest this tour to Chichén Itzá with pick-up from your hotel , free time at  cenote Ik Kil and lunch-buffet.  Book it here:

My tip Near Chichen Itza there are also other cenotes less touristic and easy to access:

• Near Chichen Itza : Tsukan cenote, Yokdzonot cenote, Lol-Ha cenote, Xcajum cenote.
• In Valladolid : cenotes Dzitnup, Suytun, Zaci, San Lorenzo Oxman. Read My Article About The 21 Best Cenotes In Valladolid !
• In Cuzama (towards Mérida) : cenotes Chelentun, Bolonchoojol, Chacsinicche, Tzapakal
• In the Riviera Maya : you can read My Article About The 15 Most Beautiful Cenotes In Tulum and the 12 Best Cenotes In Playa del Carmen

The Balankanché grotto , which means “throne of the jaguar” in Maya, is a few kilometers from Chichén Itzá.

This grotto was an important ritual site during the Maya-Toltec period, as it was seen as the entrance to the underworld where several gods lived.

You can go down to 10 meters deep and explore the inside through a path of more than 1 km.

There are several caves with stalactites and stalagmites, offerings (ceramics, jewelry, etc.), and a small light and sound show that tells the story of the place.

It is a nice and educational activity that I recommend during your visit to Chichén Itzá, especially if you go with kids.

But if you want more adventure, you can check out other Yucatan caves such as Loltun, Kantun-Chi, Tzabnah or Calcehtok.

• The entrance fee is 146 pesos
• Tours every hour: in French (10 am), Spanish (9 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm) and English (11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm).
• Please note: inside the caves it is hot, humid and poorly ventilated, so the visit is not recommended for people with asthma or claustrophobia .
• How to get to the Balankanché Caves : You can take a bus or colectivo (Pista-Valladolid route). The bus drops you off at the entrance of highway 180 (350 meters from the entrance).

In my opinion, yes, it is totally worth it!

A guide will make your visit to Chichén Itzá more meaningful, as they can explain its historical importance.

There are many guides around, but watch out for the prices .

The official guides are inside (after the ticket booths) and they are cheaper than the ones outside.

It costs 900 pesos for a guide in Spanish or 1200 pesos for another language. The service is for up to 8 people, so you can join others to form a group.

How to get to Chichen Itza?

My advice Chichén Itzá is the most touristic site in Yucatán . Many buses of travelers arriving at the same time and forming long lines…Don’t waste your time waiting!

To avoid the long lines and crowds , you can book your tickets to Chichen Itza with skip-the-line access here:

Getting to Chichen Itza by bus

The cheapest way to get to Chichén Itzá is by ADO bus, the best bus company in Mexico.

Buses to Chichén Itzá depart daily from several cities in Yucatán , here are the details:

• Cancun to Chichen Itza (3h): departure at 8h45 return at 16h30. The bus stops in front of the entrance of the site and departs from the same place.
• From Playa del Carmen to Chichen Itza (3h40), departure at 8h and return at 16h30
• From Tulum to Chichén Itzá (2h30): departures 6h30, 7h15, 8h15, 9h15, return 16h30
• From Merida to Chichen Itza (1h50): departures at 6h30, return at 16h30
• From Valladolid to Chichén Itzá (30 min): departures at 10h50 and 11h15, return at 16h30

Getting to Chichén Itzá with a rental car

Chichen Itza is located between Merida and Cancun , near the village of Pisté.

• From Highway 307 , which runs along the Riviera Maya , you have to take Highway 180D .
• The parking is 80 pesos.

Renting a car is for sure the best way to explore Yucatan and make the most of your stay!

To rent a car, personally, I always use Rentalcars.com, for a few reasons:

• You can easily compare the rental cars prices between all the agencies: for sure the easiest way to find the best rate!
• Cancellation is often offered free of charge: no need to worry if you change your mind
• Rentalcars offers full insurance coverage at a lower price than the rental companies , so it’s an instant saving with no effort

Simply click on the green button to find your rental car at the best price:

Chichén Itzá is one of the main tourist attractions in Yucatán , so there are many agencies that offer tours to Chichén Itzá from different cities.

You have various options to choose from and to help you pick the best one , let me show you my 5 favorite tours to Chichen Itza :

• Chichén Itzá + Cenote Ik Kil + lunch

This guided tour to Chichen Itza is a great option that includes pick-up at your hotel in the Riviera Maya.

You will start with a guided visit to Chichén Itzá , then you will go to Cenote Ik Kil , a beautiful natural pool where you can swim and refresh yourself.

After that, you will enjoy a buffet lunch with delicious local dishes and drinks.

To end the day, the tour will take you to Valladolid , a charming colonial city with colorful buildings and a cozy atmosphere.

Book the tour here:

• Early access to Chichén Itzá (with no crowds)

Chichén Itzá is a popular destination, so it can get very crowded with tour buses during the day.

The best way to enjoy and take good pictures is to arrive as early as possible.

This morning tour is perfect for that, as it includes a transfer from the Riviera Maya to be among the first to enter and explore Chichén Itzá!

You will have a privileged visit to this amazing ancient site and learn about the Maya culture and history.

It also includes buffet lunch to regain strength before returning to the hotel in the afternoon!

Book the early access tour here :

• Mayan tour: Chichén Itzá and Cobá

This one-day excursion will let you explore two of the most important Mayan sites in Mexico: Chichen Itza and Coba .

The tour begins with a transfer from your hotel in Cancun or Playa del Carmen in an air-conditioned van.

You will enjoy the guided tours in Chichen Itza and Coba which is hidden in the jungle.

You will also have the chance to swim in the refreshing waters of a cenote and end the tour with a buffet lunch .

Book this tour for a small group here:

• Combo Maya Lands: Chichen Itza, Tulum and Coba

To make sure you don’t miss anything during your trip to Yucatan, here is a very complete tour that takes you to see the three most important Maya sites in Mexico: Chichen Itza, Tulum and Coba!

Th is full day tour includes pick-up at your hotel, guided tour in small group of Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza , with swimming in a cenote and buffet lunch. Book it here:

You have the option of sleeping near Chichén Itzá , or in Valladolid o Merida depending on your itinerary.

Sleeping in Chichén Itzá

The advantage of sleeping near the site is that you can visit it from the moment it opens .

Here is a list of my recommendations, the best hotels near Chichen Itza , for all budgets:

• La Casa de las Lunas : located in the village of Pisté, this is a small charming hotel that offers the best value for money in its category. Spacious rooms with kingsize bed, swimming pool and small garden, from only 40 usd per night!
• Mayan Bungalow : small Mayan style bungalows in a beautiful tropical garden, very clean, excellent welcome from Luis the owner, delicious homemade breakfast included , from 7 9 usd per night!
• El Encanto Villas Ecofriendly : rooms with 360 degrees views over the surrounding nature, offering great privacy, outdoor pool, good breakfast. From 135 usd per night!

Sleep in Valladolid

• Candelaria Hostel : The best budget option in Valladolid! A colorful hostel that is very well located in the centre, with a garden, access to the kitchen, and a bike rental. Good breakfast options are also included, from 17 $usd for a bed in a shared dorm or 38 $usd for a private room.
• Real Haciendas : A small, charming, yet very quiet hotel with a swimming pool , clean rooms with comfortable king size bed, and a very good welcome. Starting f rom 57 $usd per night.
• IMIX Hotel : A typical colonial house in the centre of Valladolid on the beautiful Calzada de los Frailes , nicely decorated with spacious rooms. Breakfast included, starting from 127 $usd per night.
• Le Muuch Hotel : A hotel located 5 minutes away from the main park Francisco Canton Rosado . Excellent service, with indoor and outdoor swimming pools with hammocks, rooms with garden view, air conditioning, and a bar and restaurant. A la carte breakfast included, starting from 140 $usd per night.
• Hotel Zentik Project : This is definitely one of my favorite hotels in Mexico and the best hotel in Valladolid ! Beautiful Mayan-style cabanas with murals done by local and international artists. There’s a restaurant and bar, an outdoor pool with hammocks, and a saltwater pool in an underground cave . Very good breakfast included, starting from 380 $usd per night.

Sleep in Mérida

• Nomadas : the best hostel in Merida with a very nice atmosphere, located in the center of Merida. It has a swimming pool surrounded by hammocks and plants, possibility of classes (yoga, cooking classes, etc.). Starting at only 18$usd per night!
• El Gran Hotel : ideally located in the very center of Merida, right next to the cathedral. It is a very charming hotel, where time seems to have stopped with its colonial look and beautiful woodwork. There’s a restaurant, the rooms are spacious and the wifi works well. Good value for money, starting at only 59$usd per night!
• Hotel Hacienda Merida VIP : this small, luxurious hotel is the ideal place to spend a few romantic days in Merida . Located in the historic center, it is an elegant hacienda-style building, illuminated by candlelight at nightfall. Here you will find a charming swimming pool, comfortable rooms, a restaurant, and a bar. Starting at 165 $usd per night
• Hotel Boutique Mérida Santiago : this is a small, comfortable hotel with a colorful hacienda look, modern and with a traditional Mexican touch. There’s a swimming pool with sun loungers and umbrellas. With excellent homemade breakfasts and spacious rooms, it is the ideal hotel if you are looking for comfort without falling into luxury. Starting at 197 $usd per night

Practical information about Chichen Itzá

• For foreigners : the total price is 614 pesos (you have to pay 2 fees: one for CULTUR and one for INAH. Keep your two tickets safe because you might have to show them in case of control). The entrance fee for foreign children up to 13 years old is 90 pesos.
• 268 pesos for nationals , free on Sundays for Mexicans with INE.
• Locker rental 200 pesos.

There is an ATM to get money, but I suggest having the pesos ready in advance.

Which are the opening hours of Chichen Itza ?

From 8 am to 5 pm, but access is closed after 4 pm.

The light and sound show is from 8 pm to 9 pm in winter, and from 7 pm to 8 pm in summer.

It depends on your pace and interest, but you can tour it in 2h-3h .

A guide will take 1h30-2h to show you around.

An organized tour will give you 1h-1h30 of guided tour plus 1h of free time. In total, you should plan about 6h-8h for a tour from the Riviera Maya (with transportation, visit, etc.)

On my first visit to Chichen Itza, I made the mistake of arriving around 12 noon with all the tour buses and under a scorching heat: never again!

For a pleasant visit, I recommend going in the morning at opening time , before 10 am, or after 3 pm when it is cooler and the groups have left.

You will enjoy the site more and take better photos without the crowds. You will also avoid the sunburn and dehydration that can ruin your day. Trust me, it’s worth getting up early to see this amazing ancient site and learn about the Maya culture. 😊

• Get the early access tour to Chichen Itza here!
• Be careful of the heat : the temperature can go up to 86-104F. The sun is strong and there are no shady areas , so wear sunscreen, a hat, light clothes and drink water!
• Check what is included in the tour you are interested in: always read the details of what is included (e.g.: free or guided tour, optional activities, etc.) to avoid unpleasant surprises.
• Don’t go on Sunday : it’s the free day for Mexicans and the place is packed (even more than usual!!!). If you can, better go during the week .
• Remember that if you go on your own, the best thing to do is to buy these tickets with fast-track access to Chichen Itza you will save time and energy!

To find a cheap flight ticket to Mexico or a domestic flight , you can use our flight comparator, in collaboration with Skyscanner: it’s the guarantee to pay the best price!

Discover all my articles about Mexico : All my articles to help you plan your trip to Mexico are listed there.

• The 35 Best Things to Do in Mexico
• Yucatan Peninsula : Top 20 things to Do and See
• Riviera Maya : The 35 Epic Things to Do!
• Cancun : the 35 Best Things to Discover
• Playa del Carmen : Top 30 Things to Do and See!
• Tulum: 21 Best Things to Do + All My Best Tips!
• Izamal : 11 Best Things to Do in Yucatan’s Yellow City
• Mérida : 20 Best Things to Do and Must-See Attractions
• Valladolid : the 25 Best Places to Visit!
• Uxmal (Mérida) : the Definitive Guide + tips
• Itinerary : 10 days in Mexico – Mexico City, Chiapas and Yucatan
• Itinerary : 2 weeks in Mexico   – Best itinerary to discover the Yucatan Peninsula and Chiapas!
• Itinerary : 3 weeks in Mexico – Mexico City, Puebla , Oaxaca , Chiapas, Campeche , Yucatán and Riviera Maya
• Itinerary : 1 month in Mexico – My Epic 30-31 Days Itinerary from Mexico City to Cancun
• Road trip in Mexico : The best itineraries for 10, 15, 21 days and a month
• Itinerary : 1 week in Yucatan – The Ultimate 6, 7 or 8 days Itinerary
• Itinerary : 10 days in Yucatan – Best Itinerary for 9, 10 or 11 Days in Yucatan
• Itinerary : 2 weeks in Yucatan – Epic Itinerary + All my Best Tips!
• Itinerary : 3 weeks in Yucatan – Best things to do in 20-21 days
• Itinerary : 1 month in Yucatan – Yucatan Peninsula in 29, 30 or 31 days from Cancun
• Road trip in Yucatan : The best itineraries for 7, 10, 15, 21 days and 1 month

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I have created this blog to give you all my best tips to plan your next trip to Mexico, regardless of your budget. I share detailed itineraries, advice about places to visit as well as recommendations for transportation, hotels and restaurants. I hope I will also help you to discover amazing off the beaten path destinations in Mexico!

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Built to awe, the pyramid known as El Castillo has become the towering icon of Chichén Itzá.

Chichén Itzá

Site : Pre-Hispanic City of Chichén Itzá

Location : Mexico

Year Designated : 1988

Category : Cultural

Criteria : (i)(ii)(iii)

Reason : The brilliant ruins of Chichén Itzá evidence a dazzling ancient city that once centered the Maya empire in Central America.

The stepped pyramids, temples, columned arcades, and other stone structures of Chichén Itzá were sacred to the Maya and a sophisticated urban center of their empire from A.D. 750 to 1200.

Viewed as a whole, the incredible complex reveals much about the Maya and Toltec vision of the universe—which was intimately tied to what was visible in the dark night skies of the Yucatán Peninsula.

The most recognizable structure here is the Temple of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo. This glorious step pyramid demonstrates the accuracy and importance of Maya astronomy—and the heavy influence of the Toltecs, who invaded around 1000 and precipitated a merger of the two cultural traditions.

The temple has 365 steps—one for each day of the year. Each of the temple’s four sides has 91 steps, and the top platform makes the 365th.

Devising a 365-day calendar was just one feat of Maya science. Incredibly, twice a year on the spring and autumn equinoxes, a shadow falls on the pyramid in the shape of a serpent. As the sun sets, this shadowy snake descends the steps to eventually join a stone serpent head at the base of the great staircase up the pyramid’s side.

The Maya’s astronomical skills were so advanced they could even predict solar eclipses, and an impressive and sophisticated observatory structure remains on the site today.

This great city’s only permanent water source was a series of sinkhole wells. Spanish records report that young female victims were thrown into the largest of these, live, as sacrifices to the Maya rain god thought to live in its depths. Archaeologists have since found their bones, as well as the jewelry and other precious objects they wore in their final hours.

Chichén Itzá's ball court is the largest known in the Americas, measuring 554 feet (168 meters) long and 231 feet (70 meters) wide. During ritual games here, players tried to hit a 12-pound (5.4-kilogram) rubber ball through stone scoring hoops set high on the court walls. Competition must have been fierce indeed—losers were put to death.

Chichén Itzá was more than a religious and ceremonial site. It was also a sophisticated urban center and hub of regional trade. But after centuries of prosperity and absorbing influxes of other cultures like the Toltecs, the city met a mysterious end.

During the 1400s people abandoned Chichén Itzá to the jungle. Though they left behind amazing works of architecture and art, the city’s inhabitants left no known record of why they abandoned their homes. Scientists speculate that droughts, exhausted soils, and royal quests for conquest and treasure may have contributed to Chichén Itzá's downfall.

Recently this World Heritage site was accorded another honor. In a worldwide vote Chichén Itzá was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

How to Get There

• Nat Geo Expeditions

Chichén Itzá is located near the small town of Piste. Bus services connect to the international airports at Mérida (under two hours) and Cancun (two and a half hours).

When to Visit

The ruins are open daily. Chichén Itzá's climate is consistently tropical—average temperatures are 93ºF (34ºC). Spring and autumn equinoxes offer the chance to see the incredible shadow serpent of El Castillo—but the often crowded site is absolutely packed at these times.

How to Visit

Staying in the Chichén Itzá area allows visitors to visit early in the morning, out of the hot sun and without the company of the many tourists who arrive on day trip tours from Mérida and Cancun. There is also a light show on the site at night.

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• WORLD HERITAGE SITES
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Chichén Itzá  - One of the Seven Wonders of the World

Set 90 miles (150 km) east-northeast of Uxmal and 75 miles (120 km) east-southeast of Mérida with two main cenotes providing water, the Chichén Itzá, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988, is a complex of Mayan ruins on the northern half of Mexico's Y ucatan Peninsula . Once, a vibrant city of a diverse population of tens of thousands, it now meets people with the remnants of many ancient Mayan structures. 

Covering about 5 square kilometers (1.9 miles), the heart of the Chichen Itza contains all of the important buildings and structures, while the residential area stretches around for quite some distance in circumference, about 4 square miles (10 square km). At its peak, this religious, military, political, and commercial centre of 35,000 people first saw settlers in 550, with development beginning in the following century. Whether it was the access to being built around caves and sinkholes in limestone formations, or some other energy that drew people to settle down there, it went down in history as a major focal point in Mayan history.

History Of Chichen Itza

Founded presumably in the 6th century CE by the Maya peoples that occupied the Yucatán Peninsula since the Pre-Classic or Formative Period lasting from 1500 BCE to 300 CE, the buildings then were built in the architectural style known as Puuc, and differing from those in southern lowlands. Upon the collapse of the Maya cities in the 10th century Chichén was invaded by Maya-speaking foreigners, influenced and directed by the Toltec of central Mexico. Evidence suggests that they were the Itzá, while others stick to the theory where the Itzá arrive 200 to 300 years later.

This flat limestone plateau awaiting the construction of the future temple-city of Chichen Itza was already an important pilgrimage location being sacred to the Proto-Mayans for religious reasons, having occupied the peninsula for 8,000 years, and becoming known as a Maya social center. With the arrival of the sailor merchant warriors in the 8th century that ventured inland upon colonizing the northern coastal areas, the Chichen Itza began to rise in prominence. The first major settlement near two large natural sinkholes, known as cenotes where plentiful of pure water was available throughout the year, is likely responsible for the name of the city, meaning the "Mouth of the Well of the Itza".

Quickly becoming rulers on the peninsula, the Itza Maya raised the Chichen Itza to regional prominence by the end of the Early Classic period, 600 AD. Having deep-rooted themselves firmly as a major regional capital by about 900 AD, they dominated in the northern Maya lowlands centralizing their political, sociocultural, economical, and ideological way of life, with arts and sciences flourishing even earlier, between 625 and 800 AD. Upon becoming a religious center of increasing importance, they constructed many of the great buildings that make up the Chichen Itza to this day. 

Weakening Of The Maya Influence

Towards the end of the Classic Period, from 800 to 925 A.D., the foundations of this magnificent civilization weakened, and the Maya left many of their major religious centers and the rural land around. New, smaller cities were built and the great cities like Chichen-Itza were mostly visited to perform religious rites or bury the dead. The Itza people abandoned their city by the end of the 8th century A.D. and lived on the west coast of the peninsula for about 250 years. However, by the 10th century A.D. they returned to Chichen-Itza.

Although some dispute this event, the Toltec influence is in the art and the architecture style of certain areas of the city today, which is also the evidence of trade between the Toltecs and the Mesoamericans. In the following decades beginning around 1000 AD, upon uniting themselves with other powerful regional tribes, many significant buildings were added, bearing the Toltec touch in the porches, galleries, colonnades and carvings with symbols of serpents, birds and Mexican gods. In 1194, the city of Mayapan broke alliance and overtook Chichen Itza, with the latter becoming gradually abandoned, while a revolt broke out in 1221. Turning into a civil war, it was during this time that the great market's wooden roofs and the Temple of the Warriors were burned down, while the Mayapan took over Yucatan and the Chichen Itza went into final decline. 

Recent History Of Chichen Itza

While the Sacred Cenote, remains confirmed as the place of pilgrimage, new archaeological evidence suggests that the events happened 200 years earlier, with the Chichen Itza falling around 1000 AD. Then, in 1531 when Francisco de Montejo, a Spanish Conquistador wanted to make the temple city the capital of Spanish Yucatan, he was driven off the land during the revolt from the native Maya. The High Priest’s Grave, the Colonnade (Thousand Columns) with the adjoining Temple of the Warriors were completed in the Early Post-Classic Period, from 900 to 1200, while in the Late Post-Classic Period, from 1200 to 1540), the Mayapán deprived Chichén of its power, with the latter becoming joined with Uxmal and Mayapán in a political confederacy, the League of Mayapán.

With the Mayapán power waning by 1450, the League dissolved, and when the Spanish would enter the territory in the 16th century, they would find the abandoned Chichén, left to the jungle, and although it remained sacred to the Maya, they were living in smaller towns. The site is now a prime archaeological spot in Mexico, excavated since the 19th century. 

El Castillo In Chichen Itza

The most important building at Cichen Itza, the El Castillo (the Castle), with a dominating 90-foot Pyramid of Kukulkan in the center and containing the Temple of Kukulkan or the Feathered Serpent God, Quetzalcoatl was a ceremonial structure. Since it bears no resemblance to a castle, it is inquired that it was used for religious purposes and astronomical observations. Built during the 11th to 13 th centuries, the pyramid is directionally encoded with the Mayan calendar that precisely marks the solstices and equinoxes. 

The four-sided El Castillo pyramid that rises 79 feet (24 metres) above the Main Plaza, with 91 stairs on each side and a step on the top platform adds to a total number of steps equalling the days in a year. The serpent carved at the top symbolizes a major deity of the ancient Mesoamerican pantheon, known as Quetzalcóatl, and by the Maya, as Kukulcán. Archeologists also revealed a red jaguar jade-studded throne in one of the earlier structures of the pyramid.

Other Important Buildings

The real celestial observatory was El Caracol, meaning the snail in Spanish, and named after its winding inside staircase in a snail's-like shell formation on its west side with an observation chamber on top. It was built in the transition period of the late 9th century with a round, 48 feet-high tower, a solid lower body, and two round galleries in the central portion. It was rebuilt multiple times to fit larger capacity of observers that would look through the Caracol's windows facing the cardinal and sub-cardinal directions to track the movement of Venus, the Pleiades, the sun, and the moon.

The Grand Cenote is one of the two Chichen cenotes, known as the "Cenote Sagrado" or Sacred Cenote, that the pre-Columbian Maya would throw objects and humans in as sacrifices to Chaac, the Maya rain god. Some of the offerings found were jade carvings, pottery, gold and silver artifacts, and human skeletons. The Maya also believed it to be an entrance to the underworld, with Chac Mool receiving them as a sign of respect from his people. 

The 545 feet by 225 feet Ball Court, the largest known ancient sports field in Central America, with a raised temple area at each end, accommodates perfect acoustics, where a whisper in one end would be heard clearly at the other. The rubber ball game where the players would use their hips to keep the ball in the air to get it through a 20 feet-high stone ring at each side of the court, had religious significance to the Maya. The danger and the sacred importance of the game is engraved in one of the most dramatic Maya art found on one of the sloping side benches, of a beheading of a player, with more victory celebrations also noted in carvings.

Lastly, the temple of the Warriors comprises hundreds of square columns that surround a large temple with carvings of warrior figures dressed in feathers.

Significance Of Chichen Itza

Internationally-voted Chichen Itza as one of the World's 7 Wonders is visited by tourists and religious pilgrims for many reasons, most significant of which is the Pyramid of Kukulkan, which many don't know, is the Chichen Itza of the ancient Maya. Portraying the snake, that descends from heavens to the Earth according to the Maya in a matter of minutes, symbolizes the divine union between the humans and the gods.

An area with a large concentration of cultural significance, as well as the best-preserved archaeological site in the world, Chichen Itza is a setting of many important architectural and natural wonders, including El Castillo, the Great Ball Court, the Temple of the Warriors, and the Sacred Cenote. With “Chi” meaning mouth and “Che’en” meaning well in the Mayan culture, while “Itz” is a magician or a sorcerer and “Há” is water, the literate translated name is “the mouth of the well of the water sorcerers”. Aside from reflecting the ancient humanity’s most notable structures, cultural histories and beliefs, the Chichen Itza at sunrise is an unforgettable experience.  

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Table of Contents

Chichen Itza is the most visited Archeological Site in the Mayan Culture and represents the most complete and spectacular example of the combination of Mayan and Toltec cultures that flourished and reached a remarkable extension under the influence of “colonizers” from Tula.

The archaeological sources and the historical tradition, offer interesting indications for the study of the architectural and stylistic aspects of this Yucatán City, characterized by the evident mixture of two different cultures.

In Chichen Itza, numerous decorative elements, especially in the form of sculptures and stone bas-reliefs, testify to the strong presence of the cult of Quetzalcoatl, known as Kukulkan to the Mayas. The worship of the Sacred Cenote remained alive until the time of the conquest, a well to whose murky and deep waters victims were thrown to please the god of Rain Chac.

Facts about Chichen Itza are one of the most interesting and basic things to learn when visiting this Mayan Archeological Site. Learn 10 Facts about Chichen Itza from the  Pyramid in Chichen Itza , the  Sacred Cenote , and speaking about the Pyramid and the Cenote, did you know there’s a hidden Cenote right under the Great Pyramid of Chichen Itza? Learn more about this fact and many more in this list I’ve written for you.

Chichen Itza open hours?

Chichén Itzá is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. (Closing time may vary between 4 pm and 5 pm depending on the season)

When visiting most of the Mayan archeological sites you need to pay 2 fees, one for the Yucatán Tax Administration Agency, and a second one for the National Institute of Arts and History.

How much is Chichen Itza’s entrance fee in 2022?

General Admission State fee: $453 MXN Federal fee: $80 MXN Total: $533 MXN (Children between 3 and 12: $85 MXN)

Free admission

• Free admission for Mexican Citizens on Sundays with a valid ID.
• Free admission every day for Mexican Citizens with the following valid IDs: Older than 60 years, retired, pensioned, teachers, students, children under 13, and handicapped.

When is the best time to visit Chichen Itza?

Chichen Itza is the second most visited archeological site in México with more than 2.5 million visitors a year, with the busiest months being November – to April. The months with fewer crowds are May – June, and September – October. The perfect month to visit this archeological site because of the good weather and fewer tourists in May. The best time during the day is between 8 and 11 am, and if you’re not an early bird, you can get there between 2 and 3 pm.

What’s the estimated time spent in Chichen Itza?

Relax: You can walk around the Pyramid of Kukulkan to see the buildings without going into the Sacbés or roads in just under one hour. Tourist: If you want to see everything stopping only to take pictures, it may take between 3 and 4 hours. Archeologist: If you already read about Chichen Itza´s history and its buildings, you might want to really explore the architecture and engravings around the monuments. This may easily take between 4 to 6 hours.

General recommendations when visiting Chichen Itza?

1. Keep yourself hydrated 2. Wear comfortable shoes 3. Plan your route 4. Be patient 5. Protect yourself from harmful UV rays 6. Avoid large crowds 7. No drones or tripods allowed 8. Get a bus tour 9. Hire a guide (or not) 10. Something about salespeople 11. Bring cash 12. Bring mosquito repellent

Some of the Chichen Itza recommendations you find here may be common sense like drinking lots of water and protecting yourself from UV rays, but I recommend you read all of them to learn a couple of things you may not have thought about.

1. Keep yourself hydrated

The first of our Chichen Itza recommendations is to take a few liters of water in your backpack because you’re going to sweat, plus the weather is very hot and humid.

2. Wear comfortable shoes

You may wear sandals, but it’s best to take your hiking or tennis shoes. The pathways are a bit uneven and unpaved, also you’ll have to keep an eye out for errant rocks and sticks.

3. Plan your route

If you’re just looking to take a couple of amazing pictures in front of the main pyramid, and other nearby constructions, there’s no need to plan the route; but if you want to see everything, it’s best to plan ahead so you know what you want to see, and where it is.

4. Be patient

Lots of people visit Chichen Itza, and most of them get there between 11 am and 1 pm, so if you’re expecting to take a picture by yourself in front of the Kukulkan Pyramid, that may be a bit difficult. So, you can wait, or just take the picture and then edit your photo later.

5. Protect yourself from harmful UV rays

This is one of the most important Chichen Itza recommendations because you may find some shades under the trees, but most of the time, you will be under direct sunlight, so make sure to use sunscreen, a hat, and it may also be a good idea to take an umbrella with you.

6. Avoid large crowds

Chichen Itza can get very crowded depending on the season, schedule, and day of the week. There’s not much we can do about the season because we usually plan our trip depending on other factors, but try to avoid Sundays because any citizen with a valid Mexican ID gets in for free. Another thing to look out for if you want to avoid large crowds in Chichen Itza is that most of the tour buses get there at around 11 am, so if it’s in your hands, try to get there at 8 am, or after 2 pm.

7. No drones or tripods allowed

This is one of the Chichen Itza recommendations that’s more of a warning, than a recommendation because you may freely take pictures and video with your handheld camera or smartphone, but you have to pay a small fee for shooting video with a pro camera. Also, keep in mind you can’t use drones. If you really need to use a tripod, there’s special permission to use one, but it might take some valuable time out of your visit to get it.

8. Get a bus tour

While driving yourself may give you the freedom to stay the time you need and stop to eat wherever you want, it might be tiring for the driver. So, it might be a good idea to get a bus tour to Chichen Itza because most of them include the access ticket, a tour guide, food, and drinks, so you don’t have to worry about anything else other than enjoying your trip.

9. Hire a guide (or not)

This is one of the Chichen Itza recommendations that is totally up to you and what you want to get out of your trip to this Mayan Archeological Site.

Other than taking amazing pictures, a must when you visit Chichen Itza is to know what you’re looking at and a little bit of history. So, you have 2 options, read before you go, or hire a tour guide.

10. Something about salespeople

There are souvenir stands everywhere, selling figurines, t-shirts, wood carvings, and the list goes on. It’s important to buy from them and not big chain stores because some of the articles you can find there are works of art that were built with their own hands, plus you help their economy, but in my opinion, I don’t think there should be so many of them, this amazing Archeological Site ends up looking like a market. Also, a few of them lie to get your attention, they may say something like 5 T-shirts for $5 dollars, and when you ask, they say 5 T-shirts for $25 dollars, making it seem like you may have heard wrong. Or they have a big figurine and offer it to you at $1 dollar, and when you approach them to buy it, they have a small one “hidden” in the other hand; then they tell you that’s the one that costs $1 dollar, and the big one costs $30.

11. Bring cash

While traveling in México, it’s always best to carry cash because you never know when you can pay with a credit or debit card. Even when they accept them, they may not work properly, try to carry cash with you.

12. Bring mosquito repellent

It depends on the season, but most of the year there are lots of mosquitos, one of the most important Chichen Itza recommendations is to take with you some mosquito repellent in the form of liquid, bracelet, sticker, or whatever works for you.

Housing Periods

The most important housing period of Chichen Itza has been divided into three; one corresponding from the years 550 to 800 which corresponds to a stage of pure Mayas; another from 800 to 1000 known as transitional, where the settlers from central Mexico arrived and brewed a new culture with the Maya, now called Mayan-Toltec; and the last one from 1050 to 1300 corresponding to the decline of the city.

Architectural and stylistic aspects of Chichen Itza

The archaeological sources and the historical tradition, offer interesting indications for the study of the architectural and stylistic aspects of this Yucatecan City, characterized by the evident mixture of two different cultures.

In Chichen Itza, numerous decorative elements, especially in the form of sculptures and stone bas-reliefs, testify to the strong presence of the cult of Quetzalcoatl, known as Kukulkán to the Mayas.

Kukulkan, the Mayan new god

It was probably the Toltecs who superimposed the anthropozoomorphic figure of this ancient and mysterious divinity, the legacy of the Teotihuacan civilization, its cultural hero Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl, the mythical king of the legendary city of Tula, identified by so many archaeologists with the city of modest dimensions brought to light in the state of Hidalgo. Quetzalcoatl, after many years of reign over the city of Tula and its inhabitants, was dethroned by his evil brother Tezcatlipoca, an event that according to sources occurred in the year 987.

Different traditions are intertwined and superimposed on the fate of this civilizing hero, after his expulsion from Tula; according to one of them, he emigrated eastward, with a group of followers, to the territory of Yucatan, which he probably reached by sea. This is consistent with Yucatecan documents from the colonial era, which narrate the arrival to Chichen Itza of a character of noble lineage, cultured and refined, which the Maya gave the name of Kukulkán, which in Yucatec means precisely “snake-quetzal”, or more simply “Feathered Serpent”.

No doubt he brought to Chichen Itza much knowledge, especially in the field of arts and medicine, as well as the culture of his hometown, whose assimilation by local people must have given great impetus and prosperity to the city.

Many historians have interpreted oral tradition and colonial sources as the “fictionalized” reflection of events actually occurring; the “invaders” of Chichen Itza were probably exiled from Toltec lineage, expelled from Tula. Since the end of the tenth century, then, Chichen Itza assumed the role of the guiding city of Yucatán; its architecture represents a hybrid of the elements inherited from the Classic Maya, elements of Puuc style, and new Toltec contributions.

Human sacrifices in Chichen Itza

What inevitably surprises and impresses those who stop to visit the vestiges of this prestigious archaeological zone are aspects of material culture linked to human sacrifices; they were always practiced in Yucatan and other Mayan regions and the Toltecs further accentuated these rituals as seen in the altar of skulls where the heads of the decapitated victims, the Tzompantli, were nailed.

Best time to visit Chichen Itza

The Best time to visit Chichen Itza depends on your schedule and likes because you might like large crowds or be the only one there. For large crowds go on the Chichen Itza Equinox or a Mexican Holiday, if you can’t schedule these days, just visit between 11 am and 2 pm to get the largest crowds.

On the other hand, if you like to be practically the only one there, visit Chichen Itza on a rainy day and be there at 8 am. Check out the rest of this article to choose the best time to visit Chichen Itza.

General Weather in the State of Yucatan

Chichen Itza is located in the Yucatán Peninsula south of the Tropic of Cancer and is surrounded by warm tropic waters from the Gulf of México and the Pacific Ocean which means it has warm and humid tropical weather.

The Temperature in Chichen Itza

The temperatures in the Mayan Peninsula are very high and constant throughout the year between 28ºC in December-January and 35ºC in May-August.

Rain and hurricanes

The Mayan Peninsula has two rainy seasons between May and October, and between November and April, of course, this season may come before and after these months.

Since there are no mountains in the Mayan Peninsula, hurricanes have no obstacles to slow them down, which makes the land vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes coming from the East. The tropical hurricane season starts in May and ends in December.

The best months to visit Chichen Itza

The best time to visit Chichen Itza according to the months is between March and May because there’s not a lot of rain and there’s also not that much tourism.

After these months, the second-best time to visit Chichen Itza is between December and February because of the weather, but the downside is that there are a lot of tourists, so try to get there early.

Best hours to visit Chichen Itza

The best time during the day is between 8 and 11 am, and if you’re not an early bird, you can get there between 2 and 3 pm.

Worst time and day to visit Chichen Itza

The worst hours to visit Chichen Itza are between 11 am and 3 pm when most of the tour buses arrive.

The worst day to visit Chichen Itza is on Sundays when every person with a valid ID from México can get it for free.

Another bad option that mostly depends on you, is the Chichen Itza Equinox because it may get very crowded. If you want to see it, I recommend visiting the site one or two days before and after. You can still enjoy the effect, but with fewer crowds.

Location of Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is located in the State of Yucatan in Mexico, 120 km southeast of its capital Merida, and 200 km southwest of the city of Cancún.

How to get to Chichen Itza

You can arrive in a comfortable and safe way, using any means of transportation like tour buses, car rentals, or public transportation.

Chichen Itza Tours

You can get a complete experience of Chichen Itza with the hiring of a Tour Agency like Xichen by Xcaret that can offer you different packages with everything to turn your trip to Chichen Itza into a unique experience.

The Classic Chichen Itza Tour will provide full transportation either by bus or van from the hotel where you’re staying or from any other pick-up point. The tour includes the price of the tickets with a guide included, which will give you a tour through the site with breaks for free time.

The guides are certified and speak English, some of them even speak multiple languages.

Most tours will also visit cenotes and a delicious buffet-style meal in a restaurant of excellent regional quality.

Car Rental to go to Chichen Itza

With this option, you can take the wheel and make the journey with the stops you want and the way you want.

If you decide to rent a vehicle to make the trip to Chichen Itza, you can get an excellent price for the rental of your vehicle from an authorized website like rentalcars.com, getting a discount if you set it aside in advance.

Once you get your vehicle, the trip to Chichen Itza will not be complicated, you just have to take the 180 federal highway known also as the Mérida-Puerto Juarez highway. As for the conditions of the road, you should not worry because it is in perfect condition. Along the route, you can make stops in many tourist places, such as famous cenotes or tourist spots that offer beautiful crafts, perfect as souvenirs of your visit.

If you’re driving yourself, you can easily use apps like Google Maps or Waze to get there.

Public Transportation to Chichen Itza

If you want to get to Chichen Itza using public transportation, you can take buses, which are an economical and convenient option to get to your destination regardless of the number of people in the group. Buses are taken from the bus terminals in any city like Cancún or Mérida and should be taken in the morning as early as possible. By choosing this option, you can enjoy your trip in nice and spacious seats with air conditioning.

Public transportation usually stops in a beautiful town called Pisté located 15 kilometers from the ruins of Chichen Itza where you can buy ornaments and crafts to remember your trip and stretch your legs before continuing.

How to get to Chichen Itza from Merida

From Merida, it’s 120 km and you get there in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

How to get to Chichen Itza from Valladolid

From Valladolid, it’s 50 km and you get there in approximately 45 minutes.

How to get to Chichen Itza from Cancun

From Cancun, it’s 200 km and you get there in approximately 3 hours.

How to get to Chichen Itza from Tulum

From Tulum, it’s 150 km and you get there in approximately 2 hours.

5 recommendations if you’re driving to Chichén Itzá

The Chichen Itza recommendations may change if you’re driving there with new options like taking control of the time you get there and leave, staying there as long as you need, and some other ones. 

Check out these specific Chichen Itza recommendations in case you rented a car or a friend is showing you around the Mayan Peninsula.

1. Get there early (or late)

Try to get there between 8 and 10 am because most tour buses arrive between 11 am and 1 pm, plus it’s not that hot when you arrive that early. If you’re not an early bird, try to get there between 2 and 3 pm, when the tour buses start to leave.

2. Look out for expensive toll booths

There are also a couple of expensive tolls along the way, depending on where you’re staying, so bring some extra cash with you.

3. Time your trip

Depending on where are you staying (from Mérida: 1:30 hours, and from Cancún: 2:30), you should time your trip. For example, if you want to get there at 8 am from Cancún, you should leave at around 5:30 am.

4. Leave on a full tank

You may find some gas stations along the way, but it’s better to just fill up your tank before you leave so you don’t have to stop.

5. Car A/C is a must

If you rent a car, make sure it has a working A/C, even while driving at high speed on the highway, you may need to cool off.

5 Recommendations when traveling to Chichen Itza with children

When traveling to Chichen Itza with children, you should keep in mind that not all children are fascinated by the idea of going to explore archaeological ruins, but that does not mean that you have to miss the opportunity to visit them. That’s why I leave you a list of recommendations that will make your visit and that of your little ones more pleasant.

1. Stroller

Although the roads are quite irregular, your trip to Chichen Itza with children is possible by walking on the most traveled roads with a stroller, preferably with a stroller with large wheels so that it does not get stuck with stones or branches. A stroller can also be very helpful to help you carry all the things like water, diapers, or even if your children want to rest and you want to continue exploring.

2. Rest in the shadows

There are several places with benches and shadows so I recommend stopping from time to time, in that way, children have the opportunity to cool off, drink water, and you can marvel at the sight of the ruins.

3. Refreshing snacks

Within the archaeological zone, you will find several places where they sell, ice pops, ice cream, fruit, among other things. Carry some cash so you can pamper your kids with something refreshing.

4. Wet wipes

Wet wipes are a great help to cool off, or to clean your hands whenever necessary, although there are public toilets, they are usually very crowded and far so you cannot take them to wash their hands every time they get dirty.

5. Extra entertainment

It does not matter if you go from Cancun, the Mayan Riviera, or Merida, the trip is long and it is good that they bring something to entertain themselves, they can watch a movie, play with a Tablet or carry a toy. In the case of the Tablet and electrical devices, you must be careful, since they overheat in the archaeological zone and could malfunction. If you allow them to use them within the archaeological zone, preferably do it in the shade to avoid accidents.

I hope that with these little tips for your next trip to Chichen Itza with children you can go more prepared to enjoy this wonderful place as a family.

Facts about Chichen Itza

Fact 1. a cenote under the main pyramid of kukulkan.

This is the most recent of our top 10 Facts about Chichen Itza. In August 2015, archaeologists discovered a cenote under the Kukulkan pyramid.

This finding confused the researchers, but for an archaeologist expert in submarine archeology, the answer was simple:

The Mayans knew about the existence of the cenote and built the pyramid over it because the Mayans wanted to represent the universe with their constructions.

The pyramid rises equidistantly between four cenotes, one to the north, another to the south, another to the east, and the fourth one to the west. This new finding would be the fifth cenote, the “axis mundi“, the point where the Sacred Ceiba grew its roots that reached the underworld, and its branches reached the four cardinal points.

Fact 2. The layered Pyramid of Chichen Itza

Like other pre-Hispanic archaeological sites, constructions of the cities were covered during a second, and sometimes more residential phases.

In this case, the first Pyramid in Chichen Itza was built between the years 500 and 800; and again, by the third and currently visible stage, developed over the years. 1,050 and 1,300.

Fact 3. Ceremonial objects at the bottom of the Sacred Cenote

Various research teams have found ceremonial objects at the bottom of the Sacred Cenote, along with animal and people bones whose ages range from 3 to 55 years.

Its origin, however, is uncertain. There are theories that the Mayas practiced human sacrifices; others believe that in reality, these remains reached the bottom of the cenote as part of funerary rituals that would have arrived thereafter they had died.

Others say that the purpose of throwing living beings was not to cause their death but to get them to intercede with the lords of the underworld.

What they do agree on, is that all these rituals were intended to mediate with the entities of Xibalbá to ensure rain and good harvests.

Fact 4. The Sound of the Quetzal

There is an electroacoustic effect that occurs in front of a staircase of the main  Pyramid of Kukulkan  in Chichen Itza. When a person claps, the sound bounces in the form of a distorted echo and generates a sound that simulates the singing of a Quetzal.

This new attraction was discovered at the end of the twentieth century by the tour guides of the site.

Fact 5. The Pyramid of Kukulkan has a total of 365 steps

The temple of Kukulkan has four staircases, of 91 steps each, which is a total sum of 364. With the upper platform, it adds up to 365 in total.

Each step represented the days of the Haab Mayan calendar, which fits perfectly with the calendar we use today, the Gregorian calendar.

Fact 5. A World Heritage Wonder

Chichen Itza was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988 and in 2007, it was considered one of “The New Seven Wonders of the Modern World”, as part of a private initiative where people chose the sites that interested them the most.

Fact 6. Chichen Itza was bought by an American

At the beginning of the 20th century, the American Edward Herbert Thompson bought the property where Chichen Itza is located, mainly to drain the Sacred Cenote and extract numerous objects like jewelry and utensils made of gold, copper, and jade.

After various actions from the Mexican government, today it is owned by the State of Yucatan.

Some of the archaeological pieces discovered by Thompson were also returned to Mexico.

Fact 7. The largest Ball Court in Mesoamerica

The  Ball Court of Chichen Itza  is the largest in Mesoamerica, 70 meters wide and 169 meters long.

The idea of this game was to put a rubber ball through the hoop that is on top of the wall, using the elbows, knees, and faces.

Fact 8. The descent of the feathered serpent

The last, and most well-known of our Facts about Chichen Itza list is the descending serpent.

The design of this pyramid was made by the Mayan architects who so well mastered the knowledge of the stars and in particular that of the sun.

For this reason, they placed the pyramid so that its shadow could be projected on the sides of the staircase, giving shape to the body of one of its deities, Kukulkan, the feathered serpent whose head is sculpted at the foot of the Pyramid.

Kukulkan Group

The Kukulkan Group is the first set of buildings you see when you enter from the main access and it’s made up by:

• The Kukulkan Pyramid
• The Great Ball Court
• Temple of the Jaguar
• The Great Ball Court’s South Temple
• The Temple of the Bearded Man
• The Tzompantli
• The Temple Eagles and Jaguars
• The Venus Temple
• The Sacred Cenote

The 1000 Columns Group

The 1000 Columns Group is located south-east of the Kukulkán Group and its main building is the Temple of the Warriors. This area is known for its many columns, it doesn’t really have 1000, but it sure seems like it.

• Temple of the Warriors
• The Temple of the Tables
• Group of the Thousand Columns
• North Pillars
• The Temple of Sculpted Columns

The Ossuary Group

The Ossuary Group is located south of the Kukulkán Group and its main building is The Ossuary. This area is mostly ignored by visitors because it’s on the way to the Observatory, but you can visit the less-known buildings like the Tomb Platform and Chichanchob.

Here’s the list of buildings you can find in this group:

• The Ossuary
• The Tomb Platform
• Chichanchob
• The House of the Deer
• Xtoloc Temple
• Xtoloc Cenote

The Nunnery Group

The Nunnery Group is located south of the Ossuary Group and its main building is The Nunnery. This is the last of the groups we can visit, there’s another group known as Old Chichén south of this one, but it’s closed to the public.

The buildings you can find in the Nunnery Group are:

• The Observatory
• The Nunnery Building

Balamku Cave in Chichen Itza

The Balamkú Cave in Chichén Itzá, which was discovered 50 years ago but remained unexplored until now, is a labyrinthine path with a depth of 24 meters below the surface.

This is a discovery of at least 200 ceramic pieces that remained intact for more than a thousand years in an underground ritual cave in the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá, in the current state of Yucatán.

Balamkú means “jaguar god”, in allusion to the divine quality that the ancient Mayans attributed to this animal, which they believed had the ability to enter and leave the underworld.

Location of the Balakmú Cave

The Balamkú Cave is located 2.7 kilometers east of the pyramid of El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulkan , one of the seven wonders of the modern world .

The Findings in the Balakmú Cave

The project’s head researcher pointed out that the most important part of this finding is that it’s not altered, it’s not looted, and that all the information was still found in the Balamku Cave.

The vast majority of objects found are censers dedicated to Tlaloc , the Mesoamerican god of water, used for rituals and offerings in the Late Classic Maya period (600-900 AD).

The archaeologist explained that several investigations like this one have discarded the initial hypothesis of a Toltec invasion of the Maya and reaffirmed that there must be an influence from the center of Mexico towards Chichen Itza.

The archaeological artifacts belong to seven offerings documented so far and are in good condition since the cave remained sealed for centuries.

The incense burners and vessels discovered in the Balamku Cave still preserve charred remains, food, seeds, jade, shell, and bones, among other elements that the Maya offered during that time to their deities.

The importance of the Cave

The difficult access and morphology of the cave hindered the deposition of these pieces and the celebration of rituals, the reason why the researchers consider that it was a space of great relevance for the Mayans of Chichen Itza.

The archaeologist even thinks that this cave is probably more sacred than the Sacred Cenote itself. He considered it was more important because the effort that represents entering is greater than in the Sacred Cenote , which received offerings from all of Mesoamerica and there were pilgrimages.

The size of the Balamkú Cave

So far, there has been a preliminary exploration of the first 450 meters of the cave, although it’s estimated that this route would be equivalent to one-third of the actual length.

The researchers are working on the development of a three-dimensional model of the cave under the premise of avoiding any modification.

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THE 10 BEST Chichen Itza Sights & Historical Landmarks

Chichen itza landmarks.

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• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Chichen Itza

2. Templo de Kukulkán

Recommended Sightseeing Experiences (499)

3. Gran Juego de Pelota

4. Temple of the Warriors

5. The Red House Chichanchob

6. Sacred Cenote

7. Temple of the Bearded Man

8. Plataforma de Venus

9. La Iglesia

10. Plataforma de las Aguilas y los Jaguares

11. Las Monjas

12. The Ossuary

13. Temple of the Big Tables

14. Tzompantli

15. chichen itza, what travelers are saying.

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Chichen Itza

By: History.com Editors

Updated: June 26, 2023 | Original: February 19, 2018

Chichen Itza was a Mayan city on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Although it’s an important tourist attraction, Chichen Itza also remains an active archeological site. New discoveries are still being unearthed in the area, providing even more insight into the culture and accomplishments of the Mayan people, who ruled much of present-day Mexico and Central America prior to the arrival of European colonists. Chichen Itza was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 and, in 2007, it was voted in a global survey as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Where Is Chichen Itza?

Chichen Itza is located about 120 miles from the modern-day resort town of Cancun, on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula.

The name Chichen Itza is a Mayan language term for “at the mouth of the well of the Itza.” The Itza were an ethnic group of Mayans who had risen to power in the northern part of the Yucatan peninsula, where the city is located.

The well in the name refers to a number of underground rivers that run beneath the region and likely served as the source of water for the city. This easy access to water made the location perfect for a city the size of Chichen Itza.

When Was Chichen Itza Built?

Historic accounts differ as to when Chichen Itza was built and ultimately developed into a center of political and economic power. Some accounts place the establishment of the city in the early 400s A.D., while others suggest construction started a few years later, in the middle part of the fifth century.

What isn’t up for debate is that Chichen Itza was a significant center of political and economic activity in the Mayan culture by roughly 600 A.D.

By then, it was already one of the largest cities in the Mayan world, covering nearly two square miles with densely packed commercial, residential and other structures made of stone. Chichen Itza even had its own “suburbs,” with smaller homes occupying the outskirts of the city.

El Castillo

Remarkably, given the relatively simple technology available at the time, Chichen Itza was built in an area of rough terrain that was leveled in order to accommodate larger structures, including, most notably, El Castillo (“the castle”), a pyramid structure that, thanks to restoration efforts on the part of the Mexican government, still stands today.

Another larger structure on the site, Las Monjas, which served as a government building, was also built on leveled terrain.

All of the buildings of Chichen Itza were linked by a network of nearly 100 “sacbeob,” or paved roadways and sidewalks—which was significant, given that many European cities did not yet feature paved streets at the time.

In addition, archeologists believe the Mayans painted many of the buildings in bright colors, including reds, greens and blues. Today, though, the remains of the city retain the pale gray colors of the original stone.

Cenote at Chichen Itza

A large cenote (sacred well or spring) located at the northern end of Chichen Itza has immense ceremonial and archaeological significance.

Long rumored to have been the site of human sacrifice, the cenote was dredged in the early 1900s. The dredging yielded numerous precious artifacts made of gold, turquoise and jade, as well as human remains.

Researchers found that the human remains had bone marks and other wounds indicating that they were killed before being thrown into the cenote.

Chichen Itza as a Capital

By the ninth century, Chichen Itza was a de facto regional capital, with its rulers controlling much of the central and northern Yucatan peninsula.

Via its port at Isla Cerritos on the northern coast, Chichen Itza became an important commercial center, trading in goods—including gold and other treasures—with other cities throughout the Americas.

At its height, it is believed that as many as 50,000 people lived in the city. This population may have also been fairly diverse, at least by standards of the time, with residents immigrating to the city from beyond the Yucatan, including from present-day Central America.

The Decline of Chichen Itza

Although the fall of Mayan civilization is widely attributed to the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, and the European colonialists that followed the famous explorer, Chichen Itza may well have lost its place as an important city in the region long before then.

Indeed, historians believe that many of the political and economic activities of the city had shifted to Mayapan, a newer community built to the south and west of Chichen Itza, by the mid-1200s.

There is some evidence that Chichen Itza may have been raided and looted at this time, although that remains up for debate.

Still, when Spanish conquistadors arrived in 1526, there was a thriving community living in and around the city. As a result, it was only natural that, for a time, the Spanish set up a temporary capital there.

They later used the site as a headquarters for cattle ranching activities.

Chichen Itza Today

Long abandoned by the Spanish, and then by the newly formed country of Mexico , Chichen Itza became a significant architectural site in the mid-1800s. It remains so today.

A number of important structures of the original city remain standing, some thanks to restoration efforts on the part of the Mexican government. Among them:

El Castillo: Also known as the Temple of Kukulkan, named for a Mayan deity that appears as a feathered serpent. This pyramid-shaped structure stands close to 100 feet high.

The Great Ball Court: Just to the northwest of El Castillo, this structure was used for sport—primarily a team game using a ball.

The North Temple: Also called the Temple of the Bearded Man, this small building is adjacent to the Great Ball Court and features a carving on its inner walls, with the central figure of a man with a carving under his chin that resembles facial hair.

The Steam Bath: This structure features a water bath and steam chamber operated by using heated stones.

Sacbe Number One:  One of the paved streets of the city that extends nearly 900 feet.

Temple of the Warriors: Another large, stepped pyramid.

Group of a Thousand Columns:  A series of exposed columns that are believed to have supported a large roof system.

El Mercado:  A square structure at the southern end of the Temple of the Warriors that archeologists believe served as the city’s marketplace.

El Osario:  Another step-pyramid structure with a temple at its peak.

Today, some 2 million tourists visit Chichen Itza annually to explore its architectural wonders and gain further insight into Mayan history and culture. However, archeologists are still at work on the site.

As recently as 2016, scientists discovered a smaller pyramid within El Castillo using modern imaging technology. It is believed this smaller structure held religious significance to the Mayans.

Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen Itza. UNESCO . Chichen Itza. National Geographic . Second pyramid found inside Kukulkan at Chichen Itza in Mexico. CNN . Chichen Itza. Exploratorium.edu .

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Chichen Itza in Mexico – how to plan the perfect visit

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Chichen Itza in Mexico needs no introduction. It’s one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the top tourist attractions in the country. Out of all the archeological sites found in the Yucatán area, Chichén Itzá is the best known and most visited one, drawing over 2 million tourists each year.

Built and inhabited between AD 600 – 1200, Chichén Itzá was one of the largest cities in Mayan civilization and an important center of political and economic activity. Its development span over several centuries, which is reflected in many architectural styles of the structures i.e. Puuc, Toltec.

Most people associate Chichén Itzá with the main El Castillo pyramid, not realizing how huge the entire complex is. While El Castillo gets the most attention, there are many more incredible buildings spread over 4 square miles ( 10 square km ). Temple of the Warriors, The Great Ball Court and El Caracol are just a few of many impressive structures you get to see during your visit.

Table of Contents

Where is Chichén Itzá ?

The archeological site of Chichén Itzá is located in the Yucatán state, about 2 km from a small town Pisté, halfway between Cancún and Mérida . It’s very well connected with the nearby cities Valladolid and Mérida, and also easily accessible from many major tourist destinations in the Yucatán Peninsula ( Cancún , Playa del Carmen, Tulum ). This sure contributes to it being the most visited Mayan ruins in the country.

Visiting Chichen Itza, Mexico

El castillo ( temple of kukulcán ).

Right as you enter the archeological zone of Chichen Itza, you see El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulcán . This is the most recognizable of all structures and one most people associate with Chichen Itza. Standing at close to 100 feet tall, the pyramid is truly impressive, not only in size but also the design.

The Temple of Kukulcán shows, that the Mayans knowledge of astrology and mathematics was really advanced. All four s des of the Temple have a staircase with 91 steps each and there is an extra step at the top. When you add them up, there are 365 of them, which represents 365 days in a year.

If you visit Chichen Itza on spring and autumn equinox, you will be able to witness yet another phenomenon. On those two days, a shadow falls on the pyramid creating an image of a serpent and as the sun sets, the shadow moves down and joins the stone serpent’s head at the bottom.

What you’ve seen in photos does not even compare to how impressive the pyramid is, when you are standing right in front of it.

The Temple of the Warriors

Right next to the El Castillo, you will find another impressive structure, Temple of the Warriors. This large pyramid is surrounded by 200 columns, which contain carvings of warriors. There is a steep staircase in the middle leading to the top, where there are more columns, as well as a statue of Chac Mool. These very specific sculptures of a reclining man were very typical for the Pre-Columbian groups and were considered to be messenger of the Gods. There are several of them at Chichen Itza, one right on top of the Temple of the Warriors.

Plaza of a Thousand Columns

Connected to the Temple of Warriors, you will find rows of stone columns. It’s believed, that at some point those columns supported a roof.

The Market Place

A square shaped structure with wide stairs leading up to it and more stone pillars surrounding it. Archeologists believe, that this area used to be a market place.

Ball Court ( Juego de Pelota )

The great ball court, Juego de Pelota, was another highlight of Chichen Itza for me. This is the biggest ball court in Mesoamerica. It features two large, vertical walls and temples on each end. It’s believed, that the ball court was used for ceremonies and playing ritual games, which was a way of settling political and social disputes.

When you look up, you will see that each wall has a round ring. The objective of the game was to put the 12 Ib rubber ball through the hoop without using your hands. It’s not clear whether it was the captain of the winning or losing team, that was sacrificed, although it’s believed it was the latter.

The Ball Court is also a place with amazing acoustics. Despite a rather long distance, a sound made on one side can be very well heard on the other.

The Tzonpantli ( Wall of Skulls )

The Wall of Skulls, also known as the Tzonpantli, is definitely of the most gruesome structures at Chichen Itza, Mexico. The large platform has skull carvings on one side and snakes, eagles and warriors carrying human heads on the other.

This platform was used to display heads of the victims, which was a common practice among the Mayan people.

The Observatory ( El Caracol )

El Caracol is a large structure with a circular viewing tower. It got its name from the spiral shaped staircase, that leads to the top. The building was used by Mayans for astronomical observations.

The Church ( Iglesia )

You can find this beautiful building in the southernmost part of the Chichen Itza complex. The Church is covered in amazing details, which was very typical for the Puuc architecture.

The Sacred Cenote ( Cenote Sagrado )

Cenotes can be found all over Yucatán, and there’s one within the Chichen Itza complex as well. But don’t pull out your bathing suit just yet, as swimming at this one is not allowed. If you look at the murky water, I doubt, you’d even want to take a dip.

Cenote Sagrado was a site of a lot of ceremonial sacrifices performed by the Mayans. Jade, gold and human remains were all discovered on the bottom of this sinkhole.

Visiting Cenote Ik Kil

While you can’t swim at the cenote right at Chichen Itza, there is one less than 10 minute drive away.

As beautiful as Ik Kil cenote is, it does get really crowded. Since it’s so close to Chichen Itza, a lot of group tours include a stop there after visiting the archeological zone. So if you are one of those tours, you are most likely going to make a stop there. If you plan on visiting Chichen Itza on your own, and you still want to go to Ik Kil despite the crowds, you can either drive ( if that’s how you got to Chichen Itza ), or take a taxi. As you exit the Chichen Itza complex, there will be several people offering to take you to Cenote Ik Kil.

Chichen Itza opening hours

Chichen Itza is open daily from 8 am – 5 pm, with the last admission at 4 pm.

Keep in mind, that the state of Quintana Roo ( where Cancún, Tulum and Playa del Carmen are ) is in a different time zone than Yucatán ( where Chichén Itzá is ). If you plan on visiting from those destinations between October to April, Quintana Roo will be one hour ahead. For the rest of the year, from April to October, both states are in the same time zone.

Chichén Itzá entrance fee

Chichen Itza are one of the most expensive Mayan Ruins in Mexico to visit. The price doubled in 2019 and it keeps increasing. It will currently cost you 643 MXN to enter the complex ( price updated as of February 2024 ). The price is split in two parts: general admission and the government fee. For Mexican citizens tickets cost 285 MXN and they enter for free on Sundays. While the general admission part of the ticket can be paid by either credit card or cash, the government fee is cash only.

You can’t buy your tickets online in advance, but you can get a Skip-the-Line Entrance Ticket.

How much time do you need?

It all depends on how much time you spend at each site and whether you hire a guide or not. But given the size of the entire place, I’d say plan on anywhere from 2.30 – 4 hours.

Do you need a guide at Chichen Itza?

Yes and no. What I think you do need is to know the history behind Chichén Itzá, because it will definitely make your visit so much better. If you are not into taking a group tour and prefer to visit on your own ( which is something I recommend ), you can either read and learn about Chichén Itzá before you come, or hire a guide once you get there. When you arrive, there will be plenty of guides offering to take you around. The average price is between 600 -1000 MXN. If you don’t know much about Chichén Itzá, I highly recommend it. You really will get so much more out of your visit vs just walking around and photographing structures at the site. Even though there are plaques in front of most structures, the information is very minimal.

Can you climb Chichen Itza, Mexico?

After a tragic accident in 2006, when a women fell to her death while descending El Castillo, climbing is no longer allowed and the pyramid is roped off. Which is probably for the best, as it not only prevents more accidents, but also preserves this incredible structure.

How to get to Chichen Itza, Mexico

Driving in the Yucatán Peninsula is fairly easy and many people visit Chichen Itza as part of the Yucatán road trip. The roads are well maintained and well marked. Keep in mind, that some of the fast roads are toll roads ( i.e.180D ), and those are paid in cash only. Once you get to Chichen Itza, there is a huge parking lot and it costs 80 MXN to park for the day.

If you need a rental car, I recommend using Discover Cars . It’s a price comparison website, that searches only reputable car companies to find the best deal.

If you are based in Valladolid , you can easily get to Chichen Itza by catching a ride on a Colectivo. Colectivos are small, 12 passenger vans, that have no set schedule and leave when full. However, the wait until enough people show up is usually no longer than 15-20 minutes. You can find the Colectivo stop on Calle 39 ( between 46 and 48 ), near the main Bus Terminal. The vans leave frequently between 7 am – 6 pm. If you take the first one at 7 am, you will arrive minutes before Chichen Itza opens. One way ride costs 40 MXN.

When you are ready to head back to Valladolid, head to the spot right across the Mercado de Artesanias ( Market Place ), where the big tree and 3 wooden benches are. That’s where the buses and Colectivos stop.

Another great way to get to Chichen Itza on your own from many tourist destinations in Yucatán is by taking the ADO bus. The buses are very comfortable and cheap. You can check the schedule and pricing on the official ADO website.

I do recommend pre-booking your ticket online, especially that there are only a handful of departures daily. Be aware though, that some foreign bank cards don’t work on the ADO site. If you run into that problem, you can purchase the same ticket on Busbud.com .

Group Tours

If you are not one who likes to travel independently, you can always visit Chichen Itza on a group tour. There are plenty of them to choose from, from many major tourist places across Yucatán Peninsula. Since it’s a few hour drive from places like Cancún or Playa del Carmen, the tours usually combine the visit to Chichen Itza with a cenote stop, a quick visit to Valladolid.

By joining a group tour, you don’t need to worry about anything. Transportation, guide and all the logistics are all taken care for you. The downside of course is, that you are on a schedule and will be there when Chichen Itza is the busiest. If you still prefer booking a guided tour vs visiting on your own, these are some of the higher rated tours.

• From Cancún/ Riviera Maya: Chichén Itzá, Valladolid & Cenote Tour
• From Tulum – Chichen Itza, Cenote and Valladolid Tour
• From Mérida : Full Day Tour to Chichen Itza with lunch and a stop at Cenote Yokdzonot

How to visit Chichen Itza without the crowds

For most group tours, it takes about 2-3 hours to get to Chichén Itzá, so they usually don’t start arriving until 10-10.30 am. By being there right when it opens at 8 am, you have at least 2 good hours without the massive crowds. Don’t expect to be the only person there, but the number of people is just a small fraction of the crowds, that show up later.

If you plan on driving from Cancún, Playa del Carmen or Tulum, that means leaving very early. Trust me, it will be well worth it.

However, the best scenario and my recommendation is to base yourself in Valladolid for a couple of days and take a half day trip to Chichén Itzá from there. This beautiful, Colonial town is just 45 min away and if you take the first Colectivo at 7 am, you arrive at Chichén Itzá a few minutes before it opens. The convenient location is not the only thing Valladolid has going for it. With beautiful architecture, colorful streets, delicious Yucatan cuisine and cenote right in town, it’s one of the most charming and authentic destinations in Mexico.

Hotels near Chichén Itzá

If you want to stay really close to Chichén Itzá ruins, there are a couple of hotels, basically next door. Staying at one of these properties will give you a chance to be a walking distance to the ruins, arrive first thing in the morning and beat the crowds.

Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows – a beautiful property right next door. A lot of the rooms have views of the El Caracol observatory. Extra perks of staying at the hotel are a private entrance to Chichén Itzá , as well as the ability to access the site as early as 6 am. However, both have been suspended due to the pandemic, so make sure to check before booking, if that’s a selling point for you. In the meantime, they do offer a free shuttle to the entrance.

Hacienda Chichen Resort and Yaxkin Spa – this eco friendly boutique hotel is another great choice, if you want to be just a stone’s throw away from the entrance to Chichen Itza, Mexico. It’s a converted 16th century hacienda, set in the lush gardens, with a big swimming pool, restaurant and spa services.

Tips for visiting Chichén Itzá, Mexico

• Get there when it opens at 8 am – beating the crowds is one of the main reasons I recommend getting there right when it opens, but not the only one. By arriving early, you will also avoid the strongest sun and heat. There’s very little shade and the sun can really get to you, especially mid day. Also, for the first couple of hours, the vendors are just arriving and setting up their stands, so they will leave you alone for the most part.
• Go to El Castillo first – this is the highlight of Chichen Itza for most people and where the most crowds are. If you arrive early, take advantage of it being relatively empty to get your perfect shots without people in it. It will be mission impossible once the tour buses start arriving.
• Tripods and drones are not allowed – both fall into the category of professional camera gear, which requires a special permit for a hefty fee. If you do bring either one ,you’ll be asked to leave it in your car or use one of the lockers.
• Wear a hat and use sunscreen – even though you are technically in the jungle, most of the grounds at have very little shade. The sun is really strong, especially if you visit later in the day.
• Avoid visiting on a Sunday – this is when Mexican citizens and residents get free admission, so it gets even more crowded than usual. Same applies to National Holidays.
• Luggage storage – if you have a bigger bag or luggage you don’t want to carry around the site, there’s plenty of storage.
• Bring cash in Pesos – Even though there is an ATM on site, my trips to Mexico taught me not to rely on it. In case you wondered, US dollars are NOT accepted, so make sure to bring enough pesos to cover the admission, water, snacks and whatever else you think you’ll buy.

READ MORE :

• How to visit Coba Ruins – one of the best Mayan sites in Mexico
• How to visit the Pyramids of Teotihuacán from Mexico City on you own
• Valladolid in Mexico – a hidden gem in the Yucatán Peninsula

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