Visiting Chichen Itza, Mexico: A guide to the Ruins

Travelers who chose not to go to the Chichen Itza ruins will unquestionably have a terrific holiday on the powdery beaches of the Mayan Riviera.

The truth is, however, that they missed out, big time. As one of the new seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza should have its place alongside Machu Picchu and the terrific wall of China as an exemplary archeological marvel.

I mean, would you check out Lima and not make the long trip to Machu Picchu? would you check out Beijing and not spend a day getting to the wall and back?

Chichen Itza is one of the must-see places in Mexico!

In this guide, learn all you need to know about checking out the popular Chichen Itza ruins in Mexico.

Table of Contents
Chichen Itza Facts and History
Chichen Itza Temples and Pyramids to Visit
Things To Do at the Chichen Itza Ruins
3 best Chichen Itza Ruins Tours
7 top ideas for checking out the Chichen Itza Archeological Site
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion

Chichen Itza Facts and History

With several million people checking out Chichen Itza every year, it’s one of the most popular vacationer destinations in Mexico.

The majestic, angular pyramid of Kulkulkan is one of the most crucial symbols of Mexico as well.

And there’s much a lot more to the ruins than the famous pyramid. checking out Chichen Itza involves at least three or four hours of exploring the substantial site, which also has walls of skull carvings, a large ball court, an astronomical observatory, fields of columns, and two cenotes.

Chichen Itza was an active city from 525 a 1200 CE, and it was the capital of a large Mayan territory from 987 to 1200 CE, which corresponds to the end of the classical Mayan period and the beginning of the Postclassical period.

Like other major Mayan cities, Chichen Itza experienced a rapid decline and collapse about a thousand years ago. The reasons for this are still uncertain, although a lot of scholars believe it had to make with problems with the water supply.

The advanced civilization disappeared, but the Mayan people survived. Today they live in large numbers in southern Mexico and northern central America, especially Guatemala.

Today, Chichen Itza remains a sacred center for local Mayans.

The spring and fall solstices are the most crucial days at the ancient city. As the sun sets, moving shadows on the main pyramid’s edges resemble the body of a snake slithering down to the stone snake heads at the base.

This crucial occurrence not only brings in local shamans and other spiritually-minded folks, but also thousands of tourists checking out Chichen Itza from all over the world.

Chichen Itza Temples and Pyramids to Visit

The popular pyramid is El Castillo (the Castle). It’s also called the temple of Kukulcan, named after the feathered serpent, one of the most crucial Mayan deities.

The pyramid was built in such a way that clapping at certain points in front of it results in a loud, sharp echo. If you go on your own, without a guide to show you, look for clapping excursion groups to find the ideal spot.

El Castillo’s design is symbolic of the Mayan calendar, with 91 steps on each of the four sides, which add up to 364. add the platform, and it’s 365.

What’s more, the pyramid was actually built over a cenote, one of the freshwater sinkholes found throughout the Yucatan Peninsula.

El Castillo is roughly in the center of the archeological site, with the park entrance and ball court to the west, the sacred Cenote to the north, the Thousand Columns group and market to the east, and the circular observatory El Caracol (the Snail), another cenote, and several interesting temple complexes to the south.

You can check out these areas in any buy you like. check the maps on-site very carefully to make sure you don’t miss anything.

Things To Do at the Chichen Itza Ruins

You’ll spend your time checking out Chichen Itza by walking around, taking photographs, and sitting on park benches in the shade.

The area around the sacred Cenote has dense jungle and lots of places to sit. It’s a good spot to get away from the heat and crowds. You can’t swim in the cenote to amazing off, but you can get ice cream from the little shop located there.

There’s a gift shop and a respectable restaurant at the entrance. The restaurant is a little overpriced and not as good as the exceptional options in the nearby town of Valladolid, but it’s better than leaving early or going hungry.

In the evenings, there’s a night show at the Chichen Itza Mayan ruins called the nights of Kulkulkan. visitors sit on chairs, enjoy lights projected on El Castillo, and listen to dramatic voices narrate the ancient city’s history in Spanish.

It’s a separate ticket from the regular entrance fee, and the park closes down before the light show, so you can’t stay inside to wait for it.

3 best Chichen Itza Ruins Tours

Because there are so lots of other places of interest in the area, lots of excursions to Chichen Itza include a check out to the town of Valladolid, a swim in a cenote, or a stop at another archeological site.

Booking a excursion indicates you’ll have a experienced guide to describe the history and relevance of the place. You won’t have to figure out the logistics of getting there and back, which is especially useful if you don’t speak Spanish.

1. Chichen Itza, Saamal Cenote & Valladolid All-Inclusive Tour

If you’re going to make the trip all the way to Chichen Itza from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum, you might as well check out two other top attractions in the area.

After checking out Chichen Itza, on this excursion you’ll go to the town of Valladolid and the Saamal cenote. It includes a buffet lunch. You’ll have lots of complimentary time as well, which is always nice. 

This is the top excursion of Chichen Itza. learn a lot more about the costs, logistics, and a lot more about this highly-rated excursion here. 

2. Chichén Itzá: Hubiku Cenote, Tequila & Valladolid Tour

This excursion is guided by an archeologist and includes a check out to the Hubiku cenote, lunch, a tequila tasting, and a trip to Valladolid town as well.

Of course, you’ll explore Chichen Itza and learn all about this magical site. learn a lot more about this fun day trip here. 

3. Chichen Itza, Coba and Tulum Ruins & Ik-Kil Cenote

With stops at Chichen Itza, Tulum, and Coba, this excursion takes you to the three major archeological sites near Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Tulum.

Between ruins, you’ll have the chance to amazing off with a swim in the Ik-Kil cenote. The excursion uses pick up in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. learn a lot more about this top trip to Chichen Itza here.

7 top ideas for checking out the Chichen Itza Archeological Site

Here are some ideas to make sure you have a terrific trip to Chichen Itza.

If you go on your own, arrive at the Chichen Itza ruins as early as possible. This is especially true on weekends and during height travel season. It gets both hot and crowded starting around 11 AM.

2. If possible, don’t go on Sunday, when the entrance to the site is complimentary for Mexican nationals, or during a Mexican holiday, when it’s busier than normal.

3. If you have the time, stay a night or two in Valladolid, the colorful colonial town near Chichen Itza. There’s a lot to see in Valladolid, and it has a much a lot more authentic vibe than the resort towns on the Caribbean coast. Plus, staying there puts you in a terrific position to check out the ruins early the next day.

Staying two nights in Valladolid indicates that after a day of checking out Chichen Itza under the hot sun, you can return to the tranquil small town instead of taking a several-hour bus ride back to your travel base.

4. If you go to the Chichen Itza Mayan ruins on your own and want to learn all about the history and archeological relevance of the site, hire a guide inside the park, not outside.

The guides outside may be cheaper, but they’re not official guides and may be a lot more skilled at driving a hard bargain than actually describing anything. resist their insistence with a firm “No thanks.” better yet, join a excursion so you don’t have to worry about anything.

5. To save money and learn some Chichen Itza facts, get a guidebook to the ruins from the gift shop. Also, once inside, eavesdrop on excursion groups — outside El Castillo, for example, to see where to clap to hear the echo.

6. Make sure to bring mosquito repellant, sunscreen, snacks, and lots of water. You can get whatever you forget at the shops outside the ruins or at the gift shop near the entrance, but for inflated prices.

7. If you’re going to check out a cenote after the ruins for some swimming, don’t wear sunscreen. It’s bad for the freshwater. If that’s your plan, conceal well with a hat and long sleeves while checking out Chichen Itza.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some answers to frequently asked questions about checking out Chichen Itza.

Where Is Chichen Itza Located?

Chichen Itza is located in the center of the northern half of the Yucatan Peninsula in southeastern Mexico. It’s about halfway between Merida, the capital andlargest city in Yucatan state, and Cancun, the popular resort city on the Caribbean Sea to the east.

Driving to Chichen Itza takes about two hours and 15 minutes from Cancun or Playa del Carmen and about two hours from Tulum. add 30 minutes or a lot more to these times for taking a local bus, depending on the route and number of stops.

Note that Yucatan state, where Chichen Itza is located, and destinations on the Mayan Riviera (in Quintana Roo state) are in different time zones. Chichen Itza is one hour behind Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Cancun.

When Is the best Time to Visit?

The weather is hot year-round in the interior of the Yucatan Peninsula where Chichen Itza is located. Winters are dry and summers are typically rainy, and the weather is normally unpredictable, especially in summer.

If you check out from the late spring to the early fall, you must bring a raincoat or an umbrella. A stunning sunny morning can become a hard afternoon rain with little warning. Fortunately, storms are typically brief, and once the hot sun returns, you’ll dry off in no time.

Chichen Itza gets very crowded during height travel season and Mexican holidays. expect large crowds, especially on weekends, from late December to early January (particularly between Christmas and the new Year), and from late July to early August.

Semana Santa (Holy Week), the week before Easter, is another time when lots of Mexicans travel. If possible, don’t travel in Mexico during Semana Santa.

As mentioned, moving shadows on the Castillo pyramid resemble a slithering snake on the spring and fall equinoxes. Unless you’re figured out to see this and don’t mind a enormous crowd, avoid checking out Chichen Itza on these days.

Whether you go on your own or with a excursion group, Chichen Itza is best appreciated in the morning.

Try to get there when it opens at 8 AM, or look for a excursion that arrives early. A long line of excursion buses begins to form around 11, and other groups may still be arriving ideal up to the last minute.

What Is Chichen Itza’s entrance Fee?

The basic fee for Chichen Itza is 80 pesos ($4 USD), which is the current price for a lot of archeological sites in the Yucatan Peninsula. check the official web site for updates.

Chichen Itza has additional charges from the state of Yucatan, which at the moment are 417 pesos (about $21 USD) for foreign visitors and 130 pesos (about $6.50 USD) for Mexican nationals with official identification.

This may seem expensive compared to other archeological sites in Mexico, but keep it in perspective — it’s not really all that expensive for a world-class attraction.

The ruins are complimentary for Mexican nationals and foreign residents of Mexico (with identification) on Sunday.

What Are Chichen Itza’s opening Hours?

Chichen Itza is open each day from 8 AM to 5 PM, with the last access at 4 PM.

Many of the outer areas of the park, including the ball court, the sacred Cenote, the Thousand Columns Group, and the observatory, close at 4 PM.

Where Can You Park at Chichen Itza?

There’s plenty of vehicle parking at Chichen Itza, with large lots outside the entrance and spots on the street too.

As soon as you start getting close, people will wave at you to park in their lot or on the section of road they’re watching. They wear vests and uniforms, look official, and wave at you as if you’re obliged to stop.

You’re not. keep going, because you might be able to get much closer.

Can You Climb the Ruins of Chichen Itza?

No, you can’t climb anything when checking out Chichen Itza. The sheer quantity of tourists makes it impractical, both because of potential damage to the ruins as well as the probability that one would slip and tumble down a steep slope.

For Mayan ruins you can climb, check out Coba to the south of Chichen Itza and massive Palenque in the nearby state of Chiapas.

How about checking out Chichen Itza on Your Own?

It’s absolutely possible to