Everything you need to know about visiting one of the Seven Wonders of the World
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Chichen Itza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is a must-visit while you’re in Mexico. This ancient Mayan city is famous for its intriguing history and remarkable architecture. Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Chichen Itza!
About Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is one of the most stunning and well-preserved architectural sites in the world. The area served primarily as a ceremonial site and commercial center for the Mayan people. Chichen Itza means “at the mouth of the well of the Itza,” likely because of the nearby cenotes.
Historians believe that construction of Chichen Itza was completed sometime in the 5th century AD. Unfortunately, Chichen Itza began to decline in the 11th century, likely due to a lengthy drought. Conquests in the 16th century led to the Spanish overtaking Chichen Itza and establishing a small town there.
Chichen Itza was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988 and was named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2000.
Getting to Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza can be visited either with a tour group or on your own. This tour is the one we went on, and it won a Viator Experience Award! If you prefer not to go with a tour group, you can get to Chichen Itza with a rental car. Make sure to bring your passport and some Pesos as there are checkpoints and toll booths along the drive. You can either park in the lot right by the entrance for a fee or park on the side of one of the roads leading into Chichen Itza.
Best Time to Visit
November through April is the best time to visit Chichen Itza. While this is the high season for tourists flocking to the Yucatan Peninsula, it allows for the best experience by avoiding the rainy season. If you want to avoid spring break crowds, consider going in January or February.
Entry Tickets
Tickets are required to enter and can either be purchased in advance online or same day at the ticket booths. Chichen Itza is a very popular site, so it’s best to purchase your tickets as far in advance as possible. Tickets can be purchased in advance here. If you go to Chichen Itza with a tour group, the cost of the tour usually includes an entry ticket.
Top Five Sites to See in Chichen Itza
El Castillo
El Castillo, the large pyramid in the center of the city, is the most recognizable structure within Chichen Itza. It is a prime example of the Maya civilization’s sophisticated math and engineering knowledge. The total number of steps on the pyramid is 365 to represent the number of days in a solar year. The steps were also perfectly designed so that the shadows cast during the spring and autumnal equinoxes give the appearance of a snake slithering on the stairs.
Temple of Warriors
Located next to El Castillo is The Temple of the Warriors, a ceremonial site for the Mayan people. Measuring 40 feet high and 133 feet wide, The Temple is composed of four platforms surrounded by 200 columns with Toltec warrior carvings. On top of The Temple of the Warriors stands serpent columns with a shallow basin, likely for use as oil lamps.
El Caracol
El Caracol, also known as The Observatory, was used by Mayan people to observe changes in the sky. The Maya were successful astronomers who were able to calculate solar eclipses and track Mercury, Venus, and the sun. The construction of El Caracol speaks to their advanced knowledge of math and science.
Great Ball Court
The Great Ball Court is one of the most fascinating sites at Chichen Itza. Measuring 225 feet wide and 545 feet long, this open air court was used for the infamous ball game. Players would try to get a heavy ball through one of the stone hoops without using their head, hands, or feet. The myth surrounding the game is that the captain of the winning team would be decapitated by the captain of the losing team. The Mayan people considered this to be a great honor and would allow the winning captain to go directly to heaven. Carvings throughout the Great Ball Court depict this process.
Have you heard about the acoustics of the Great Ball Court? A whisper from one end of the court can be clearly heard over 500 feet away at the other end of the court. Try it out during your visit!
La Iglesia
One of the most intricately designed buildings at Chichen Itza is La Iglesia. The building is dedicated to Chaac, the god of rain. With only one entrance, La Iglesia was constructed to make you feel as though you’re entering a portal to another dimension.
Tips for Visiting Chichen Itza
Here are our top tips for visiting Chichen Itza:
As noted above, make sure to visit more than just El Castillo. While this is the most popular site at Chichen Itza, there are plenty of other interesting buildings to see! When planning your visit, make sure to budget enough time to walk around and see all of Chichen Itza.
Consider hiring a guide to show you around Chichen Itza and explain the history. If you’re going with an organized tour group, you should have a Chichen Itza guide as part of your tour. If you’re getting to the site on your own, you can hire a guide either in advance to meet you there or hire one by the ticket booths.
Make sure to bring comfortable shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and water. You will walk a lot, and there’s little shade at Chichen Itza.
Be prepared for vendors lining most of the walkways within Chichen Itza. They will try to entice you to come to their booth and purchase something. If you do want to buy something, try to negotiate the price.
Planning a trip to Cancun? Make sure to check out our 3 Days in Cancun Itinerary!
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Disclaimer: All information presented in this post was accurate at the time of our trip. Attractions, availability, circumstances, operating hours, prices, etc. are subject to change and this post may not reflect the most up-to-date information. Readers are advised to do their due diligence in researching the location prior to travel. Hyperlink content may be out-of-date and is not sponsored by or affiliated with Scenic Sites unless otherwise noted.
Visited April 2023 | Posted October 2023
[…] If you plan on dining outside the resort, there’s numerous restaurant options within a ten minute drive of the resort. Additionally, there are a variety of activities located near the resort, including snorkeling, parasailing, and speed boating. Chichen Itza, one of the Seven Wonders of the World and an iconic Mexico attraction, is located about two and a half hours from the resort. Planning a visit? Check out our Guide to Visiting Chichen Itza! […]