Chichen itza

Quick tips for visiting Chichen Itza

Visiting Hours: The Chichen Itza archaeological site is typically open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. However, these timings can change depending on the season and local regulations, so it’s recommended to check in advance. The ticket office usually closes an hour or two before the site does.

Tickets: You can buy tickets at the entrance to the site or online. There’s a separate fee to attend the Nights of Kukulkan show, and it is 100% worth it. Many tour companies offer combined packages that include transportation, admission to the site, a guided tour, and tickets to the show. We actually did Chichen Itza without a guide, and you can read more about our experience below.

Getting There: Chichen Itza is about a 2-hour drive from Cancun and a 1.5-hour drive from Merida. There are several options to get there, including self-driving, taking a bus, or booking a tour. We decided to drive, and loved the adventure.

What to Bring: Bring plenty of water, sunblock, a hat, and comfortable walking shoes. The Yucatan sun can be intense, and you’ll be walking a lot. Bring an umbrella and pancho if there is even a slight chance of rain – read more about our experience below to see why.

Night Show: For the Nights of Kukulkan show, remember that the second part of the experience takes place after sunset and can get a bit chilly, so it may be a good idea to bring an extra layer of clothing. Check the showtimes as they can change depending on the season. Also, the narratives are offered in Spanish and English, ensure to select your preference when booking.

Respect the Site: It’s essential to respect the archaeological site and the rules set in place. Climbing on the structures is not allowed. Also, please don’t take anything from the site or leave any trash behind.

Avoiding Crowds: Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico, and it can get crowded, especially during the peak tourist season. To avoid the crowds, consider arriving early in the morning just as the site opens. Not only will you beat the rush, but you’ll also avoid the hottest part of the day.

Time Required: Plan to spend at least 2-3 hours to visit the site, and longer if you plan to stay for the evening light and sound show. Chichen Itza is expansive, and there’s a lot to see beyond just the main pyramid.

Food and Drink: There are small restaurants and snack bars at the entrance of the site and near the cenote. However, options might be limited. Consider packing your own food and plenty of water, especially if you have specific dietary needs or preferences.

Shopping and Vendors: You’ll find numerous vendors selling a variety of handicrafts and souvenirs within the site. While it’s great to support local businesses, keep in mind that bargaining is common. However, ensure any items you purchase, especially replicas of archaeological artifacts, are permitted to be taken out of the country to avoid any issues at customs.

Standing before El Castillo, the mighty pyramid that had dazzled us the night before, we were suddenly aware of its solitude, its sheer presence. In that rain-soaked moment, we were utterly alone with this timeless marvel. No crowds, no selfie sticks, no background noise, just the rain, the pyramid, and us.

What a lucky moment.

Here we were, in the presence of a Wonder of the World, alone. It was a serendipitous intimacy with history that few ever get to experience.

Great Ball Court:

The Great Ball Court of Chichen Itza is the largest known ancient sports field in Central America. It measures 168 meters in length and 70 meters in width. The acoustics within the ball court are extraordinary – a whisper from one end can be heard clearly at the other end 500 feet away. The games played here were significant events that usually ended in human sacrifice, often of the losing team’s captain.

The ball game, known as “pok-ta-pok,” involved two teams trying to propel a heavy rubber ball through a hoop mounted high on the walls. Players could use their hips, knees, and elbows but not their hands or feet. Aparently you can catch live versions of the sport today, sans sacrifice, in many cities around the Yucatan. We were bummed we didn’t catch one, because this game seems incredibly difficult and entertaining.

The game was not just a sport for the Maya; it had deep religious and symbolic meanings. It was believed to represent the cosmic struggle between day and night and the forces of life and death. The ball could symbolize the sun, and the court itself might represent the underworld.

Platform of the Eagles and the Jaguars:

The Platform of Eagles and Jaguars is located near the Great Ball Court, and it’s easily identified by its unique carvings. The platform is square, with staircases on all four sides, and it once possibly supported a temple or a statue.

The platform’s most distinctive feature is the detailed bas-relief carvings of eagles and jaguars consuming human hearts. Eagles and jaguars were highly respected and symbolically powerful animals in the ancient Maya culture. The eagle was often associated with the sun and the heavens, while the jaguar symbolized strength, stealth, and dominion over the underworld. Both animals were emblematic of power and were associated with warriors and ruling elite.

The depiction of these animals consuming human hearts may represent the sacrificial rituals performed by the Maya. Human sacrifice was believed to nourish the gods and maintain the cosmic order, and the hearts of the sacrificial victims were considered valuable offerings.

Its proximity to the Great Ball Court suggests a possible connection to the ritual ball game played by the Maya. The game had significant religious and symbolic meanings, and it sometimes ended in the sacrifice of players or captives, which could explain the imagery found on this platform.

The Ossuary:

Also known as the Tomb of the High Priest or “El Osario.” It’s a smaller stepped pyramid, which bears some resemblance to the more famous Pyramid of Kukulkan, but with its own unique features and importance.

The Ossuary is about 30 feet (9 meters) tall and has four stairways on each side, leading up to a temple at the top. Along the sides of the stairways are carved feathered serpent heads, a common motif at Chichen Itza representing the god Kukulkan.

What makes the Ossuary particularly interesting is what lies beneath it. Archaeologists discovered a natural cave, or “cenote,” underneath the pyramid, which was accessible through a vertical shaft. Inside this cave, they found seven chambers filled with human remains, jade artifacts, pottery, and other objects used in rituals. The location of the Ossuary above this sacred cenote and the artifacts found within suggests that it was a significant ceremonial site. The Maya believed that cenotes were gateways to the underworld, and this particular location may have been used for ancestor veneration or other sacred rites.

Like many other structures at Chichen Itza, the Ossuary also demonstrates the Maya’s deep understanding of astronomy. The stairways of the pyramid are aligned with the cardinal directions, and during the spring and fall equinoxes, the sun casts shadows that create the illusion of a snake moving down the stairs just like the larger El Castillo.

El Caracol, the Observatory:

The structure commonly referred to as “El Caracol” or “The Snail” in Chichen Itza is believed to have served as an observatory. Its name comes from the spiral staircase inside the tower, resembling a snail’s shell.

El Caracol stands on a large platform and consists of a round tower on top of a rectangular and square platform. The tower has several small windows facing different directions. The windows in the tower align with the appearance of certain celestial bodies at specific times, especially Venus. The Maya were keen astronomers, and Venus was of significant importance in their cosmology and calendar systems.

Apart from Venus, some alignments correspond to other astronomical events, such as solstices and equinoxes. These alignments helped the ancient Maya to create their complex calendar systems and to schedule religious ceremonies and agricultural activities.

El Caracol was not built at once. Archaeologists have discovered different construction phases, suggesting that the structure was modified and expanded over time, possibly to refine its astronomical alignments or to serve additional purposes.

Akabdzib:

 or “House of the Dark Writing,” is a smaller but still interesting structure within the Chichen Itza archaeological site. While not as well-known as some other buildings at Chichen Itza, Akabdzib provides insights into the administrative and possibly religious functions of the ancient city.

The building features a long, narrow design and includes a series of rooms and chambers. The façade exhibits some intricate stone carvings, but much of the original decoration has eroded over time.

Akabdzib gets its name from a phrase inscribed in one of the chambers, meaning “House of the Dark Writing.” The inscriptions are challenging to interpret, but they may relate to historical events or religious practices within the city.

Is visiting Chichen Itza worht it?

Simply put, hell yes. Our visit to Chichen Itza was pure magic. But the true magic wasn’t just in the absence of the crowds or the romance of exploration. It was in our willingness to embrace the unexpected, to dance in the rain, to turn a potential disaster into an unforgettable adventure.

We left Chichen Itza that day soaked to the bone, our shoes squelching, our hearts full. We had walked with the ancients. We had tasted an adventure was raw, it was real, and it was ours.

The rain had gifted us a memory, a story, a connection with a place that transcended mere tourism. It had allowed us to see Chichen Itza not just as a historical site, but as a living, breathing entity, with its own soul, its own voice, and its own rain-soaked embrace. It was an adventure we’ll never forget, a day that proved once again that the best experiences often come from the most unexpected places.

Or, as we like to put it: when life gives you rain, make it pour. Adventure awaits.