Chichén Itzá, a wonder of the Maya world
The great pyramid of Kukulcán, the largest ball court in Mesoamerica and the observatory, plus a cenote swim and colonial Valladolid on a full day from Cancun.
The most famous Mayan city
Chichén Itzá, about two and a half hours from Cancun, was one of the most powerful cities of the Maya world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
Its icon is El Castillo, the pyramid of Kukulcán: on the spring and autumn equinoxes the afternoon sun draws the shadow of a serpent descending its staircase. Climbing the pyramid is no longer allowed, but you can walk all around it.
Don't miss the Great Ball Court, the largest in Mesoamerica, the round observatory known as El Caracol, the Temple of the Warriors with its thousand columns and the Sacred Cenote. In the evening the site also has a light and sound show.
This guided tour combines Chichén Itzá with a swim in a cenote and a stop in the colonial town of Valladolid, with hotel pickup in Cancun or the Riviera Maya.
Chichén Itzá tour
| Guided tour from Cancun | from $57 USD |
| Lunch | Included in VIP options |
| Duration | About 12 hours |
Included
- Hotel pickup in Cancun or Riviera Maya (optional)
- Guided visit to Chichén Itzá
- Cenote swim stop
- Stop in colonial Valladolid
- Tequila tasting
Good to know
- Bring a hat, water and comfortable shoes
- Use biodegradable sunscreen in the cenote
- Bring cash for extras and tips
- Climbing El Castillo is not allowed
History of Chichén Itzá
The whole Yucatán Peninsula was once dotted with Maya settlements. Over time the jungle took back its territory, and the hundreds of mounds you see across the peninsula are Maya buildings covered by earth and plants over the centuries. Many still wait to be excavated, and Chichén Itzá, about 120 km east of Mérida, is the most famous of those uncovered.
Its first great buildings date from around the 6th century AD. The most impressive is El Castillo, the pyramid of Kukulcán, crowned by a square temple. It shows how much the Maya knew about astronomy: its four staircases and the top platform add up to 365 steps, one for each day of the year, and on the spring and autumn equinoxes the sun draws the shadow of a serpent sliding down the north staircase.
The Temple of the Warriors looks very much like the architecture of the Toltecs of central Mexico, and researchers still debate who influenced whom. Chichén Itzá also has more than a dozen ball courts. The Great Ball Court, about 168 m long, is the largest in Mesoamerica; one of its walls has a relief of a player being beheaded, as the game had a deep religious meaning.
At the north end of the court stands the Temple of the Bearded Man, with surprising acoustics: a person speaking in a normal voice can be heard far down the court. It may have been used to give orders to the players or to announce the game. A full day gives you a good overview of the site.
Chichén Itzá
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