Is Chichén Itzá worth visiting on vacation in Mexico?
Is the archaeological site Chichén Itzá really a must-see? Of course it is! It is one of the 7 new wonders of the world recognized as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO!
It is the most impressive archaeological site of the Yucatan Peninsula.
This Mayan archaeological site is the most visited in Mexico after the pyramids of Teotihuacan between 12000 to 15000 people per day in high season!
An unforgettable moment full of adventure, exploration, culture and Mayan knowledge in one of the most mystical places of the Mayan world.
Why is the Chichén Itzá pyramid a wonder of the world in Mexico?
Chichén Itzá, also called “The City of the Water Sorcerers”, is an ancient Mayan city located in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, which has become one of the largest archaeological sites in the world. This city is located near Valladodid, a colonial city to visit as well!
The Pyramid of Chichén Itzá Kukulkán is the most amazing Mayan ruin or building of the archaeological site. It is 30 meters high and 55 meters wide.
This temple is one of the greatest wonders of the world because of its great architectural complexity and astronomical implications. The pyramid is one of the largest and oldest monuments of ancient Mexico and is considered a wonder of the world because of its size, beauty and historical importance.
The pyramid is considered a masterpiece of Mayan architecture, and its astronomical implications are even more amazing.
What are the particularities of Chichén Itzá? Discover the Mayan city of Chichén Itzá with its cenotes!
The city of Chichén Itzá in Mexico is divided into Chichén Vieux and Chichén Itzá where you can find 6 Mayan ruins in the Chichén Vieux section and about 20 Mayan ruins in Chichén Itzá with the main Mayan ruin being the temple of Kukulkán.
Come and discover the traces of the Mayan civilization by visiting the city of Valladolid, cenotes very famous for the Mayan rituals and other temples present on the site.
Chichén Itzá is surrounded by cenotes that you can discover on the site and others where you can bathe and take dream photos: Cenote Xcanahaltun, Cenote Xcajum, Cenote Yokdzonot, Cenote SuyTun, Cenote xtoloc…
The site of Chichén Itzá includes several temples and buildings, notably the temple of Kukulkán, the temple of the Warriors and the temple of the Jaguars.
But also the Temple of the Skulls the Tzompantli is a pre-Columbian monument that contains carved stone skulls that was part of the main buildings of the Mayan archaeological site.
Chichén Itzá is also famous for the sound that comes out of its pyramid Kukulkán also called El castillo. When you clap at the bottom of this pyramid, the echo of the clapping turns into the hissing of a snake.
You can’t leave without taking a picture in front of one of the 7 wonders of the world, the temple of Kukulkán!
How to visit the site of Chichén Itzá? How much does it cost?
It is possible to visit Chichén Itzá in Mexico on group, private or solo excursions.
Chichén Itzá receives more than 2,500,000 visitors each year and the archaeological site is accessible by car, bus or with different tours.
To go alone, it is possible to rent a car. Depending on where you are located in Mexico, be careful with traffic. You have access to a parking lot on site. Then, you have guides on the spot.
From Valladolid, you can take public transportation, a bus called “collectivo” from 7am to arrive on site at the opening. Book your English-speaking guide in advance with our travel coaches.
Otherwise, there are more attractive collective excursions with a guide (French, English or Spanish) that allow you to tour Valladolid, discover a cenote and the archaeological site with meals included.
You can also do private excursions with a Mexican guide, more intimate, also visiting the city, a cenote and the temples. With this option you will have more time to enjoy and visit than with a group tour.
Please note that there is a time difference of one hour between the Riviera Maya and Chichén Itzá, so you add an hour to your trip. This allows you to save time on your visit!
The price to discover the city, the cenotes and the temples of Chichén Itzá varies according to your wish! Don’t hesitate to contact one of our travel coaches to find out about the different rates and excursions offered.
When was Chichén Itzá and the Mayan city created? The breathtaking history.
Chichén Itzá is an ancient city built by the Maya located between Valladolid and Mérida in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico during the 10th century. For the Mayan tribe, it was the main religious center of the Yucatán.
We have very little exact information about this Maya site, at that time there was very little written information. There were many religious wars for years and Chichén Itzá was abandoned, taken over by other colonies and then kept for tourism.
Archaeologists discovered the famous Mayan city of Chichén Itzá in the 1920’s as a temple complex in the city of Chichén Itzá.
The Pyramid of Chichén Itzá called “El Castillo” or the temple of Kukulkán was built to honor the god Kukulkán “god of rain”. Recently archaeologists have seen that this Pyramid was built on a huge cenote of 20 to 30 meters deep that would contain, in volume of water, the equivalent of 6 Olympic swimming pools!
It was selected as one of the 7 new wonders of the world on July 7, 2007.
The cenotes around this Mayan city are very sacred at the time they used them to make offerings to their god and human sacrifices.
Find out more about Chichén Itzá by going there to immerse yourself in the Mayan culture and take your picture in front of this iconic Mexican temple!
Chichén Itzá is open every day from Monday to Sunday from 8am to 5pm, last entry at 4pm. Contact our travel coaches to visit Chichén Itzá!
If you would like to find out about other things to do in the Mayan Riviera in Mexico, click on Chichén Itzá or contact one of our travel coaches for more information about Chichén Itzá.
What to do in a week in the Quintana Roo region? We give you lots of tips in our article, “What to do in a week in the Riviera Maya Quintana Roo Mexico?”!
See the reviews of those who have placed their trust in us on Trip Advisor, Google, Le Petit Futé and Facebook.
