One option, particularly suited for visitors who like their independence, is to rent a car in Cancun and drive to Chichen Itza themselves. After visiting Chichen Itza myself, I'm sharing what first-time visitors should know before going. The Chichen Itza light and sound show exceeded my expectations. One of the New 7 Wonders of the World, Chichn Itz is among Mexico's most visited and iconic archaeological sites. Chichen Itza is located a short drive away from Ik Kil, a cenote or natural sinkhole filled with water. As of early 2022, the price for non-citizens is 533 Pesos (80 to the site custodians and 453 Pesos in taxes to the state), which is approximately US$26 for an adult. But when I plugged in Chichen Itza into our Google Maps, we wound up on some random road full of hotels and had to scramble to figure out where we needed to go to actually enter the site. Its mostly notable for having distinct architectural details from most of the other buildings at Chichen Itzasloping sides and vertical walls. Great article. Ensure you give yourself enough time to properly explore the complexit is a wonder of the world, after all! Here we set out essential information for visiting Chichen Itza, such as admission price, buying tickets online, guided tours and where to stay, as well as a number of tips to allow you to be better prepared and enjoy this amazing archaeological site. See all reviews. I visited in the fall of 1982. If youre going this route, consider staying at Hotel Posada San Juan, a hotel housed in a charming 19th century colonial house, complete with a pool to cool off under the hot Mexican sun and a beautiful garden. The uneven pathways arent paved, and youll have to keep an eye out for errant rocks and sticks. Enjoy! per adult (price varies by group size) Skip the Line Chichen Itza Private Tour, Sacred Cenote & Lunch. Starting time: 8:00 AM. Conclusively, a 5-6 hours of trip, well planned looks good enough for exploring. Looking for a virtual tour of the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, click through to our Interactive Map of Mexico. Coming down was a whole nother thing! The road is quite narrow here, so the chances of someone hitting your car is pretty high, as well as being a big ol target for bad guys looking to break into your car. On-site explanations are comparatively limited, so keen archaeological explorers might want to bring along a specialist book purchased beforehand. Those wanting a souvenir of their visit will find sellers competing to provide you with a range of standard tourist memorabilia. by Anna. Click here to book, Enjoying the sites to myself late in the day. Under the heat of the Mexican sun, some visitors decide to wear flip-flops, but these probably wont give your feet the needed support for the day. After a long, hot day wandering around one of the greatest wonders of the world, it feels so good to sit back with a cold cerveza, si? Get a unique skip-the-line admission ticket to Chichen Itza when you pre-book. It was founded about the 6th century CE, presumably by Mayan peoples who had occupied the region since the Pre-Classic Period. At Chichen Itza, theres no climbing allowed, anywhere. Before we dive into all things Chichen Itza, lets back up for a second. Would love to see the pyramids. They will ruin your whole vacation and won't care. I loved wandering around the cenotes and other sites! Many visitors choose to visit Chichen Itza as a daytrip from Cancun, the coastal city popular with tourists. We walked to parts that were still covered in jungle. Definitely a bit different now! And yes, its exactly as annoying as it sounds. Alternatively, many folks decide to head to the closest large-ish city, Valladolid, to spend the night before heading to Chichen Itza the next morning. That entrance fee wont get you anything more than the privilege of walking through the site, so if youre hoping to have any semblance of an idea about what youre looking at youll want to hire a Chichn Itz guide. As one of the Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza applies admission fees to enter the most impressive archaeological site in the Yucatan Peninsula. Security acts fast when it comes to this, and will check for permits if you pull the tripod out for a shot. RELATED: Belize to Tikal tour: A day trip to Guatemalas ancient Mayan ruins. I. Definitely a Bucket List journey. It sounds like the sturdy sandals you mentioned would be a great option! Just wanted to say THANK YOU for your article. Its open until 5 PM, with the last entry permitted at 4 PM. Chichen Itza reached its apogee in the subsequent Terminal Classic and Postclassical periods although by the 13th century had entered a decline, with many of its elite buildings falling into disuse. Any tips/feedback? Chichen Itza show. Try not to be the great Western tourist and show some sensitivity to the people whos home this is. Will it still take 10 to 12 hours? If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. As a premium member, you will have private and public lists, as well as default core lists (favorites, bookmarks, already been there, bucket list). This building was used as a meeting hall, likely for military and religious purposes. The city dates back to 400s A.D and its name, Chichen Itza, is a Mayan term for "at the mouth of the well of the Itza." The Itza were Mayans who had the power in the northern part of the Yucatan peninsula, where the pyramid is located. Located within day-tripping distance of the Yucatan Peninsula's Riviera Maya, as well as the ever-popular city of Merida, this epic site can be explored in lots of different ways. Both are located near the main entrance. Chichen Itza was a principal city of the ancient Maya civilization, and one of the largest cities in Mesoamerica. Id like to bring in a dslr and get some great shots (early am for sure) Id love to know their camera and backpack policy. Here are nine tips you need to know before visiting Chichn Itz, Mexico. Decide, if the active itinerary is public or private. While youre welcome to visit Chichen Itza on your own, youll have to figure out your own transportation and, more importantly, wont get a lot of the historical and cultural context that a knowledgeable guide can provide (and, cough, youll be bugged by vendors more). To help you to beat the crowds and make the most of your time in Mexico, here's our ultimate guide to visiting the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. November 30, 2021. It was so helpful. We quit corporate America to run Uprooted Traveler and explore the world full-time. RELATED:5 tips for renting a car and driving in Mexico. To help you start planing your tour of Chichen Itza here is a nice map of all the ruins you can visit. Try to get into any US attraction with any other currency than dollars? At its height, Chichen Itza may have had over 30,000 inhabitants, and with a spectacular pyramid, enormous ball court, observatory and several temples, the builders of this city exceeded even those at Uxmal in developing the use of columns and exterior relief decoration. I was not sure how to go about with the trip to Chichen Itza but now with your recommendations. Generally, the best time to go to Chichen Itza and Yucatan, in general, is the dry winter period. This is when Mexico is at its busiest, and you can expect to be joined by thousands of other tourists from the resorts of Cancun. Yeah its definitely a long day if youre coming from the Playa del Carmen area, but worth it! Theres also an ATM on site. Collection of the content you enjoyed the most. Compare all bus providers and find all bus schedules with a single click - and book the ride that suits you best! Just as impressive are the several hundred tall stone pillars that line the entranceway and the sides of the temple. They deposited many valuables, like gold and jade, into its waters and later, human sacrifices, as a form of sacrifice to Chaac, the Mayan god of rain, thunder, and lightning. I want emails from Road Affair with travel updates and marketing. It typically takes about two to three hours to tour the complex. From the mid 19th century onward, Chichen Itza was slowly excavated and researched. For those not wanting to visit Chichen Itza on a daytrip, there is the option of staying overnight at one of the hotels close to the archaeological site itself. $80.00 x 1 Adult $80.00. Located within day-tripping distance of the Yucatan Peninsulas Riviera Maya, as well as the ever-popular city of Merida, this epic site can be explored in lots of different ways. Prepare your ears to be constantly barraged by the sound of a wailing cat, a sound generated by a jaguar whistle sold by a lot of the vendors. I was looking for that Mexican Chicken place, but can`t seem to find it using Google Maps POV view. Ramses the Great and the Gold of Pharaohs Exhibition to open in Sydney in November 2023, Last Checked and/or Updated 15 March 2023, Add a header to begin generating the table of contents, Is Sardinia Worth Visiting? All Rights Reserved. Enjoy! A swimsuitdespite the promise of not one but two cenotes on site. Chichen Itza is one of Mexicos most popular tourist attractions and North Americas only Wonder of the World. Most of the victims were male children (between the ages of 6-12), although warriors and women were also thrown into the cenote as well. Save time waiting in line! ), Haha thanks so much Deb, glad you found it helpful! It is a great historical place. Thanks for sharing the information. 26,163 reviews #1 of 17 things to do in Chichen Itza Historic Sites Ancient Ruins Points of Interest & Landmarks Open now 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Visit website Call Write a review About Chichn Itz is one of Mexico's most important cultural landmarks, famous for its treasure trove of pre-Columbian architecture and artifacts. Tks in advance, Hi Christian, here it is! The vast majority of visitors find that a day trip to Chichen Itza is plenty of time to see the ruins. Of particular interest at Chichen Itza is the sacred cenote, a sinkhole . Opens at 8:00 hours. Your article and the comments were very helpful. The easiest way to visit is to join a tour to Chichen Itza. In fact, at a brisk walk you can see all the temples within the archaeological site in less than three hours. The archaeological site of Chichen Itza is around three square miles. Nixtamalization, the art of turning corn into masa, is an ancient practice in Mesoamerica, documented as far back as 1500 B.C. At its height, Chichen Itza may have had over 30,000 inhabitants, and with a spectacular pyramid, enormous ball court, observatory and several temples, the builders of this city exceeded even those at Uxmal in developing the use of columns and exterior relief decoration. Keen archaeological explorers could conceivably spend far longer, especially if you stay for a meal at the on-site restaurant. per adult (price varies by group size) Chichen Itza - Cenote and Valladolid. You can have notes attached to your itinerary, a specific location in your list or a specific page. While its possible to go it alone as there are plaques in front of some of the points of interest, theres very little information is available about the actual history or significance of the sites. Its safe and the roads are good. Starts at 8am. Chichen Itza is open from Monday to Sunday. There were several platforms built over the cenotetwo where observers of the offerings likely sat and another where the offerings were made. Im not sure youd really want to, due to the color of the water and, well, the whole human sacrifices thing, but youre not permitted to swim in the cenote. Still, 481 MEX is only around 25 USD to see a wonder of the ancient world. As you pointed out, theres a lot more to the site to explore aside from El Castillo. From Cancun & Riviera Maya: Chichen Itza, Valladolid & Cenote Tour, From Cancun & PDC: Chichen Itz, Ik Kil and Coba Small Group Tour, From Cancun & Riviera Maya: Chichn Itz, Hubiku Cenote, most popular archeological sites in Mexico, 10 Best Trail-Running Shoes for Men & Women, 3 Best Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours in Dublin. To see those pyramids and all the history behind them must be incredible. At the time Im writing this, admission is: The price of Chichen Itza keeps rising with its booming popularity, so dont be surprised if its slightly more than what Ive outlined above when you visit- and let me know in the comments below so I can update the information accordingly! There are also regular ADO buses from Merida central bus station to Chichen Itza. That means its halfway between the tourist resorts of Cancun (to the east) and Yucatans capital and largest city, Merida (to the west). Or the intricate Temple of the Warriors. We splurged on the guide ($55 USD in English with a tip) and were able to ask much better questions due to some context we received at Uxmal and other sites ahead of time. For this reason, it is important to come prepared. 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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission, for which we are extremely grateful, at no extra cost to you. I guess our time of arrival depends on how long the ride from hotel to the site is. So named for the 200 or so stone columns, scattered across the ground, the columns once supported a roof and a frieze (a thin decorative panel, usually directly below the roof), which has since collapsed. CLICK THE IMAGES BELOW TO PIN: Ive been here several times and would advocate for staying overnight. There can be a queue forming already at this time in peak season, so try to get here earlier if you want to see the ruins with as few other tourists as possible. Chichen Itza is currently operating with certain restrictions. Leave the tripod at your hotel to avoid any questions. The centuries-old ruins of Chichen Itza undoubtedly are one of the most visited archeological sites and tourist attractions in Mexico. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Not sure how thats being insensitive- its actually a compliment as the village a great place to meet locals and try real Mexican food, as opposed to eating at a resort or at a generic cafe inside Chichen Itza. The exact reasons for this fall are still the subject of archaeological debate and enquiry. In fact, many travelers choose to rent a car and drive themselves to the various sightseeing locations around the Yucatan for a more flexible schedule. Be prepared for some sellers to behave in a particularly pushy manner; it is not unknown for sellers to hand you one of their wares unrequested and then demand payment. Ensure you have some of the currency handy, or seek out one of the vendors stationed near the entrance who can convert your USD to pesosfor a small fee, of course. If youre into the more, er, macabre side of Chichen Itza, you may find this platform interesting. Located to the right of the Temple of the Bearded Man, the platform is carved with several rows of skulls and was used to display the heads of enemies killed in war and sacrificial victims, including those who lost pok-a-tok. There are also a few restaurants in Chichen Itza at the main entrance. Enjoying the view & glancing down in the water occasionally, I noticed there were bigger fish swimming around. Mexican Mayan ruins usually got two different rates, for Mexicans and for international visitors. 646. And what are the Donts with the guide? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. You have a few options to get to Chichen Itza including public transport, organized tour, and hiring a car. The ancient Mayan city is one of the new seven wonders of the world and has enjoyed UNESCO-protected status since 1988.
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