Soumya loves to travel and write about it on her blog, Stories by Soumya. Cenote Ik Kil is the most famous cenote near Chichen Itza. It must be interesting to see all those ancient ruins which depicts the lifestyle of Mayans. The ruins of Chichen Itza are about 3 hours away from Cancun each way. Here are some Chichen Itza tour recommendations: If you prefer independence, its better to hire a rental car in Merida or Cancun and drive to Chichen Itza. I visited Chichen Itza many years ago, on a very long bus ride from Cancun!
It was probably used as a place to worship planet Venus, who the Mayans tracked extensively in their astronomical laboratory at El Caracol. There was also a limit of 3000 people allowed to enter Chichen Itza per day and a maximum of 10 people per group (including a guide), but that limit has now also been lifted. Soumya has traveled to 27 countries in the last 11 years and specializes in cultural and historical travel. Once you have your ticket, its time to start planning what you want to see! It is not as "exotic" as say Tikal or Lamani or as macabre as Copan. Yeah, there are so many things that we wish we could have done differently. A first-timer's guide to Chichn Itz | Audley Travel UK If you have a little extra time, you should also check out Sacred Cenote which is about a 15 minute walk, round-trip. Chichen Itza - HISTORY What's in this post: hide 1 Chichn Itz: 10 Things to Do and Know + Day Trip Itineraries 2 Best Things to Do When Visiting Chichen Itza 3 El Castillo 4 El Caracol 5 Cenotes 6 La Iglesia 7 Cenote Ik Kil 8 Temple of the Warriors There are a total of 365 steps (No, you cannot walk up the pyramid) at The Temple of Kukulkan representing the days of a year and the four sides for each season. Hope you have a good time there. However, its best to avoid the peak months of December and January, even though the weather is best in those months. Passport Guide Passport Offices Arizona. In the wet, summer season, temperatures rise much higher, and the climate is much more humid. 3 Driving from Cancun / Tulum / Playa del Carmen to Chichen Itza: things you need to know. This post will guide you through everything you need to know to make your first trip there a breeze! The Temple of Kukulkan is a strong testimonial to Mayan love for astronomy. It is about a ten-minute walk down a path from El Castillo. If you turn directly right to the entrance and head down that way, youll come across an area with tons of ruins including El Caracol, the shell-shaped observatory, and the monastery. Of all the wonderful things to do in Mexico, if ever I had to pick just one it would always be visiting Chichen Itza. Colectivo is the cheapest option and youll find frequent colectivos departing from the stand. So, make sure you choose carefully. The Chichen Itza entrance fee is 497 pesos. It would be amazing to discover all of them. This area had some of the coolest buildings and Mayan relief carvings. On the walls, you will see several carvings. Always good to check the official website for the latest charges before visiting. Hats off to their ingenuity! The massive structure is awe-inspiring at all times of the day, but there is something genuinely exceptional as you watch the orange glow rise over the stones, illuminating one of the worlds greatest wonders. Click here to search for hotels in Chichen Itza. At the very least, it would be best to get an audio tour. Camera tripods are not permitted in the archaeological area not even small ones like a gorilla pod. If you are only looking for practical information to plan your Chichen Itza visit, feel free to skip to my section on logistics. While most tourists visit Chichen Itza on a day trip, if you want to spend longer exploring the ruins or really want to be the first person inside the gates in the morning, then there are several hotels within walking distance. This classification helps me understand the layout better every time I visit Chichen Itza. Finally, dont forget to bring your swimming gear. They even designed the main pyramid to function as a huge calendar. This highly-recommend full-day tour helps you see Chichen Itza and Ek Balam together. Do not miss the monuments in the Osario Complex. Even When Sold Out! Chichen Itza is SO much more than just the iconic El Castillo pyramid, which is the most photographed. Located right next to the Warriors Temple, the Temple of the Great Tables is named so because of multiple tiers that give it the shape of a stepped pyramid. Affiliate links allow me to continue providing high quality content and free travel guides. We ate breakfast and packed Petras breakfast to go in order to get out and on the road around 8:15ish am. It takes an hour less to get there if you are driving from Merida. You can easily explore the ruins on your own especially if you are equipped with a comprehensive Chichen Itza travel guide like the one that you are reading now. Earlier, I never hired a local guide. I first read about this place many years ago as worlds one of the most mysterious places. The Mayans were great astronomers. Unfortunately, I wont be anywhere near Chichen Itza which is on my bucket list. (function(d, sc, u) {
You are not allowed to swim here. Transportation: The easiest way to get to Chichen Itza is by car. Heres the official website where you can book tickets to the Chichen Itza Light and Sound Show. Get there early (but late afternoon works, too). If you are looking for a great guided tour option from Valladolid, heres a highly-rated full-day tour that includes Chichen Itza ruins, a lesser-known cenote, and the Yellow City of Izamal. If youre looking for an unforgettable Mexican vacation, look no further than Chichen Itza. The church is part of the Nuns complex and has elaborate carvings of masks and faces all over it. This ultimate travel guide will help you with everything that you need to plan your visit to Chichen Itza in Mexicos Yucatan peninsula including the best things to see in Chichen Itza, how to get there, best times to go, tickets, recommended tours, and other logistics. Also, there are no bathroom stops either! The small city of Valladolid makes for a great base as it has several museums and a cenote to visit, and there are other (much less visited) Mayan ruins nearby, including Ek Balam. Including Chichen Itzas history is a nice touch to a very comprehensive article. An important cenote in Mayan civilization for rituals and sacrifices. You will need: sunblock, hat, water, comfortable shoes/sandals limited shade available, Be prepared to walk through lots of souvenir vendors (bargain if you want to make purchases), It is stroller-friendly, but if you have a small baby, a carrier is more suitable, Do not to touch any structures or climb them. Not included: You only will need extra cash for souvenirs Gratuities (optional) What to bring: Due to the warm and humid temperature of the region, we recommend to use light and comfortable clothes, hat and sun block lotion. Your email address will not be published. Great information Soumya, Ive seen so many pictures of Chichen Itza but have never read the history in detail like this. The archaeological site of Chichen Itza is filled with ancient Mayan ruins that cover more than 2.5 square miles of area. support! Affiliate links help me keep this website up and running. It is thought to have been a religious, military, political, and commercial centre that at its peak would have been home to 35,000 people. Video cameras are charged for separately. How To Get Frida Kahlo Museum Tickets? El Castillo (the Temple of Kukulkan) is the most iconic building at Chichen Itza, and its hard to miss. VIEW MORE, Km. The city of Chichen Itza (which is so much more than a pyramid! Have you ever seen pictures of Chichen Itza and wondered how to visit? Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza - UNESCO World Heritage Centre Dedicated to the Mayan serpent-deity Kukulcan, the temple was the centerpiece of the ancient Mayan city. Guides, inevitably, add personal theories and local myths to their narratives which makes the experience even more thrilling. The Nuns Ensemble is at the southern end of the complex and literally the last stop on your Chichen Itza tour. My degree out of college is in Marketing. What a fascinating place to explore, with all the history! Read More. You can get to Chichen Itza either by colectivo, ADO bus, or car and see the ruins on your own without a tour guide. Thank you Sinjana for your kind words. These hotels are located on the road into the archeological area, but they are limited in number and wont offer as good value as the hotels in nearby Valladolid. Archeological work has even brought up human remains from the bottom of the Sacred Cenote, suggesting it could have been used for sacrificial purposes. You can drive to Chichen Itza if you have your own car. Starts around 8:00pm in summers and 7:00pm in winters. Pin it for later! Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We ended up not going and now, I wish we had. During the Yucatans rainy season, you may also want to bring an umbrella or rain jacket. Some believe this bowl was where the hearts of sacrificial victims were placed as offerings. Estimated processing time is 8 to 11 weeks. 8 Things to Know Before Visiting Chichen Itza - Eva Darling Minors who are 16 or 17 years of age only need one parent to be aware that they are getting identification. See a side to the ancient grounds like never before. A center of religious fervor, the citys temples and sacred cenotes (natural sinkholes filled with fresh water) attracted pilgrims from across the Mayan world (although Chichen Itza never had the power or riches that other Mayan cities, such as Tikal or Palenque, could claim). this special sunrise tour with amazing reviews, most visited places in the Yucatan Peninsula, this early access tour that includes Cenote Saamal and lunch, how to get to Chichen Itza from Valladolid. Sound carrying far is also a characteristic of the Ball Court. I have long wanted to visit Chichen Itza and this guide further sparks my desire. The park opens at 8 am. After about 13 years in that industry (5 of which I was a hotel assistant manager), I made the decision to move to Thailand and leave the 9 to 5 grind behind. Loved the tup on how to get good pictures. If youre staying in Cancun or Tulum, youre in EST. Getting to Chichen Itza is actually very easy, cheap, and straightforward once you know what to do. Depending on your interest in Mayan history and architecture, you can spend anywhere between 2 hours to a day exploring the ruins. Chichen Itza should be done as a full-day trip from Tulum or Cancun, not a half-day trip. Could not agree more. Make sure you seek out the site's cenote too. One of the most interesting things to do in Chichen Itza is to pay a visit to the Great Ball Court, located on the northwestern side of the complex. The sculptures of snakes sounds like Indian architecture.The Plaza of a Thousand columns and Skull Temple make it sound all the more interesting. Other options include shared taxis or bus. Can you visit Chichn Itz on your own? On your way there, the time will set back an hour.