- Maria F.
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Editor Pick
Chichen Itza by Day and Night
- October 4, 2009
- Rated 5 of 5 by
airynfaerie from St. Augustine, Florida
Chichen Itza is one of the most famous sites in the Yucatan - and rightly so, as it's unparalleled restoration and conservation make it one of the most historically rich places to visit in the area. The entire site is quite expansive and houses many interesting structure...all surrounding the star of the site - the El Castillo (or the Temple of Kukulkan) Pyramid. Named as one of the new 7 Wonders of the World, this Mayan/Toltec pyramid takes your breath away as you step into the massive grassy area which contains it.
Walk around the various temples, ball courts, and other pyramids while reading an extensive guide book about the Mayan mysteries that surround this ancient city. There's so much to be learned from this site, that one can spend an entire day there...and after just learning about the very tip of the information about the culture, there's no way else to explain this ancient culture than to say something like, "uhgggh! really?!", as sacrificial images are everywhere. Jaguars eating hearts of human sacrifices. Eagles tearing out hearts of human sacrifices. Skulls of decapitated human sacrifices. Bones found at the bottom of a deep cenote from human sacrifices thrown in. Chac Mool statues which held the heart and other organs from human sacrifices. Ball courts (where a game between soccer and quidditch was played) in which the loosing team - you guessed it! get's sacrificed.
Besides this, though it's easy to just get lost and almost transformed into another time while you're here - imaging what a day in the life of a Mayan might have been like.
After we left that afternoon, we took a break at a cafe to eat a small dinner before we returned later in the evening to the site to watch a narrated light show about the Pyramids and the Mayan culture. It talked about the mathematics that went into building a structure like that and how perfectly calculated it is to the calendar, including a shadow that slithers down the side of the steps each solstice, showing the body of the snake, who's head is carved at the bottom of the structure.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED SITE in general - and the light show offers an interesting addition to the experience.
Open 9-5 everyday.
Light and Sound Show is at 7pm every night during Fall and Winter and 8pm during Spring and Summer.
Entrance fee $111.00 pesos (includes the Light and Sound Show)
Parking fee $10 pesos
Head-phones for translations are available for $25 pesos.
From journal Inland Yucatan :: Chichen Itza & Merida
One of the New 7 Wonders of the World!
A must visit place, magical and full of mistery. The pyramids are well conserved and they're breathtaking.
Chichen Itza architecture is so well studied and measured that it experiences an unusual phenomenon every year, during the spring equinox. The sunrays falling in the pyramid create a shadow down its stairs, which looks like an image of a descending plumed serpent.
Can't get enough of Chichen Itza! Since my visit, I have been browsing the net for information. I recommend you this Chichen Itza Blog: http://www.discoverchichenitza.com
Editor Pick
General Information about Chichén Itzá
- December 12, 2008
- Rated 5 of 5 by
Koentje3000 from Hamme, Belgium
Chichén Itzá is definitely one of the largest tourist attractions on the Yucatán Peninsula, yes even from whole Mexico. Its proximity to the crowded Yucatán beach resorts like Cancún or Playa del Carmen, only around 200km away on good roads, means hordes of tourists come to look at the magnificent ancient ruins. After all, over 1 million annual visitors can't be wrong, can they? As always there are upsides (like abundant transport, many nearby hotels and restaurants) and downsides (closure of some temple complexes, pushy sellers) to the omnipresence of tourists.
Getting there
It will come as no surprise that a big tourist attraction like Chichén is served well by public and private transport. From Yucatán's resorts and other towns like Cancún or Merida several tour operators offer coach trips or alternative tours to this great Mexican site. A normal day tour in an air-conditioned coach should cost around US$ 50 per person and will usually include entrance fee to the complex and a guide. Most hotels act as agents for the local tour operators, but usually will charge you more than when you go straight to the operator itself. People on a budget would be glad to know that the site is served well by public first-and second-class buses, much cheaper than a tour. First-class buses are faster but cost 50% more. For example a one-way ticket to Cancún would cost only around 7US$ in second class and 10US$ in first. There is even a new airport just north of the site, but currently no scheduled flights arrive here, but only a few private planes.
Entry to Chichén
Local and tour buses will drop you off at the large parking near the big entrance complex to the site. This building contains souvenir shops, a restaurant, an interesting free museum with items found on site, a bus ticket office and free luggage storage, making it possible to visit Chichén en route for another destination, like the popular Cancún-Mérida route. It also contains a nice scale model of the site, so you can see how big it actually is. Entrance fee to the site is a reasonable 100 pesos (around 8US$), but there is an extra fee for a video camera (not for a still camera though). Note that most tour groups arrive at noon, so if you want to avoid long queues do come earlier. Or, if you arrive late in the afternoon, you are entitled to a ticket for the next day as well.
Staying overnight
If you want to stay overnight near the site, for example to enable an early or late visit, there are plenty of possibilities to do so. The first possibility is to take a hotel in Valladolid, only 50km away, enabling you to explore this beautiful colonial town as discussed in the other threads. The closest town to Chichén Itzá is Piste, only 2km away from the site. The little town is quite uninspiring, but several travellers still stay here due to the proximity of the ruins. There are several upmarket resorts on the road from Piste to Chichén like the Mayaland Resort or the Hacienda Chichen, which charge over 100US$ per room for a night. A good alternative is the nicely priced Piramide Inn, where a double room costs around 50US$. It's also possible to pinch your tent or swing your hammock in the garden for only 5US$, one of the cheapest options in Piste. The Hostal Chichén in the centre of Piste is one of the best budget options, at only around 10US$ for a clean but small double room.
From journal The World Famous and the Little Known
New Wonder of the World
- September 2, 2008
- Rated 5 of 5 by
jwelhwel from Indianapolis, Indiana
After several trips to Mexico, we finally decided to take the all day tour to Chichen Itza. It was well worth the time and money. the Mayan ruins are well preserved. A tour guide who makes the history come alive is a must. The vendors inside the park are well controlled are were not bothersome.
Editor Pick
Chichen Itza - Mayan Ruins
- July 26, 2007
- Rated 5 of 5 by
kathyjohanna from Stratford, Wisconsin
Chichen Itza is one of the most impressive sites I’ve ever seen. There is a lot of hype that surrounds this particular site, but without a doubt it lives up to it. The city was built by the Mayans as a political, religious, and military center. The city flourished from 300 to 900 A.D.
Chichen Itza is 4sq. miles and takes most of a day to see all the ruins. The most famous and impressive pyramid is El Castillo. Besides that pyramid there are many other sites to see including the Ball Court, the North Temple, 3 cenotes (nothing too spectacular), the Temple of Warriors, Market, and the Observatory. Besides all of the ruins, there are endless artisans selling crafts. After a little negation the prices were better than back at the coast.
The ruins don’t have maps throughout or even provide any direction. You can walk around on your own and read the signs (in both English and Spanish), or you can hire a guide. There are English and Spanish guides but they rush you through everything in about an hour and charge $40. In my opinion, the guide isn’t really worth it.
The hours are from 8am to 5pm, and admission is $11 a person. (And whoever is spreading the rumors about it being free on Sundays, is wrong!) Parking is also another $4.
Chichen Itza is about 60 miles from Cancun and is a good two- to three-hour drive from Playa Del Carmen, depending on the route and how fast you’re willing to drive. The roads to travel on are very good, but be prepared to pay some pretty hefty tolls (around $30 each way).
Although making a trek to the Chichen Itza takes almost an entire day, it’s worth every minute of it.
From journal Adventures in the Riviera Maya