The most Complete Guide to Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza is the most visited Archeological Site in the Mayan Culture and represents the most complete and spectacular example of the combination of Mayan and Toltec cultures that flourished and reached a remarkable extension under the influence of “colonizers” from Tula.
The archaeological sources and the historical tradition, offer interesting indications for the study of the architectural and stylistic aspects of this Yucatán City, characterized by the evident mixture of two different cultures.
In Chichen Itza, numerous decorative elements, especially in the form of sculptures and stone bas-reliefs, testify the strong presence of the cult of Quetzalcoatl, known as Kukulkan to the Mayas. The worship of the Sacred Cenote remained alive until the time of the conquest, a well to whose murky and deep waters victims were thrown to please the god of Rain Chac.
Interesting Facts
- This Kukulkán Pyramid, also known as El Castillo is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
- Chichen Itza is the 2nd most visited Archeological Site in México, just so you know, the #1 is Teotihuacán in the state of México.
- The meaning of Chichen Itza comes from the Maya Yucateco uchi’ch’e’enitza’, the “City of the Itáes”.
- The Kukulkán Pyramid was built on top of another Pyramid that itself was built on top of an even older one.
- There’s a Cenote under the Pyramid of Kukulkán.
Uxmal is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm. (Closing time may vary between 4 pm and 5 pm depending on the season)
Chichen Itza General Admission 2024
When visiting most of the Mayan archeological sites you need to pay 2 fees, one for the Yucatán Tax Administration Agency, and a second one for the National Institute of Arts and History.
General Admission
$643 MXN
(Children under 12 years old: $95 MXN)
Mexican Citizens
$285 MXN
(Children under 12 years old: $95 MXN)
Yucatán State Residents
Total: $95 MXN
Free admission for Mexican Citizens on Sundays with a valid ID.
Free admission every day for Mexican Citizens with the following valid IDs: Older than 60 years, retired, pensioned, teachers, students, children under 13 and handicapped.
Chichen Itza is the second most visited archeological site in México with more than 2.5 million visitors a year, with the busiest months being November – April.
The months with less crowds are May – June, and September – October.
The perfect month to visit this archeological site because of good weather and less tourists is May.
The best time during the day is between 8 and 11 am, and if you’re not an early bird, you can get there between 2 and 3pm.
Relax: You can walk around the Pyramid of Kukulkan to see the buildings without going into the Sacbés or roads in just under one hour.
Tourist: If you want to see everything stopping only to take pictures, it may take between 3 and 4 hours.
Archeologist: If you already read about Chichen Itza´s history and its buildings, you might want to really explore the architecture and engravings around the monuments. This may easily take between 4 to 6 hours.
Recommendatons
- Keep yourself hydrated. Take a few liters of water on your backpack because you’re going to sweat, plus the weather is very hot and humid.
- Wear comfortable shoes. You may wear sandals, but it’s best to take your hiking or tennis shoes. The pathways are a bit uneven unpaved, also you’ll have to keep an eye out for errant rocks and sticks.
- Protect yourself from harmful UV rays. You may find some shades under the trees, but most of the time, you will be under direct sunlight, so make sure to use sunscreen, a hat, and it may also be a good idea to take an umbrella with you.
- Get there early (or late). Try to get there between 8 and 10 am because most tour buses arrive between 11am and 1pm, plus it’s not that hot when you arrive that early. If you’re not an early bird, try to get there between 2 and 3pm, when the tour buses start to leave.
Short Chichen Itza Video
(3:29 minutes)
Learn about Chichen Itza and The Kukulkan Pyramid The Observatory The Great Ball Court The Sacred Cenote the list goes on...
From Mérida it’s 120km and you get there in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
From Valladolid it’s 50km and you get there in approximately 45 minutes.
From Cancún it’s 200km and you get there in approximately 3 hours.
From Tulum it’s 150km and you get there in approximately 2 hours.
You shouldn't miss...
When you come to Chichen Itza don’t forget to visit:
Kukulkán Pyramid
Kukulkán Pyramid
The Great Ball Court
The Great Ball Court
Temple of the Warriors
Temple of the Warriors
If you’re up to the walking challenge, you should also take a look at El Caracol, a unique pre-Columbian structure that was used as an Observatory; and the Sacred Cenote, where the city of Chichen Itza got its name from.
More about Chichen Itza
Short History of Chichen Itza
The History of Chichen Itza reflects a glorious past, typical of a ceremonial center where most of the life of a civilization took a decisive course.
The archaeological site of Chichen Itza was a Mayan city from the period between the years 525, when it was founded, and 1,200, when they fell into a rapid decline and Mayapán became the new Capital. Its name means “By the well of the Itza people” in reference to the Sacred Cenote that is in the area.
The pre-Hispanic city of Chichen Itza was the most important capital of the Mayan area at the end of the Classic period and the beginnings of the Postclassic period.
Towards the end of the 10th century, the city was invaded by a predominantly warrior tribe: the Toltecs. This last invasion brought with it a new series of cultural elements, highlighting the representation of the serpent-god Kukulkán. By 1250, the city was abandoned for reasons not entirely determined. So great was the power of this city that centuries after its decline it was still a place of pilgrimage, and even around 1540, when Francisco de Montejo, the founder of Mérida, thought to raise the capital there.
Pilgrimage Center
Because it was the origin of many of the important lineages of northern Yucatán, and an indispensable reference of legitimation, it was the capital of the Sacred Cenote that became the most important pilgrimage center of the Mayan Peninsula, only rivaled by the Island of Cozumel.
El Cenote de los Sacrificios was a focus of attraction, as was the sacred character of the city that lasted until the arrival of the Spaniards.
Chichen Itza Pyramids, Temples, and general buildings - North Group
The Pyramid of Kukulkan
The Pyramid of Kukulkan, also commonly known as El Castillo (The Castle), is the most impressive building in the Archeological Site of Chichen Itza, and one of the highest of all Mayan architecture.
Built in the XVI century, this monumental building is a pyramid of nine staggered bodies 24 meters high, with a staircase on each side and a temple at the top. The decorative motifs of the facade are snakes and jaguars of Toltec influence, which confirms that the construction of the building corresponds to the stage of greatest flourishing of the Itzá culture.
Read more about the Pyramid of Kukulkan.
The Great Ball Court
The Chichen Itza Great Ball Court shows the arrival and development of the Itza people, the evolution of religious ideas, and a style called “Maya-Yucateco” because it’s mixed with elements of the original Puuc zone. This style combines architecture, sculpture and painting in function of militarism and the cult of Kukulkán, which began to spread towards the Mayan region in the Classic period, producing a rebirth of culture and society in the lands of Yucatán.
Read more about the Great Ball Court.
Temple of Jaguars
This Temple was built between the years 1000 and 1150. It takes its name from a sequence of jaguars located in front of the structure, it consists of different layers that are intricately carved and show different types of images. Two gigantic feathered serpents formed the columns in the entrance hall, while the interior walls were richly decorated in stone.
Read more about the Temple of the Jaguar.
The Temple of the Bearded Man
The Temple of the Bearded Man is perhaps the best preserved of the buildings that surround the Great Ball Court, the Temple gets its name from a strange bearded man who heads the scene. It is based on a wall of three stepped bodies that, together with the staircase that sits on a platform.
Read more about the Temple of the Bearded Man.
The Tzompantli
The cult of the dead, one of the oldest of humanity, is present among the Mayans in this interesting platform, considered “a true monument to the cruelty of war”. The name Tzompantli means in Nahuatl “skull wall”.
Read more about the Tzompantli.
Temple of the Eagles and Jaguars
The Temple of the Eagles and Jaguars got its name from reliefs showing Eagles and Jaguars devouring human hearts, this Temple is the smallest of the set of structures that form “the grate level plane” which includes: the Kukulkán Temple, Venus Temple and the Great Ball Court.
Read more about the Temple of the Eagles and Jaguars.
The Venus Temple
It’s called the Venus Temple because there are representations in bas-relief of the planet Venus in its outer panels in the form of a Mayan Year Bundle next to a half flower with vanes in the petals; there’s also the symbol of Pop or braided mat that means lordship and power. The Venus Temple is also known as the Tomb of Chacmol because its sculpture was found in its interior.
Read more about the Venus Temple.
The Sacred Cenote
One of the distinctive features of Chichen Itza is the cenotes, and among them, The Great Cenote stands out. This Cenote is also called Chenkú or Cenote de los Sacrificios – Cenote of the Sacrifices, the latter name is due to XVI century stories that they claimed that virgin women were thrown into it, and according to a prophecy they would one day return alive.
Read more about the Sacred Cenote.
Temple of the Tables
Called Temple of the Tables because of the overlapping levels that give the appearance of plateaus, this temple built next to the one of the Warriors, is a small pyramid of four levels that previously culminated with a temple with two serpent columns.
Read more about the Temple of the Tables.
The Temple of the Warriors
The Temple of the Warriors was built around the year 1200 and it’s one of the most beautiful and well-preserved buildings of this site. Chichen Itza has tens of buildings, but when people think of this site, they always think of The Castle, The Sacred Cenote, The Great Ball Court, and of course, the Temple of the Warriors.
Read more about the Temple of the Warriors.
Group of the Thousand Columns
The Group of the Thousand Columns is actually a temple, a very beautiful and impressive structure connected to the Temple of the Warriors that gets its name because it looks like it has lots columns, but actually, there are only about 200 columns of them.
Read more about the Group of the Thousand Columns.
North Pillars
The North Pillars are part of the main set of columns that are on the side of the Temple of the Warriors. They are decorated in their four faces with reliefs of warriors, priests, and sometimes prisoners, as well as squares bearing the effigy of the man-bird-serpent or Kukulkán.
The Market
The columns supported a roof of perishable material. As in the Thousand Columns, it is considered that the friezes restored in the Market allow having a perception less threatening than the jaguars and serpents of the Temple of the Warriors. This is the reason why it has been thought that in this area the use of buildings was converted from ceremonial to utilitarian.
The developing stage of Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza began its urban development during the Late Classic period, traditionally dated between 800 and 1000 AD.
This new development was characterized by vaulted monumental architecture, of a style similar to that of the cities of the Puuc mountainous area, reason why this architecture has been denominated of Mayan or Puuc style.
Some of the most emblematic and artistic buildings of the city belong to this period, such as El Observatorio, Las Monjas, La Iglesia, or La Casa Colorada, among some others.
Chichen Itza Pyramids, Temples, and general buildings - Central Group
The Ossuary
Also known as the Great Priest’s Tomb, this structure measures more than 10 meters high, it’s made up of nine staggered bodies very similar to El Castillo, to such degree of resembling a replica, with the difference of having less height and a frieze covered with mythological reliefs decorated in its corners with the effigy of the god Chaac similar to the ones found in the Templo de los Guerreros and Templo de Venus.
The Tomb Platform
This platform, also known as 3C4, has three chambers that contained human remains, which is the reason why it was later called Tomb Platform. In the first of the chambers, there were two skeletons in very poor condition belonging to male individuals, and some fragmented vessels. In the second chamber, another two damaged male skeletons where found, in addition to two broken vessels, two jade objects, a copper rattle, a rock crystal, and many shell ornaments which make archeologists thing that they had been part of a mask.
Read more about the Tomb Platform.
Round and Venus Platform
The Venus Platform is very similar to the Venus Temple in the Grand Plaza where the Kukulkán Pyramid is found. The Round Platform contained a box of offerings and a small flagstone pavement. The function of both was to serve as platforms for ceremonies, rites or dances.
Chichanchob (Red House)
This building is the largest and best preserved of the four buildings that surround the plaza or main plain. Chichanchob translates as “small holes” from the Mayan chi’ich’ichan, meaning “small”, and ch’ob, “hole”, perhaps because of the small holes in its raised crest. It’s also commonly known as Red House “Casa Colorada”, because of a strip painted in red inside the vestibule or first bay.
The House of the Deer
The House of the Deer is nearly gone, but it has very similar architectural guidelines to those of Chichanchob. It’s on a platform or basement with rounded corners and a smooth facade; frieze between moldings and cresting on the front without any decoration. It’s part of a plaza that contains Chichanchob, and probably a residential complex associated with the Ossuary.
Read more about the House of the Deer.
Xtoloc Temple
The Xtoloc Temple receives its name because it’s located next to the Cenote with the same name, the second largest cenote in the center of Chichen Itza.
It probably was used in religious ceremonies, perhaps related to the Cenote. Its construction dates from 900 to 1200. There are sculptured representations of warriors and priests on the pillars of the temple.
Read more about the Xtoloc Temple.
The Xtoloc Cenote
On the way to the Ossuary group is this beautiful Cenote that although of smaller diameter than the Sacred Cenote was very important for the population of Chichen Itza as a source of water.
Read more about the Xtoloc Cenote.
The Observatory
The Observatory of Chichen Itza, also known as el Caracol, is around structure very similar to those that exist in other parts of Mesoamerica. It has some windows on the top from which you can see the equinoxes, sunsets, solstices, the positions of Venus and other stars, and the observation guided many of the decisions and actions were taken by the ruling class.
Read more about the Observatory.
Temple of the Sculptured Boards
The Temple of the sculpted boards is a building of the Mayan-Toltec period, it closes the Plaza de las Monjas on the east, and it’s named after the sculpted panels that decorate the north and south walls with reliefs depicting scenes of warriors presiding over ceremonies of fertility and life.
The Nunnery
It has its front to the north and consists of three buildings: Las Monjas (The Nuns), the East and Southeast wings, which correspond to several building periods overlapping. It’s possible that its name is due to the fact that the buildings, with numerous rooms, reminded the Spaniards of their convents. The great set of the Nuns Building in Chichén Itzá has palace type structures, a ball game, and a low wall. The main building has at least six construction stages, with modifications in the building, decoration and style, indications of a long period of occupation.
The Church
When the Church in Chichen Itza first discovered, this building was notable for the good state of preservation it was in, and for the richness and beauty of its ornaments. La Iglesia (the Church) is a small building next to the Nuns with a single chamber and one access door, similar to a rectangular chapel, hence its name.
Akab Dzib
The name Akab Dzib comes from non-deciphered hieroglyphs that mean “dark writing”, not because of “dark spell-like enchantments”, but because they haven’t been deciphered, yet…
The hieroglyphs were found on the lintel of one of the inner doors of the south section of the building, the undeciphered hieroglyphs are found in front of a sculpted priest sitting on a throne.
Read more about the Akab Dzib.
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