I didn’t realize that a trip to Cancun, Mexico, took me within a couple-hour drive to one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World. Chichen Itza was a large city built and populated by the Maya people from roughly 600 to 1200 A.D. The architecture is amazing – and to think they didn’t have the big construction cranes and vehicles we have today.

If your travel plans take you to Cancun, a visit to Chichen Itza is a must. You can either take a day-long guided tour from Cancun to the Mayan ruins, or travel there on your own and explore at your own pace.

If you’re not familiar with international travel, learn more about it to make sure you’re ready to head abroad.

Either way, here’s a rundown of what you can expect during your visit to one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World.

El Castillo OR The Temple of Kukulcan

The Temple of Kukulcan, also known as El Castillo (Spanish for “castle”), is the main attraction at Chichen Itza. The temple is a modern-day icon of the Maya people and their well-known calendar. The fact that this structure was built centuries ago is fascinating. But once you learn about all the mathematical elements of it, it’s that much more impressive.

For example, each side of the building has 91 steps, which equals 364. There’s a final step at the top that makes it 365 steps – which just happens to be the number of days in a solar year. Our tour guide explained the math behind the temples construction and how the temple itself is a Mayan calendar.

One of the coolest aspects that I learn of while at Chichen Itza is what’s known as the “Descent of Kukulcan.” At the base of the temple there is a single snake head. During the spring and fall equinox, the sun casts light and shadow on the temple, creating 7 triangles that line the edge of the stairway. Those 7 triangles of light look like the body of a snake, leading to the stone snake head at the base. Since we were there in June, and in the middle of the day, we didn’t get to see it. But I’ve been told every night there is a light show that recreates it for tourists. So an evening visit to Chichen Itza may be worth it – if you can’t be there for the actual equinox events.

In the past, people could walk up the steps of Chichén Itzá. But not any more. Sad, I know. But one of the neat elements of the temple is that when you stand at the base of the temple and clap  your hands, the resulting echo sounds just like a quetzal bird.

The Great Ball Court of Chichen Itza

Imagine trying to get a four pound rubber ball through the circle in the photo above, without using hands or feet. And then, if your team wins, you get sacrificed. Yep – the winner gets sacrificed; not the loser. Because only the best of the best are worthy to be sacrificed.

The Great Ball Court was pretty cool. Standing along one of the short edges of the rectangular field, our tour guide spoke to us about the Maya people. He was standing 10 feet from the group. He paused, backed up 10 more feet and continued speaking. You could hear him as if he was standing right next to you. He even backed up another 10 feet with the same results. The sound was able to travel from one side of the arena to the other, without any troubles. There was no need to raise your voice.

Alongside the arena walls are carvings of people. It’s hard to know exactly how the arena was used, since the Maya people abandoned this area before outsiders were able to observe their culture. So much of it is deductive reasoning through the “writings” on the walls.

Temple of the Warriors

The Temple of Kukulcan clearly marks the spring and fall equinox. Central columns found in the Temple of the Warriors are used to mark the summer and winter solstice. The setting sun on those days is positioned precisely between two central columns.

Our tour guide explained that the Temple of the Warriors was the only place they were able to find evidence of human sacrifices. Quite possibly, it’s where the winners of the ball game were sacrificed.

Plaza of 1,000 Columns

In front of the Temple of the Warriors starts a row of columns, which stretch into other places around that end of Chichen Itza. Our guide laughed about how un-creative the name was.

We were able to walk through a path between some of the columns into a large plaza area. In looking at maps, it apparently has a marketplace nearby, as well as some steam baths. It was neat to wander around and see the structures throughout the area.

Skull Platform OR Tzompantli

The images of the skulls on the stones used to build this wall remind me of the Disney movie, Coco. The stones were carved to memorialize past sacrificial victims. The platform itself was used to display the heads of enemies on vertical stakes to intimidate enemies and hype the conquests of the people.

Our guide explained that one explorer thought the platform was likely a burial place. He worked cautiously to exhume potential bodies. However, after digging for a while and finding nothing, the time allotted to him for his work was running short. So he used dynamite to make things go quicker. The blast ruined parts of the platform, and the explorer still came up empty handed. How sad.

Paints and the Platform of Venus

Even though everything looks old and drab, the color found on the Platform of Venus indicates the once vibrant look of Chichen Itza. You’ll notice along the wall in the photo above, the red and blue colors on the stone.

If you look closely at the photo above, you may also be able to spot some wildlife. There is an iguana in the photo. It was one of a few we saw throughout our tour of Chichen Itza.

The platform was likely used for ceremonies, dancers or other forms of entertainment.

Know How to Negotiate with the Vendors

You can’t miss the vendors that line the walkways of Chichen Itza. They have everything from colorful clothes, to stone chess boards. It’s not uncommon to hear them calling you over to check out their wares. Some are even calling out, “Prices so low, they’re almost free.”

Like much of Mexico, the prices set by these vendors are not the final price. Every price is negotiable. A trip to Mexico is a great way to refine your bargaining skills.

Having pesos with you is helpful in negotiations. However, most of the vendors accept American dollars as well. Although I am a terrible negotiator, I felt success when I was able to pay half of what they were initially asking.

Word of advice: Don’t let them make you feel bad if you decide not to buy from them. They’ll get over it and then be on to the next person walking by. Also, be willing to walk away if they won’t get to the price you have in mind. That may be when they finally decide to accept your offer.

Explore the Other Areas of Chichen Itza

We had 45 minutes to wander Chichen Itza on our own. We felt we were able to see what the area had to offer. However, we later learned there was an entire section of Chichen Itza we didn’t even know about. There was an observatory, church and another pyramid-like structure. There a sacred cenote (sink hole filled with water), but we didn’t get a chance to visit that, either.

If we are in Mexico again, we’ll likely visit Chichen Itza on our own so we can explore at our own pace.

Visiting Chichen Itza before the tour groups start to arrive around 10 a.m., or after they leave (late afternoon), if you want to have fewer people in your photos.

I would also recommend doing a little research about Chichen Itza before you visit. It’s nice to know a little bit about each of the buildings, so the information shared by the tour guides support what you already know. Or, you can ask educated questions to the guide about the Maya people.

The Details

Address: Yucatan, Mexico, near the city of Pisté

Parking: There’s parking near the entrance to Chichen Itza, but there is also a fee per car. Plan on having some pesos with you to pay this fee – roughly 30 pesos. But if you are driving yourself, you’ll need money to pay any tolls along the way.

Cost: There are two fees and two tickets you must pay in order to enter Chichen Itza (a state and federal fee – purchased from different windows at the entrance). Combined, it’s approx. $245 pesos. Keep both of your tickets on your person once you enter. You may be asked at any time to show proof you purchased a ticket to enter; and you must show both.

Hours: The park is open Monday-Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you want to stay for the light show, there is an additional cost. Inquire about that at the park entrance.

Unofficial Website (but very helpful): http://www.chichen-itza-tour.net/chichen-itza-entrance-fee.php

PIN THIS: