Zona Arqueológica Chichen Itzá
Zona Arqueológica Chichen Itzá Photos
Recommended Reviews - Zona Arqueológica Chichen Itzá
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What a truly magical experience visiting Chichén Itzá in April 2022 was. The amount of history and the almost magical vibrations radiating from this piece of land is something else. I was not prepared for the energy that seemed to hum from the ground itself. The experience of standing in front of El Castillo, was something otherworldly, the echoes of something truly ancient really resonated with me, practically a visceral experience The archeological findings of the Mayan people here are truly astounding. The steps of the Temple of Kukuclan designed to mirror the solar calendar, the ball courts with their insane acoustics. It definitely screams that every placement of stone was incredibly intentional, a vastly different experience in modern construction. It's crazy to think how not terribly long ago (19th century) this site was being excavated. I highly recommend visiting and spending the day here, it's truly mystical and will stay with you for the rest of your life.
I have mixed feelings about my visit here. On one hand I felt uncomparable pride of my ancestors legacy, on the other hand I felt a bit of shame of what the local people have done by turning the hike trail to the pyramids into a souvenir bazaar. Nonetheless I bought the souvenirs because that's what I do now. I'm that person I use to make fun of when I was younger and visited old people's homes and laughed at their junk souvenirs. (mine are cooler though) pay for the guide learn the history of this wonder Dont just come here for your selfie
We visited February 2020 right before COVID-19 locked down the world. We were staying at a resort in Cancun and booked an excursion to see Chichen Itza. We've been to Mexico many times but never got to see it! The bus dropped us off and there were tons of vendors selling gifts and apparel. They were pushy but a simple no will usually get the job done. I did purchase a T-shirt which was ok quality. There were restrooms but the line was long. It's a popular tourist destination so people were everywhere. The stairs to the top of Chichen Itza was blocked off, which wasn't before in the past; this is a good thing because I'm sure the structure was being damaged with all the foot traffic. We walked around the property and saw other remnants of the Mayan civilization. There's a large Mayan ball court and sacrificial cenote (sinkhole with water in it). Sadly, I saw many stray dogs that looked hungry and thirsty. The weather was hot and humid; we were used to it, since it was exactly like south Florida's weather. The history and architecture of this location is fascinating. It's one of the New SEVEN WONDERS of the WORLD and definitely worth checking off a bucket list.
Very cool tour and amazing experience to see the Mayan temple. The structure is beautiful and has so many details that were so far ahead of the times. What an incredible experience to witness the echoes and views. Well worth the 2.5 hour drive. You won't be disappointed. Be aware it's very humid and hot even in March.
We were here for excursion through cruise line on a weekday. It takes close to 3hrs travel time from Cozumel( 40 mins ferry and 2 hrs bus ride) Overwhelming number of vendors selling souvenirs and clothes etc. Amazed with the architecture and history behind the buildings and happy that we got a chance to visit one of the wonders of the world.
If you signed up for any of the tour packages, you'll likely be visiting here to check out the temples and ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization. The first thing you will notice are the many souvenir vendors in designated areas. You can always come back to them later, after you finish the tour with the group. Only two faces of the main temple have been restored, using materials from other parts of the temple and/or ruins nearby. Your tour guide will explain to you the astonishing mathematics and history that inform the design of the temple. You won't be able to walk up the steps, but pictures on all sides are definitely allowed. If you arrive around 2:00, you can catch an angle of this temple in both light and shadow. The nearby ruins are also worth seeing, including a warrior's hall, a large court / plaza area where ceremonial games used to be held, and so on. They are less crowded and are excellent locations for photos. You will want to take time to appreciate and enjoy the intricacy of the carvings, including that of man, bird, serpent (a harkening of Kukulcan, a god in Mayan beliefs), and the depiction of two brothers who in the mythology fought against underworld invaders. Now, back to tips on souvenirs bargaining. You will hear two for one dollar, but this is just a hack to get you to talk to the vendors, who will then say a Mayan dollar is $50 usd. Cut through all that by asking a price for an item. They will start super high, for example 600 pesos. Offer half, or even 1/3 that, and go from there. Absolutely do not pay the asking price! If you're adamant about the price, you can try walking away and they'll ask you to come back. It's up to you and your conscience at that point, as to whether you want to bargain to the boiling point where these hard workers are barely making (a well earned) profit. You will hear a lot about the conquerors (Spanish conquistadors) in connection with the Mayan people who are still alive today, preserving their culture, and protecting the many Mayan temples hidden below the jungles. As visitors we should do our utmost to appreciate the culture, be respectful, and meditate on the affects of colonialism, and ways becoming more knowledgeable of civilizations who have survived it, and how we can support them.
What a remarkable place to visit, so much history and just like one of the other 7 wonders of the modern world, there are a lot of unanswered questions. The fact that the sun peers through the top entrance of the structure twice a year once on the 21st of March and the second time is 21 September. Both dates represent the spring and summer solstice. Wear your sunscreen it gets hot and you will burn. Beware of the vendors that offer you the "1 dollar" sale. They will screw you for sure. Have an awesome E time and try to jump into a tour group to learn the most you can.
This was part of our 12 hour excursion. I have to say this was a very cool experience. I've seen these ruins for a year and I've always wanted to visit them. I'm very glad we did. I will say this, though it's very hot so be prepared for that. Bring lots of water, a hat, an umbrella, if you can. Be smart and stay in the shade because if you don't, you'll be extremely hot and uncomfortable. Even while doing all the things I just mention it was very hot and uncomfortable. No doubt about it but well worth the history and experience for sure. Lots of really cool engineering here. I was very happy to visit this place and see all of the Mayans ruins it been here for so many years. Our tour guy did a great job. Explaining the history of each spot we visited. There's a ton of vendors everywhere selling stuff. Don't pay full price they will negotiate. Like I said, this place gets very hot. I almost wish they did tours very early morning or at night because the heat can be very intense. I'm very glad we stop by there because it was a really cool experience. If you never bad I definitely suggest to give it a shot.
I had a wonderful experience here, but I must say, by the time I arrived, I was already exhausted. I took the tour bus from my hotel in Cancun here. I was mentally prepared for a long ride-- as I went to Grand Canyon from Vegas, and I'd say it's almost similar, in terms of, it's an all day excursion. I did not know much about the Mayan Ruins, prior to my trip, where I did a little research. I was familiar with the Mayan Calendar, but that was probably the extent of my knowledge. The tour guide that was provided with the tour was informative and gave us some additional knowledge. I found the echo in an open atmosphere to be a cool feature-- be prepared to hear many tours groups yelling out-- as they are listening for that echo. There is an area to purchase snacks/beers by the entrance and you will see vendors throughout the area. They are not aggressive but will yell and want you to come over to buy and get a "good deal" I bought from a few vendors, but some will start at with prices that way too high and then negotiate down to a more fair price. I felt that I couldn't buy from more people. I would say if you're in Cancun/Tulum or surrounding areas; it's most certainly worthy of the one day tour here.
Pretty good, but and being in the 7 new wonders of the world had to give it some sense of grandeur, but I personally think Uxmal is a better and quieter site than Chichen Itza. This place feels way too crowded touristy for my taste. Let me compared this to Uxmal, which is cheaper, less crowded, and you can climb up to a viewpoint to see the whole site, Chichen Itza's one positive is that the pyramid is bigger. There's so many vendors on the sides of the place that it kind of feels more like a swap meet than an important ancient historical site which can be a huge turnoff for those who want authenticity. Compared to Uxmal: -Ticket Prices are $571 + $80 pesos for parking compared to it being about $100 pesos cheaper at Uxmal -Feels 10x more crowded than Uxmal -You can't climb anything at Chichen Itza, whereas Uxmal lets you climb the palace terrace and see the whole area in its glory -Peddlers ruin the experience here. At Uxmal there are ZERO which is a huge plus. -Way quieter at Uxmal. I think I saw a max total of 10 people there, while at Chichen Itza theres probably thousands at the site. Overall, cool pyramid and a wonderful site, but it's kind of ruined by the tourist traps everywhere around it.
I couldn't believe that Chichen Itza is one of the 7 Wonders of the World! Wow, this is my first wonder to see and I was pretty excited. The place is around a 2.5 hour drive from Cancun as it really is in the middle of nowhere - you do get to change a time zone though from Quintana Roo to Yucatan which is pretty exciting. However, there are plenty of directions that will help lead you to here. We were able to get here and finding parking on a weekday morning which was very nice. On the walk to the grounds, we were haggled by Mexican We ordered tickets online and when we got here, we realized that we got scammed. The online tickets were around $60 which is kind of pricy to see the monument but we had to pay as it is one of the 7 Wonders of the World. I would recommend just getting tickets here as it would be around $35/each and the lines to get them are not long at all. When we got inside the area, we were swarmed by vendors of all kinds selling different types of trinkets. Here some of the things I have noticed: - There really isn't many architectural structure in the area other than the main pyramid, so really don't expect much. That being said you also don't need to spend much time in there - 30 minutes to 1 hour as there isn't much to see. - You can easily hop on to another tour group and listen in to the different facts about the ruin. - Something pretty cool to watch out for is that if you clap your hands loudly on all 4 edges of the pyramid, a bird sound will come from the ruin. I really have not seen anything like this before. - If you come May and onwards it is extremely hot and there's little to no shade so make sure you bring lots of sunscreen and hats. Overall its an okay visit. I mean you must do it because its a 7 Wonder of the World but its honestly a bit underwhelming other than the pyramid itself. Make sure to buy your tickets on-site and not get scammed!
The fact that we're able to visit One of the 7 New World Wonders says it all. It's definitely a MUST if you're ever in the Yucatan/Quintana Roo area. Wow!!!!!!! This place is full of energy and it was awesome visiting it!!!!! First, wear comfortable clothes and shoes as you get to walk a little... the walks are bearable if you walk often, but the heat and sun are something else, incredibly exhausting. Bring at least a big bottle of water per person, a regular bottle (16/17 oz) will not be enough. Again, the Chichen Itzá is a MUST. You learn so much and not only that, the energy radiating from this place and the whole experience give you a fulfillment sensation, like you're absorbing all of it into your soul. The knowledge of the Mayans before all the development of the world is simply mind blowing and food for thoughts. Me and my boyfriend loved the tour!!!!! It was one of the best experiences we've had. 10000000% recommended!!
Getting to see the Chichen Itza in person was truly amazing. Being one of the 7 wonders of the world, it has so much history to it, and is fascinating to see its architecture up close. What I did not expect was how much else there was around it! There are a lot of different parts of the ruins nearby, so the Chichen Itza isn't the only thing you'll see. There's also a cenote in the area. Be careful of the merchants, as they. are EVERYWHERE. And even though they might have some cool stuff on their table, many will try to scam you - unfortunately it happened to someone in our tour group. If you don't already know everything about the ruins, I would highly recommend booking a tour guide. We booked ours through our hotel, and there was so much I never knew about the Mayans after hearing more about it. The Chichen Itza is so popular for a reason, and it's totally worth the drive in. We came in 2 hours from Tulum, and I would have come out from further if I had to.
7 days ago
I didn't realize Chichen Itza was one of the new seven wonders of the world! I don't remember it being on the list, but I also didn't know the list can change based on popularity poll...SMH. I believe Chichen Itza is a one of the new seven wonders of the world because it's among the best-preserved and largest archaeological sites in the world. It's also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I'm still glad I got the opportunity to visit Chichen Itza. So much history! The culture of the Mayans; their way of life, the ingenuity and the science are fascinating and amazing. Be prepared to experience some tropical heat. I recommend going as early as you can to avoid crowds and the heat. It gets hot under the glaring Sun. There is no shade around the main Pyramid. A good guide or a tour company also is very helpful. I found the history provided by our tour company to be very inspiring, insightful and interesting, yet sad at the same time. "As one of the most important city-states in pre-Hispanic America, Chichen Itza is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico today. Chichen Itza, one of the New 7 Wonders of The World according to UNESCO, since July 7th, 2007" - https://www.chichenitza.com/ Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza "This sacred site was one of the greatest Mayan centres of the Yucatán peninsula. Throughout its nearly 1,000-year history, different peoples have left their mark on the city. The Maya and Toltec vision of the world and the universe is revealed in their stone monuments and artistic works. The fusion of Mayan construction techniques with new elements from central Mexico make Chichen-Itza one of the most important examples of the Mayan-Toltec civilization in Yucatán. Several buildings have survived, such as the Warriors' Temple, El Castillo and the circular observatory known as El Caracol." - https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/483/ I had no expectations when I came here, since I hardly knew anything about Chichen Itza. I didn't expect to thoroughly enjoy and love this trip as much as I did. I highly recommend visiting Chichen-Itza if you get the opportunity. read more
2 months ago
I finally got to visit Chichén Itzá (one of the New Seven Wonders of the World) and it was definitely an experience worth having! As you get closer, there are parking areas that charge around 70-80 pesos. We accidentally drove into the lot and ended up paying 126 pesos. I didn't see any clear signage at first, but the guard mentioned there's a paper posted at the booth when you enter; so just be aware. Once inside, there are actually two separate entrance fees (state and federal), which together came out to about $45 USD. There is a money exchange on-site, and I was able to convert my US dollars to pesos with no fee, which was very convenient. Before entering, there are food spots and vendors. Be mindful that they are pretty strict about what you can bring inside. If you bring restricted items, you'll either have to take them back to your car or pay a small fee to leave them there. Inside, there are vendors everywhere selling beautiful handmade items. It's nice to see, but it can get overwhelming since you'll be approached frequently. Some will say items are "$1," but once you get closer, prices can be higher; so just keep that in mind. There's a LOT of walking. The day I went was hot and sunny, so definitely dress in breathable clothes and wear comfortable shoes. Even with the heat, I had a great time exploring, taking pictures, and just taking in the history. I heard there are two cenotes on-site, but I only found one. You can't swim in them, but they're still beautiful to see. There are some shaded areas and places to sit, which helped with breaks. I also overheard a guide mention that medical assistance is available near the entrance, which is good to know, especially in the heat. We had about a 2-hour drive to get there, and the road is long with very limited stops. Gas stations and bathrooms are scarce, so plan ahead; bring snacks, drinks, and make sure you're prepared before heading out. Overall, it's absolutely a must-see if you're traveling to Mexico. Just come prepared, stay hydrated, and be ready for a full day of exploring! read more
4 months ago
29 days ago
9 months ago
What a truly magical experience visiting Chichén Itzá in April 2022 was. The amount of history and the almost magical vibrations radiating from this piece of land is something else. I was not prepared for the energy that seemed to hum from the ground itself. The experience of standing in front of El Castillo, was something otherworldly, the echoes of something truly ancient really resonated with me, practically a visceral experience The archeological findings of the Mayan people here are truly astounding. The steps of the Temple of Kukuclan designed to mirror the solar calendar, the ball courts with their insane acoustics. It definitely screams that every placement of stone was incredibly intentional, a vastly different experience in modern construction. It's crazy to think how not terribly long ago (19th century) this site was being excavated. I highly recommend visiting and spending the day here, it's truly mystical and will stay with you for the rest of your life. read more
I have mixed feelings about my visit here. On one hand I felt uncomparable pride of my ancestors legacy, on the other hand I felt a bit of shame of what the local people have done by turning the hike trail to the pyramids into a souvenir bazaar. Nonetheless I bought the souvenirs because that's what I do now. I'm that person I use to make fun of when I was younger and visited old people's homes and laughed at their junk souvenirs. (mine are cooler though) pay for the guide learn the history of this wonder Dont just come here for your selfie read more
We visited February 2020 right before COVID-19 locked down the world. We were staying at a resort in Cancun and booked an excursion to see Chichen Itza. We've been to Mexico many times but never got to see it! The bus dropped us off and there were tons of vendors selling gifts and apparel. They were pushy but a simple no will usually get the job done. I did purchase a T-shirt which was ok quality. There were restrooms but the line was long. It's a popular tourist destination so people were everywhere. The stairs to the top of Chichen Itza was blocked off, which wasn't before in the past; this is a good thing because I'm sure the structure was being damaged with all the foot traffic. We walked around the property and saw other remnants of the Mayan civilization. There's a large Mayan ball court and sacrificial cenote (sinkhole with water in it). Sadly, I saw many stray dogs that looked hungry and thirsty. The weather was hot and humid; we were used to it, since it was exactly like south Florida's weather. The history and architecture of this location is fascinating. It's one of the New SEVEN WONDERS of the WORLD and definitely worth checking off a bucket list. read more
Very cool tour and amazing experience to see the Mayan temple. The structure is beautiful and has so many details that were so far ahead of the times. What an incredible experience to witness the echoes and views. Well worth the 2.5 hour drive. You won't be disappointed. Be aware it's very humid and hot even in March. read more
We were here for excursion through cruise line on a weekday. It takes close to 3hrs travel time from Cozumel( 40 mins ferry and 2 hrs bus ride) Overwhelming number of vendors selling souvenirs and clothes etc. Amazed with the architecture and history behind the buildings and happy that we got a chance to visit one of the wonders of the world. read more
If you signed up for any of the tour packages, you'll likely be visiting here to check out the temples and ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization. The first thing you will notice are the many souvenir vendors in designated areas. You can always come back to them later, after you finish the tour with the group. Only two faces of the main temple have been restored, using materials from other parts of the temple and/or ruins nearby. Your tour guide will explain to you the astonishing mathematics and history that inform the design of the temple. You won't be able to walk up the steps, but pictures on all sides are definitely allowed. If you arrive around 2:00, you can catch an angle of this temple in both light and shadow. The nearby ruins are also worth seeing, including a warrior's hall, a large court / plaza area where ceremonial games used to be held, and so on. They are less crowded and are excellent locations for photos. You will want to take time to appreciate and enjoy the intricacy of the carvings, including that of man, bird, serpent (a harkening of Kukulcan, a god in Mayan beliefs), and the depiction of two brothers who in the mythology fought against underworld invaders. Now, back to tips on souvenirs bargaining. You will hear two for one dollar, but this is just a hack to get you to talk to the vendors, who will then say a Mayan dollar is $50 usd. Cut through all that by asking a price for an item. They will start super high, for example 600 pesos. Offer half, or even 1/3 that, and go from there. Absolutely do not pay the asking price! If you're adamant about the price, you can try walking away and they'll ask you to come back. It's up to you and your conscience at that point, as to whether you want to bargain to the boiling point where these hard workers are barely making (a well earned) profit. You will hear a lot about the conquerors (Spanish conquistadors) in connection with the Mayan people who are still alive today, preserving their culture, and protecting the many Mayan temples hidden below the jungles. As visitors we should do our utmost to appreciate the culture, be respectful, and meditate on the affects of colonialism, and ways becoming more knowledgeable of civilizations who have survived it, and how we can support them. read more
What a remarkable place to visit, so much history and just like one of the other 7 wonders of the modern world, there are a lot of unanswered questions. The fact that the sun peers through the top entrance of the structure twice a year once on the 21st of March and the second time is 21 September. Both dates represent the spring and summer solstice. Wear your sunscreen it gets hot and you will burn. Beware of the vendors that offer you the "1 dollar" sale. They will screw you for sure. Have an awesome E time and try to jump into a tour group to learn the most you can. read more
9 months ago
This was part of our 12 hour excursion. I have to say this was a very cool experience. I've seen these ruins for a year and I've always wanted to visit them. I'm very glad we did. I will say this, though it's very hot so be prepared for that. Bring lots of water, a hat, an umbrella, if you can. Be smart and stay in the shade because if you don't, you'll be extremely hot and uncomfortable. Even while doing all the things I just mention it was very hot and uncomfortable. No doubt about it but well worth the history and experience for sure. Lots of really cool engineering here. I was very happy to visit this place and see all of the Mayans ruins it been here for so many years. Our tour guy did a great job. Explaining the history of each spot we visited. There's a ton of vendors everywhere selling stuff. Don't pay full price they will negotiate. Like I said, this place gets very hot. I almost wish they did tours very early morning or at night because the heat can be very intense. I'm very glad we stop by there because it was a really cool experience. If you never bad I definitely suggest to give it a shot. read more
I had a wonderful experience here, but I must say, by the time I arrived, I was already exhausted. I took the tour bus from my hotel in Cancun here. I was mentally prepared for a long ride-- as I went to Grand Canyon from Vegas, and I'd say it's almost similar, in terms of, it's an all day excursion. I did not know much about the Mayan Ruins, prior to my trip, where I did a little research. I was familiar with the Mayan Calendar, but that was probably the extent of my knowledge. The tour guide that was provided with the tour was informative and gave us some additional knowledge. I found the echo in an open atmosphere to be a cool feature-- be prepared to hear many tours groups yelling out-- as they are listening for that echo. There is an area to purchase snacks/beers by the entrance and you will see vendors throughout the area. They are not aggressive but will yell and want you to come over to buy and get a "good deal" I bought from a few vendors, but some will start at with prices that way too high and then negotiate down to a more fair price. I felt that I couldn't buy from more people. I would say if you're in Cancun/Tulum or surrounding areas; it's most certainly worthy of the one day tour here. read more
Pretty good, but and being in the 7 new wonders of the world had to give it some sense of grandeur, but I personally think Uxmal is a better and quieter site than Chichen Itza. This place feels way too crowded touristy for my taste. Let me compared this to Uxmal, which is cheaper, less crowded, and you can climb up to a viewpoint to see the whole site, Chichen Itza's one positive is that the pyramid is bigger. There's so many vendors on the sides of the place that it kind of feels more like a swap meet than an important ancient historical site which can be a huge turnoff for those who want authenticity. Compared to Uxmal: -Ticket Prices are $571 + $80 pesos for parking compared to it being about $100 pesos cheaper at Uxmal -Feels 10x more crowded than Uxmal -You can't climb anything at Chichen Itza, whereas Uxmal lets you climb the palace terrace and see the whole area in its glory -Peddlers ruin the experience here. At Uxmal there are ZERO which is a huge plus. -Way quieter at Uxmal. I think I saw a max total of 10 people there, while at Chichen Itza theres probably thousands at the site. Overall, cool pyramid and a wonderful site, but it's kind of ruined by the tourist traps everywhere around it. read more
3 years ago
I couldn't believe that Chichen Itza is one of the 7 Wonders of the World! Wow, this is my first wonder to see and I was pretty excited. The place is around a 2.5 hour drive from Cancun as it really is in the middle of nowhere - you do get to change a time zone though from Quintana Roo to Yucatan which is pretty exciting. However, there are plenty of directions that will help lead you to here. We were able to get here and finding parking on a weekday morning which was very nice. On the walk to the grounds, we were haggled by Mexican We ordered tickets online and when we got here, we realized that we got scammed. The online tickets were around $60 which is kind of pricy to see the monument but we had to pay as it is one of the 7 Wonders of the World. I would recommend just getting tickets here as it would be around $35/each and the lines to get them are not long at all. When we got inside the area, we were swarmed by vendors of all kinds selling different types of trinkets. Here some of the things I have noticed: - There really isn't many architectural structure in the area other than the main pyramid, so really don't expect much. That being said you also don't need to spend much time in there - 30 minutes to 1 hour as there isn't much to see. - You can easily hop on to another tour group and listen in to the different facts about the ruin. - Something pretty cool to watch out for is that if you clap your hands loudly on all 4 edges of the pyramid, a bird sound will come from the ruin. I really have not seen anything like this before. - If you come May and onwards it is extremely hot and there's little to no shade so make sure you bring lots of sunscreen and hats. Overall its an okay visit. I mean you must do it because its a 7 Wonder of the World but its honestly a bit underwhelming other than the pyramid itself. Make sure to buy your tickets on-site and not get scammed! read more
5 years ago
The fact that we're able to visit One of the 7 New World Wonders says it all. It's definitely a MUST if you're ever in the Yucatan/Quintana Roo area. Wow!!!!!!! This place is full of energy and it was awesome visiting it!!!!! First, wear comfortable clothes and shoes as you get to walk a little... the walks are bearable if you walk often, but the heat and sun are something else, incredibly exhausting. Bring at least a big bottle of water per person, a regular bottle (16/17 oz) will not be enough. Again, the Chichen Itzá is a MUST. You learn so much and not only that, the energy radiating from this place and the whole experience give you a fulfillment sensation, like you're absorbing all of it into your soul. The knowledge of the Mayans before all the development of the world is simply mind blowing and food for thoughts. Me and my boyfriend loved the tour!!!!! It was one of the best experiences we've had. 10000000% recommended!! read more
Getting to see the Chichen Itza in person was truly amazing. Being one of the 7 wonders of the world, it has so much history to it, and is fascinating to see its architecture up close. What I did not expect was how much else there was around it! There are a lot of different parts of the ruins nearby, so the Chichen Itza isn't the only thing you'll see. There's also a cenote in the area. Be careful of the merchants, as they. are EVERYWHERE. And even though they might have some cool stuff on their table, many will try to scam you - unfortunately it happened to someone in our tour group. If you don't already know everything about the ruins, I would highly recommend booking a tour guide. We booked ours through our hotel, and there was so much I never knew about the Mayans after hearing more about it. The Chichen Itza is so popular for a reason, and it's totally worth the drive in. We came in 2 hours from Tulum, and I would have come out from further if I had to. read more
Chichen itza is one of the 7 wonders and so it's a must do if you're in the Yucatacan area. I ended up learning a lot more about Mayan history and culture which to me was the most interesting part. The site itself is flooded with tourists (even on the hottest of hot days) and there is virtually zero shade so be prepared to be quick or melt. There's also a lot of vendors trying to see you things. Overall worth going with a good tour guide but be prepared for the crowds. Study some Mayan culture prior and you might enjoy it more. read more
2 years ago
Absolutely one of the seven wonders of the world. I thought that it would be much bigger. I mean it was massive, but I honestly thought it would be bigger. I really love this archaeological site, but what I didn't like is that there's vendors inside beside the pyramid, I feel like the pyramid is something sacred and the vendors should be outside the experience. You have them when you walk up to the facility when you're entering the facility and when you're inside the archaeological site. read more
There is so much history and wealth of knowledge here that you need the right tour guide for you to enjoy the Chichén Itzá. We came with a tour from Cancún and there were many other tours there too. This place in amazing with how the sound travels, how the main tower tells time, the serpent that is on the tower, and more. Pure wealth of the Mayan culture history. Because we booked with a tour group I don't have many logistical details, but I do know that you can not bring food or drinking into the area. You cannot walk up or get near the main ruin since 2007. read more
What can you say about one of the seven wonders of the world that already hasn't been said? This place was the best out of the other pyramid sites we visited. We had a great tour guide that was VERY knowledgeable about the site and history and was super friendly. He knew where to take the best pictures and actually took a couple of group pictures for us. Again, this place was cool as heck to visit and is checked off my bucket list of places to see. read more
There is not much more I can say that has not already been said. All visitors to Cancun/Playa del Carmen/Tulum should make a visit to this famous site. There are plenty of tour buses that leave early in the morning - it takes a couple of hours to drive there. Most people think of Chichen Itza as just a pyramid, but this place is actually a complex of Mayan ruins which thrived from the 600s to 1200s. There is the main pyramid, a smaller pyramid, the Grand Ballcourt where a soccer-like game was played, and other smaller ruins scattered about. There is an amazing amount of history at this site. What might turn some people off are there is a massive amount of souvenir tables and vendors along the entrance path to the site, but that's to be expected for a famous place like this. read more
6 years ago
1/24/20 Being in Cancun, had to visit this Pre-Columbian City that made the list as being one of the New Seven Wonders of the World I booked the Early Access Tour through Amigo Tours Mexico and I do have to say that is the ONLY way I would ever do it again!! We were the 2nd tour bus there and we were able to get pictures of the pyramids without people in the background. Hire a tour guide or book a tour. There is so much history that I learned about and was in awe of. I knew I wanted to see the city but I had no idea how cool it was actually going to be. I had a great time! Our Amigo Tour guide Marco was a wealth of information I never got bored and history was my WORST subject in high school. If you get the opportunity to visit this historic site, I highly recommend you do it! read more
From the moment you walk out of the surrounding forest and lay eyes on "El Castillo" of Chichen-Itza, the sense of wonder, awe, and majesty immediately impacts you. There is an energy that en captivates you. Please do yourself a huge favor and get a guide at the door. They provide all the historical magic that is Chichen-Itza. read more
One of the seven new wonders of the world, Chichen Itza is definitely something you should see once in your lifetime (no more than that). It's interesting to see the ruins and learn about the Mayans used it for their calendar. I visited through a day tour (Amigo Tours). This gave us about two hours at the ruins, which I think was enough time to explore and take pictures. Besides, it's SUPER HOT out there, so you don't want to be under the Mexican sun for that long anyway (at least not without a body of water you can jump into). I learned after the fact that they have early morning 'sunrise' tours. If I knew beforehand, I probably would have considered it because I'm sure there would be significantly fewer tourists in the morning. I saw mostly tour groups visiting, as opposed to people coming on their own - and they usually come in waves. Know before before you: -Wear sneakers -Be prepared for a loooong ride. It's about a 2.5-hour drive from Playa del Carmen/Riviera Maya -Don't get trapped by the people trying to sell you souvenirs. They are literally waiting for you as soon as you get off the bus. Our tour guide told us that they'll tell you it's "one dollar" but as soon as you have the item in your hands, they'll tell you that it's "one dollar off". I was hoping these people wouldn't be inside of the grounds of Chichen Itza (I'm surprised they allow them in there), but they were and it was pretty annoying. It took away from the experience a bit, so that's the reason I subtracted a star Overall, it was a good experience and I'm glad I got to check this off my list. read more
For anyone visiting I would highly recommend. So much history in one place it's almost surreal. When you visit make sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing and something cool. Make sure to bring lots of water and something to shield you from the scorching hot sun. It's easy to overheat so be careful. It's extremely humid!!!! They have a lot of vendors so be prepared to shop around and negotiate the prices!!! Some try to overcharge so beware. read more
El Castillo deserves the honor of being 7 wonders of the world...Splendid... El Castillo is the main monument in this archaeological site and it is a very beautiful amazing site. Basically, these are Mayan civilization ruins. We came here by13baktun tours and they handed us to the local guide. Entry fee is I guess $14 USD including both State and Federal. He was taking so much time, so we decided to roam on our own. It was way more relaxing, we clicked like tons of photos and enjoyed our visit. We have read about this and other ruins like ballroom court, Temple of Jaguars, Platform of the Eagle and Jaguars, Temple of Warriors, the Market and Group of Thousand Columns so we did not feel like having the guide. No doubt, this is very beautiful, but hawker around the main site irritated me. Come on, who allows vendors-hawkers right into the main site. They tell it is authentic Mayan souvenir, but don't fall for it. Limestone ll get break like mine broke in flight. Earlier people used to go all the way to the top, but some mishap happened, and it is closed now, in fact, they have confined the area and nobody can even go inside. It was May month and hot sunny day. Don't forget to bring your shades, umbrella, and sunscreen. At the main gate, you can find folks in warrior avatar and photo ll cost you $2 but, it's from your camera. If they give you the photo, they charge $12 USD. read more
6 years ago
You can't miss this if you go visit Cancun, Play del Carmen, or surrounding areas. We left early morning from our hotel around 6:45AM in Mayakoba and reached by 8:15/8:30 slightly after open. The drive is pretty straightforward and I recommend taking the highway with a toll to make the trip a little more quicker to go and come back. I recommend picking up a local tour guide around 500 meters from the entrance. We were able to get ours for 650 pesos and then I tipped another 100 pesos at the end as he had done a wonderful job describing everything with care and in detail. The guide will hop in your car, then you pay for parking and park right near the entrance. The benefit of going early morning, especially during Covid times, is you essentially have the historic site to yourself, which is very very rare. Our guide explained everything in detail and we were able to wrap up by noon time and out by 12:30/1PM. It gets hot! Wear sunscreen and bring some water. You'll pay a small admission fee to get in (they do take credit card). There is a proper temperature check and sanitization before going in. It helps to watch a few youtube videos before hand if you're a history buff to get a slight primer. Then the guide does a fantastic job to round everything off. We did not eat there, although there are a couple spots to get food. There are vendors everywhere for souvenirs. Be sure to bargain :-) read more
We toured Chichen Itza (1-1-20). If you can get your tickets beforehand, do it! We waiting in a very long line to get our tickets. There is no shade so the line is rough. We had to park at an extra parking lot about a 1/2 mile from the entrance. There are vendors along the walk selling things so you can get a bottle of water from them if you want. The site is huge! There is so much to see. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to just sit and enjoy and soak in the magnificence of this place! We sat in the shade of the trees and enjoyed a snack and water and just took it all in. We walked every inch of this place. Be sure you do the same! We rented a car at the airport when we first arrived in Cancun. This gave us the freedom to really see the historical sites. If you are going to the Yucatan Peninsula to see the sites, rent a car and take your time. You would not want to be rushed in a place like Chichen Itza. You can still hire a guide to walk you through the place so you will miss out on nothing by doing the trip yourself! NOTE: Remember Sundays are FREE for local residents so avoid going to these places on Sunday so the locals can enjoy their time! And, you will not have the extra large crowds to deal with! Most Sincerely! read more
I may be going against the tide, but personally I was a bit disappointed with this place. Having visited the Pyramids of Egypt, Teotihuacan, El-Tajin, in the last couple of years, I can't help but compare. The biggest plus points for this place are the listing in the seven wonders and the insta friendly views of the main pyramid. But apart from that main pyramid, the rest of the structures are not as well maintained and not as accessible as all the other pyramids(or ruins) I have visited so far. Plus for the kind of entry fee they serve the support is really bad. The lack of good maps or reading materials makes it feel like they want you to hire a guide. And pretty much the entire walkways are filled with vendors pestering you to buy stuff. And lastly they have smoking zone right in the middle of the ticketing area and restaurants, so you can enjoy some free smoke whether you want it or not! read more
This is the most visited site in all of the world. The history is surreal and unbelievable . If eevee you travel to Cancun and you stay at anyy resort I strongly recommend you to take a day out of your week to come here and visit the Mayan Pyramid of Chichén-Itza . You will feel some type of way. The monument itself iS just breathtaking and unimaginable until you see it for yourself. The coolest of the cooll we saw people non stop clApping and it made a sound effect echo of a bird and there's tons oF myths about the sound in the pyramid buut no one can truly explain what it's all about. We lost our tour guide so we decided to follOw other tour guides thatt were pretty loud and got to experience the site with multiple tour guides ahaha The cons... tons of venders at every corner of the shades trying to sell yoou fake relics of the pyramid and just non stop hustling you to buy their crap. It was quite appalling ughh leave us alone we don't want to buy your crapooOo lol Another con is the poor stray dogs that are extremely hot and hungry and loook like they haven't eaten for days. It's pretty sad and I wish people can take them in to a shelter where they can be properly vetted and taken care of Overall, pretty interesting and surreal experience loved this Mayan historical site. read more
This place is AMAZING!!! We woke up around 4am, to get on a tour bus to get to the site. It took about 2.5 hours from Cancun. The park site opens at 8am in the morning, and it's best to get to the entrance at that time or a bit before to avoid the crowds. The worst time to visit according to our tour guide is 2-3pm in the afternoon, the weather is super hot, and there will be too many people. Because we went so early, we were able to get photos with the pyramid without anyone in our photo. The site is HUGE, and it would take a long time to go through all ove the structures at the site. We spent a few hours there, and saw as much as we could. The giant well was really cool to see, and then the planetarium was very interesting. I would highly suggest doing a tour because our tour guide was able to give us alot of history and tidbits about some of the key structures. He explained about the ball games that would happen, how the game is played and talked about the human sacrifice rituals. Super interesting. There's also alot of vendors there to sell little trinkets, and that was cool to see. HIGHLY recommend this place!! read more
If you're visiting Cancun, you ought to visit Chichen Itza. It helps you dive into the history of the place, the Mayan civilization and their contribution to the world. We went here as a part of a day-long excursion tour, so not exactly sure about the entry ticket but definitely worth every penny. The majestic pyramids, the ruins and the beautiful carvings around them would definitely transport you to another era. I would be a little careful with the guides here. If I'm going again I'd research about civilization and the place on the internet and guide myself. We had a guide and what he was saying didn't really make much sense. On one occasion it was also different from what was mentioned at the place. The guides generally tend to portray the Mayan people as these savages who will kill for no reason and had these beastly traditions. While it may suit the biases of other tourists visiting the place, I'm somewhat familiar with this propaganda. There are plenty of street shops here that sells all kinds of stuff but mainly souvenirs, clothes, and chess. If one is a shrewd buyer, one can negotiate a 70%-80% discount on the asking price. About 15 minutes' walk from there, there is a Cenote Sagrado - but from what I've known - one can't swim in it, so if you're looking for that, there are other cenotes around. You can skip this one as we did. But it may still be a good walk. read more
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