| What is it? |
Chichén Itzá is an ancient Mayan city, famous for its giant pyramid to the winged serpent god, Kukulkan! |
| What makes it wonderful? |
The architecture here is pretty wonderful just to behold, but it’s the way in which it was constructed that makes it truly astounding! Firstly, the Maya had no metal tools; they carved stone with stone! Secondly, they aligned their pyramid to embody both the bird and the serpent aspects of their chief god. Clapping near the stairs produces a chirping echo, and the sunlight at the equinox slithers from the top of the pyramid to the snake heads at the base for exactly thirteen minutes before slithering back up to the heavens!
The complex is more than just a pyramid, though. There is a cenote nearby, which the Maya revered as the mouth of the underworld. There are intricately carved ball courts with controversial figures resembling ancient Israelites adjacent to blood sacrifices! Gods of all sizes and persuasions adorn the walls of the temples, marketplaces, and the observatory, where the Maya observed the celestial motions with astonishing accuracy! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? |
HERE’S HOW:
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Volunteer with the World Heritage Volunteers!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
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| Where is this place? |
The entrance of the parking lot is near the following address:
Carretera Mérida Valladolid s/n
Pisté
97751 Tinum, Yucatán
Mexico
From Merida: ~74mi (120km) — 1.3hrs
From Tizimín: ~57mi (92km) — 1hrs
From Uxmal: ~100mi (161km) — 1.7hrs
From Valladolid: ~28mi (46km) — 0.5hrs |
| When should I go? |
Chichén Itzá is open to visitors daily from 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM! |
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