Chichen Itza - tips by travel authority Howard Hillman

Chichen Itza

travel wonder in Yucatan, Mexico

Why

Chichen Itza

is special

Chichen Itza is the best preserved of the many Mayan ruins in Mexico and Central America. The Mayans were an advanced society. They invented the calendar, devised a hieroglyphic-style writing system, had observatories to map the stars, and built sites like Chichen Itza. For reasons unknown, Chichen Itza was abandoned in the 10th century - and was soon overrun by jungle growth.

Top five must-see

Chichen Itza attractions

El Castillo (see photo) - It is by far the tourism star of Chicken Itza. This high pyramid temple dominates the entire site and has become the visual symbol of Chichen Itza. The name El Castillo (the castle) was bestowed by the 16th century Spanish conquistadores. The ancient name is Kukulcan.

Temple of the Warriors - A striking forest of stone columns surround this large structure. It is decorated with relief carvings of warriors.

Ball Court - Without using their hands or feet, players had to fling a ball through one of the stone rings attached high on the wall. Pictorial evidence suggests that the team captain was sometimes beheaded, but doesn't indicate whether he led the winning or losing team.

Cenote - A cenote is a sinkhole. The one named Sacred Cenote is remarkably wide and deep. This circular pit served as a water source for the population. Treasures (and perhaps humans) were tossed into the cenote's pool to win the goodwill of the gods.

El Caracol - An astronomical observatory with a circular tower. Its functions included identifying the precise time of the equinoxes for religious and agricultural purposes.

Runners-up - Other worthy Chichen Itza must-sees include the Nunnery, High Priest's Tomb, and Temple of the Jaguars.

Tips & Insights

on Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza means "Mouth of the well of the Itza people". The name is pronounced:

chee-kehn' eee-zuh'

Many scholars believe that Chichen Itza thrived from about 200 AD to 1000 AD (and perhaps into the early 1200s).

Tourists are no longer allowed to climb the steep steps to the top of El Castillo for the spectacular view of the Chichen Itza complex. This rule was implemented in March 2006 because the ruins are deteriorating. Another reason is it that the steep and narrow steps are hazardous - and have scared the daylights out of many tourists who looked down the 365 precipitous steps after scaling the monument.

There is a Light & Sound presentation at night.

Most Chichen Itza tourists are daytrippers from the Cancun resort on the Caribbean coast. It's about two to three hours away by road. Swarms of them arrive in cars, vans and buses after 10 a.m. and depart before 3 p.m.

I recommend staying overnight in one of the local hotels so you can enjoy Chichen Itza when it is uncrowded and not uncomfortably hot and humid. Begin your explorations in the late afternoon and finish them in the early morning.

Serious sightseers may want to stay two nights because there is a lot to discover.