Chichen Itza

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Why
Chichen Itza
is special

Chichen Itza is the best preserved of the many Mayan ruins in Mexico and Central America.

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The Mayans

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They were an advanced society. For example:

Astronomy
They had observatories to map the stars

Cities
The Mayans built sites like Chichen Itza

Writing
They devised a hieroglyphic-style writing system

Calendar
The Mayans invented the calendar

For reasons unknown, Chichen Itza was abandoned in the 10th century. It was soon overrun by jungle growth.

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Top 5 must-see
Chichen Itza
attractions

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El Castillo

This structure (see photo above) 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.

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Temple
of  the Warriors

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

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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.

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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.

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El Caracol

An astronomical observatory with a circular tower. Its functions included identifying the precise time of the equinoxes for religious and agricultural purposes. I will also remember waking up early one morning and seeing El Caracol dramatically framed by my hotel-room window.

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Runners-up

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

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Tips & Insights

on Chichen Itza

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Name
& pronunciation

Chichen Itza  means "Mouth of the well of the Itza people". This ancient name is pronounced: chee-kehn' eee-zuh'

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Golden Age

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

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Climbing prohibited
in 2006

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.

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At night

You can attend a narrated Light & Sound presentation in the evening.

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Recommended
length of stay

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.

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