Chichen Itza
The greatest of the Maya cities - crowned by the mighty step-pyramid of El Castillo, where the serpent god descends the stairs at the equinox, a UNESCO site and modern wonder.
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Illustrative image - a scene in the spirit of the place, not a photograph of it. Real photos are below.
UNESCO World Heritage
Chichen Itza is the most famous and impressive of the ancient Maya cities, a UNESCO site and one of the modern seven wonders of the world. It is dominated by El Castillo, the great step-pyramid of Kukulcan, so precisely built that at the spring and autumn equinox the afternoon sun casts a shadow of a serpent slithering down its stairway. Around it spread a ball court, temples and an observatory of a brilliant civilisation.
What you actually see
- El Castillo - the great step-pyramid of Kukulcan.
- The equinox serpent - the shadow-serpent that descends the stairs at the equinox.
- The Great Ball Court - the largest ancient ball court in the Americas.
- The observatory and temples - the round observatory and temple of warriors.
When to go
November to April for cooler, drier weather, as the Yucatan is hot and humid; go at opening to beat the heat and the tour buses from the coast. The equinoxes draw huge crowds for the serpent shadow.
Honest expectations
You can no longer climb the pyramid, and the site is very busy and lined with persistent souvenir vendors, which surprises some. It is hot and shadeless, so go early with water. The equinox spectacle is mobbed. Nearby Valladolid or a cenote pairs well to round out the day.
Nearby
The colonial town of Valladolid and swimmable cenotes are close; Merida and the Riviera Maya are within reach.
What to pack for Chichen Itza
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
