Chichén Itzá is a large Mayan city famous for a large, pyramid temple built by the Maya civilization. It is located on the Yucatan Peninsula to the east of Merida. The most recognizable structure in Chichén Itzá is the Temple of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo. The temple has 365 steps, one for each day of the year. Each of the temple’s four sides has 91 steps, and the top platform makes the 365th. Twice a year on the spring and autumn equinoxes, a shadow falls on the pyramid in the shape of a serpent. As the sun sets, this snake descends the steps to eventually join a stone serpent head at the base of the great staircase up the pyramid’s side.
The Mayan’s astronomical skills were so advanced they could even predict solar eclipses, and an impressive and sophisticated observatory structure remains on the site today. Chichén Itzá is named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Visiting Chichén Itzá is a trip to the past. To be there we reflect on how the Maya lived so wisely and mystically in all their surroundings, that the sciences, religion and daily life mixed perfectly.
Observing the Temple of Kukulkan is breathtaking, but what gets more impressive is listening to the story behind it that the tour guides tell. I liked how they explained everything so precisely that you can picture it perfectly. At the end of the explanation, the tour guides also provide us with many interesting conspiracy theories about the fall of the Mayan culture. Since 2007 it is not allowed to climb the steps of the pyramids due to the deterioration it has had. An impressive effect is the echo that is reflected in the upper part of the castle, when several tourists simultaneously applaud in the lower part at the same time, it is indescribable the sensation that you feel when you hear the characteristic sound of a bird in the area and the echo it creates.
The weather in Chichen Itzá depends on the season. I visited Chichen Itzá as part of my trip to Cancun in July of 2018. The weather was hot but there’re plenty of trees and shade around the site, it is also recommendable to wear sun screen and carry an umbrella or a hat. We were also told to carry a raincoat because rain can come at random, which it did in the afternoon. After visiting Chichen Itzá, the tour includes a visit to a nearby village called Valladolid. In Valladolid we got to enjoy delicious Mexican dishes like cochinita pibil and lime soup. We also got to visit a cenote until out of nowhere it started raining.
Visiting Chichen Itzá is a great experience because we get to lean about a different culture and see the incredible pyramids and temples the Mayans built. Although it is a great learning experience, I wouldn’t recommend little children attending due to the hot weather and long walks. A good recommendation is to arrive early to get a good view, because at it gets late it starts to get really crowded with a lot of tourists and the weather is not very hot. Teenagers and adults would most likely benefit from this experience. It is advisable to visit Chichén Itzá with a tour guide because of the great amount of information and history the place has and to make the visit more enjoyable. Along the site, you can encounter a great number of souvenirs sellers which are great if you want to take a reminder of that experience to your friends and family and for yourself.
When arriving at the complex the most impressive thing is the great Pyramid of Kukulkan, a wonder of the world. The faces on the pyramid are perfectly oriented to each cardinal point. The Mayans were undoubtedly a very intelligent civilization; the things they knew at that time were surprising. How they used astronomy and mathematics so efficiently, is amazing to observe. My visit to Chichen Itzá was fascinating. The tour guide’s timing was perfect so that we could get to enjoy the different places we visited. It was an unforgettable day and it was wonderful to learn about the history of this wonderful civilization.
