The Ancient Mayan City of Chichen Itza

The ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza is one of the main places of interest for tourists visiting the Yucatan peninsula, in Mexico. The name of the city means "At the mouth of the well of the Itza", and is believed to have reached its apogee during the political and economical dominance of the Itza ethnic group over the northern Yucatan.

Chichen Itza is a large pre-Colombian archeological site built by the advanced (for its time) Mayan civilization. Archaeologists have found signs of previously built settlements in the area, but the most impressive buildings in the city were built around 600 AD.

Reaching Chichen Itza

This very interesting to see archaeological site is located about 2 to 2 ½ hour's drive from Cancun, Mexico. There are organized tourist trip buses to and from Cancun, but you can also get transportation from your hotel if you request it. You can also rent a car and drive there on your own, arriving at an hour that is best for you.

The Chichen Itza Ruins

Chichen Itza contains many stone buildings in different states of preservation. Some of them have been partly restored, while others are in the state in which they were discovered by the archaeologists. There are also parts of the city that are open only for archaeologists, and are not open for the regular tourist to visit them.

The city is split into five areas - Great North Platform, Ossario Group, The Casa Colorada Group, Central Group and Old Chichen. Back in time when the city was complete, these areas were separated by walls; but today there are very few walls remaining, and most of the complex is easy to access from one area to another.

The Pyramid of Kulkulkan

The Great North Group is the most popular and most visited area of Chichen Itza, as this is the place where a large step pyramid called "the Castle" is located. It was built by the Maya and they called it The Pyramid of Kulkulkan (Quetzalcoatl), after their feathered serpent deity.

This breathtaking pyramid shows how great a knowledge and understanding of astronomy the Maya had. There are exactly 365 steps from the base of the pyramid to the top (counting the last platform). In addition, every year on the spring and autumn equinoxes the sun's rays touch the structure in a way that creates a shadowy illusion of a serpent, winding down the stairs of the pyramid.

In the base of the Pyramid of Kulkulkan there is an empty field with exceptional acoustics, where various athletics games and competitions were played. The interesting fact about Mayan civilization is that they considered only people of noble blood worthy of participating in such games, which makes this field a place where the best of the best were competing against each other.

The Sacred Cenote

Another noticeable structure on the Great North Group plateau is the Sacred Cenote. It is an opening into the ground, leading to a series of underground rivers. The Maya used it as a place to present gifts to their deities - jade, food and even human beings from enemy tribes, captured during warfare.

Chichen Itza is opened for visitors from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. all year round, but most of the tourists visit it around noon. If you are planning to take the trip to Chichen Itza and wish to see it when it is less crowded, you should time your visit so that you arrive early in the morning or later in the afternoon, when there are fewer people. Make sure you bring plenty of water and that you wear comfortable shoes and clothes, as the temperatures can be very high and the weather hot and humid.

Chichen Itza - The World's Famous Ruins

Essentially the most distinguished of the Mayan ruins, the Chichen Itza ruins are well known for their impressive architecture in addition to for the legends which encompass the area. Chichen Itza basically implies at the Mouth of the Well. The well of course pertains to the sacred well in close proximity, where it's said that sacrifices of gold, silver, precious stones, as well as humans were sent into the well.

One legend says that those who are sent into the well as being a sacrifice can have the power of prophesy whenever they live. When one group were sent into the well and none made it, an ancient ruler cast himself into the well and upon arising from it unaffected, prophesied his own surge to power.

The most important and the frequently viewed part of the Chichen Itza ruins are the pyramids, with the central, El Castillo a massive step pyramid which is the dominant structure in Chichen Itza. It is internationally renowned for the history which steeps the area, and visited by millions every year.

Chichen Itza Tours

Chichen Itza is considered to be the site where the great serpent God, Kukulkán will arise from below the massive ball courts where aged games were once played out. The prediction states that he will rise on December 22 of 2012 to bring a final end to the earth.

Irrespective of whether you believe in the prophecies of an end-time, the actual concept does give you a bit of a shiver when you walk the ball courts as well as stand where these happenings are forecasted to occur.

Designated as one of the Seven New Wonders of the World in 2007, Chichen Itza is obviously a tremendous spectacle. It's also one that you'll not see per day, or perhaps, even in a week's time..
Chichen Itza Ruins

The place was built between 1000 and 1200 AD. Put up clearly by the Mayans, the most important structure here, El Castillo is a Mayan temple that was created to pay tribute to Kulkulkan. It's also thought to have been a tremendous calendar of sorts. The whole number of steps that El Castillo has are 365, one stair for each day of the calendar year, while the temple measures about 98 feet tall.

It's been gilded with image of the heads of serpents, each plumed and rising from the pyramid base. In the late evening around sunset on the equinox of spring and fall, it's said that the shadows shaped a triangle on the platform that makes it appear that the serpent with plumed headdress is moving down the pyramid.

There is a chance for interaction and cultural exchanges with the Mayan community in the region as well as a spa in the area. Aside from that, the wildlife that you'll see and the opportunities for going through the splendidly colored birds here are virtually infinite. A trip to Chichen Itza is literally a requirement when you're in Maya country.

Explore Chichen Itza Ruins - Be In One Of The Seven Wonders Of The World

Among the most significant Mayan sites in Mexico that was constructed between 1000 and 1200 AD is called Chichen Itza. This renowned site was a home to the popular El Castillo pyramid, the structure which carries an incredible surprise. In order to pay tribute to Kulkulkan, the Mayans made El Castillo, a Mayan temple that is regarded as a vey important and the most often viewed part of the Chichen Itza ruins visited by thousands of people every year.

The buildings are generally gilded with image of the heads of serpents, each plumed and rising from the pyramid base. During the late evening around sunset on the equinox of spring and fall, it's said that the shadows ensemble a triangle on the platform that makes it appear that the serpent with plumed headdress is going down the pyramid. It's also considered to have been a massive calendar of sorts. The total number of steps that El Castillo has is 365, one stair for each day of the calendar year.

Due to its remarkable architecture and also for the legends that surround the area, Chichen Itza became the most famous among the Mayan ruins. In Maya language it implies "at the Mouth of the well" and "the city of the sorcerers of the water". The name was created from the sacred well near the area by which Mayans sent their sacrifices which include gold, silver, precious stones as well as humans to appease the rain God Chac. The well is regarded to be the Sacred Cenote found north of the El Castillo. Archeologists recognize that pilgrimages were made to the Sacred Cenote long after Chichen Itza was departed.

To get there, you'll walk on ancient Sacbe, which means "White Road". The roads were in completely straight lines and were built by the Mayans from the jungle linking the huge cities. Another cenote is found between the southern and northern part of the city known as Xtoloc. This cenote offers water to drink for the entire city.

Based on its legend, those people who are sent into the well like a sacrifice will have the power of prophesy when they live. When a group was sent into the well then when nobody lives the ancient ruler cast himself into the well and upon arising from it untouched, prophesied his own rise to power.

Having a historical importance and secrets left to unravel, Chichen Itza is considered the site from where the great serpent God, Kukulkan will arise from underneath the enormous ball courts where ancient games were once played out. The prediction claims that he'll rise on December 22 of 2012 to bring a final end to the earth.

Whether or not you believe in the end-of-time predictions, the speculation presents a bit of a shiver while you walk the ball courts and stand where these events are forecasted to occur.

Chichen Itza was declared as one of the Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. It's clearly an enormous spectacle that you won't see completely in one day or even maybe even in a week's time.

The Temple of the Warriors is certainly one fascinating structures of the Chichen Itza ,the most clear proof of the Toltec influence. The temple has the popular Chac Mool statue, that is next to the one of a kind Group of the Thousand Columns - unique in the Mayan World. For its protection the temple has been shut down to tourists nevertheless you're free to slalom around the numerous columns.

The Temple of the Skulls is yet another supporting visage, engrossed in human skulls carvings. The human skull carvings were thought to be the heads of the seized warriors as well as human sacrifices.

This is also where the largest Mayan ball court in all of Mesoamerica is located. And below it you'll find the Temple of the Jaguars.

Going to the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza is among the highlights on a holiday to Cancun, Mexico. So when you're in a Maya country, a trip to Chichen Itza is basically a requirement. See one of the very best Mayan archeological sites found that was just recently proclaimed as a Human Heritage. Swim in cenote and be energized by the cool underground water.

Duende Tours offer you wonderful guided tours to Chichen Itza by land or by air. Going to one of the Seven Wonders of the World is worth well the price and one thing you should not miss whenever you embark on your holiday to Mexico.

Tours from Duende:

Chichen Itza Tour

Chichen Itza History