Do you want to travel to Chichen Itza? Let’s face it, most think vacationing in Cancun means soaking in the hypnotic blue hues of the Caribbean Sea while practicing corps pose on a daybed, under a palapa umbrella, sipping on a refreshing Pina Coladas. That is fun and all, but sort of been there done that. Right? This part of Mexico has so much history and intrigue that you must experience. Chichén Itza can turn a good vacation into a magical vacation. Walking through the jungle exploring this once lost Mayan city will be an adventure you will never forget.
Challenge yourself to see past the all-inclusive resorts of Cancun. Even if for only half a day, visit one of the 7 Modern Wonders of The World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site: Chichén Itzá. Once you see this impressive site you will understand why the Mayan Empire called Chichén Itzá their capital. Chichén Itzá is truly a modern marvel. The jungle of Mexico will lure you in with its mystery and the splendor of Chichén Itza will leave you in awe. The history behind this city and the advancements achieved by the Mayan people can be appreciated by everyone.
Put it this way, the Mayans invented the number zero, chocolate, gum, and calendars. The first ball game ever was invented by the Mayans, and it was first played at Chichén Itza. In addition, the land that surrounds Chichén Itzá is home to Ik Kil the most Insta-famous cenote in the world. This is the cenote the Ancient Maya used for sacrifices to the gods. It is breathtakingly beautiful. We covered it extensively in our recent article. All very cool stuff that is well worth the visit. Chichén Itza is in the neighboring state of Yucatan. It is under 3 hours from the Hotel Zone in Cancun.
Check out this guide for cenotes in the Cancun area!
With just one visit to Chichén Itzá, you will understand what it is like to become part of something so much bigger. This very feeling is a reason to skip the buffet at the all-inclusive and explore, grow, and travel. I love vacationing but I feel most alive when I travel. If you are looking for a group experience with transportation included, we recommend these top-rated tours. When we visit Chichén Itza or the Yucatan we like to stay a few nights. I have listed our favorite hotels near Chichén Itza.
Let us take you thru the wonderment of Chichén Itzá and help you explore the adventure that awaits this enchanted jungle treasure.
Visit Chichén Itzá On Your Own Or A Tour: Tips For Chichén Itza
Enjoy A Guided Tour Of Chichén Itzá, Cenote Ik Kil, and Visit The Enchanted City Of Valladolid
Enjoy a full day of exploring the Yucatan with a bilingual guide. The tour will pick you up in Cancun that morning and you will return in the evening. You will get the opportunity to experience the splendor of Chichén Itza, while learning from a local professional guide. First stop will be a morning of learning and exploring the archeological site of Chichén Itza. Spend the early afternoon swimming in the cool refreshing magical waters of the Cenote Ik Kil. Then get some more Insta-worthy photos while visiting the UNSECO Creative City of Valladolid. Valladolid is a charming pueblo that boasts amazing Spanish Architecture. Valladolid is a great location for afternoon shopping.
Travel to Chichén Itzá Book Your Tour Here!
What Is The Significance Of Chichén Itzá To The World?
Chichén Itzá was the largest city of the Mayan Empire. Their empire spanned from as far south as Central America and as far north as the modern-day United States of America. There are currently over 6 million Mayan that live in Mexico. The Mayan Traditions are alive and well, especially in Quintana Roo and the Yucatan. Off-topic slightly, if you listen to the radio carefully and long enough there will be public announcements made in Maya. How cool is that?
Who were the Mayans?
The ancient Maya consisted of indigenous people that were native to the land we now call Mexico. The Mayan formed elaborate networks of communities that stretched more than a thousand miles. The Maya created raised white roads that connected important religious sites, important cities, and government centers. These road systems were vast and connected Mayan cities from Belize to cities here in the Yucatan peninsula.
World Travel Group EFL
During the Mayan reign, they became the most sophisticated civilization in the entire Western Hemisphere. The Mayan had water systems and pluming of sorts. They had a complex and strong religious system. The Mayan new how to make advanced medicines using materials from the jungle. Their creation of complex calendars helped predict everything from planting cycles to the fertility of women. They were truly an amazing, advanced culture.
Chichén Itzá Tour: All-Inclusive, Buffet Lunch, Cenote, Tequila tasting & Valladolid
Explore Chichén Itza in luxury. You will be picked up at your hotel and chauffeured from the hum of the Cancun Hotel Zone to the jungle-filled sounds of the Yucatan. Once, at Chichén Itza discover the secrets of the Maya, while being guided in English or Spanish. The guides know every inch of Chichén Itza and it is well worth understanding the significance of this beautiful archeological site. Enjoy your all-inclusive experience with an authentic Mayan and Mexican buffet for lunch. While enjoying your meal taste amazing local Tequila. After lunch your Chichén Itza experience will take you swimming in the very cenote the ruler Kukulcán used for ancient ceremonies. Complete your day by shopping in charming Historic Colonia Valladolid.
Book Your All-Inclusive Tour Here!
Chichén Itzá Is The Birthplace Of Some Amazing Advancements
Chichén Itza is the birthplace of many advancements in subjects like math, astronomy, agriculture, and science. The Mayans discoveries in astronomy are to this day recognized as the foundation of modern-day astronomy. The Mayans also developed the 365-day calendar. These are just a few of the huge contributions the people of the Maya contributed to the world.
- The Mayan rulers celebrated mathematicians and astrologers. They used the principles from these disciplines to develop enormous pyramids that acted as large-scale tools that the people used to help in their day-to-day life. For example, every year on the equinox, because of the math and science knowledge the Mayans had, the Great Pyramid of Kukulcán cast a shadow of a serpent that some believe, signifies the renewal of life, therefore would help in providing a fertile seasonal crop.
- The Mayan mathematicians were the first to use zero as a placeholder. The Mayan believed in balance and therefore only after you added nothing, the zero, could you truly have something. Deep debatable thoughts there. However, it is amazing to think that the Mayan at Chichén Itza were able to determine all of this without electricity, computers, books, and a “Phone A Friend” option.
Our Favorite Way To Travel To Chichén Itzá Is To Stay The Night
Absolutely if you are on vacation, a guided tour that picks you up at your hotel is the easiest way to visit this enchanted area. However, for the more adventurous travelers, we recommend spending the night at Hoteles Villas Chichén Itza Arqueologicas. The resort provides plenty of opportunities to be pampered. They have an amazing SPA, where a massage from the professional staff is a great way to relax after exploring the jungle. The rooms are well-appointed, and the hotel has a very enjoyable restaurant. Our kids love swimming in the pool. We love relaxing while planning our shopping in Valladolid.
Travel To Chichén Itzá and Book Your Hotel Room Here!
- Okay here is my personal favorite contribution to the world that was created at the footsteps of Chichén Itzá: CHOCOLATE! That’s right! The Mayans invented chocolate. The Mayans even used the cocoa beans as a highly coveted currency. If chocolate wasn’t enough another notable candy invention contributed to the world by the Mayans was the creation of gum. Think about that the next time you pop some gum in your mouth, you will be able to say you went to the place where gum and chocolate were invented. How cool is that?
- Soccer, basketball, football, and baseball fans will find Chichén Itza’s sports history fascinating. The Mayan at Chichén Itzá where the first people on the planet to invent and play any sport with a ball. Let that sink in for a second. That’s right, the Mayan invented the first recorded game that included a ball in the history of all mankind. It was first played on the Ball Court at Chichén Itzá. The game was called Pok Ta Pok. To the Maya the game was more about the struggle between life and death. The game was played by prisoners and the losers were cast into the great Cenote Ik Kil as sacrifices. I am sure it was an intense affair for everyone involved. Nonetheless, it was the site of the first ball game on earth. Think of the “one-up you” stories the sports fan in your life could have, by being able to say that they went to the site of the first ball game on earth.
Traveling to Chichén Itzá Tips and Advice
Luxury Accommodations In The Heart Of The Mayan Empire
If luxury accommodations are your preference, we recommend staying at Hacienda Chichén & Yaxkin Spa – Wellness Resort and Maya Spa Destination. King Kukulcan himself would approve of the lavish hacienda property. The property has individual cottages, full-service spa, wellness center, pools, bars, and restaurants. It all awaits you in this jungle paradise.
Secrets Of Chichén Itzá
Clapping if front of Temple Kukulcán will produce an echo that scientists have been able to verify mimics the sound of the Sacred Resplendent Quetzal. When you stand at the base of Temple Kukulcán and hear the echo you will be instantly transported to 900 A.D. You may even picture the 46-inch-long streaming beautiful iridescent green and red feathers protruding from this majestic bird. This bird was revered by the Mayans and Aztecs alike, and it represented the God of Air. In fact, they are the same feathers that are believed to be part of Aztec Emperor Moctezuma II Headdress.
Imagine a building so massive and awe-inspiring to be so finitely constructed to mimic the sound of the Mayan God of Air (Resplendent Quetzal Bird). In addition to the time-traveling echo at the base of the Pyramid if you turn and clap in the direction of the Temple of the Warriors a symphony of low-pitched eerie chirping sounds will rhythmically cascade from the temple rocks.
The 7 claps at the ball court of Chichén Itza. The acoustics of the first ball game stadium rival those of an NFL game. If you stand at the North end of the ball court and make a single clap, you will hear loudly and clearly 7 Claps that span the entire length of the court. Can you imagine, the thousands of people gathered for the spectacle, how loud and intense the scene was on the ball court as prisoners played Pok Ta Pok for their lives. We can tell you from firsthand experience it is intense to hear and witness in person.
Family Friendly Hotel -La Casa De Las Lunas
La Case de las Lunas offers family-friendly accommodations, with a close location to all the area has to offer. The rooms are cute and comfortable. All the rooms have air conditioning, which is a must in the tropical humidity of the Yucatan Jungle. They have a pool the kids will enjoy, and a gift shop the parents will appreciate.
Story of Chaka and Chechem Trees (And How We Discovered Its Power)
We can tell you we had never intended when we visited Chichén Itza to experience this type of Maya Magic first-hand. Our family was wondering one of the many jungle paths that connect the various areas of the Chichén Itza Complex. While gazing our eyes upward towards the enormous Temple Kukulcán, it happened. What happened? Well, while looking up, and not paying attention to where we were walking, we veered just far enough off the path into the jungle, that we found our feet engulfed in huge Fire Ants. I am talking not your normal Southern United States Fire Ants. I am talking Fire Ants the size of VW Buses. Instantly extreme pain radiated from the top of my foot and leg. I was definitely having an extreme allergic reaction to the ants.
Just then a young Mayan man, who was one of the vendors came running over and yelling, not in Spanish, but in Mayan; “Chaka, Chaka!” Having no clue what he was saying and being in an extreme amount of pain, I proceeded to jump around and try to rub the area the ants had bitten me. The Mayan man ran up to this large red tree in front of us. While yelling “Chaka, Chaka!” he proceeded to sluff off the red bark that was already seeming to peel off.
Whether your traveling to Chichén Itzá or visiting an ancient cenote you must read our guide for traveling Cancun. It has all the information you need to get ready for your vacation.
He took a very small amount of the bark into his hand. It was more like a sawdust consistency than a chunk of bark. He had everyone in my family’s attention. He ran up to me and placed the powder onto my foot and my legs. I am not exaggerating when I say that the second the powder hit my skin, the pain instantly vanished. Vanished, not felt better. No, the pain completely vanished!
Meanwhile, another man ran over, who was speaking Spanish. He told us that the bark from the Chaka tree is sacred to the Mayans. I personally have never experienced such immediate pain relief. After being relived of pain, we followed the men back to their display of art pieces they had crafted. The Mayan Man told us, thru translation from his friend, a mesmerizing story of how the Mayan believe that two trees share the same roots, yet one ChemChem is deadly poisonous, and the other Chaka is the source of the antidote. It is a love story and is worth some additional reading. Looking back this is one of the best experiences I have ever had at a remote destination. We felt truly connected to the mysticism of Chichén Itza.
Chichén Itza Hacks
- A great side effect of being stung by ants was meeting and learning from the artisans that helped us in our time of need. They displayed hand-etched obsidian spearheads and figures. We learned they use obsidian because it was sacred to the Maya because you were able to look thru it to see the sun. Again, take your time to learn from the people at these stands in Chichén Itza. They are full of amazing knowledge and are truly gifted artisans. Out of the many keepsakes we have accumulated from traveling, we fondly talk of the items we purchased at Chichén Itza and how we really got to appreciate an amazing culture. What a great memory!
- Wear Closed shoes. I was wearing flip flops when the ants attacked. You are exploring in the jungle. Make sure you wear the proper gear.
- If you have luggage that you need stored, they have lockers available for rent.
- Visit first thing in the morning 8 am. Beat the crowds and the vendors.
- I think two or three hours is a fair amount of time in the park.
- Sundays are the busiest.
- It is possible to take the ADO bus on your own it is actually pretty easy.
- There is an extra fee for large cameras. Tripods and drones are not allowed.
- The gate only excepts pesos.
- Bring mosquito repellent.
- The site is open from 8am to 5pm last entry at 4pm.
- April thru October there is a time zone difference and Chichén Itza will be an hour ahead of Cancun. If it is 6am in Cancun it is 7 am at Chichén Itza. April to October the time is the same in both areas.
- No food or big bags are allowed inside the gates. I packed a lunch for us thinking it would be nice to dine by the temple. Well, it tasted just as good in the parking lot. Lol
- Bring water.
- Wear a hat, bring an umbrella, wear long sleeves, put on sunscreen. It is hot at Chichén Itza and sunny. There are not many shady places. Be prepared for the sun.
- You cannot swim at the cenote in the Chichén Itza Park. Cenote Ik Kil is an 8-minute drive from Chichén Itza.
- The spring and autumn equinox are very very busy thousands of people visit for these occasions.
