Today we were visiting the Maya Chichen Itza, the most well known and most visited Mayan ruins site in Mexico. The day before, we stayed and slept at Piste, a quiet and small village next to the ruins. Therefore, we could explore the archaeological site before the sun became too hot and before most of the day-trippers from Cancun arrived.
With over a million visitors per year, the ruins of the Maya Chichen Itza were always crowded. The only chance to beat the insanely large crowd was to start as soon as possible when the site open at 8 AM.
And it worked. We arrived at the ruins shortly before they opened. After paying our admission fee (254 pesos per head), we were the first to pass the main gate and to the first to explore one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The feeling of being alone to discover the expensive site was incredible. We saw the ruins as only few could experience them. Over 3500 tourists would invade the serenity of the Maya Chichen Itza later that same day!
After entering the ruins, the first structure we arrived at was the 30-meter-tall Temple of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo, or the castle. The famous landmark was the pyramid illustrated on every single photograph of Chichen Itza. Built in the heart of the ancient city, the breathtaking structure was the star of the show. Doubtless, the reason why Chichen Itza became a wonder of the world.
The Mayas were advanced in mathematics, astronomy and had already mastered the time. For example, each staircase along the four sides of Temple of Kukulkan was made of 91 stone steps. Adding them together plus the platform at the top gave a total of 365, the number of days in a year.
After soaking up the incredible architectural design of The Maya Chichen Itza jewel, we moved on to explore more Mayan ruins.
The Kukulcan Temple or El Castillo
Chichen Itza also contained the largest ball court of any discovered Mayan sites. Bound by small, the 150-metre long court was longer than any modern-day football field. The ancient players would throw a small rubber ball through the opposing team’s ring only using their knees, hips, elbows and head. It's still unknown if the winners or losers were sacrificed!
The Juego de Pelota (Great Ball Court)
We wandered amongst the exquisitely restored and impressive structures. Enjoying every minute. The buildings were the legacy of thousands of very skilled Mayan craftsmen including sculptors, weavers, jewellers and potters.
The Plaza of a Thousand Columns
By 9.40, most of the vendors were ready. “Hola amigo, un dollar, un dollar”. “Good price, good price”. They can be annoying and they are hard to avoid as they were everywhere. The crowd was also getting gradually bigger and bigger. Therefore, we ventured into the less popular sections of the site were we found El Caracol or Observatory. Tour buses don’t have the time to explore those sections. Once again, we could enjoy the Maya Chichen Itza in a peaceful and more relaxed atmosphere.
El Caracol or Observatory
Chichen Itza was a magnificent and exceptional ruins site. The site was worth visiting but avoiding the crowd made it even more spectacular. That would be our best advice. Spent a night in Piste. The small village is boring and has nothing to offer. But it will give you a head start to appreciate the New Wonder of the World. Don't stick to the main buildings. Explore each section and you will be amazed by the architecture of the temple of the Skulls or by the detailed carvings of the Iglesia.
Temple of the Skulls
The Tomb of the High Priest or Osario Temple
Practical information on the Maya Chichen Itza
- The entrance fee was 254 pesos at the time of the writing.
- If you decide the spend the night in Piste and you are coming by Bus, don’t forget to buy a ticket for Piste, not Chichen Itza. Or you could end up walking 2 kilometres.
- Cenote Ik Kil is a beautiful cenote open to the public for swimming. The ticket was 70 pesos/person.