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Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza

Chichén Itzá · Mexico

Background

World Heritage since
1988
Type of site
Cultural
City at its height
c. 600–1200

This sacred site was one of the greatest Maya centres of the Yucatán peninsula. UNESCO says that through its nearly 1,000-year history different peoples left their mark, and that the fusion of Maya building techniques with new elements from central Mexico makes Chichen-Itza one of the most important examples of the Maya-Toltec civilisation; surviving buildings include the Warriors' Temple, El Castillo and the circular observatory called El Caracol.

The city flourished from the Late Classic around AD 600 into the Postclassic to around 1200, and its name means 'at the mouth of the well of the Itzá'. It lies between Valladolid and Mérida and is one of the most visited sites in Mexico. Wikivoyage advises against the day trip from Cancún, 160 km away: stay a night nearby and be at the gate early, before the heat and the coaches, as there is very little shade by midday.

More on the UNESCO listing More on Wikipedia

  1. c. 600–900A major centre of the Northern Maya Lowlands
  2. c. 800–1200Central Mexican styles blend with the Maya
  3. 1988Inscribed as World Heritage
  4. 2010The state of Yucatán buys the land under the monuments

Find Your Way Around

The main parts of the site, in the order most visitors see them

  1. 1
    El Castillo
    The Kukulcán pyramid; clap at the north or west side to hear the quetzal-bird echo.
  2. 2
    Temple of the Warriors
    With its Chac Mool figure.
  3. 3
    El Caracol
    The round observatory.
  4. 4
    Cenotes
    Freshwater sinkholes near the site, including Ik Kil on the colectivo route.
  5. 5
    Birdwatching
    Wikivoyage: excellent birds, and star-gazing at night.

Know Before You Go

From Wikivoyage and the GoGo guides

Go Early
Wikivoyage: come early before the sun and the day-trippers; there is very little shade in the middle of the day. Hat, sunscreen, sturdy shoes.
Colectivo from Valladolid
Vans wait a block west of the ADO station, first one at 7am, 45 minutes, M$50 (2025); they return every half hour and stop at cenote Ik Kil.
Entry and Guides
Site entry M$671 (March 2025); guides in all major languages wait at the museum by the entrance.
No Tripods
Tripods are forbidden without a permit arranged months ahead; a video camera may cost extra.

Pyramid and Cenote

Not yet in a GoGo guide

  1. 07:00
    Colectivo from Valladolid45 min
    The first van of the day.
  2. 08:00
    Chichen Itza3 hrs
    El Castillo, the Warriors' Temple and the Caracol before the heat.
  3. 12:00
    Cenote Ik Kil90 min
    A swim in the sinkhole on the way back.

Best Time to Visit

Best months: Nov–Jan. Very hot (highs 34°C+) in Apr–May. Rainy season Jun, Aug–Oct.

Typical highs

Best monthsRain: wettest Sep (216 mm), driest Mar (27 mm)

Climate: NASA POWER

Pair It With

Other World Heritage sites nearby, by distance

WORTH A NIGHTDAY TRIPSAME DAYDistance not to scale · tap a site
Do These Together
Uxmal is 120 km away and Sian Ka'an 166 km, both World Heritage sites; Campeche's fortified town is 225 km.
Sources
UNESCO World Heritage Centre, listing 483 · Wikipedia: Chichen Itza · Wikivoyage: Chichen Itza (CC BY-SA 4.0) · UNESCO listing