Thinking of taking the family on an adventurous journey to explore a remarkable ancient city? Chichen Itza, located in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, is one of the world’s most fascinating and impressive destinations. Home to some of the oldest temples still intact today and breathtakingly unique structures like El Castillo, there’s no shortage of incredible sights to take in when visiting this sacred city. In this guide, we’ll provide all the details you need for planning your visit to Chichen Itza so that your family can indulge in everything it has to offer without missing out on any must-see attractions. Let’s get started!
A UNESCO World Heritage site since 1988 this was one of the greatest settlements in the Yucatan Peninsula. It can garner anywhere between 3 – 8,000 visitors a day. Get there before the group tours arrive, 8 AM has in my experience worked out well. When my husband and I came here in 2002 you could walk right in and climb the main pyramid, the Temple of Kukulcan. Those days are gone. Now when you arrive you will be directed to a parking lot. Walk up to a booth where you can purchase your admission ticket or better yet, purchase your ticket online to save time.
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When to Visit Chichen Itza
Hours of operation and admission – at the time of writing it was 571 MXN for adults and 85 MXN for children 3 – 12. Mexican citizens are much cheaper and residents of the Yucatan who have their residential ID can get in for the children’s price. Free admission on Sundays for Mexican residents.
If you wish to include the evening lighted experience then you can buy the more expensive ticket at 630 MXN. The 30-minute light show starts at 7:00 PM and includes time to walk around the lit structures for a unique perspective on the site. While the narration is in Spanish it is still quite enjoyable if you don’t speak the language. You can buy tickets starting at 3:00 PM the same day. The evening light show is available Tues – Sun.
Traditionally the site is open seven days a week from 8 AM – 5 PM.
What to See at Chichen Itza
Once you get in walk straight to El Castillo Temple of Kukulcan. This is the iconic structure that most people think of when they picture Chichen Itza. But the complex itself is very large and there is a ton more to see. We recommend arriving early and heading straight to the Temple of Kukulcan so you can try for a picture without the crowds of people already in place. Then walk counterclockwise around the site.
Temple of Warriors and the Group of the One Thousand Columns are just beyond the large pyramid you’ll see this flatter and longer structure of columns as you walk behind El Castillo. This area was thought to house the military leaders of the area.
The Platform of the Jaguars and Eagles – walk back toward this smaller platform and the smaller pyramid that is the Temple of Jaguars. These areas, built sometime around 900 AD, were likely used for religious and ceremonial purposes. The carved figures of eagles are said to represent the Mayan archers while the jaguars represent the Mayan warriors who were more skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
On your right, you’ll see the Ceremonial Walkway which is a path toward the Sacred Cenote.
Right behind the Temple of Jaguars, you’ll see the Great Ball Court. While there were numerous ball courts at Chichen Itza this one is a notable 225 feet wide and 545 feet long. This is the largest ball court in Mesoamerica, with a smaller replica at the Mexico City Museo Nacional de Antropologia. This site hosts an acoustic perfection that still can’t be replicated today. If one stands at the North Temple side and whispers, it can be easily heard by someone standing all the way at the South Temple. It’s not likely that you’ll be alone at the monument to test this out but it is interesting nonetheless that how this was constructed by the ancient architects is somewhat of a mystery.
Walking past the entrance again you can start a second loop around until you turn down the path on your right side toward the High Priest’s Gravesite.
Equinox at Chichen Itza
The Spring equinox is a day in March when hours of daylight and night are equal. The most amazing aspect of the architecture of the Temple of Kukulcan is that on this day the sun’s rays of light show as a snake slithering down 120 feet along the side of the pyramid until it ends at the head of the great serpent at the bottom. The Mayans worshiped time and treated it, as well as the seasons, like gods. Spring equinox pulls that obsession with time and the movement of the sun into a tangible experience that many consider to be an experience of a lifetime.
Things to Consider
Take a hat and sunscreen as well as sunglasses. There is little shade. If it’s your first time consider a guide to gain an additional level of history and context, or if you’d like to save on that expense then do thorough research ahead of time so you can better understand what life was like for these ancient groups.
Bring plenty of water and snacks. While there are restaurants close to the site, you’ll want to have something available to you while you explore the ruins. Vendors have been moved and are now set up along a dirt road. We were told that they only allow true descendants of the Mayan population to work as vendors here. When we visited they sold light snacks, bottled water as well as trinkets like figurines, whistles as well as carved obsidian pieces.
If you are renting a car consider asking if they have a model with a gas cap that locks. We came back to the parking lot after our visit to find our gas cap open and the gas partially siphoned. Lucky for us whoever it was didn’t get it all and we had enough to get back to our lodging. I’m sure this is rare and it was the only time it ever happened to us, but it is something to consider.
How Long for a Visit to Chichen Itza
You will need at least two to three hours to explore this fantastic site. And plan for driving time as Chichen Itza is approximately 2.5 hours from Cancun. You can see how this could easily take up a full day. If you are not renting your own car you can join a group tour. Check with your hotel for times and what is included.
Seeing Chichen Itza in person is an experience you’ll never forget. If you’re planning a trip to this incredible archaeological site, be sure to follow our guide so you don’t miss any of the highlights. From its temple ruins to the grand ball court, there’s plenty to explore at Chichen Itza and we can’t wait for you to see it all!
There are many more sites to explore on the Yucatan Peninsula. If you are interested in climbing one of these amazing pyramids, think about a visit to Coba. You can get all the information you need from our thorough guide explaining how to get the most out of a visit to this interesting ruin!
Ready to explore other ancient civilizations in Mexico? Consider our detailed guide on visiting Teotihuacan from Mexico City.
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