Visit Chichén Itzá, Yucatán Peninsula
The ruins at Chichén Itzá have most recently become one of the seven new wonders of the world. This ancient Mayan capital is the most famous of the archaeological zones in the Yucatan.
El Castillo, Chichen Itza, Yucatan
Chichén Itzá
Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
The ruins at Chichén Itzá have most recently become one of the seven new wonders of the world.
The ancient Mayan capital is the most famous of the archaeological zones in the Yucatan. It lies 120 kilometres east of Merida in the direction of Cancun. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Chichén Itzá will take you back in time to the pre-Hispanic era to discover what life was like during those days.
Pyramid of Kukulcan
Each year during the spring equinox a natural phenomenon occurs at El Castillo (also known as the Pyramid of Kukulcan): the sunlight creates a shadow image of a plumed serpent descending down the pyramid's stairs. This unique experience draws hundreds of tourists from all over the world.
Although it is one of the most visited ruins in Mexico it remains a spectacular unique site - an ideal destination, not only for those who enjoy archaeology, but also for those who like history and the charming allure of ancient civilizations.
Due to the visitor numbers Audley recommends visiting the ruins as early in the day as is possible to avoid the crowds of day-trippers that arrive from Cancun.
Other places within Yucatán Peninsula
View place- {50850F7F-31D3-4753-B3E4-61ECF1DB029C}
- The beautiful Maya site of Coba literally means "water stirred by wind". These ruins are unique in that they have been barely restored, merely cleared. Only a few of its estimated 6,500 structures have been uncovered, but the ones that have been are graceful and impressive.
- 20.49399927
- -87.73617268
View place- {227CB1F9-C129-45F4-9E9E-B14E80F1D965}
- The ruins of Kabah are situated to the South of Merida, near glorious Uxmal, to which it was connected by a stone causeway or "sac-be".
- 20.2473808693097
- -89.6470642089844
View place- {B6C43C40-FA37-4BF9-AEDF-783ABAE51168}
- Built more than 450 years ago on the site of T'ho, an ancient Mayan city, Mérida is the social and economic centre, as well as the capital, of the state of Yucatán.
- 20.9667
- -89.6167
View place- {328AC019-7163-427D-87E0-FA0668F707DA}
- The ruins of Uxmal are situated to the South of Merida. Uxmal was an important city; probably build around 700AD, although inhabitants are thought to have lived in the area as far back as 800 BC - nearly 1,000 years before the city was built.
- 20.36022329
- -89.77048506
Chichén Itzá
View place- {CF227FCD-DD4B-4FBA-837B-A9F47FB2FE6E}
- The ruins at Chichén Itzá have most recently become one of the seven new wonders of the world. This ancient Mayan capital is the most famous of the archaeological zones in the Yucatan.
- 20.68165372
- -88.56948934
More in Chichén Itzá, Yucatán Peninsula