Top Things to do in Chichen Itza
Countries
10 Budget-friendly Things to do in Chichen Itza That You Shouldn't Miss
While the ruins of pyramids such as El Castillo and Kukulcan are the primary reason to visit Chichen Itza, they are hardly all that’s on offer here. Otherworldly bird-watching and stargazing experiences can be found within the Maya Jungle Reserve and in Hacienda Chichen's Bird Refuge. Daytrips run from both Merida and Cancun.
Restaurants in Chichen Itza
1. Templo de Kukulkan
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4,178 reviews
This impressive pyramid dominates Chichén Itzá's landscape, standing an imposing 24 meters high.
Reviewed By B1714D - Belgrade, Serbia
Well, this is the main attraction of Chichen Itza and one of the most famous landmarks in the world. It's enlisted in the new seven wonders of the world. It's full name is Temple of Kukulkan - a feather divine beast adorned by Maya which had supernatural powers. On El Castillo, Kukulkan is carved twisted on both sides of the northern stairway. It's so immaculately built that only twice a year, during the spring and autumn equinoxes, the sun illuminates its entire length from top to bottom (amazing, see it on Youtube). Besides that there're more interesting facts - the pyramid has 9 levels plus the Temple on top. Each side's staircase has 91 stairs, which multiplied by 4 sides and the Temple on top makes the grand total of 365 (days in year).
2. Chichen Itza
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25,325 reviews
Reviewed By LegiaW67 - Massapequa Park, United States
Amazing and historical place Our Tour guide Sergio was fantastic explain all the history of Mayan culture One of seven wonders of the world Must see
3. Gran Juego de Pelota
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,483 reviews
Reviewed By DelfinoEdward - Lucena, Brazil
The Great Ball Court of Chichen Itza is the largest ball court in Mesoamerica. The rings where players would score a goal are set 30 feet (9 meters) above the playing alley. There were actually 13 ballcourts at Chichen Itza, but this one is the biggest: it measures 551 x 230 feet (168 x 70 meters). It is also very well-preserved. The game they played was called “Pok-a-tok” or “pok-ta-pok” and was played with a solid rubber ball. There is a Temple (the Temple of the Bearded Man) that overlooks the court and royal spectators probably viewed the games from this vantage point. You can explore this area yourself or with a guide who will give you some interesting facts about the ancient structure. It is very impressive and worth seeing.
4. Temple of the Warriors
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 780 reviews
Reviewed By DelfinoEdward - Lucena, Brazil
The Temple of the Warriors is an impressive step pyramid fronted and flanked by stone columns that are carved with images of warriors. This Temple was excavated and restored in 1925-1928 by the Carnegie Institution. You can no longer climb the stairs, but at the top, there is a Chac Mool statue (a reclining figure supporting itself on its elbows with a bowl or a disk upon its stomach). Chac Mools were considered messengers of the Gods and used to hold religious offerings in the upraised flat plate area on the figure’s stomach. Some speculate this was where beating hearts of the sacrificial victims were placed, but probably was used for offerings of pulque (an alcoholic beverage).
5. The Red House Chichanchob
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 243 reviews
Reviewed By halbop33 - St. Catharines, Canada
Loved touring the Mayan Ruins, so much history and interesting facts to learn about this place. Stop and visit here!
6. Cenote Ik kil
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,102 reviews
The cenote is open to the sky with the water level about 26 metres (85 ft) below ground level. There is a carved stairway down to a swimming platform. The cenote is about 60 metres (200 ft) in diameter and about 50 metres (164 ft) deep.There are vines which reach from the opening all the way down to the water along with small waterfalls. There are black catfish which swim in the cenote. The cenote is part of a larger complex of a restaurant, store, changing rooms, and cottages for rent. There is also a Mayan ruin on the site. Red Bull Diving Competition Ik Kil was a stop on the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in 2010, 2011 and 2014
Reviewed By patriciarB5851BY - Targu Mures, Romania
We had a go at the cenote after visiting Chichen Itza și it was a welcoming relief from the heat. The water is cold and the scenery breathtaking, however there are large tourist crowds and people jumping from one of the ledges so that cuts down from the enjoyability. As for the venues built around the cenote, bathrooms, changing rooms and lockers, they are clean, well maintained and apart from the lockers free if charge. You do pay an entrance fee at the cenote, but it is worth it's price. As for the lockers, it's 30 pesos for the whole day.
7. Xichen by Xcaret
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 781 reviews
Tour Xichen by Xcaret is an exclusive guided tour to the archaeological site of Chichen Itza that includes an unforgettable tour to Valladolid, a colonial Mexican town surrounded by picturesque, beautiful and captivating corners worth visiting, such as a Mayan Cenote and the ex-Monastery of Saint Bernardino of Siena. Enjoy a delicious All Inclusive buffet lunch in a typical Mexican restaurant in Valladolid. An exquisite variety of Yucatan specialties, as well as the best Mexican and international cuisine
8. El Caracol
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 722 reviews
Reviewed By DelfinoEdward - Lucena, Brazil
This round structure inside Chichen Itza was an observatory. It is named “El Caracol” (“the Snail”) because it has a spiral staircase inside. It is believed that the building dates to 906 AD. Part of the Observatory’s platform and a portion of the tower resting on El Caracol has been lost, but it is believed that Mayans used this to observe Venus and many other astronomical events important to them. This is a major structure and is definitely worth viewing while here.
9. Chichen Itza Noche de Kukulkan
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 205 reviews
Reviewed By kmcodina - Baton Rouge, United States
BUY TICKETS ONLINE before hand so you can get FRONT ROW seats. For the summer show, the gates open at 8:00 pm (no earlier). You will be given an iPod and you have 1 hour to walk through many of the ruins, which are lit-up, with a guided tour. BRING HEADPHONES (we were on of the only ones able to enjoy this because we had headphones). The show starts at 9:00 pm. The show is in Spanish, but will be translated into many different languages if you have those headphones! ;-) Seeing the ruins at night in contrast with the stars was an unforgettable experience! Made us realize why the Mayans were so obsessed with the sky!
10. Sacred Cenote
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 1,053 reviews
This natural well, spanning 60 meters in diameter and reaching a depth of 22 meters, was used by the Mayans as a sacrificial pit for virgins, warriors and even infants.
Reviewed By tomit138 - Novo Mesto, Slovenia
The Yucatán Peninsula is composed of carbonate and soluble rocks, mostly of limestone, although dolomite and evaporites are also present at different depths. The entire Yucatán Peninsula is an opaque, lying Karst region. Recessed sunken caves, locally known as cenotes, are a common occurrence in the northern lowlands of the peninsula. Cenote caves are karst caves that are completely or mostly flooded with water. Cenote can be an underground cave, an abyss or a cave. The name of the cenote is derived from the language of the ancient Mayans from the Yucatan Peninsula. Today, cenotes are important archeological sites, because in the civilization of the ancient Mayans, these sites were places where they threw gifts.
TAGS
