Cultural History

One of the Seven Wonders of the World, Chichen Itza - meaning "At the mouth of the well of the Itza" - is Mexico's most visited archeological site, a magnificent display of Mayan culture and the ceremonial center of the Yucatán. The highlight of Chichen Itza is the Kukulkan Pyramid, known as "El Castillo", 24 meters (79 feet) high of step pyramid construction. Mesoamerican cultures occasionally built larger pyramids on top of smaller ones and this is the case for El Castillo where an excavation discovered a temple with an elaborate jaguar throne.

At sunrise and sunset on the Spring and Fall equinoxes the corner of the pyramid casts a shadow of Kukulkan, a feathered serpent god, creating the illusion of a snake slithering down the North side with the sun's movement. The Cenote Sagrado is also an impressive natural site at Chichen Itza, featuring a sinkhole gateway into an underground body of water 60 meters (197 feet) in diameter. Visitors to Chichen Itza get a good feel for ancient Mayan culture through these impressive structures.

What you need to know...

  • When the Spanish arrived on the Yucatan Peninsula in 1517, Chichén Itzá had already been abandoned. This means that during the time Europe was in the Middle Ages, at Chichén Itzá the Maya were using a calendar even more precise than the Gregorian, as well as an innovative concept of the number zero, and their knowledge of astronomy was far more advanced.
  • Chichén Itzá differed from other Mayan cities for being the first one to worship the feathered serpent god, Kukulcán.
  • The main building, known as the Pyramid of Kukulcán or El Castillo, is an exact three-dimensional calendar, perfectly represented throughout its structure with the number of days, weeks, months and years, which we use to this day. It is the most representative icon of Mayan culture.
  • A few meters from the Pyramid of Kukulcán there is a cenote called “The Sacred Cenote” for the remains and jewelry discovered inside confirm that it was used for religious ceremonies in honor of the rain god.
  • Several buildings at Chichén Itzá have amazing sound effects. Discover them during your guided.
  • The play of light and shadows which represent the descent of Kukulcán on the pyramid during the spring and autumnal equinoxes is a perfectly symmetrical distribution with the constellations and is part of the mystery of the Maya’s advanced astronomical knowledge.
Did you know that Chichén Itzá was founded in the 9TH century and was abandoned without explanation in 1250 AD?
Chichén Itzá is located at the northern part of the Yucatán Peninsula, 74 miles away from Merida. You can get there onboard comfortable and safe modern units, with any of our Tours to Chichén Itzá.

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Inside El castillo.
Temple of the jaguars.
Cenote ik kil.