Visiting Chichen Itza: A first-timer’s guide

What is Chichen Itza?

Chichèn Itzá is an ancient city located in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. It was a major center of the Mayan civilization from the 7th to 13th centuries CE.

How do you get to Chichen Itza?

Chichen Itza is just a couple of hours drive from Tulum, Cancun, or Playa del Carmen. You can drive, take a bus, or take a tour that includes transportation.

I was staying in Tulum and took a day trip to Chichen Itza, and the best airport to fly into for me was Cancun. I found a flight from Washington DC to Cancun for under $200 using Google Flights! Use my step by step quick guide to learn how to use Google Flights and make sure that you’re ready for a comfy flight with these long flight essentials.

Can I hire a guide at Chichen Itza?

You can pay a guide upon arrival when you’re visiting Chichen Itza, but I don’t recommend it. To make sure that you have a great experience, research and book licensed guides or tours before you get to Chichen Itza.

I booked the best tour at Chichen Itza— a small group tour, which included transportation, with a Mayan descendent that lives in the local community. It was incredible to tour Chichen Itza with a Mayan descendent– to hear all of her stories, learn about Mayan spiritual practices, Mayan cuisine, and about life in the Mayan communities that still exist today.

After the tour of the site, we drove to an old colonial Spanish mansion for lunch (in the charming, colorful town of Valladolid) with authentic Mayan cuisine, then went swimming in a lesser known cenote (which was amazing, because they get SO crowded!).

Why is Chichen Itza considered a Wonder of the World?

Chichen itza has exceptional cultural and historical significance. The Mayan architecture here is some of the most well-preserved and impressive in the world, like the Kukulcan Pyramid, the Temple of the Warriors, the Great Ball Court, and the Sacred Cenote. These structures truly show the advanced engineering and astronomical knowledge of the Mayan people and are influential around the world.

What are the must-see attractions at Chichen Itza?

The most iconic attraction in Chichen Itza is El Castillo (also known as the Temple of Kukulcan), which was once used as a temple and observatory. Other must-sees include the Great Ball Court, the Temple of the Warriors, and the Sacred Cenote.

What is the Sacred Cenote?

The Sacred Cenote is a natural sinkhole that was used for sacrificial offerings by Mayans. Artifacts and human remains have been discovered in the cenote, indicating that it was a site of significant cultural and religious importance. One really interesting that I learned is that Mayan shamans often used hallucinogens and other psychoactive drugs, like morning glory, “magic” mushrooms, Lonchocarpus, tobacco, and other hallucinogens to get stoned during religious rituals and ceremonies.

When is the best time to visit Chichen Itza?

The best time to visit Chichen Itza is during the cooler, less humid months of November to February. Unfortunately, this is also the busiest time of the year, so expect crowds. If you want to avoid the crowds, consider visiting in the shoulder seasons of March to May (although this is spring break) or September to October.

What are the opening hours and entrance fee?

Chichen Itza is open to visitors every day from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. The entrance fee is currently 480 Mexican pesos (about $24 USD) for foreigners and 75 pesos for Mexican citizens. Interestingly, there’s an additional fee if you want to bring in a camera or video camera (mostly professional looking equipment; phones are fine!).

Visiting Chichen Itza is worth it no matter where you’re coming from. Have you visited? What did you think?!