Chichen Itza

For anyone touring Mexico hoping to view Mayan ruins, Chichen Itza Mexico is the place to be. With scores of palaces, ball courts, pyramids, and other fascinating stone buildings, Chichen Itza is a Mayan ruin paradise. While the major attraction to Chichen Itza is the city of ruins, Chichen Itza also has a nice group of beautiful resorts near the ancient Mayan remains.

Chichen Itza tours can be booked from just about anywhere in Cancun, Cozumel, and of course online before you travel. Since Chichen Itza Mexico does not have its own airport, travelers coming by plane or cruise ship will likely need to book Chichen Itza tours that leave from nearby Cancun or Cozumel. If you would rather come to Chichen Itza Mexico on your own time, you may also get a rental car. From Cancun, Chichen Itza is about a 2-3 hour drive and drivers should expect to encounter tolls along the way. A good Chichen Itza map will be invaluable for this trip. A Chichen Itza map can be purchased before you travel to Mexico or will be available at various tourist locations in Cancun and Cozumel.

Once you arrive in Chichen Itza, you'll find that the Chichen Itza Mayan ruins are quite an extensive network. While it is possible to tour the ruins in one day, travelers looking for a less rushed experience may choose to purchase admission for two days. Note, however, that you will have to pay separate admission for each day you plan to spend touring the ruins. Many travelers choose to book a hotel in Chichen Itza for the night. This can be worth the expense, since the price of admission to the ruins during the day also includes access to the nighttime Sound and Light Show.

Mexico Map

If the Chichen Itza tours leave you hungry, there are restaurants near the ruins. The visitor center at the entrance serves food, with simple fair. Many travelers making the trip for the day choose to pack their own food. The nearby city of Piste also has a few small restaurants, as well as low priced hotels for travelers looking for a bargain. Piste is only about a mile and a half from the ruins, and you may book a tour bus from the city of Piste.

The Chichen Itza Mayan ruins are truly one of the most amazing wonders Mexico has to offer. Experiencing them in person has no parallel to merely reading about them. Be sure to get a good Chichen Itza map and enjoy your stay at one of the most historically fascinating sites in Mexico.

Chichén Itzá was the most powerful city in the Maya world from roughly 900 to 1200 AD — a city that could see astronomical events from its temples with a precision that required centuries of observation to achieve, and that built a pyramid whose shadow forms a serpent descending the staircase on each equinox. It is the most visited archaeological site in Mexico and, for most visitors, the most affecting.