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The best way to explore the historic site of Chichén Itzá is by opting for a guided tour. You’ll be accompanied by an expert local guide who will regale you with interesting trivia and stories about the site, while guiding you to prominent visit points at Chichén Itzá. Depending on your ticket, your guided tour may include return transfers, allowing you to avoid the hassle of planning your commute.
An all-inclusive tour of Chichén Itzá allows you to not just visit key sites like El Castillo and a cenote (water sinkhole), but also to Valladolid, a classic colonial town along the Yucatán Peninsula where you can explore the famous Baroque-style cathedral. This combo tour also includes return transfers and a delicious Mexican lunch buffet. For their transfers, visitors can choose from Cancún, Riviera Maya, and Playa del Carmen pick-up locations.
Visitors between the age of 3 to 13 years enjoy reduced pricing, while those under the age of 3 get free entry. All visitors aged 13 years and above will pay the full price.
Visitors will have to pay a culture tax at the entrance point as per the local government’s orders. For residents, the price is Mex$ 130 (on presentation of valid government ID), and non-residents pay Mex$ 417.
While the Chichén Itzá site is massive, with plenty of attraction points, here are a few that deserve a visit in and around the natural wonder.
Also known as the Temple of Kukulcán, El Castillo is the most popular point of attraction at Chichén Itzá and is located at the Northern Point. Shaped like a step pyramid, this structure comprises nine square-shaped terraces, on the summit of which stands a terrace, at approximately 30-meter height. The base at all four sides is adorned with elaborate serpent heads – which during sunset give the illusion of a snake slithering down.
A cenote is a natural sinkhole or well, generally made of limestone. The Chichén Itzá cenote, also known as the Sacred Cenote, is quite popular with tourists. While it is forbidden for swimming, it is an important archaeological site, measuring 60 m in diameter and about 27 m deep. Although this cenote is closed for swimming, some cenotes nearby are, in fact, open for swimming. You can travel to nearby cenotes and simply jump in.
El Caracol, meaning ‘the snail’ in Spanish, was an observatory during the Mayan Civilization. It is named so due to the presence of a unique spiral staircase inside the tower. Mayan astronomers then would take advantage of the flat Yucatán landscape and gaze at the skies understand the sky and space above it. It is one of the few spherical structures at Chichén Itzá, unusual since the Mayans generally created square or rectangular-shaped structures.
This is a fascinating site at Chichén Itzá. Surrounding the large step pyramid are about 200 columns or pillar, each carved in a manner so as to depict warriors. These columns are flanked on the west and south side of the structure. The temple itself is located on the pyramid’s summit, led up by a massive stairway. Atop the pyramid is a statue of Chak Mool, said to be a messenger of Mayan Gods.
Chichén Itzá is open every day of the year between 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM, with final entry at 04:00 PM.
If you’re traveling on a tour with return transfers, you can expect the entire tour, including travel time, to last between 9-10 hours. On average, a tour of only the Chichén Itzá should take between 1-3 hours. A combo tour would take longer, approximately 12 hours.
You can always expect to find crowds at Chichén Itzá. To experience relatively smaller crowds, the best time to visit would be during early morning right after the site opens, or late evening before closing.
Chichén Itzá is located in the Eastern part of Yucatán state in Mexico.
Google Map Directions.
Opting for return transfers is the best travel option as it helps you avoid the hassle of planning the travel. You can choose to be picked up from either Cancún, Riviera Maya, or Playa del Carmen. You will be picked up typically before 06:00 PM, and dropped back after the tour.
Driving to Chichén Itzá is another easy travel option. Parking is widely available for visitors traveling in private vehicles. The drive should take you about 2 hours.
Residents have to pay a culture fee of Mex$ 130 (on presentation of valid government ID), and non-residents pay Mex$ 417.
If you’re visiting Chichén Itzá on a tour, you’ll be guided to the primary entrance at the forefront of the site. If you stay at a hotel nearby, some have the option of letting you enter from the entrance right at the back.
Yes, there are several dining options around Chichén Itzá, suitable for various budgets and palates. Pueblo Maya, Luna Cafe, Hotel Okaan, and Hacienda Chichen are a few great options to dine at.
Yes. Guests can pay a fee and deposit large bags and carry-ons at the storage facility before entering the site. To store smaller items, guests can rent lockers.
Chichén Itzá is almost entirely an open space with negligible shade areas. Carry lots of sunscreen, hats, and sunglasses, and wear comfortable, light clothing. Additionally, since the tour involves plenty of walking along uneven paths, wear sturdy sneakers or shoes that have a strong sole grip.
Yes, photography is permitted. However, if you're carrying professional cameras, tripods, or selfie sticks, you would need to pay a small fee at the entrance.
Other than visiting Chichén Itzá, along the Yucatán peninsula guests can visit famous cenotes (water sinkholes), the colonial town of Valladolid, and more.
You would have to specifically book combo Chichén Itzá tours to visit attractions like nearby cenotes and the town of Vallodolid.
Yes, your combo tour include return transfers. Guests can choose to be picked up from Cancún, Riviera Maya, or Playa del Carmen.
Yes. Chichén Itzá tours and tickets can now be booked online.
Chichén Itzá now accepts online reservations and is allowing 3,000 visitors per day. Moreover, masks and social distancing are mandatory here.
Guests can book guided tours of Chichén Itzá, or book combo tours that also take them on a tour of cenotes and the town of Valladolid.
Only 3,000 guests are permitted in a day at Chichén Itzá.
Yes. Guests can book guided Chichén Itzá tours. These can include the services of a professional tour guide, return transfers, and lunch (depending on the tour chosen).
A guided tour group to Chichén Itzá can comprise only 10 visitors now.
Yes. Chichén Itzá guided tours include return transfers. Guests can choose to be picked up from Cancún, Riviera Maya, or Playa del Carmen, depending on the tour they choose.
Yes, visitors between the age of 3-13 enjoy reduced pricing on their tickets, while infants under 3 get free entry.
Chichén Itzá is open every day of the week from 08:00 AM to 05:00 PM, with final entry at 04:00 PM.