Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza

I was super excited to get to see this in person. The site is so much more than this singular temple. Behind where I was standing is a ball court, off to the life is the sacrificial cenote or sinkhole, and behind this temple there is another structure.
I was super excited to get to see this in person. The site is so much more than this singular temple. Behind where I was standing is a ball court, off to the life is the sacrificial cenote or sinkhole, and behind this temple there is another structure.
Chichen Itza in Mexico... Mayan ruins are pretty amazing to see, especially with an ominous storm cloud overhead!
Morning view of El Castillo, the Mayan pyramid at the heart of Chichén Itzá.  While it's not particularly tall (about as tall as the pyramid at the Louvre), I found it quite beautiful and particularly well-proportioned.  I like to think that, given it's rather late construction date (~1200AD), it was the culmination of centuries of refinement.  In that sense it reminded me of the Taj Mahal, which itself was inspired by centuries of improvements in Mughal tomb architecture.
If you go to only one ruin in the Cancun area, I would highly recommend Chichen Itza. It will be an all day excursion but well worth it.  Go as early as possible with a reputable and knowledgeable tour company (we used Thomas Moore) and in a small group.  We were there in the month of June and arrived mid morning. As we were leaving,  the place was starting to get packed with all the larger tour buses and was getting very warm.  I have also visited Tulum in June but was disappointed after have already visited Chichen Itza.  
I believe that you can no longer climb the well known Kukulkan Pyramid.


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Top Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza Hotel Deals

Hotel Mundo Maya Chichén Itzá

Hotel Mundo Maya Chichén Itzá

3.5 out of 5
Carretera Federal 180 costera del golfo Km 131 Chichen Itza YUC
Hotel Mundo Maya Chichén Itzá
Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows

Mayaland Hotel & Bungalows

4.5 out of 5
Km 120 Ctra Merida, Zona Arqueologica Chichen Itza YUC
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Hacienda Chichen Resort & Yaxkin Spa

Hacienda Chichen Resort & Yaxkin Spa

3.5 out of 5
Carretera Libre 180 KM 120 Chichen Itza YUC
Hacienda Chichen Resort & Yaxkin Spa
Villas Arqueologicas Chichen Itza

Villas Arqueologicas Chichen Itza

3 out of 5
Km 120 Carretera Merida-valladolid Chichen Itza YUC
Villas Arqueologicas Chichen Itza
The Lodge at Chichen Itza

The Lodge at Chichen Itza

4.5 out of 5
Carretera Merida-Cancun, Km 120 Chichen Itza YUC
The Lodge at Chichen Itza
Hotel Chichen Itza

Hotel Chichen Itza

3.5 out of 5
Av. Principal Piste Num. 45, Piste Tinum YUC
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HOTEL PUERTA CHICHEN

HOTEL PUERTA CHICHEN

3 out of 5
Calle 15 A Km 117 No. 30 X 20 Tinum Yucatan
HOTEL PUERTA CHICHEN
Suites  Casa de Piedra y Colores-Aak

Suites Casa de Piedra y Colores-Aak

3 out of 5
Calle 2C por Calle 13C Pisté, 65 Tinum YUC
Suites Casa de Piedra y Colores-Aak
Suites Casa de Piedra y Colores-Sak

Suites Casa de Piedra y Colores-Sak

3 out of 5
Calle 2C por Calle 13C, Pisté, 65 Tinum YUC
Suites Casa de Piedra y Colores-Sak
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