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Chichen Itza

Landmarks ·Chichén-Itzá ·Open now
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#4Landmarks in MexicoTravelers' Choice Best of the Best 2026
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About

Chichén Itzá is an ancient Maya city in Tinúm, Yucatán, between Valladolid and Mérida, 2.5 km from Pisté. Its monuments combine Maya and central Mexican influences.

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Chichen Itza

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Why go

  • El Castillo’s four sides each have 91 steps; one more leads to the upper temple, making 365 in total.
  • The Great Ball Court measures 168 by 70 meters, with 95-meter platforms and 8-meter-high walls.
  • The Temple of the Warriors echoes Temple B at Tula, on a larger scale.
  • The Sacred Cenote drew Maya pilgrims; recovered offerings include gold, jade, pottery and cloth.

Opening hours

Today08:00 – 16:30Show all
Monday08:00 – 16:30
Tuesday08:00 – 16:30
Wednesday08:00 – 16:30
Thursday08:00 – 16:30
Friday08:00 – 16:30
Saturday08:00 – 16:30
Sunday08:00 – 16:30

Don't miss

  • El CastilloTwo stone heads of feathered serpents, images of Kukulcán, stand at the base of the north staircase. Around the equinoxes, shadows form a descending serpent along the staircase.Base of the northern staircaseAround the spring and autumn equinoxes On the map
  • Great Ball CourtA sculpted panel shows a decapitated player whose wound sends out streams of blood shaped like snakes.At the base of the court walls On the map
  • Temple of the WarriorsSome columns to the south once supported a large roof system.South of the temple On the map
  • Sacred Cenote (Cenote Sagrado)Follow the 270-meter Sacbe Number One from near the Platform of Venus to the cenote.At the end of Sacbe Number One On the map

Know before you go

  • Open daily from 08:00 to 16:30.
  • Chichén Viejo, south of Las Monjas, is restricted to archaeologists.
  • The throne room beneath El Castillo has been closed to the public since 2006.

Tips for your visit

  • The densely clustered core covers at least five square kilometres.
  • El Castillo, the Temple of the Warriors and the Great Ball Court belong to the Great North Platform.
  • The Central Group includes the Caracol, Las Monjas and Akab Dzib.
  • The museum is accessible to visitors arriving at the Chichén Itzá Tren Maya station.

Interesting facts8

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  1. 1988

    The site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.

    Chichén Itzá - Wikipedia

  2. Its architecture includes styles associated with central Mexico and the Puuc and Chenes regions.

    Chichen Itza - Wikipedia

  3. The name refers to a water source and to the Itzá, the group said to have ruled the city.

    Chichén Itzá - Wikipedia

  4. Four natural sinkholes could have supplied water throughout the year.

    Chichen Itza - Wikipedia
  5. 80 paved

    More than 80 paved causeways, called sacbeob, cross the site and extend outward from the city.

    Chichen Itza - Wikipedia (part 2)

  6. Many buildings were originally painted red, green, blue and purple.

    Chichen Itza - Wikipedia (part 2)

  7. Trade brought obsidian from central Mexico and gold from southern Central America.

    Chichen Itza - Wikipedia

  8. Isla Cerritos supported trade along a sea route around the peninsula.

    Chichen Itza - Wikipedia

Shorts

History

The port of Isla Cerritos supported maritime trade around the peninsula. Pilgrimages to the Sacred Cenote (Cenote Sagrado) continued after the city’s decline.

  1. 750–900The city’s core layout took shape; further development followed after 900.
  2. 832The oldest known Maya inscription at the site corresponds to 832.
  3. 10th c.Chichén Itzá became a regional capital, and its final architectural plan took shape.
  4. 11th c.The city lost regional power but remained an important ritual and pilgrimage center.
  5. 998The latest known Maya date inscription was recorded at the Osario.
Show all
  1. 1534Spanish forces abandoned the city after Maya resistance and a siege cut their coastal supply line.
  2. 1894Edward Herbert Thompson acquired the plantation containing the site.
  3. 1922Large-scale restoration began under Manuel Gamio.

Sources: Chichen Itza - Wikipedia · Chichen Itza - Wikipedia (part 2) · Chichen Itza - Wikipedia (part 3) · Chichén Itzá - Wikipedia · Chichén Itzá - Wikipedia · Chichén Itzá - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026

Where
Chichen Itza

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Questions and answers

What survives of Chichén Itzá’s original colours?

Casa Colorada was among the best-preserved buildings, and red paint remained visible to 19th-century explorers.

What does El Mercado mean at Chichén Itzá?

El Mercado has a gallery and patio at the south end of the Temple of the Warriors complex. It is thought to have served a ceremonial purpose.

What do the eagle and jaguar carvings near Chichén Itzá’s Great Ball Court show?

Panels on the Platform of the Eagles and the Jaguars, immediately east of the Great Ball Court, show the animals consuming human hearts.

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