Chichén Itzá

Chichén Itzá is an absolutely stunning and impressive historical site — a true must-see when visiting Mexico. The ruins are incredibly well-preserved, and walking around the site gives you a real sense of how advanced and powerful the ancient Mayan civilization once was. The main pyramid (El Castillo) is breathtaking and even more impressive in person than in photos. Fun tip: try clapping your hands when you’re standing about 20 meters from the pyramid — the echo sounds like a laser beam, almost like something from Star Wars. It’s a fun and surprising acoustic effect created by the architecture! Don’t forget to explore beyond the main pyramid. Walk through the whole complex, including the observatory, the ancient Mayan ball court (which is massive and fascinating), and the large cenote (sacred well). You can’t swim in it, but it’s impressive to see and adds to the mystical atmosphere of the site. Important: make sure to enter through the official main entrance. Some people wait at side paths and try to sell you overpriced tickets. The real entrance is clearly marked, has a big parking lot, and is where all the tour buses stop. All in all, Chichén Itzá is a magical place full of history, mystery, and beauty. Highly recommended!

This site is extensive and incredible. We bought our tickets at the door with no wait. We parked in the official car park for 120 Mexican pesos. We ignored all the ticket touts and people trying to sell car parking and skip the line tickets. This is definitely the cheapest and safest option. There are toilets at the ticket section and many cafes and restaurants. There are lots of market stalls throughout the whole site, the sellers are respectful and often provide guidance to tourists which is genuine and helpful. My last photo is of a seller who gave us loads of help regarding the best place to take photos near the main cenote, visit him if you can he was hilarious. Opposite is another unexpected cafe. You can’t swim there anymore despite any pictures you have seen. Allow several hours to see the sites.

This was a great experience for us to visit one of the 7 wonders of the world. We had a full day of activities which included a guide and ride to and from our resort in Cancun. We rode a charter bus back and forth. We were provided drinks, fruits and pastries along the way. Everyone was very friendly. We were also provided lunch which I enjoyed. My favorite part was the Cenote. It was very refreshing after an extremely hot day. Our guides were very knowledgeable and had a sense of humor which made everyone feel welcomed. I highly recommend visiting at least once in your lifetime. As I always say don't take my word for it. Try it for yourself. Happy Vacationing!

Such an amazing place to visit! Can’t really put it into words, but it’s a piece a history that’s a must see and one that we clearly don’t yet understand. The site is massive! I would highly recommend going with a tour guide company and booking an early tour so you can beat the heat, humidity and crowds. Bonus tip, if you plan to buy souvenirs, wait until you get to site, it’s a lot cheaper and more fun to engage in the bartering.

It's very recommended to get the service off your guide. We had a great experience with Gerardo explaining the history of the area. He kindly took excellent pictures and videos of the group an individually.

Visiting Chichén Itzá was truly one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. Surrounded by the rich history and incredible architecture of the ancient Mayan civilization, gave me chills. The energy of the place is incredible! Every corner of the site tells a story, from the Temple of the Warriors to the Great Ball Court. It’s like stepping back in time and walking through a living history book. The guides are knowledgeable and passionate, which made the experience even more meaningful. I highly recommend anyone visiting Mexico to make the trip to Chichén Itzá. It’s a must-see destination that will leave you inspired and in awe. A truly magical place I’ll remember forever!

This is an incredible site and a must see when in Mexico. One of the new seven wonders of the world, this magnificent site has a lot to offer. My partner and I had a private local guide that walked us through the site and its history. I’d recommend visiting the site early in the day as it gets too busy and the weather gets too hot. Top tip, as your guide to demonstrate the acoustics features of the site.

This is a must see. Absolutely stunning. You also shpuld have an amazing tour guide like we had. Salvador made our experience so perfect. Hearing all the history was just beyond imagination!

We were here for excursion through cruise line on a weekday. It takes close to 3hrs travel time from Cozumel( 40 mins ferry and 2 hrs bus ride) Overwhelming number of vendors selling souvenirs and clothes etc. Amazed with the architecture and history behind the buildings and happy that we got a chance to visit one of the wonders of the world.

We visited February 2020 right before COVID-19 locked down the world. We were staying at a resort in Cancun and booked an excursion to see Chichen Itza. We've been to Mexico many times but never got to see it! The bus dropped us off and there were tons of vendors selling gifts and apparel. They were pushy but a simple no will usually get the job done. I did purchase a T-shirt which was ok quality. There were restrooms but the line was long. It's a popular tourist destination so people were everywhere. The stairs to the top of Chichen Itza was blocked off, which wasn't before in the past; this is a good thing because I'm sure the structure was being damaged with all the foot traffic. We walked around the property and saw other remnants of the Mayan civilization. There's a large Mayan ball court and sacrificial cenote (sinkhole with water in it). Sadly, I saw many stray dogs that looked hungry and thirsty. The weather was hot and humid; we were used to it, since it was exactly like south Florida's weather. The history and architecture of this location is fascinating. It's one of the New SEVEN WONDERS of the WORLD and definitely worth checking off a bucket list.

If you signed up for any of the tour packages, you'll likely be visiting here to check out the temples and ruins of the ancient Mayan civilization. The first thing you will notice are the many souvenir vendors in designated areas. You can always come back to them later, after you finish the tour with the group. Only two faces of the main temple have been restored, using materials from other parts of the temple and/or ruins nearby. Your tour guide will explain to you the astonishing mathematics and history that inform the design of the temple. You won't be able to walk up the steps, but pictures on all sides are definitely allowed. If you arrive around 2:00, you can catch an angle of this temple in both light and shadow. The nearby ruins are also worth seeing, including a warrior's hall, a large court / plaza area where ceremonial games used to be held, and so on. They are less crowded and are excellent locations for photos. You will want to take time to appreciate and enjoy the intricacy of the carvings, including that of man, bird, serpent (a harkening of Kukulcan, a god in Mayan beliefs), and the depiction of two brothers who in the mythology fought against underworld invaders. Now, back to tips on souvenirs bargaining. You will hear two for one dollar, but this is just a hack to get you to talk to the vendors, who will then say a Mayan dollar is $50 usd. Cut through all that by asking a price for an item. They will start super high, for example 600 pesos. Offer half, or even 1/3 that, and go from there. Absolutely do not pay the asking price! If you're adamant about the price, you can try walking away and they'll ask you to come back. It's up to you and your conscience at that point, as to whether you want to bargain to the boiling point where these hard workers are barely making (a well earned) profit. You will hear a lot about the conquerors (Spanish conquistadors) in connection with the Mayan people who are still alive today, preserving their culture, and protecting the many Mayan temples hidden below the jungles. As visitors we should do our utmost to appreciate the culture, be respectful, and meditate on the affects of colonialism, and ways becoming more knowledgeable of civilizations who have survived it, and how we can support them.

What a remarkable place to visit, so much history and just like one of the other 7 wonders of the modern world, there are a lot of unanswered questions. The fact that the sun peers through the top entrance of the structure twice a year once on the 21st of March and the second time is 21 September. Both dates represent the spring and summer solstice. Wear your sunscreen it gets hot and you will burn. Beware of the vendors that offer you the "1 dollar" sale. They will screw you for sure. Have an awesome E time and try to jump into a tour group to learn the most you can.

This was part of our 12 hour excursion. I have to say this was a very cool experience. I've seen these ruins for a year and I've always wanted to visit them. I'm very glad we did. I will say this, though it's very hot so be prepared for that. Bring lots of water, a hat, an umbrella, if you can. Be smart and stay in the shade because if you don't, you'll be extremely hot and uncomfortable. Even while doing all the things I just mention it was very hot and uncomfortable. No doubt about it but well worth the history and experience for sure. Lots of really cool engineering here. I was very happy to visit this place and see all of the Mayans ruins it been here for so many years. Our tour guy did a great job. Explaining the history of each spot we visited. There's a ton of vendors everywhere selling stuff. Don't pay full price they will negotiate. Like I said, this place gets very hot. I almost wish they did tours very early morning or at night because the heat can be very intense. I'm very glad we stop by there because it was a really cool experience. If you never bad I definitely suggest to give it a shot.

Absolutely one of the seven wonders of the world. I thought that it would be much bigger. I mean it was massive, but I honestly thought it would be bigger. I really love this archaeological site, but what I didn't like is that there's vendors inside beside the pyramid, I feel like the pyramid is something sacred and the vendors should be outside the experience. You have them when you walk up to the facility when you're entering the facility and when you're inside the archaeological site.

I couldn't believe that Chichen Itza is one of the 7 Wonders of the World! Wow, this is my first wonder to see and I was pretty excited. The place is around a 2.5 hour drive from Cancun as it really is in the middle of nowhere - you do get to change a time zone though from Quintana Roo to Yucatan which is pretty exciting. However, there are plenty of directions that will help lead you to here. We were able to get here and finding parking on a weekday morning which was very nice. On the walk to the grounds, we were haggled by Mexican We ordered tickets online and when we got here, we realized that we got scammed. The online tickets were around $60 which is kind of pricy to see the monument but we had to pay as it is one of the 7 Wonders of the World. I would recommend just getting tickets here as it would be around $35/each and the lines to get them are not long at all. When we got inside the area, we were swarmed by vendors of all kinds selling different types of trinkets. Here some of the things I have noticed: - There really isn't many architectural structure in the area other than the main pyramid, so really don't expect much. That being said you also don't need to spend much time in there - 30 minutes to 1 hour as there isn't much to see. - You can easily hop on to another tour group and listen in to the different facts about the ruin. - Something pretty cool to watch out for is that if you clap your hands loudly on all 4 edges of the pyramid, a bird sound will come from the ruin. I really have not seen anything like this before. - If you come May and onwards it is extremely hot and there's little to no shade so make sure you bring lots of sunscreen and hats. Overall its an okay visit. I mean you must do it because its a 7 Wonder of the World but its honestly a bit underwhelming other than the pyramid itself. Make sure to buy your tickets on-site and not get scammed!

Chichen itza is one of the 7 wonders and so it's a must do if you're in the Yucatacan area. I ended up learning a lot more about Mayan history and culture which to me was the most interesting part. The site itself is flooded with tourists (even on the hottest of hot days) and there is virtually zero shade so be prepared to be quick or melt. There's also a lot of vendors trying to see you things. Overall worth going with a good tour guide but be prepared for the crowds. Study some Mayan culture prior and you might enjoy it more.

I had a wonderful experience here, but I must say, by the time I arrived, I was already exhausted. I took the tour bus from my hotel in Cancun here. I was mentally prepared for a long ride-- as I went to Grand Canyon from Vegas, and I'd say it's almost similar, in terms of, it's an all day excursion. I did not know much about the Mayan Ruins, prior to my trip, where I did a little research. I was familiar with the Mayan Calendar, but that was probably the extent of my knowledge. The tour guide that was provided with the tour was informative and gave us some additional knowledge. I found the echo in an open atmosphere to be a cool feature-- be prepared to hear many tours groups yelling out-- as they are listening for that echo. There is an area to purchase snacks/beers by the entrance and you will see vendors throughout the area. They are not aggressive but will yell and want you to come over to buy and get a "good deal" I bought from a few vendors, but some will start at with prices that way too high and then negotiate down to a more fair price. I felt that I couldn't buy from more people. I would say if you're in Cancun/Tulum or surrounding areas; it's most certainly worthy of the one day tour here.

Chicken Itza was the sole purpose of me wanting to visit the east side of Mexico for years. Wear sun screen, bring a hat, pesos and water. I went with a tour group from Cancun and our tour guide was so nice and very informative with the history of the ruins.

Pretty good, but and being in the 7 new wonders of the world had to give it some sense of grandeur, but I personally think Uxmal is a better and quieter site than Chichen Itza. This place feels way too crowded touristy for my taste. Let me compared this to Uxmal, which is cheaper, less crowded, and you can climb up to a viewpoint to see the whole site, Chichen Itza's one positive is that the pyramid is bigger. There's so many vendors on the sides of the place that it kind of feels more like a swap meet than an important ancient historical site which can be a huge turnoff for those who want authenticity. Compared to Uxmal: -Ticket Prices are $571 + $80 pesos for parking compared to it being about $100 pesos cheaper at Uxmal -Feels 10x more crowded than Uxmal -You can't climb anything at Chichen Itza, whereas Uxmal lets you climb the palace terrace and see the whole area in its glory -Peddlers ruin the experience here. At Uxmal there are ZERO which is a huge plus. -Way quieter at Uxmal. I think I saw a max total of 10 people there, while at Chichen Itza theres probably thousands at the site. Overall, cool pyramid and a wonderful site, but it's kind of ruined by the tourist traps everywhere around it.

The fact that we're able to visit One of the 7 New World Wonders says it all. It's definitely a MUST if you're ever in the Yucatan/Quintana Roo area. Wow!!!!!!! This place is full of energy and it was awesome visiting it!!!!! First, wear comfortable clothes and shoes as you get to walk a little... the walks are bearable if you walk often, but the heat and sun are something else, incredibly exhausting. Bring at least a big bottle of water per person, a regular bottle (16/17 oz) will not be enough. Again, the Chichen Itzá is a MUST. You learn so much and not only that, the energy radiating from this place and the whole experience give you a fulfillment sensation, like you're absorbing all of it into your soul. The knowledge of the Mayans before all the development of the world is simply mind blowing and food for thoughts. Me and my boyfriend loved the tour!!!!! It was one of the best experiences we've had. 10000000% recommended!!

Beautiful and awe inspiring. There is no question why Chichen-Itza is one of the 7 Wonders of the World. A bit late in my review, but if you plan on traveling to "El Castillo" in the month of August, be prepared for high humidity and heat. If you aren't used to the conditions please Pre hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Think hats, umbrella, etc. There is so much to see - "The Observatory", numerous ruins, courtyard, etc. Be prepared and don't rush on leaving due to being ill prepared for the heat and humidity. Depending on your arrival time, the main ticket area can be extremely busy. Tour busses may arrive en mass so be mindful of crowds and belongings. As other reviewers had mentioned, vendors are aggressive (they gotta live too) outside and within. I almost walked out like a caricature with 20 hats stacked on my head! Lol. Restrooms are located at the entrance/exit. It is easy to spend half or the entire day here learning and taking in all the history. You made it this far. Enjoy the experience.

There is so much history and wealth of knowledge here that you need the right tour guide for you to enjoy the Chichén Itzá. We came with a tour from Cancún and there were many other tours there too. This place in amazing with how the sound travels, how the main tower tells time, the serpent that is on the tower, and more. Pure wealth of the Mayan culture history. Because we booked with a tour group I don't have many logistical details, but I do know that you can not bring food or drinking into the area. You cannot walk up or get near the main ruin since 2007.

There is not much more I can say that has not already been said. All visitors to Cancun/Playa del Carmen/Tulum should make a visit to this famous site. There are plenty of tour buses that leave early in the morning - it takes a couple of hours to drive there. Most people think of Chichen Itza as just a pyramid, but this place is actually a complex of Mayan ruins which thrived from the 600s to 1200s. There is the main pyramid, a smaller pyramid, the Grand Ballcourt where a soccer-like game was played, and other smaller ruins scattered about. There is an amazing amount of history at this site. What might turn some people off are there is a massive amount of souvenir tables and vendors along the entrance path to the site, but that's to be expected for a famous place like this.

Getting to see the Chichen Itza in person was truly amazing. Being one of the 7 wonders of the world, it has so much history to it, and is fascinating to see its architecture up close. What I did not expect was how much else there was around it! There are a lot of different parts of the ruins nearby, so the Chichen Itza isn't the only thing you'll see. There's also a cenote in the area. Be careful of the merchants, as they. are EVERYWHERE. And even though they might have some cool stuff on their table, many will try to scam you - unfortunately it happened to someone in our tour group. If you don't already know everything about the ruins, I would highly recommend booking a tour guide. We booked ours through our hotel, and there was so much I never knew about the Mayans after hearing more about it. The Chichen Itza is so popular for a reason, and it's totally worth the drive in. We came in 2 hours from Tulum, and I would have come out from further if I had to.

From the moment you walk out of the surrounding forest and lay eyes on "El Castillo" of Chichen-Itza, the sense of wonder, awe, and majesty immediately impacts you. There is an energy that en captivates you. Please do yourself a huge favor and get a guide at the door. They provide all the historical magic that is Chichen-Itza.

What can you say about one of the seven wonders of the world that already hasn't been said? This place was the best out of the other pyramid sites we visited. We had a great tour guide that was VERY knowledgeable about the site and history and was super friendly. He knew where to take the best pictures and actually took a couple of group pictures for us. Again, this place was cool as heck to visit and is checked off my bucket list of places to see.

1/24/20 Being in Cancun, had to visit this Pre-Columbian City that made the list as being one of the New Seven Wonders of the World I booked the Early Access Tour through Amigo Tours Mexico and I do have to say that is the ONLY way I would ever do it again!! We were the 2nd tour bus there and we were able to get pictures of the pyramids without people in the background. Hire a tour guide or book a tour. There is so much history that I learned about and was in awe of. I knew I wanted to see the city but I had no idea how cool it was actually going to be. I had a great time! Our Amigo Tour guide Marco was a wealth of information I never got bored and history was my WORST subject in high school. If you get the opportunity to visit this historic site, I highly recommend you do it!

If you need my review or any review to tell you why you should visit here, there's nothing I could say to help you. It's magical. The only real "disappointment" is you can't climb the pyramid, which makes perfect sense. Why should you be able to? I'm just spoiled after having climbed Teotihuacán about 100 times. What's also disappointing is the government's inability to process a single payment. There's a state charge for admission and a federal charge, which of course they have to separate. The end result: longer lines than necessary to get in. As of this review, $485 MXN for non-Mexicans. $202 MXN for Mexicans.

This is the most visited site in all of the world. The history is surreal and unbelievable . If eevee you travel to Cancun and you stay at anyy resort I strongly recommend you to take a day out of your week to come here and visit the Mayan Pyramid of Chichén-Itza . You will feel some type of way. The monument itself iS just breathtaking and unimaginable until you see it for yourself. The coolest of the cooll we saw people non stop clApping and it made a sound effect echo of a bird and there's tons oF myths about the sound in the pyramid buut no one can truly explain what it's all about. We lost our tour guide so we decided to follOw other tour guides thatt were pretty loud and got to experience the site with multiple tour guides ahaha The cons... tons of venders at every corner of the shades trying to sell yoou fake relics of the pyramid and just non stop hustling you to buy their crap. It was quite appalling ughh leave us alone we don't want to buy your crapooOo lol Another con is the poor stray dogs that are extremely hot and hungry and loook like they haven't eaten for days. It's pretty sad and I wish people can take them in to a shelter where they can be properly vetted and taken care of Overall, pretty interesting and surreal experience loved this Mayan historical site.

One of the seven new wonders of the world, Chichen Itza is definitely something you should see once in your lifetime (no more than that). It's interesting to see the ruins and learn about the Mayans used it for their calendar. I visited through a day tour (Amigo Tours). This gave us about two hours at the ruins, which I think was enough time to explore and take pictures. Besides, it's SUPER HOT out there, so you don't want to be under the Mexican sun for that long anyway (at least not without a body of water you can jump into). I learned after the fact that they have early morning 'sunrise' tours. If I knew beforehand, I probably would have considered it because I'm sure there would be significantly fewer tourists in the morning. I saw mostly tour groups visiting, as opposed to people coming on their own - and they usually come in waves. Know before before you: -Wear sneakers -Be prepared for a loooong ride. It's about a 2.5-hour drive from Playa del Carmen/Riviera Maya -Don't get trapped by the people trying to sell you souvenirs. They are literally waiting for you as soon as you get off the bus. Our tour guide told us that they'll tell you it's "one dollar" but as soon as you have the item in your hands, they'll tell you that it's "one dollar off". I was hoping these people wouldn't be inside of the grounds of Chichen Itza (I'm surprised they allow them in there), but they were and it was pretty annoying. It took away from the experience a bit, so that's the reason I subtracted a star Overall, it was a good experience and I'm glad I got to check this off my list.

See the pyramid! This place is pretty magical- It's a huge Mayan city out in the middle of the jungle, which is now one of the seven Wonders of the Modern World! I was awestruck by the size of this place - it's a giant complex of ruins that date back centuries, showing a complex and well-organized city. However, the good organization ended with the Mayans. The current administration doesn't seem to be as well organized about getting people in efficiently, or providing maps for the tourists, or signs for where to go, or what you're looking at. They seem to all be sabotaged by the tour guides who want nothing more than make some money showing you around. The shopping here is lots of fun- there's a huge variety of stuff to haggle over- Almost free! Almost Free! You gotta drive a hard bargain with these souvenir sellers. The prices are better the further away from the entrance that you get, and the more disinterested you act in the goods. Just keep walkin, they'll follow you and lower the price. Be sure to bring water. There's some available at the entrance for a big price markup, and that's it. Parking was a nightmare here. People were just parking in the jungle, while some guys in vest stood around with machetes trying to make new parking spots in the jungle by hacking at the foliage. I thought the pyramid was amazing! I wish I could climb it. It's such a bummer that a few bad apples (Thanks Justin Bieber!) had to ruin it for everyone.

3/25/22 Why think I wrote a review on this place? Perhaps I did, and my review was removed. Chichen Itza is where I went to with my parents as a kid. Unfortunately I do not remember what year in the eighties. The photos taken are no longer in my possession, but I do remember climbing the stairs of this pyramid. No whether it was allowed back in the 80's or not, people climbed to the top of this pyramid and got a bird's I view of the land. Pictures of this view would be great for Yelp now, but those would be very rare to see. Today, climbing to the top of this pyramid will get you several days or weeks in jail...maybe prison if caught climbing the pyramid. I am not sure when I will get the chance to visit Chichen Itza again, but I am happy to see a lot of recent posts. I wish I could remember where else we travel after climbing this pyramid, but I don't remember. Nevertheless, some of the pictures I saw bring back some memories of what I saw, but only a little bit. I guess I will need to revisit this place a create some new memories of Chichen Itza. I do recall one thing about this pyramid of Chichen Itza and others. I recall wanting to zipline down many of these pyramids to end up somewhere else. I could only imagine how fast I would be traveling from one section to another. A fantasy that would be fun.

For anyone visiting I would highly recommend. So much history in one place it's almost surreal. When you visit make sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing and something cool. Make sure to bring lots of water and something to shield you from the scorching hot sun. It's easy to overheat so be careful. It's extremely humid!!!! They have a lot of vendors so be prepared to shop around and negotiate the prices!!! Some try to overcharge so beware.

Much more peaceful with Covid restrictions in place. Everyone has to have a guide. Most guides are limited to no more than 10 people in their groups. You get much more information than before. Because of the limited amount of people you have more room to get yourself set up for that perfect picture or 100. The heat is killer so remember sunscreen before and sunglasses are a must.

The history and cultural significance of these temples and denotes is an experience you must not miss! There are private tours where Cenote swimming is the highlight of a long warm day. The cultural significance of meeting with the Shaman, tasting local Yucatan delicacies, and standing in these epic spaces, lost civilizations, the experience of a lifetime! The tour guides explain details of the architecture and also, meanings of Ancient calendars, dances clothing. From the hand-embroidered clothing to the homemade tortillas and Sambucha... what a treat! Makes my mouth water with the memory. By the time you arrive you're friends with passengers and it's a very communal experience with plenty of good vibes! I still miss some of the women riding near me. Take a van if you can, not the bus!I h more intimate tour and private swim with around 12 people. We used "NativeOne" Tours and had a fabulous guide.

Warning: ignore all the flag waving locals trying to get you to stop to park at their lots. Only follow the posted signs for Chichén Itzá. The official parking is past a ticket booth and literally next to the visitor center. We made the mistake of falling for one of the traps and had to walk a long bumpy road with a toddler. It sucked. Also don't buy tickets from locals, no matter what they tell you. Tickets are available at the visitor center. That said, get here right when they open to avoid the crowds, the heat, and the bus load of tourists. Hire a tour guide to learn about the site or bring your travel book so you can understand what you're looking at. I was glad that I brought my book because it gave me more insight. And see all the sites, not just El Castillo. As of this writing, masks were required at the visitor center. It is a must see but I'm dropping one star because of all the vendors inside the ruins. I've been to other ruins in Mexico where the vendors cannot be inside the park and are just outside. Chichén Itzá needs to follow suit because the constant harassment along every inch of path is annoying and takes away from the historic site. Also note, if driving from Playa del Carmen, you have to go on a toll road so make sure you have pesos on hand to pay the toll ($320 pesos each way). Drive was relatively easy and sure beats being on a bus on the tour guide's schedule.

El Castillo deserves the honor of being 7 wonders of the world...Splendid... El Castillo is the main monument in this archaeological site and it is a very beautiful amazing site. Basically, these are Mayan civilization ruins. We came here by13baktun tours and they handed us to the local guide. Entry fee is I guess $14 USD including both State and Federal. He was taking so much time, so we decided to roam on our own. It was way more relaxing, we clicked like tons of photos and enjoyed our visit. We have read about this and other ruins like ballroom court, Temple of Jaguars, Platform of the Eagle and Jaguars, Temple of Warriors, the Market and Group of Thousand Columns so we did not feel like having the guide. No doubt, this is very beautiful, but hawker around the main site irritated me. Come on, who allows vendors-hawkers right into the main site. They tell it is authentic Mayan souvenir, but don't fall for it. Limestone ll get break like mine broke in flight. Earlier people used to go all the way to the top, but some mishap happened, and it is closed now, in fact, they have confined the area and nobody can even go inside. It was May month and hot sunny day. Don't forget to bring your shades, umbrella, and sunscreen. At the main gate, you can find folks in warrior avatar and photo ll cost you $2 but, it's from your camera. If they give you the photo, they charge $12 USD.

You can't miss this if you go visit Cancun, Play del Carmen, or surrounding areas. We left early morning from our hotel around 6:45AM in Mayakoba and reached by 8:15/8:30 slightly after open. The drive is pretty straightforward and I recommend taking the highway with a toll to make the trip a little more quicker to go and come back. I recommend picking up a local tour guide around 500 meters from the entrance. We were able to get ours for 650 pesos and then I tipped another 100 pesos at the end as he had done a wonderful job describing everything with care and in detail. The guide will hop in your car, then you pay for parking and park right near the entrance. The benefit of going early morning, especially during Covid times, is you essentially have the historic site to yourself, which is very very rare. Our guide explained everything in detail and we were able to wrap up by noon time and out by 12:30/1PM. It gets hot! Wear sunscreen and bring some water. You'll pay a small admission fee to get in (they do take credit card). There is a proper temperature check and sanitization before going in. It helps to watch a few youtube videos before hand if you're a history buff to get a slight primer. Then the guide does a fantastic job to round everything off. We did not eat there, although there are a couple spots to get food. There are vendors everywhere for souvenirs. Be sure to bargain :-)

I may be going against the tide, but personally I was a bit disappointed with this place. Having visited the Pyramids of Egypt, Teotihuacan, El-Tajin, in the last couple of years, I can't help but compare. The biggest plus points for this place are the listing in the seven wonders and the insta friendly views of the main pyramid. But apart from that main pyramid, the rest of the structures are not as well maintained and not as accessible as all the other pyramids(or ruins) I have visited so far. Plus for the kind of entry fee they serve the support is really bad. The lack of good maps or reading materials makes it feel like they want you to hire a guide. And pretty much the entire walkways are filled with vendors pestering you to buy stuff. And lastly they have smoking zone right in the middle of the ticketing area and restaurants, so you can enjoy some free smoke whether you want it or not!

We toured Chichen Itza (1-1-20). If you can get your tickets beforehand, do it! We waiting in a very long line to get our tickets. There is no shade so the line is rough. We had to park at an extra parking lot about a 1/2 mile from the entrance. There are vendors along the walk selling things so you can get a bottle of water from them if you want. The site is huge! There is so much to see. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to just sit and enjoy and soak in the magnificence of this place! We sat in the shade of the trees and enjoyed a snack and water and just took it all in. We walked every inch of this place. Be sure you do the same! We rented a car at the airport when we first arrived in Cancun. This gave us the freedom to really see the historical sites. If you are going to the Yucatan Peninsula to see the sites, rent a car and take your time. You would not want to be rushed in a place like Chichen Itza. You can still hire a guide to walk you through the place so you will miss out on nothing by doing the trip yourself! NOTE: Remember Sundays are FREE for local residents so avoid going to these places on Sunday so the locals can enjoy their time! And, you will not have the extra large crowds to deal with! Most Sincerely!

One of the 7 wonders of the world!! Definitely a must see if you're vacationing in Mexico ! It's around 2-2.5 hrs from the Cancun area. I went through the Xcaret tours which is excellent if you've been looking into which tours to take. You sit in a nice big comfy tour bus that includes a bathroom on the bus. You stop by Valladolid City briefly and also the Ik Kil Cenote for a swim and lunch. The tour guides were awesome as well, so definitely recommend going through a tour through this company. Anyways back to Chichen Itza.... FYI you can't climb the ruins.. would have been awesome but I can understand that the ruins will probably be "ruined" (no pun intended). But there is so much history here. It's amazing how much the Mayans did and how much knowledge they had with the resources they had. Makes me feel us Americans are pretty dumb with our choices now a days. The ruins are in incredible condition considering how old they are. Our tour guide showed us what they looked like before to present time. There's so much more to just read the pyramid that you always see pictures of on Instagram. It was a whole city. They had a place to play ball for tournaments in order to see which person was to be sacrificed. There was city hall and a shopping area there too. Underground temples and temples inside the pyramid. It was great learning about the way they viewed sacrifice as a positive thing because it's one of the ways the Mayans creates balance. TIPS It's HOT! So bring bottled water and hydrate well before hand!! Good place to get cheap souvenirs! You can haggle too! Get a tour guide! So much history here! Bring cash! At least for the souvenirs, I'm not sure about getting in or the food and drinks there if they accept credit cards.. but our tour guide told us to have cash available. Only CONS I can think about.. walking through the parking lot, you get bombarded by TONS of vendors trying to already sell you stuff such as souvenirs and hats. One right after the other... you are bombarded by them.. once you enter, there's even more vendors. I wish they would limit them... and they're really on top of you like white on rice! Just wear sunglasses, say no and keep walking! A must see to definitely add to your list!!

This place is AMAZING!!! We woke up around 4am, to get on a tour bus to get to the site. It took about 2.5 hours from Cancun. The park site opens at 8am in the morning, and it's best to get to the entrance at that time or a bit before to avoid the crowds. The worst time to visit according to our tour guide is 2-3pm in the afternoon, the weather is super hot, and there will be too many people. Because we went so early, we were able to get photos with the pyramid without anyone in our photo. The site is HUGE, and it would take a long time to go through all ove the structures at the site. We spent a few hours there, and saw as much as we could. The giant well was really cool to see, and then the planetarium was very interesting. I would highly suggest doing a tour because our tour guide was able to give us alot of history and tidbits about some of the key structures. He explained about the ball games that would happen, how the game is played and talked about the human sacrifice rituals. Super interesting. There's also alot of vendors there to sell little trinkets, and that was cool to see. HIGHLY recommend this place!!

If you are in Yucatán it's a must come see an explore. Make sure to get a guide to explain the history here.

We visited the Chichen Itza in late January with a tour thru Ambest. They place is very cool, the history is amazing. Our tour guide said roughly 3,000 visitors a day this time of year and 10k in the busy season. I thought it seemed too busy now, wow! There are a lot of annoying vendors selling junk, easy enough to avoid them. The structures are fantastic and very cool to see in person, everyone should stop in.

Amazing time. Bring comfy shoes, hat, sunblock. It's a lot of walking but it's fun! A must

GET RID OF THE OVERLY AGGRESSIVE VENDORS!! Be prepared to be hassled, yelled at, and stopped by the MANY (too many) vendors which starts in the parking lot. Not sure why they even allow them there takes away from the experience! On a positive note this place was AMAZING!!! Our tour guide Emilio was amazing about informing us of the Mayan culture and history. This was worth the 2 hour drive. You have to see it in person just unbelievable.

My husband and I were staying in Tulum for our honeymoon, but we ventured off the beach for a day trip to Valladolid, a cenote, and Chichen Itza. It was worth it! We went in the afternoon, because we were there during the days just after the Equinox - you can only see the shadow effect in the afternoon. And, trust me, it was hot. So, if you're going in the afternoon - put on your sunscreen and bring your hat! Chichen Itza is the most famous of the Mayan ruins in Yucatan, even though you can no longer climb them and they're not the tallest (Coba claims both of those facts). And it is crowded. It was definitely the most tourist-y spot we went to during our eight days in Yucatan, because cruise ship travelers and huge tour groups on buses come in droves to the ruins. But it's still worth it! The ruins are fascinating - I would definitely get/bring a guide or read about it ahead of time so that you can really take in facts about the Mayans and the ruins. There are several different stone buildings, and the whole area to explore covers more than 5 square kilometers (1.9 square miles). The highlights are El Castillo, the Great Ball Court, Temple of the Warriors, Group of a Thousand Columns, The Osario, and the Las Monjas Group. I would definitely get a map if you're not with a guide so that you don't miss anything you'd like to see! We didn't plan this, but we happened to be in Yucatan during the Equinox, so we got to see the light effect created in the late afternoon/early evening. Basically, during the days before and after the Equinox - March 21 - the light falls in such a way on the northwest corner of El Castillo to create shadows that resemble a rattlesnake when viewed from the side. Very cool, and lots of people show up to see it! Aside from the historical and cultural interest at Chichen Itza, it's also a great place to buy souvenirs. Mayan people are allowed to enter and sell goods for free on the property, and they sell everything from hammocks (traditional Mayan goods), dresses, t-shirts, jewelry, blankets, and more. Bring some extra pesos or dollars with you to buy some souvenirs if you want! Next time we're in Yucatan, I think we'll head to Coba instead, which is supposed to have less people, and you can still climb it. But Chichen Itza is a do-not-miss stop for first-timers in Mexico. Very memorable.

In a recent week trip to Cancun, I had seen Coba, Tulum, and Chichen Itza, but I must truly confess that Chichen Itza is definitely the best and most well preserved! I was lucky to come here with my tour guide as part of my tour package. I must admit, learning about the Mayan culture was pretty sophisticated. My tour was a 12-hour tour that takes you to Chichen Itza, Cenote and to other ruins learning about the Mexican history, culture and how they live. I was pretty excited to get to this location as I have been hearing all about Chichen Itza on the Travel Channel! We spent 2 hours here, and trust me- 30 mins into it, people were ready to get back on the A/C bus and grab a bottle of water! Many reviewers recommended driving to this landmark. Honestly, I love tours as you get to sit back and relax. I would truly recommend taking a tour so you get a guide included, and you get to hear all about the history of this beauty! Yes, there are vendors at Chichen Itza. Yes, they are definitely there ready to sell you everything you can imagine--but we did not find them to be offensive in any way. These vendors are doing what they can to make their lives better. QUICK TIP: Do be careful of the "one dollar" as that is not exactly what the vendor means. It could be $7 - $10 US that they are expecting. They do accept USD and Pesos, I would encourage you to bring pesos as it's easier to agree on a good deal (if that's your thing!). Do note that the site is massive, so make sure to bring comfortable shoes to walk around in. I did see many people walking in sandals, but with all the sand and dust, their feet were disgustingly dirty by the end of the tour. If you prefer not to pay for a tour guide, you can buy a guidebook to find out more information about the ruins. Enjoy!

Chichen Itzá wasn't my favorite Mayan ruins to visit, but it was totally beautiful, iconic, and worth the 2-hour trip from Cancun. If you are going see just one Mayan archeological site, it's very hard to pass on one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World." It was actually just the internationally-known El Castillo step pyramid declared in 2007 as a Wonder. Two sides of the 98-foot tall pyramid have been restored using original local elements and provides some of the most traditional photo opportunities you can have on a vacation. The 9 terraces and 20-foot temple on the top are built on a previous smaller pyramid. Even though visitors (1.4 million per year) can no longer climb the pyramid or visit all areas of the park, Chichen Itzá is one of the most explored and best excavated Mayan archeological sites in Mexico. I toured four Mayan ruins in 2 days and rank them in this way (and recommend seeing them in reverse order). 1. Ek' Balam 2. Chichén Itzá 3. Cobá 4. Tulum From 900-1050 AD, Chichen Itzá was an influential Mayan capital, but it began thriving in 600 AD. By 1221, civil war led to a complete shift to Mayapan and Chichen Itzá becoming the most famous Mayan ruins known around the world.

Wow. Why am I only the 100th review of one of the most iconic Mayan ruins sight in the Yucatán Peninsula? Crazy. Tens of thousands of people poor through here everyday!! Love love love this archaeology site for many reasons: 1. Sheer size and grandeur of the pyramids and buildings in this 17 square mile city. 2. Iconic pyramid of Kukulcan! 3. Huge ball court! 4. Vendors with jaguar whistles (noisy but cool). 5. Magnificence of the lost civilization of the Maya. So spectacular. 6. Quality of restoration. 7. Proximity to Cancun and Playa del Carmen. After visiting twice now I think the the temple of Guerrero is now my favorite for its immensity and the pillars and how it must have looked in its completed state. The ball court is inspirational as well as the Temple of Kukulcan. The guides have amazing knowledge and I think there is a liberal amount of "rationalized pro-Maya" lore that comes without scientific backing but it adds to the story and really no one knows the finer details of who, what, why and when... The crowds are ridiculous but they seem to handle them well and groups get much faster access than folks who walk up to buy tickets. While in Cancun it's highly recommended that you visit and perhaps leave the little Ones home unless they are seasoned travelers and can handle the lines, heat and crowds. Marvel at its immensity and feel the grandeur of being the ruling the class even if just for a moment. I fell in love with the Mayas many years ago and just can't get enough of their history...as for trinkets, eh. I'm over them.

Long bus ride to site, we booked a package that made three stops. Bring snacks and drinks for the ride. Bus forgot to pick us up at hotel so we had to taxi it across town to catch it. We went in June and had zero issues with the bugs that the guides hyped up about in order for you to buy their bug spray. Site was full of vendors so it felt more like a cheap swap meet/carnival than a ancient heritage site. Tickets were overpriced in my opinion. Disappointed in the state of site, vendors hawking and making noise, trying to get you to buy their China made garbage took away from the enjoyment. Country should want to showcase their heritage rather than let peddlers ruin it.

I had to write a review for this place that I visited 2 years ago. Its'quite beautiful and well preserved. It's a wonder how these people were able to accomplish such a monumental feat!!! How everything is perfectly even. And how its still standing. The historical significance of this place is wonderful to learn about. This place is quite huge. With huge open fields, there's alot of walking to get from one place to the next. The only thing is that on a hot day (which is when we went) its so hot!! I would highly recommend a hat, plenty of water or an umbrella. This is a good 2 hr or so from Cancun so be prepared for a very long day. They no longer let people climb on it which is for the best to help preserve the place. If you want to climb up a pyramid Coba is still available to hike. There are a lot of street vendors here too. Its a good thing their all lined up on the back of the property, so that they dont mar the pictures of Chichen Itza that you take. They are all basically selling the same stuff, for the same price. Theres several brick and mortar shops to that sell overpriced drinks and cold refreshments. But when its that hot, pricing is no problem!!! This is a must visit when in Cancun. Its no wonder that this place is considered one of the 7 wonders of the world, and rightfully so!!!

Wow, this was absolutely terrible. I thought I knew what I was getting into watching Ricky Gervais' An Idiot Abroad, but wow, I was wrong. Imagine flea market vendors INSIDE The Alamo, White House, Redwood Forest, or MET museum. That would be shocking, correct? Imagine if these vendors set up their umbrellas and tables right on Plymouth Rock or in the box Lincoln was in at Ford's Theater. People would be aghast. Apparently in Mexico, the government and the locals don't give 2 s---- about history or archeology as vendors have stalls right up on actual ruins. It's the most absurd nonsense I've ever seen. Forget brochures or audio tours or informational signs. Unless you get a private tour guide, good luck. And we did get a tour guide - from Xichen by Xcaret... and while very sweet, he spoke almost no English for the English language tour. Me, with my 3 years of middle school & high school Spanish, played translator. No joke. We learned nothing. The drive is at least 2 hours each way. Bring sunglasses, long sleeves and a hat. I'd suggest bringing no money so you aren't accosted by vendors when you show them your empty wallet. Mexico, this is a travesty. (Went on 9/23/16)

One of the New 7 Wonders of the World seems like a pretty solid choice for my ***1300th Review*** We hired Carlos Martin as our driver today. He is 33 years old, his wife 25 who is his "princess" and doesn't work, he works everyday to support his 3 children, 2 sons ages 7 and 9 Christian and Carlos and his daughter Maria 3 and their 2 dogs. He's lived about 20 minutes outside of Tulum for 18 years now. His mother is no longer living and his father is nearby. We drove by the apartment he is renting while his house is under construction. He pays his friend to use his car to taxi. The road to Chichen Itza is a flat straight shot, both sides filled by the greenery of the jungle with condors flying above. We pass by several artisan shops filled with colorful hammocks and trapasuenos (dream catchers). One of the shops is Carlos' friends which we'll visit on our way back to Tulum this evening. Fresh water cenotes are everywhere in the Yucatan. Carlos tells us his children enjoy movies in English and his daughter likes Dora the Explorer. I love exploring! And coming out to visit Chichen Itza, one of the new 7 Wonders of the World is no exception. He calls the taxi Speedy Gonzalez as we speed through the jungle passing other cars and several tour busses, excitedly awaiting our arrival. I'm in the backseat beside my son, accepting my motion sickness as I am accustom to on drives like this. The skies are filled with clouds from the storms Hurricane Earl is unleashing on us. I have a clear view of my boyfriend's neapolitan thighs still burnt from yesterday's long bike ride under clearer skies. We just pass fields of agave at a local tequila dispensary and then I decide to close my eyes, only opening them a few more times until we arrive. When I do peek out the windows, there are locals walking in towns and dogs meandering around leash less. We spent the entire day with Carlos and invited him to join us for a lovely lunch in Valladolid. Our original plan was to ride the ADO bus from Tulum to Chichen Itza and we were somehow persuaded out of that idea by another taxi driver early in the morning outside of our hotel, who then brought us to Carlos. I'm happy we had the private transportation. We paid Carlos $160 USD. I'm fairly certain it was worth every penny. About two hours after we began our journey from Tulum, we have arrived. It's 11A. We are in line to purchase our tickets (which they accept credit cards for) and then into another line to enter the grounds. We are inside by noon. There are vendors everywhere, which we really paid no mind to and within a couple of minutes maybe even less - there it is! Right before your eyes! Awesome! Now we can leave ;) Kidding! We stayed for around 75 minutes, touring the grounds (as someone who runs marathons, telling me there is a lot of ground to cover here seems a bit silly), snapping photos, clapping in front of the pyramid to listen to the echo it brings, hearing tid bits of tours, bringing out our umbrellas once during a strong but very short lived passing storm. If I can sum this visit up with three words, I'd say "Built to Last". I'd like to think of myself the same way. I may not last as long as these ruins have but it was surely a an experience to see them in person. I knew there were no way we would come to Tulum without at least experiencing them once. I wouldn't say I need to continue to make this trek on future visits but you shouldn't pass up the opportunity to see them at least once in a lifetime. Bring a hat, sunscreen, bottled water, walking shoes or sandals, a camera and you'll be set! I don't believe there were restrooms inside the grounds which was odd but we did use them before going in and after exiting. Following our visit we made our way to one of the most magical places I've ever experienced, Ik Kil Cenote - review comin' up next!

If you end up taking a vacation to Cancun, how can you not want to see these ancient Mayan ruins? In fact, they are one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World"! It is a solid 2.5 hours drive, one way, from the hotel zone. (+) Ridiculously awesome! The history behind this place is beyond fascinating! We had a tour guide who grew up in the area and took a great deal of pride in sharing the history and heritage of the Mayan people! He was an endless source of stories and information about the grounds and the culture! (+) The architecture is very impressive here! The grounds are pretty vast, so you could really wander around here for hours and just take it all in! But, Mike, if this place is so awesome...then why the 4 stars? Why not 5 stars?? Easy. As fucking awesome as this place is...and it IS...there are some very annoying and confounding things about the set up here.. (-) Way, way, and I mean WAY too crowded. Seriously. I wish I could have gotten there early as others have said, but I got the excursion which got us there at 3 pm or so and it was just maddening how many people were there. (-) They have vendor stalls set up EVERYWHERE inside the grounds. Like they are lining the place. And they are loud and aggressive. Not only that, they keep using those jaguar calls which were loud and annoying. The first time you hear it it's more like a "WTF?" type reaction, but after that it just fucking wears on you because it just doesn't stop. All that said, as I was leaving I did purchase some Mayan statues for a great price and they will haggle with you here. It was sooo much cheaper than buying at the souvenir shops in town. (-) I know this was nobody's fault, but we were "blessed" with a torrential downpour nearly the entire time we were there. I was actually shivering at one point, even though the humidity was 80%! Really was annoying and put a damper on the experience. They said it was usually around 115 degrees with 80% humidity this time of year. But still, it was cool as fuck and an experience I am glad I had and will never forget! 4 stars.

This was a really amazing and unique experience. We got here towards noon and all the parking lots were insanely full so we had to park pretty far away on the road and walk about 10 to 12 minutes to get to the site. Once inside we had to buy the admission tickets which were not the cheapest but it was still worth it. The site is exquisite and it is so remarkably well kept. We went in August so it was insanely hot and stopped to buy a hat from one of the nice vendors along the way. They're also incredibly poor so I was happy that I bought one from someone who actually needed the money. That really really helped throughout the archaeological site. We also took two water bottles with us one that was completely frozen and one that was half frozen. We drink so much water and sweat so much throughout the time we were there. Make sure you wear extremely comfortable clothing that you don't mind sweating in and very comfortable shoes. I were really comfortable walking sandals but my feet were really dirty by the time we got back to the car. Some of the people that were dressed in cute outfits looked very uncomfortable and it didn't make sense on such a hot summer day. It literally feels like the sun is right above your head and you can pass out at any given moment. There are plenty of vendors inside the site and outside that are selling things so just be mindful of how much they want for the things they are selling. Many of them just try to rip you off. It is an extremely large site with many places to visit and it can take hours if you really truly experience it in full. We would definitely go back when the weather is nicer but unfortunately it was just so incredibly hard that we could barely tolerate it so we stayed for about 30 to 45 minutes and then left. luckily we rented a car and drove on our own so we had our own schedule. I would highly recommend for people to rent their own car and drive themselves instead of taking a tour bus. Otherwise you were on the tour schedule and if you were tired or exhausted you have to stick with the tour group and are not allowed to leave. We heard about the great cenote's nearby but we didn't get a chance to go swim in any of them. All in all, great experience and would highly Recommend it for others.

We visited here a lifetime ago in early March, before the COVID-19 pandemic. I almost think it's pretentious for anyone to review such an incredible site, so here I go! Chichen Itza is the name of the ancient Mayan City which includes the famous Temple of Kukulkan pyramid, as well as the ball court (where the loser of the game was sacrificed), the astronomical observatory El Caracol and many other incredible and unforgettable ruins. Besides being a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it was named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World; it dates back to as early as 600 AD and was occupied until about 1200 AD and was one of the largest Mayan cities, with a possible population of about 50,000. The site was built near the Cenote Sagrado (a cenote is a sinkhole), and archaeologists found gold, jade, pottery and human remains that were probably sacrificed. The entrance fee is about $13 and it's well worth every penny. If you can, come here by yourself (rent a car, they're cheap in Cancun and much cheaper than the tours). The roads from Cancun are very good and there's plenty of signage, so you won't get lost. Come in the afternoon so you can stick around and see the light show they have every night: it's fantastic! Oh, and if you gave this site less than 5 stars, you're impossible to please.