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Whether you like the sun or history, Mexico has a wide range of tourist attractions to keep you entertained during a week’s break.
Home to pristine Caribbean beaches, surrounded by world-class resorts and charming colonial towns, it offers the best of both.
There are many categories of visitors to Mexico, but one thing they all seem to collectively agree on is that of the country top rated attractionand the most awe-inspiring, is an ancient city that predates the modern country.
Although it is centuries old, it continues to captivate visitors well into modern times, with more than half a million visitors only in the first semester from 2023. This is why:
Chichen Itza is Mexico’s most sought-after ancient attraction
Before the arrival of the gentrifying international hospitality brands, and much earlier even before the original settlers, who came in the form of Spanish settlers, the Mexican Caribbean was largely inhabited by the indigenous Mayans.
They roamed the area freely, operating trading ports along the sandy coast and asserting their dominance over the Yucatan Peninsula, and as far south as the Central American Isthmus.
During their reign, the Mayans founded one of the most advanced civilizations known to mankind.
Their cities, spread across the Yucatán, rivaled the sophistication and urban planning of Europe, with their wide boulevards lined with public buildings, monumental step pyramids, and recreation centers. Although destroyed, several of them survived the colonization period.
One of the most famousChichen Itzá, flourished during a period known to historians as the “Terminal Classic,” when civilization was on the brink of both reaching its zenith and demise. Between 600 and 900 AD it was one of the largest Mayan urban centers.
More than 2 million visitors per year
The city is easily from Mexico most visited Mayan heritage site, with buy more than 2,500,000 tickets every year and travels great distances, especially from Cancun and the Riviera Maya, to bear witness to its greatness.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) may have reported one decrease in a 12.7% increase in visitors compared to the first quarter of last year, but as more parts of the city open to tourists for the first time, including temples in Chichen Viejo, and accessibility improves, it will definitely see a recovery.
Mexico’s archaeological and museum tourism is up 34.19 percent year-on-year, proving that Americans, probably the country’s main customer base, would like to immerse themselves in the history of the Mayans – but why do they flock to Chichén Itzá when there are hundreds of ruins to choose from?
Why is Chichen Itza so popular among tourists?
Chichén may have finally fallen into decline after the Spanish conquest, but it is still one of the most impressive archaeological zones in Mexico, with exhibits of an abundance of architectural styles spanning centuries, including some of the Mayan world’s best-preserved Puuc and Chenes-style structures.
This is due to Chichén Itzá’s incredibly diverse population, as it was home to Mayans from different ethnic backgrounds, speaking different dialects and coming from all over the Yucatan and Central America. However, it is certainly the most impressive structure on site El Castillo.
A huge pyramid so tall it can be touched all day long. It has a total of 365 steps, the exact number of days in a solar year. It is a testament to the genius of the Mayans and their enviable scientific endeavors.
Those who visit during the autumnal equinox, later in the year, can see the descending Kulkulkan snake winding its way up the steep stairs. It can only be seen at this time of year when the autumn sun rises in the sky and sheds light on the secret sculpture.
The well-preserved condition of the structure and the adjacent complex, which includes a ticket office, parking lots and road signs, also makes Chichén Itzá a major attraction, and the strict visitation rules that help keep the temples intact make it a valuable possess. of Mexico.
Then there’s the fact that it’s registered UNESCO World Heritage Site list, and is also considered one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
It is easy to reach from Cancun
Then of course it is easy to reach from Cancunwith numerous day trips departing daily from the Caribbean city to the location, sometimes for as cheap as $65 for a guided tour on Viator.
This December, once the Mayan Train is launched, connecting the busy resorts of the Riviera Maya to Chichen Itza, it will become even more popular.
Read more about the Mexican Caribbean’s rich ancient heritage and wealth of historical monuments here.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
