Share the article
Last updated
Cancun is perhaps the top tourist destination in Mexico, welcoming guests to luxurious resorts and pristine Caribbean beaches surrounded by turquoise waters, but aside from its impressive service, it lacks one thing, and one thing only:
Culture.
Built as a resort hub in the late 1970s, it has aged well collected heritage to support it as nearby Izamal, Merida and other colonial-era cities do, but that doesn’t mean visitors can’t experience Mexico’s ancient culture when they fly to Cancun.
In fact, one of Mexico’s most famous historical sites, recently voted one of the world’s best experiences TripAdvisoris about a two-hour drive from Cancun, and it is possible easy be seen as a day out:
Why is Chichén Itzá so fascinating?
One of Mexico’s 35 prized UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Chichén Itzá is an archaeological complex in the northeastern Yucatán, a peninsula often associated with the legendary Maya and other indigenous cultures that prevailed in Mexico before the arrival of Spanish colonists .
Since most of it lies in ruins today, visitors can easily forget that Chichén Itzá was once a thriving settlement from its construction around 600 AD until its demise in the 13th century. sheer size of the site gives us an indication of its importance at the time.
There are more than 20 building groups within the complex, with as many as 26 Mayan buildings to see, with varying levels of conservation, and because they are connected by 75 tourist-friendly roads, you can explore the area complete on foot.
It is far from the oldest Mayan site in existence, nor the most historically important, but it does stand out because it one of the best preservedcentered around a monumental temple of Kukulcan, known locally as El Castillo (or ‘The Castle’).
This temple is also a step pyramid richly decorated with stone carvings, and if you are there this fall, when the autumnal equinox takes place on September 22, you may be lucky enough to witness the temples of Chichén Itzá. greatest man-made miracle:
When the sun casts its light against the northwest edge of the pyramid, it produces a serpentine shadow that appears to descend along the temple – further evidence of the architectural talent of the Maya.
Other structures include the Great Ball Court, the Skull Platform, which used to display the severed heads of enemies, the Platform of the Eagles and the Jaguars, and the Temple of the Warriors, guarded by a series of columns depicting Mayan heroes.
Recently, a brand new section of the ruins opened to the public for the first time: Chichén Viejo, a secluded complex of villas and palatial temples that once belonged to Mayan elites, including the 1,372-year-old Temple of Stucco, one of the oldest in the city.
This is the best tourist experience for tourists in Cancun
Chichén Itzá is located 200 kilometers west of Cancun, and if you come by car, it takes 2.30 hours to get therebut given the well-documented car rental scams at Cancun Airport and the unpredictable traffic, we don’t recommend going alone.
Instead you should book the Sat Mexico Tour’sChichén Itzá, Cenote and Valladolid: All-Inclusive Tour‘, which includes not only admission to the mystical ancient city, but also stops at a turquoise sinkhole nestled in the Mexican jungle, and the charming Spanish-built town of Valladolid for lunch.
Pickup is available from the hotel zone, where most Americans will stay during their trip.
The activity includes a live guide who will answer all your burning questions about the site and the Mayan civilization–an advantage you wouldn’t get if you traveled alone.
With a duration of 12 hours, it is one of the most extensive excursions offered from Cancun, as well as one of the cheapest, from $29.50 to $59.00 per person on Receive your guidedepending on season and seat availability.
According to TripAdvisorthis tour ranks among the top experiences in the world, and specifically in Cancun, as the best in the city, based on thousands upon thousands of (mostly positive) traveler reviews.
It is recommended by more than 96% of travelers, which indicates universal acclaim.
Are there alternative tours?
Although rated #1 on TripAdvisor, Sat Mexico Tour’s Chichén Itzá excursion isn’t the only one currently offered from Cancun:
Their competitor TRAVEL ALLIANCE promotes an alternative Chichén Itzá experience combining lunch in the much smaller, traditional Mayan town of Kaua instead of Valladolid, and an hour’s swim at Ik Kil Cenote, from $32.20––64.40.
If it’s the ancient Mayan world that piques your interest, and you’re not particularly keen on visiting smaller ethnic towns along the way, then Amigo Tours LATAM‘s Cobá & Chichén Itzá Trip with Cenote & Lunch might appeal to you, from $61.64.
Moreover, a new passenger train has launched from Cancun to Chichén Itzá, making it easier for independent travelers to commute without resorting to car rentals or guided activities if they aren’t fans of large tour groups.
The archaeological site is located just 2h21 from Cancun, almost halfway between the resort zone and the Yucatan capital Merida, but daily departures are limited.
If you plan to visit Chichén Itzá as a day trip, we recommend checking the current timelines on the website. official website.
✈️Join our Travel Off Path community forum: Where travelers come together, ask questions, share experiences and even find like-minded travel companions!
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS
Enter your email address to subscribe to the latest Travel Off Path breaking travel news, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
