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Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is by far the most famous, most frequently visited,

El Castillo and the Group of the Thousand Columns

and best restored of all of the archaeological sites in the Yucatán Peninsula. It is located 119 km (74 miles) east of Mérida, 42 km (26 miles) west of Valladolid and 200 km (125 miles) west of Cancún.

Archeologists believed that its residents abandoned Chichen Itza in the 9th century, although no one is certain why. During the Late Classic period, from 600 to 950 A.D., Chichen Itza was inhabited purely by Mayans. During the 10th century, the Toltecs invaded the city. They came from Tula, located in the central highlands just north of Mexico City. The Toltec and the Mayan cultures eventually merged, and the primary Toltec god, Quetzatlcoatl, was renamed Kukulkán. Kukulká's principle form was that of a plumed serpent. One of the other important gods for this agricultural society was Chac, the benevolent god of rain, who is recognizable by his fierce fanged elephant-like teeth and his long nose. Throughout the city, you can find images of both Kukulkán and Chac.

Following the Toltec occupation, the Itzaes, a less cultured people, took over Chichen Itza around 1200 A.D. One of their leaders moved his political capital to Mayapán, west of the city, and kept Chichen Itza as a religious capital. The city’s residents abandoned Chichen Itza for the last time during the 14th century. It was still a pilgrimage destination for many years after that, however, even after the Spanish Conquest.

El Castillo

One of the most astonishing buildings is El Castillo (The Castle). It stands 25 meters (82 feet) tall and was originally built around 800 A.D., before the Toltec invasion. The building itself represents a Mayan calendar. If you count all of the steps in El Castillo, they add up to 365, the number of days in a year. On each façade of the pyramid are 52 flat panels, which are believed to represent the 52 months in the round Mayan calendar. On the first day of spring and fall (March 21 and September 23), the most startling change occurs to the building. In the middle of the afternoon, a descending serpent, representing Kukulkán, appears on the side of the building, painted in light and shadow. A stone snake's head pointing toward el Cenote Sagrado (the Sacred Cenote) at the very bottom of the stairs completes the effect. It is visible for about three hours, although it is possible to see it a day or two before and after the equinoxes. Climbing the buildings is allowed, although it is not recommended for anyone with heart problems or other physical limitations. While the number of stairs is always a concern, the steps themselves are high and very narrow.

The Ball Court

Another of the buildings, the Ball Court, is the largest and most impressive structure of its type in Mexico. It was a stadium used for ritual games around 864 A.D. Because the games were part of the Mayan religion, it was a safe bet that someone was heading for sacrifice when it was all over. While most may consider it fair to send the losers to their deaths at the conclusion of the games, this special privilege is believed to have been reserved for the winners. This was so the victors could share the otherworld with their gods and avoid going through the 13 steps the Mayans believed one had to ascend to get to heaven. One of the most intriguing things about the Ball Court is the remarkable acoustics. One can clap or scream anywhere in the structure, but an echo can only be reproduced in two places, right in front of the stone rings located on either side of the court. Although it has been studied extensively, no one fully understands how the Mayans were able to create this effect.

Other buildings in the area include Templo de los Guerreros y Templo

The Nunnery, Chichen Itza

de las Mil Columnas (the Temple of the Warriors and the Group of the Thousand Columns), la Casa Colorada (the Red House), el Caracol (the Giant Conch Snail), El Edificio de las Monjas (the Nunnery), la Plataforma de Venus (Platform of Venus), and Templo de los Cráneos (Temple of the Skulls). El Cenote Sagrado (the Sacred Cenote) is also worth a visit, a place where maidens, children, warriors, and, of course, ball winners were sacrificed to the gods.

Chichen Itza is open from 8 AM to 6 PM everyday. There is an entrance fee of $80 pesos (US$8), and an additional fee for carrying video cameras. At night, a light show is presented. Parking is available for a small fee. There are restaurants, souvenir shops and bathrooms at the site, as well as some luxury hotels. Chichen Itza is located in the town of Piste, just 1.5 km (1 mile) from the town center. Buses from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Merida and other cities stop at the ruins.

El Caracol, Chichen Itza