With the recent title of one of the new seven wonders of the world, it is not surprising that the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza (Yucatan, Mexico) and the cenotes that surround the area are one of the main attractions of the Mexican Caribbean.
What you need to know before visiting Chichen Itza, Mexico
Although the Temple of Kukulcan (a.k.a. as “El Castillo”) is the best known and most photographed attraction, the truth is that Chichen Itza has much more to offer: From the Sacred Cenote, to the routes that lead to the secondary temples carved in stone and all the great places to visit close to the archeological site.
Plan your schedules and take the best photos
The Chichen Itza archaeological complex opens at 8.00 am and closes at 5.00 pm. The big buses coming from Cancun and Playa del Carmen arrive between 11.00 am and noon, so the earlier, the better, since you will enjoy the site without big crowds and without the midday heat. You will also be able to take great photos without intruders.
Although you can enter after 3 pm and touring the entire site takes a maximum of 3 hours, keep in mind that in times of COVID-19 there are restrictions regarding crowds, so only 3000 tickets are sold per day so if you arrive too late there is a chance that you won’t find a ticket.
Also please note that special entering hours to see the sunrise or see the sunset are currently closed due to COVID-19 measures.
Another advantage of arriving early is that you can park your vehicle under the shade of a tree and thus avoid overheating. The entrance to the parking lot costs only 80 MXN pesos (about USD$ 4).
“Kukulcan nights” are an unforgettable experience
If you thought that visiting Chichen Itza by day is a dream come true, you can’t help but enjoy the night show called “The Kukulcan Nights”, without the characteristic heat of the area or the hassle of souvenir vendors.
It is a night show lasting almost an hour in which you feel that you are traveling to another dimension, with surround sound and in which the pyramids are illuminated and take life.
Although the show was closed during the first year of the pandemic, the government reopened this unforgettable experience in July 2021. So be ready to write off this experience from your bucket list.
Is better to visit the archaeological complex during weekdays
Chichen Itza is a highly sought site by local tourists, in 2019 nearly 1 million Mexicans visited Chichen Itza and it is important to know that Mexican citizens have free entry to the archaeological complex on Sundays, so the site will be even more crowded than other days of the week.
We also recommend that you investigate national holidays and religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas, to avoid those dates, as they are the days when Mexicans rest and take advantage of internal tourism.
Regular road or toll-highway?
If you are staying in Cancun, the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen or Tulum there are different routes to reach Chichen Itza. What you need to decide is if you want to take the regular roads (the usual routes taken by trucks and big tourist buses) or take a toll-highway (the route taken by private cars).
Travel to Chichen Itza by toll-highway
If you are staying in Cancun, Playa Mujeres, Puerto Morelos or Playa del Carmen you can take the toll-highway to Chichen Itza. Please note that there is no toll-highway from Tulum to Chichen Itza.
Taking a toll-highway has three benefits. 1) these roads are in very good condition, 2) they are safe, you will see several police cars along the road and most importantly, 3) they are the shortest and fastest route to Chichen Itza, depending on where you are staying your estimated travel time will be between 2 and 2.5 hours.
The disadvantage is that toll-highways in Mexico are expensive. In August 2021, two tolls needed to be paid each way, so you will need to make 4 payments:.
- If you go from Playa del Carmen, you will pay 282 MXN pesos and 83 MXN pesos one way, so the total price is 730 MX (around 38 USD)
- If you go from Cancun, you will pay 338 MXN pesos and 83 MXN pesos on way, so the total price is 842 MXN (around 43 USD)
Just make sure to drive within the speed limit (110 km/hour – 68 miles/hour), the police cars are constantly checking!
If this is your decision, get ready to make the most of the day!
Travel to Chichen Itza by regular road
If you are staying in Cancun and surrounding areas you can take the regular road to Chichen Itza. This trip will take you between 3.5 and 4.5 hours.
From Tulum the only way to reach Chichen Itza is a regular road. Although it is a bit slower and it has many bumps the advantage is that you cross several small towns that will allow you to see the rural life of the Peninsula of Yucatan. You can also make stops to buy handcrafts and visit the archaeological site of Coba and several cenotes that are on the road. Tulum is closer to Chichen Itza so this trip will take around 2.5 hours. This road is also recommended if you are staying in Akumal.
If you are in Playa del Carmen or Puerto Aventuras and you don’t want to take the toll-highway you will need to first drive to Tulum and then take the regular road from there. This option will add one hour to your trip so expect to drive for around 3.5 hours.
If you don’t have a car and you are planning on taking a tour by bus (“camion” or “autobus” as they call it in Mexico) please consider that they normally don’t take the toll-highway, they will use the regular road trough Tulum to avoid paying the toll, so it will take between 4 and 5 hours to get to Chichen Itza once they have finished picking up more people from other hotels and towns along the way.
Make yourself comfortable and enjoy the scenery!
You must buy two tickets
First, you should know that if you are a foreigner, you have to pay a different rate than Mexican citizens.
Second, all payments must be made in MXN pesos, it is easier to pay in cash but they accept Visa and Mastercard.
Third, to enter the Chichen Itza archaeological complex, you must pay two tickets. This is because two government agencies run the place. You will have to pay:
- 80 MXN pesos (about USD $4) at the Instituto Nacional de Arqueología e Historia (INAH) box office.
- 453 (around USD $22.5). MXN pesos at the Yucatán State box office.
In addition, professional photographers require filming permits at an additional cost and tripods are not allowed without a special permit previously approved by the INAH, which is extremely difficult to obtain.
It is worth mentioning that these amounts change in January of each year, these rates correspond to 2021.
Souvenir sellers are inevitable
Something you should know is that it is inevitable that someone will try to sell you something. Souvenir vendors enter the complex at the same time as visitors, set up their stalls very quickly, and proceed to board tourists.
It is advisable to arrive early so that you can enjoy your excursion and avoid following their conversation, as they will chase you at all times to buy them something, even for a dollar. In any case, treat them with cordiality and respect and indicate that you do not want to buy.
Enjoy the pyramids from another perspective
Unlike other Mayan archaeological sites, in Chichen Itza you cannot climb any of the pyramids or buildings.
However, each of them has its own magic: For example, if you clap in front of them, you will hear the song of different birds from the local jungle. Try it in different buildings! Our favorite is the sound that is emitted in El Observatorio. What is yours?
The Sacred Cenote is not for swimming
The only open cenote inside Chichen Itza is for appreciation and history, this cenote is not open for swimming. The Sacred Cenote is a body of greenish water 200 ft. (61 m) in diameter and 72 ft. (22 m) deep that at the time was used exclusively for rituals, a deposit of offerings and as an ossuary. Underwater archeology was born in this cenote in Mexico.
Visit the surroundings of Chichen Itza
As you have seen, the Riviera Maya is not just beaches, but jungle, mysticism and cenotes. If you arrive early to Chichen Itza you will have time to explore the surroundings on your way back to Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum. We recommend you the following:
- Get to Chichen Itza first.
- Refresh in a beautiful Cenote. We recommend Oxman, Chukum and Suytun.
- Have lunch in the colonial town of Valladolid and walk through its beautiful streets. .
- Return to Playa del Carmen, Cancun or Tulum. From Valladolid you have access to the toll-highway.
Remember to bring biodegradable sunscreen so as not to affect the environment and take back all your waste.
- Please wear comfortable and cool clothes
In Yucatán, it is very hot and in Chichen Itza there is not much shade around the main temples, so the sun will be your main enemy. Keep in mind that, during the course of the year, the temperature generally ranges from 59 °F to 102 °F (15 °C to 39 °C) but under the sun it is always very hot.
Although there is a store at the entrance where you can buy drinks and snacks, you will not be able to buy anything else once inside. Therefore, you must bring:
- Comfortable and fresh clothes.
- Sports shoes.
- A hat, cap or umbrella (hotels usually lend them).
- Biodegradable sunscreen.
- Sunglasses.
- Much water (preferably in a metal canteen so the water stays cold longer).
- Food and snacks.
You are now ready to enjoy the best of Chichen Itza!
Without a doubt, the citadel of Chichen Itza has earned its rightful place as a New World Wonder, arrive early so that you can explore the area in calm and take great pictures.
If you have a car, you now know what are the pros and cons of every route and all the details you need to consider for a great road trip. If you are planning on taking a tour, here you can find our recommendation for a private tour. This tour has received Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award as one of the best of best experiences in 2021 around the world and you can book it regardless of whether you stay in Cancun, Playa del Carmen or Tulum.
If you have any questions or you would like to receive more details please don’t hesitate to write to one of our local experts at info@myquestconcierge.com.
