CHICHEN-ITZA, Voted One of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Written: Jul 14 '03 (Updated Jul 07 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A Beautiful and amazing partially rebuilt archeological site
Cons: Can get crowded when tour buses come in.
The Bottom Line: I have always been drawn to the works and lives of the ancient peoples of the Americas. This site tells much.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: Chichen - Itza |
Update July 7 2007
Chichen-Itza was voted as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. This was a popular vote by over a million people throughout the world over the internet and phone text messages. The announcement was made today in Portugal and also included The Great Wall of China, Rome's Colosseum, India's Taj Mahal, Jordan's Petra, Peru's Machu Picchu, and Brazil's Statue of Christ Redeemer.
It's kind of a thrill to know we climbed the main temple of the site and stayed in a hotel that is part of the original complex.
Chichen-Itza is the most visited Archeological site on the Yucatan Peninsula. If you get to Cancun, I feel, you must break away for a day and visit this site.
TRAVELING THE YUCATAN
I was fortunate enough to do a little traveling with the family. We flew into Cancun, rented a car and drove to Chichen-Itza directly from the airport. We checked into a fine place by the name of Hotel Mayaland. Part of it is actually on the grounds of this ancient city.
On this trip we also went and stayed in Playa del Carmen in a place called the Allegro Resort Playa, with side trips to Xcaret, a park based on culture, nature and learning. It was fantastic! We also visited two other ancient sites of Tulum, and Coba.
Of the three sites Chichen-Itza is the most complete at this time. Let me tell you a bit about it.
The name comes from the word Chi, that means "mouth". Chen that means "well" and Itza for the name of the people who once inhabited this site. We put it all together and get Mouth of the Well, an Itza site. Chichen-Itza. There is a well here and a few cenotes. These are important sources of water.
We were fortunate to be staying in the Hotel Mayaland because they had their own entrance to the park. We were at the gates at opening time, paid our money, and were almost alone for two hours.
EL CASTILLO, the Castle
The first place we went to was close to our entrance and also one of the big draws of the site, was "El Castillo", the Kukulan Pyramid. This structure is VERY impressive.
Two sides have been repaired to it's once sense of grandeur. You can climb up the 75' to the top. WAIT!! BE CAREFUL!! It is steep and people have had serious injuries on it. But don't let that spoil your fun.
I, along with a few of my children, walked our way to the top. My wife who is not fond of heights or climbing stayed below taking pictures of us above. You must bring a camera up to the top. The views of the rest of the site and surrounding jungles are fantastic!
At the top of the pyramid is a temple. You can walk inside it. The pyramid seemed to be built with the heavens and calendars in mind. There are 91 steps to the top. Times that by the four sides and you have 364. Add 1 to that for the final step up of the temple and you have the number 365, the days of the year.
There is a certain time of year when the sun casts shadows on the stairs and walls that creates look like a serpent descending the pyramid. This is recreated in a light show, at extra charge, at night. More about that later.
What goes up must come down so take it slowly getting back down. There is a rope you may hang onto descending the stairs. Most people use it. Many people also come down using the "ol' butt bounce". I suggest darker shorts or pants on this trip. Your back end may get a bit dirty.
Having once done much work in construction and demolition of high structures in and around NYC, the heights and walking didn't bother me. I was able to safely negotiate the steps. All my kids did the "bounce".
THE BALL COURT
From the pyramid using our self guiding map, that was given to us upon entry, we made our way to the Ball Court.
This is where the ancients played a sort of "soccer" game where they could hit the ball only with their hips. The targets were circles, one on each side of the middle of field, mounted high on the walls, in a vertical position rather than horizontal like a basketball hoop.
I really don't know how they could do it here with the hoops so high. We did see a demonstration of this game in Xcaret. It was great. It was a smaller field and the hoops were lower. The walls were also much m,ore gently sloped up as in originals we saw in Coba. We didn't get to see this game to its total end or at least not how the people of the Mayan and Totec culture did it.
You see, they ancients played this as a "final" game. There is still no definitive answer as to whether it was the winners who were losers, or losers who were winners. The way they played this game was that one team or perhaps just the captain would give up their heads at the end game. It's not noted for sure whether the losers lost their heads or the winners in glory got to go to the gods first.
The area where this is played is huge, much larger than a football field. We were alone on this whole field by ourselves and had fun just running around chasing each other while my wife hit record on our video camera. It became a sort of a "Hard Days Night" scene.
MUCH MORE TO SEE in the NORTHERN GROUP
After our antics we made our way to the Temple of Warriors, Platform of Eagles and Jaguars, The Baths, The Well, the Marketplace, and the Sacred Well where many human sacrifices were told to have taken place.
All this was amazing. Many of the buildings you could walk on, through, under, and even in. All this is considered in the Northern Group of which most of the Architecture is done by the "Toltecs". These were peoples who followed the original inhabitants of Chichen-Itza.
After adventuring and discovering much of this area we were ready for a break.
VISITORS CENTER
We checked out our map and made our way there. It was getting on noon. The weather was getting hotter and the crowds started coming in in waves! The Visitors Center is where the buses come in and there were plenty of them. In the large modern building are rest rooms, a restaurant, a mini museum, and a gift shop. There is also a mailing or "posting" station where you can send out your post cards.
We had some protein bars with us. We did get some soft drinks and moved on to the next area.
THE CENTRAL GROUP
The Central group contains much work from the original inhabitants of the area, in the earlier periods. These building seem to be older and even more fascinating. I enjoyed the Observatory. This old huge rounded building was very interesting to look at. Its amazing that these peoples were reading the skies with accuracy and had calenders.
The Nunnery is also in this area. It is supposed that kings and rulers of the day lived within these ornately carved and painted walls.
There is another building called the "Church" that is also very interesting in its reliefs and paintings. It is all interesting to go through. there is also another section that may be visited but you need a guide to take you there.
It was at about this time that we realized there were hundreds and thousands of tourists snaking their way through all the paths and buildings. It was really getting hot in the mid-day sun too. Remember that much of the area, especially the Northern Group, has no shade. There is a bit more shade in the Central group.
We decided to call it an afternoon and headed back to our hotel. It worked our wonderfully well. While all the tourists were elbowing each other in the hot sun we were back at our pool just a short walk away. We ate, cooled down, and relaxed. Later we went back to the Site for the evening light and sound show.
THE LIGHT AND SOUND SHOW
In the evening as the sun goes down an area is set up with chairs for an outdoor show. Much of the crowds are gone by then. There are some tours that stay late for this show. It is my suggestion that, if you came from Cancun for the day, book the tour that stays later to see the show. After the show, hop back on your bus, catch two hours of sleep on the ride back and you are ready to party the night in town!
The show was very interesting and hearing music and sound in this vast open area with lights putting special effects on the buildings was fascinating. There was a simulated light show showing how the "serpent shadow" makes its way down the giant pyramid. This is all once in a life time stuff. S T R E T C H the DAY.
FINAL THOUGHTS
To me the only way to do this is by staying overnight. The next day we were able to visit more of the site in the cooler and much quieter morning hours. Again that afternoon we spent time in our beautiful hotel eating relaxing and staying cool in one of the many pools on the site of the hotel.
If you are taking a day trip from Cancun prices are competitive but about $50.00 per adult for a trip that leaves Cancun at about 8:00AM and returns for 7:00PM. Usually they give an hour and a half guided tour and then you have free time. The drive is approximately three hours each way with the breaks they put into the ride. Other options with meals are available too. I also know there is an overnight tour staying at the Hotel Mayaland. I loved this place and they had some great Mexican entertainment too.
If you are a day tripper bring water for your walking. Eat on the bus just before departing. There is so much to see and not really enough time to see it. Be sure to have something to wear on your head. The sun can be brutal.
If you come prepared, be prepared, for an exciting day of discovery. CHICHEN-ITZA is a WONDER!!
Chichen Itza and Hotel Mayland are listed in the book 1,000 Places To See Before You Die It's good reading and dreaming.
A bit more in Mexico
Discovering the Yucatan Peninsula Ancient Ruins, Culture, and Relaxation
CHICHEN-ITZA, the Grand Ancient Site of the Yucatan
Coba, the ancient city A site that is just being excavated.
Tulum, Mayan Temples on the Sea
Xcaret, an Amazing Park dedicated to Nature and Culture
Hotel MayaLand A wonderful, highly recommended, place to stay near Chichen-Itza
Allegro Resort, Playacar A halfway decent all-inclusive in Playa del Carmen. Just six miles from Xcaret.
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Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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