Among Mayan sites in the Yucatan, the ancient city of Chichen Itza stands out as one of the largest, most amazing, and most intriguing of them all. Because the city's population was so diverse and its history so extensive, the numerous buildings combine many architectural styles and motifs, and visitors could easily be forgiven for feeling overwhelmed by the task of choosing what to see. Ad-hoc exploration is not likely to be fruitful, as the sheer size of the site will just leave you confused and walking in aimless circles; you'll need a map and a plan to find your way around the city. Below are listed a few of the most magnificent sites, along with their locations, to better equip you to explore Chichn Itz.
The largest and most impressive of the seven tlatchtli ball courts within the city's perimeter is the Great Ballcourt, found at the northwest corner. Although scientists aren't sure exactly how this game was played, it's considered likely that it was similar to the modern-day game of umal, which originates from western Mexico. Tlatchtli was played by a large number of cultures in Central America and evolved over many centuries. In many ways, the 150-meter-long court at Chichen Itza represents the pinnacle of this process; the huge audience stands that flank it, and the ornately carved goal hoops set high above the playing field lead archaeologists to suspect that only the most elite players competed in this arena " in ceremonial games which at least sometimes resulted in the ritual sacrifice of the losing team.
The Warrior Temple
Built in the form of an enormous stepped pyramid, the Templo de los Guerreros (Temple of the Warriors) takes its name from the rows of statues depicting fierce combatants that flank and front the structure. The Temple was actually constructed around another, earlier temple called the Temple of Chac Mool; a Chac Mool statue, featuring a reclining human with a sideways-looking head, rests atop the pyramid, and is thought to have been used as a platform for ritual sacrifices. The Temple is currently undergoing restoration, which prevents visitors from climbing its stairs, but not from appreciating its grandeur.
The Snail
Meaning "The Snail" in Spanish, El Caracol is one of the most unusual structures found at any Mayan site. Constructed on top of a raised, flat platform, El Caracol is a circular building that contains a spiral staircase. These two features are very difficult to construct from the stone materials used at Chichen Itza, and indicate a remarkable degree of proficiency on the part of the architects, not to mention intent. Why would the Mayans build a raised, round structure, which also has a curious sequence of portal-like doors and windows? The answer seems to lie in the stars, as scientists have confirmed that these windows align to specific astronomical phenomena such as the passage of Venus across the night sky. The affinity of the Maya for watching and charting the stars has been well-established, and it appears that El Caracol is one of the first observatories in the western hemisphere, not to mention one of the oldest still in existence.
The Caves of Balanckanche
Close by to the city proper is the entryway to a particularly ancient network of caves, known as the Caves of Balanckanche. They are one of Chichn Itz's most incredible features, in part because of their size and shape, but mostly due to the wealth of artifacts contained within. Hundreds of statues, idols, carvings, pottery, and other items litter the cave floors, spanning nearly the entire history of Mayan civilization from the Pre-Classic times until well after the Spanish invasion of the Yucatn. Most of the artifacts have not been removed, but rather studied while in the same position as when first discovered, in order to afford visitors to the caverns a unique glimpse of a one-of-a-kind archaeological find unspoiled by later human activity. The layout of the caves is also extremely significant. Consisting of a central column made of limestone, which branches out into an unmistakable series of limb-like patterns, the overall structure of the caves looks like nothing so much as an enormous tree " important because the World-Tree is one of the central concepts of Mayan mythology and religion.
Unforgettable Display of Light and Sound
Not everyone who visits Chichen Itza during the day realizes that it's equally as exciting at night! The same ticket that purchases park admission during daylight hours can also be used for admission to the light and sound show, which begins nightly after sunset and illuminates the great pyramid of El Castillo with colorful lights and lasers, accompanied by a stirring soundtrack. Lasting about an hour, the show is narrated in Spanish, although headsets can be obtained that provide the narration in a variety of languages.
The Descent of Kukulcan
Occurring in late March, the Spring Equinox is a special time for Chichen Itza, and its passing is marked by a three-day festival of singing, dancing, music, and theater. The high point of the Spring festival is the so-called "Descent of Kukulcan" which happens at the El Castillo pyramid. During the late afternoon, you can see a series of triangular shadows appear on the western face of the pyramid (caused by the sun shining over the northwest corner); the shadows then appear to actually crawl down the side of El Castillo in a manner quite reminiscent of a large snake. Though no archaeologists have been able to confirm this was the intention of the builders, given that the pyramid itself was built in tribute of the feathered serpent god Kukulcan, many believe that the ingenious and astronomically-inclined Maya designed the structure to create this phenomenon on an especially significant day of the year.
The largest and most impressive of the seven tlatchtli ball courts within the city's perimeter is the Great Ballcourt, found at the northwest corner. Although scientists aren't sure exactly how this game was played, it's considered likely that it was similar to the modern-day game of umal, which originates from western Mexico. Tlatchtli was played by a large number of cultures in Central America and evolved over many centuries. In many ways, the 150-meter-long court at Chichen Itza represents the pinnacle of this process; the huge audience stands that flank it, and the ornately carved goal hoops set high above the playing field lead archaeologists to suspect that only the most elite players competed in this arena " in ceremonial games which at least sometimes resulted in the ritual sacrifice of the losing team.
The Warrior Temple
Built in the form of an enormous stepped pyramid, the Templo de los Guerreros (Temple of the Warriors) takes its name from the rows of statues depicting fierce combatants that flank and front the structure. The Temple was actually constructed around another, earlier temple called the Temple of Chac Mool; a Chac Mool statue, featuring a reclining human with a sideways-looking head, rests atop the pyramid, and is thought to have been used as a platform for ritual sacrifices. The Temple is currently undergoing restoration, which prevents visitors from climbing its stairs, but not from appreciating its grandeur.
The Snail
Meaning "The Snail" in Spanish, El Caracol is one of the most unusual structures found at any Mayan site. Constructed on top of a raised, flat platform, El Caracol is a circular building that contains a spiral staircase. These two features are very difficult to construct from the stone materials used at Chichen Itza, and indicate a remarkable degree of proficiency on the part of the architects, not to mention intent. Why would the Mayans build a raised, round structure, which also has a curious sequence of portal-like doors and windows? The answer seems to lie in the stars, as scientists have confirmed that these windows align to specific astronomical phenomena such as the passage of Venus across the night sky. The affinity of the Maya for watching and charting the stars has been well-established, and it appears that El Caracol is one of the first observatories in the western hemisphere, not to mention one of the oldest still in existence.
The Caves of Balanckanche
Close by to the city proper is the entryway to a particularly ancient network of caves, known as the Caves of Balanckanche. They are one of Chichn Itz's most incredible features, in part because of their size and shape, but mostly due to the wealth of artifacts contained within. Hundreds of statues, idols, carvings, pottery, and other items litter the cave floors, spanning nearly the entire history of Mayan civilization from the Pre-Classic times until well after the Spanish invasion of the Yucatn. Most of the artifacts have not been removed, but rather studied while in the same position as when first discovered, in order to afford visitors to the caverns a unique glimpse of a one-of-a-kind archaeological find unspoiled by later human activity. The layout of the caves is also extremely significant. Consisting of a central column made of limestone, which branches out into an unmistakable series of limb-like patterns, the overall structure of the caves looks like nothing so much as an enormous tree " important because the World-Tree is one of the central concepts of Mayan mythology and religion.
Unforgettable Display of Light and Sound
Not everyone who visits Chichen Itza during the day realizes that it's equally as exciting at night! The same ticket that purchases park admission during daylight hours can also be used for admission to the light and sound show, which begins nightly after sunset and illuminates the great pyramid of El Castillo with colorful lights and lasers, accompanied by a stirring soundtrack. Lasting about an hour, the show is narrated in Spanish, although headsets can be obtained that provide the narration in a variety of languages.
The Descent of Kukulcan
Occurring in late March, the Spring Equinox is a special time for Chichen Itza, and its passing is marked by a three-day festival of singing, dancing, music, and theater. The high point of the Spring festival is the so-called "Descent of Kukulcan" which happens at the El Castillo pyramid. During the late afternoon, you can see a series of triangular shadows appear on the western face of the pyramid (caused by the sun shining over the northwest corner); the shadows then appear to actually crawl down the side of El Castillo in a manner quite reminiscent of a large snake. Though no archaeologists have been able to confirm this was the intention of the builders, given that the pyramid itself was built in tribute of the feathered serpent god Kukulcan, many believe that the ingenious and astronomically-inclined Maya designed the structure to create this phenomenon on an especially significant day of the year.
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