Service Date : Adults $77.00 USD: Discounts prices: $69.30 USD: Children $55.00 USD: Discounts prices: $0.00 USD: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Recalculate TOTAL :  $77.00 USD  $69.30 USD
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DESCRIPTION:

The ancient capital of the Mayan World, a must-see for anyone visiting the Yucatán Peninsula.

Chichén Itzá will be instantly recognizable. Some of its structures, like El Castillo (The Castle) and Templo de los Guerreros (The Temple of the Warriors), provide iconic images of the Mayan empire. If you are thinking Mayan, you are probably thinking of Chichén Itzá. In 2007, a global vote named the site as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It had already received the accolade of being listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As such, it could be considered wrong not to take a day out of your Cancún holiday in order to visit this ancient Mayan capital.

Though ruined, many of the grand structures at Chichén Itzá have been restored to their former glory. Over 100 paved walkways criss-cross the many complexes at the site. Visitors usually flock to the Great North Platform complex, which includes El Castillo, Temple of Warriors and the Great Ball Court. Two other favourites are the The Ossario Group complex, with the Ossario Pyramid and the Temple of Xtoloc; or The Central Group, with the Caracol, Las Monjas, and Akab Dzib. However, the other complexes are also well worth the visit.

Our excursion begins by picking up passengers, according to the scheduled time, from the lobbies of all major Cancun hotels. Check-in will be performed at our terminal, prior to departure in a deluxe motor coach or van.

History of Chichén Itzá

Chichén Itzá was founded around 514 CE and soon rose to regional prominence. By circa 900 CE, it was the focal point for the entire Mayan Northern Lowlands, dominating the economical, political, religious and cultural lives of its population. Its rise also corresponds with the decline of similiar capital cities around the Southern Lowlands, as people looked north for direction. It was important enough to attract the attention of the Central Mexican Toltec king, Topiltzin Ce Acatl Quetzalcoatl, who invaded in 987 CE and made Chichén Itzá his new capital city.

In 1526, the Spanish came, but Chichén Itzá was strong enough to repel them. Spanish Conquistador Francisco de Montejo, a veteran of several previous expeditions, arrived, but barely escaped in 1534 with only 150 of his men remaining. Under the leadership from Chichén Itzá, all of the Spanish were evicted from the Yucatán Peninsula during the next year. However, they came back with even greater forces, weaponry and, importantly, European diseases, like smallpox, to which the Mayans had not been exposed before. By 1588, Chichén Itzá was taken and turned into a cattle ranch. It never ceased to become a site of pilgrimage though. Both Mayan and Spanish sources tell of people returning to pay homage at the site's Cenote Sagrado.

Chichén Itzá and Religion

Chichén Itzá translates as 'at the mouth of the well of the magicians' and therein lies a huge clue to some of its dark history. Mayan tradition and archaeological finds alike confirm the use of famous Cenote Sagrado (Sacred Well) for human sacrifice. It was dedicated to the rain god, Chaac, and gold, jade, pottery and incense have been found alongside the human bones in it. Not everyone thrown into Cenote Sagrado did die. The story goes that survivors had the gift of prophecy and therefore became holy people themselves. The Mayan Chronicles tell of a 13th century man, Hunac Ceel, who oversaw a sacrificial ceremony in which no-one survived. He promptly threw himself into the well and did claw his way out again. He prophesized his own ascendancy to the throne and soon did become ruler there.

The mystically-minded still do flock to Chichén Itzá, especially at Spring Equinox (around March 21st). Thousands turn up to see the light and shadow effect on the pyramid walls of the Temple of Kukulcan. The temple is perfectly aligned with the equinox so that the feathered serpent deity, Kukulcan, can clearly be seen descending the steps. This would have been a powerful image at the height of the Mayan Empire, as Kukulcan was seen as the messenger between the gods and the monarch. He was symbolic of sovereignty and the divine right of the king to rule. This equinox display would have only reinforced that link in the minds of the onlooking subjects. It is also notable that a lazer scan of the limestone column at the site's Cave of Balankanche corresponds very well to the Mayan World Tree.

 

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