How to Get to Chichen Itza: 7 Tips You Should Consider

The Mayan ruins par excellence, Chichén Itzá is an impressive archaeological complex that allows us to learn more about the lifestyle of our ancestors. If you are thinking of traveling to this magical place, here are some tips on how to get to chichen itza that you should consider.

How to get to chichen itza?

Chichen Itza pyramid at night and illuminatedChichén Itzá is one of the most famous archaeological complexes in the world, so you will not only have immense and imposing ruins in front of you, but a thousand tourists are walking around as well. The complex opens at 8 am, so the recommendation is to arrive at that time or even a little earlier. Travelers who hire tours arrive around 10 am, so you will have 2 hours to tour the area and weather the tourists and the heat.

Another alternative is to visit Chichen Itza at night. From Tuesday to Sunday at 8 pm (7 pm during winter), a night show called “Las Noches de Kukulcán” begins with lights and sounds that enhance the sensory experience of the ruins.

On Sundays: free for nationals

Two tourists pose in front of the pyramids of Chichen Itza. You are Mexican and want to save the entrance fee. You should visit Chichén Itzá on Sundays, where entry is free. However, Sundays are also the most visited days and therefore, the number of people in Chichén Itzá can be overwhelming.

Explore all areas

The main attraction of Chichén Itzá is its spectacular Kukulcán pyramid or El Castillo. At XX meters high, this construction is the most imposing in the complex. However, you should know that Chichén Itzá also includes several other equally impressive attractions such as the Ball Game sector, The Observatory, the Platform of the Skulls, the Sacred Cenote and the Temple of the Warriors, among others. The Sacred Cenote. This is where the Mayans performed human and animal sacrifices. For no reason is it possible to bathe here.

Hire an official guide

Hiring a guide offers you the possibility of getting the most out of your visit to Chichén Itzá. However, it is not mandatory to do so, as in other archaeological sites such as Machu Picchu, make sure that the guides you hire are official.

In Denomades, we offer the tour to Chichén Itzá and Cenote Xcajum, where a guide will accompany you, but you will also have the opportunity to tour the citadel on your own for 1 hour.

Have lunch in Pisté

Most of the food sectors in Chichen Itza are expensive and the food leaves to be desired. So if you are looking to add a delicious gourmet experience to your visit, we recommend you have lunch at Pisté, where you can find delicious Yucatan food for excellent prices.

Take a bath in the nearby cenotes

Photograph of a Cenote in Mexico taken from the airThe natural beauty of the Yucatan cenotes is impressive. Although you cannot bathe in the Sacred Cenote of Chichén Itzá for obvious reasons, very close by is the Xcajum cenote, famous for its blue waters and dreamy natural environment. In Denomades, we offer the Chichen Itzá and Cenote Xcajum tour that incorporates this visit.

Observe the descent of the Kukulcán snake

During sunset in Chichen ItzáEvery equinox (March 21 and September 21), Pyramid has a spectacular astronomical effect in Chichén Itzá. Local guides say that the architects of the citadel were so meticulous and expert in their discipline that every year during the equinoxes the sunlight hits the Kukulcán pyramid in such a way that it forms the descent of the Kukulcán snake. This phenomenon lasts only 5 minutes and is so popular that it brings together thousands of travelers every year.

How to get to Chichen Itza

If you are in the Yucatan Peninsula, there are several ways to transfer from nearby cities such as Mérida, Tulum, Calladolid and Cancun. Direct buses, collectives and taxis depart from these cities. The schedules are quite frequent so it is unnecessary to book in advance if you want to go on your own.

How much does it cost to visit Chichén Itzá?

Constructions in the archaeological complex of Chichén Itzá General entry: 481 pesos (24 dollars)
Mexican nationality: 202 pesos (10 dollars)
Free entry: Over 60 years old, retirees, pensioners, teachers, students, children under 13 years old and the disabled.

What is the best time to visit Chichén Itzá?

Group of travelers under parasols in Chichen ItzaIf we think of the climate as the main factor to define the best time, you should know that the temperatures in the Mayan Peninsula are very high during practically the whole year. Between December and January, these oscillate around 28ºC, while between May and August, they average 35ºC.

In addition to the number of tourists during the year, the best months to visit Chichén Itzá are between March and May, when temperatures are not very high, there is little rain and tourism.