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Chichen-Itza

Chichen-Itza
Chac Mool
The Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza is a large archaeological site built by the Maya civilization. It is located in the northern center of the Yucatán Peninsula, present-day Mexico. It is one of the most important examples of the Mayan-Toltec civilization in Yucatán.

Chichen Itza was a major regional center in the northern Maya lowlands from the Late Classic through the Terminal Classic and into the early portion of the Early Postclassic period. The site exhibits a multitude of architectural styles, from what is called “Mexicanized” and reminiscent of styles seen in central Mexico to the Puuc style found among the Puuc Maya of the northern lowlands. The presence of central Mexican styles was once thought to have been representative of direct migration or even conquest from central Mexico, but most contemporary interpretations view the presence of these non-Maya styles more as the result of cultural diffusion.

Archaeological data, such as evidence of burning at a number of important structures and architectural complexes, suggest that Chichen Itza's collapse was violent. Following the decline of Chichen Itza's hegemony, regional power in the Yucatán shifted to a new center at Mayapan.

Year Decision Comments
1988 Inscribed Reasons for inscription
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Reviews

Thibault Magnien (France):
The ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza is located in the Yucatan peninsula. The place was the major religious centre of the area. Experts explain the presence of the city on this place by the existence of natural wells (Cenotes) allowing the supply of water in an area where water in a scarce resource.
The main elements of the site consist of the great pyramid of Kukulcan (el Castillo), the astronomic observatory (El Caracol), the field in which people were playing a ball game whose stakes were to have the honor of being sacrificed, the sacred Cenote where sacrifices were done and the one-thousand-columns building.
The great pyramid, 1000 years old, is 30 meters high and has been designed to create certain effects; for example, on the north-east stairs, the clapping echo becomes a sound looking like the flight of the quetzal (local bird). The total number of steps around the pyramid is 365, which indicate a link with the solar calendar.
This pre-Columbian city is a great testimony of Mayan civilization and its people’s way of life several millenniums ago.
Date posted: April 2012
Juan Velasco (U.S.A.):
It's a transcendent experience. In 1997 we took the road from Cancun to visit this site. The road was long but interesting with the jungle hugging up against the roadside on both sides. The road just cutting a narrow line through it. I remember it being a straight journey too, no turns or twists. You get there, you park and (then anyways) you really can't see the ruins yet. You have to walk through this trail through the jungle. The whole time you hear rustling on either side of you and you barely catch glimpses of running iguanas. It was wonderful and surreal. Finally the trail ends and the jungles opens up into a massive clearing and there is the grand complex and the huge pyramid looming before you. I will never forget it. When you climb to the top of the pyramid (as you could then) you look around and all you see is green jungle for miles around, forever. The landscape in the Yucatan peninsula is very flat so that beautiful green goes on for what seems like an eternity. Breathtaking. Definately walk the path from the pyramind to the gorgeous cenote at the other end. As your walking it imagine your walking the same steps the priests took centuries before as they made their way to it to drop in their offerings of gold, jewels, and sometimes even a person or two as tokens of veneration to their gods. You just have to see it.
Date posted: August 2008
Lourdes Vicente (Canada):
Amazing site on he top of the ruin. If you want to visit, avoid the months of June-August...it's very hot and lots of tourist. The culture and the history is quite amazing. Overall, it's a magical place and you should go and see it.
Date posted: May 2008
zack culvert (USA):
Really scary coming down the pyramid, I remember from 10 years ago. The ballcourt should not be missed, nor the acoustics of the court, where you can hear people speaking from a football field away.
Date posted: March 2006
Philip T.K. (Canada):
I visited Chichen Itza on a day tour from Cancun during the summer of 2005. It is extremely hot so remember to bring a hat! After an hour of listening to my guide with two dozen other sweating people, we were given one hour free time to explore on our own. I spent a large part of that hour waiting in line to go inside the pyramid and I must say I was very disappointed. There was nothing to see inside except for a jaguar throne and it was actually hotter inside the pyramid than outside of it! After that disappointed experience, I had just enough time to climb up and down the pyramid before I had to return to the tour bus. Overall, I very much enjoyed my visit and you should definitely go visit it if you are in the area.
Date posted: October 2005


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