Chichen Itza On-Site Guided Tour with Certified Local Guide

El Castillo, the Temple of Kukulcan

El Castillo, also called the Temple of Kukulcan, is the symbol of Chichen Itza and one of the most famous buildings of the ancient Americas. The stepped pyramid rises about 30 metres above the Great Plaza, with a stairway of 91 steps on each side; together with the top platform they add up to 365, the days of the solar year. The whole building is a calendar in stone.

At the spring and autumn equinoxes the late-afternoon sun throws a pattern of triangles down the northern stairway, like a serpent sliding to the carved snake heads at its foot. Climbing the pyramid is no longer allowed, but your guide shows you where to stand for the best photos and explains the older temple hidden inside. Seeing El Castillo with a guide is what makes this Chichen Itza guided tour worthwhile.

The Great Ball Court

West of the plaza lies the Great Ball Court, the largest known in Mesoamerica at about 168 metres long. Two massive parallel walls face each other across the playing field, each with a stone ring set high in the middle, through which players tried to pass a heavy rubber ball using only their hips, knees and elbows.

The game was a sport and a sacred ritual, and the carved panels along the base of the walls show scenes of players and ceremonies. Your guide also demonstrates the famous acoustics: a clap at one end echoes several times, and voices carry clearly from one temple to the other. Many visitors say this is the most surprising stop of their Chichen Itza tour.

The Sacred Cenote

A raised ancient road leads north from the plaza through the trees to the Sacred Cenote, a huge round sinkhole about 60 metres across with sheer limestone walls dropping to deep green water. The name Chichen Itza means at the mouth of the well of the Itza, and this cenote was the holiest place of the city.

The Maya made offerings to the rain god here, and divers have recovered jade, gold, pottery, incense and human remains from its depths. Standing at the edge, you understand why cenotes were seen as doors to the underworld. Your guide explains the rituals and what the finds tell us about the power of Chichen Itza, which traded across the whole Yucatan Peninsula and far beyond.

Planning your visit: tickets, hours and how to get there

Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It lies in Yucatan, about 40 kilometres west of Valladolid, some 120 kilometres from Merida and around 200 kilometres from Cancun, which is how most people get there: by car, by bus or on a day tour. The site usually opens daily from 8:00 to 17:00.

Chichen Itza tickets are bought at the entrance and include a federal and a state fee; buy yours before meeting the guide, as they are not included. The best time to visit Chichen Itza is early in the morning, before the heat and the big groups, so the 09:00 shared tour is a good choice. Bring water, a hat, sunscreen and comfortable shoes, as there is little shade on the plaza.