The city of Chichn Itz was one of the largest, most impressive, and most fascinating in the Yucatn peninsula. An unusually diverse population lent a variety of artistic and architectural styles to its construction; coupled with the sheer number of buildings at the site, visitors may easily find themselves overwhelmed. The city is just too large to explore effectively by walking at random, which will likely leave you feeling a bit lost and bewildered (not to mention hot!). This guide will help you narrow down the list and make your way through the sea of pyramids and temples to some of Chichn Itz's most amazing treasures.
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 Chichn Itz 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.
El Caracol
Meaning "The Snail" in Spanish, El Caracol is a circular building set upon a large square platform, and is named for the spiral staircase contained within its dome. Building such structures out of stone takes a significant mastery of architecture and materials, and displays the Mayans genius and proficiency for building. More than that, it puts the Mayan predilection for science front and center; the shape and the placement of its doors and windows leads archaeologists to speculate that this was used as an astronomical observatory, specifically designed to align with the movements of the heavens (such as the pat of Venus across the night sky), and as such is one of the first known in the western hemisphere and one the earliest that still exists today.
The Caves of Balanckanche
Not far from the center of Chichn Itz, there is an entrance to an elaborate and ancient network of caverns known as the Caves of Balanckanche. Inside these caves are an astounding number of artifacts that span practically the entire history of the Mayan civilization, from the Pre-Classic era right up through the Spanish colonization of the Yucatn. Most of these finds have been left exactly as they were discovered, so that visitors to the caves can view an archaeological site just as it appears when researchers first stumble upon it. Many examples of pottery, statues, idols, carvings, and other ancient trinkets are fully on display; even more interesting, though, is the shape of the cave system itself. Consisting of a central limestone column and a bifurcating network of branch-like chambers, the caves strongly resemble a tree, which is thought by scientists to be an intentional representation of the World Tree so central to Mayan mythology.
The Famous Light and Sound Show
Those who visit Chichn Itz during the day are encouraged to return after dark; in fact, the same ticket used for daytime admission can be presented again at night in order to attend the light and sound extravaganza, held every evening at the great pyramid El Castillo. The show lasts for about an hour, and features a heart-pounding soundtrack and amazing light and laser visuals. The public narration is in Spanish, but for those who aren't fluent, headphones can be obtained which provide the same soundtrack in your language of choice.
The Descent of Kukulcan
Occurring in late March, the Spring Equinox is a special time for Chichn Itz, 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 Chichn Itz 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.
El Caracol
Meaning "The Snail" in Spanish, El Caracol is a circular building set upon a large square platform, and is named for the spiral staircase contained within its dome. Building such structures out of stone takes a significant mastery of architecture and materials, and displays the Mayans genius and proficiency for building. More than that, it puts the Mayan predilection for science front and center; the shape and the placement of its doors and windows leads archaeologists to speculate that this was used as an astronomical observatory, specifically designed to align with the movements of the heavens (such as the pat of Venus across the night sky), and as such is one of the first known in the western hemisphere and one the earliest that still exists today.
The Caves of Balanckanche
Not far from the center of Chichn Itz, there is an entrance to an elaborate and ancient network of caverns known as the Caves of Balanckanche. Inside these caves are an astounding number of artifacts that span practically the entire history of the Mayan civilization, from the Pre-Classic era right up through the Spanish colonization of the Yucatn. Most of these finds have been left exactly as they were discovered, so that visitors to the caves can view an archaeological site just as it appears when researchers first stumble upon it. Many examples of pottery, statues, idols, carvings, and other ancient trinkets are fully on display; even more interesting, though, is the shape of the cave system itself. Consisting of a central limestone column and a bifurcating network of branch-like chambers, the caves strongly resemble a tree, which is thought by scientists to be an intentional representation of the World Tree so central to Mayan mythology.
The Famous Light and Sound Show
Those who visit Chichn Itz during the day are encouraged to return after dark; in fact, the same ticket used for daytime admission can be presented again at night in order to attend the light and sound extravaganza, held every evening at the great pyramid El Castillo. The show lasts for about an hour, and features a heart-pounding soundtrack and amazing light and laser visuals. The public narration is in Spanish, but for those who aren't fluent, headphones can be obtained which provide the same soundtrack in your language of choice.
The Descent of Kukulcan
Occurring in late March, the Spring Equinox is a special time for Chichn Itz, 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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