Backpacking the Mayan Ruins of Chichén Itzá | Mexico
Visiting the ancient Mayan city of Chichén Itzá, 2nd most popular site in Mexico after Teotihuacán and an easy day trip from Mérida, Yucatán
Chichén Itzá finally ticked off from the Mexico Bucket List.
I have now visited Teotihuacán, Monte Albán, Mitla, Palenque, Edzná and Chichén Itzá archaeological sites in Mexico.
I have now visited Teotihuacán, Monte Albán, Mitla, Palenque, Edzná and Chichén Itzá archaeological sites in Mexico.
The name Chichén Itzá means 'At the mouth of the well of the Itzá'.
The Temple of Kukulcán (El Castillo) dominates the archaeological site of Chichén Itzá built by the Maya people in 600 A.D.
The Temple of the Large Tables, adorned with engravings of "Jaguars in Procession":
Plaza of the Thousand Columns:
Beautiful engravings at Chichén Itzá:
Tickets for Chichén Itzá
Chichén Itzá is not a cheap day out. Whilst the site entrance fee is the standard 80MXN there is a tax to pay too:
Additionally, the State Government through the Yucatan Tax Administration Agency charges a general admission of $ 417.00 and for Mexicans who prove their nationality through official identification, the additional admission will be $ 130.00. Prices have since gone up, again. Source inah.gob.mx
So the total entrance fee paid is 533MXN which is 26 USD, similar to Tikal, Guatemala. But I am kinda wondering whose pockets we are lining because they are not using the income on the site. There are many areas overgrown and the signage is almost non-existant, so much so that I missed out on seeing the area with the observatory. A big disappointment!
Another by-product of being UNESCO listed. If they can fully maintain sites like Edzna on an entrance fee of 65MXN they could be doing the same on a site such as Chichén Itzá.
And this is the era of COVID. No restrictions on numbers and the place was heaving.
Another by-product of being UNESCO listed. If they can fully maintain sites like Edzna on an entrance fee of 65MXN they could be doing the same on a site such as Chichén Itzá.
And this is the era of COVID. No restrictions on numbers and the place was heaving.
