Check Out Chichen Itza
Ticked off in October 2009
Stand before the great Maya pyramid of Kukulcán, clap your hands and hear the stone answer with a bird's chirp.
The adventure
El Castillo, the Temple of Kukulcán, rises about 30 metres above the flat Yucatán scrub, and it is a calendar in stone. Each of its four staircases has 91 steps, which with the platform on top make 365, one for every day of the year. Clap at the foot of the stairs and the echo comes back as a strange chirp, often compared to the call of the sacred quetzal bird.
Around it lies a city built for spectacle. The Great Ball Court is the largest in Mesoamerica, with stone rings set high in its walls and carvings that show what happened to the losers. A causeway leads to the Sacred Cenote, a sinkhole where the Maya threw offerings of jade, gold and people. Afterwards, cool off with a swim in a nearby cenote, its water turquoise and its walls draped with hanging roots.
Why it’s epic
- El Castillo has 91 steps on each side, which with the top platform make 365.
- The Great Ball Court is the largest in Mesoamerica, about 168 metres long.
- Named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
- Divers in the Sacred Cenote have recovered gold, jade and human remains.
What it is
Chichén Itzá was one of the largest Maya cities, dominated by the El Castillo pyramid.
How to do it
It's about two hours from Cancún or Mérida. Arrive at opening time to beat the tour groups, and swim in a nearby cenote afterwards.
Top tip
At the spring and autumn equinoxes, shadows form a serpent on the pyramid's steps.
Need to know
- Climbing the pyramid has been banned since 2008, so the views are from the ground.
- Tour buses from Cancún arrive mid-morning, so go at opening time or stay nearby in Valladolid.
- There is little shade, so bring a hat, sun cream and plenty of water.
Plan this trip
- Rough cost
- £2,000 to £5,000 per person, including flights from the UK
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Best time to go
- November to March
- Fly into
- CUN airport
Long-haul flights to Cancún are the main cost; the site and a cenote swim are inexpensive extras.
Do it yourself
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My experience
Ticked off, but the full story is still to be written up.
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