Chichén Itzá is a complex of Mayan ruins on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. We loved our visit to this sacred and amazing place, currently listed as one of the 7 wonders of the modern world.
A massive step pyramid, known as El Castillo or Temple of Kukulcan, dominates the ancient city, which thrived from around 600 A.D. to the 1200s.
Graphic stone carvings survive at structures like the ball court, Temple of the Warriors and the Wall of the Skulls.
We had a great guide, who took us all over the complex. He was very informative and full of facts about the ancient city and culture.
We learned about Chacmool (also spelled chac-mool) is a particular form of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican sculpture depicting a reclining figure with its head facing 90 degrees from the front, supporting itself on its elbows and supporting a bowl or a disk upon its stomach. We were able to see these figures in several places including at the top of structure pictured above.
Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s really an architectural wonder. The temple has 365 steps—one for each day of the year. Each of the temple’s four sides has 91 steps, and the top platform makes the 365th. Devising a 365-day calendar was just one feat of Maya science. Incredibly, twice a year on the spring and autumn equinoxes, a shadow falls on the pyramid in the shape of a serpent.
There’s a sound and light show in the evenings which we hope to come back for someday soon.
If you want more information or have any questions about our visit to Chichen Itza please write us at boltraveling@gmail.com. As always, I hope you enjoyed this post. I enjoy sharing our travels with you.
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