Chichen Itza (Yucatan, Mexico)

(Xel Ha and Cozumel, Tulum and Cancun, Mexico Index)

Wow! This is a must see place. My trip ended the day before the Spring Equinox, I missed seeing the shadows form a snake down the great pyramid and the sun alignment through the temples. I was told on the Equinox a crowd of 50k people show up... gulp. Visiting two days earlier I experienced and exceptionally light crowd. There was no line to climb the 60 steps inside the pyramid, the line was impassable in 1987. Climbing the great pyramid is a steep climb (91 steps * 4 sides + 1 upper platform = 365 days). It is rumored both the inside and outside will soon be closed for purposes of preservation. I am glad I returned. There has been much additional restoration since my first visit in 1987. According to the guide and by my observation, they have done a careful job restoring in an accurate manner and where they cannot find the actual stones restoration ceases. An area in old Chichen which appeared to be an overgrown cave I had to explore with a flashlight in 1987 was a fully restored temple.

Flowers and the ancient observatory

In old Chichen

The ball court

Ornamentation

Great Pyramid (it's even steeper than it looks)

Late Mayan (Toltec) Ruins

(pictures taken March 2003)
Xel Ha and Cozumel - Tulum and Cancun - Mexico Index - Travel Index - kcarlson - ARSC Home ... Last Updated: 19 April 2003 ... ARSC Personal Page Disclaimer