Archaeological Tours of Chichen Itza Will Leave You Itching to See More

When you take an archaeological tour of Chichen Itza, you will leave itching for more sites to see. The second most visited archaeological site in Mexico, you can see why it is such a popular place as you arrive for the first time.

Chichen Itza when translated means ‘at the mouth of the well of Itza’ is probably the most famous of Mayan Sites in Mexico and its history is as obscure as that of Mayan history. This is due to there being very few written records in relation to the Mayan.

Roughly what is known is that Chichen Itza existed from around 550AD to 800AD and was the ceremonial center of the Mayan Civilization.

It was abandoned for approximately a hundred years for some unknown reason and then people resettled again in 900AD. It was then invaded by the Toltecs just before 1000AD.

It is then said that in 987AD a man calling himself Kukulkan arrived in Chichen Itza and he is said to have brought Toltecs beliefs and practices here.

Let the activities begin!
Chichen Itza & Valladolid Private Tour
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Visit Chichen Itza archaeological site and Valladolid Colonial town on this private tour. Have free time for shopping for souvenirs.

From USD
$60.87
Price varies by group size
10 to 12 hours Scheduling Private Tour Quintana Roo
Cenote Ik IL & Private Tour to Chichen Itza with Lunch Included
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Visit Chichen Itza arqueological World Heritage Site, Valladolid Colonial Magic Town and natural, Cenote Ik Il. Private van, certified tourist guide and buffet lunch.

From USD
$68.14
Price varies by group size
10 to 12 hours Scheduling Private Tour Yucatan
Chichen Itza, Cenotes & Valladolid VIP 1 Day Private Tour from Cancun/Riviera May
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A totally Must See destination in the area, amazing Chichen Itza, combined with a typical Mexican village and swim in the Sacred place for the Mayans

From USD
$490.00
1 days Scheduling Private Tour Yucatan
Chichen Itza -Ik IL Cenote and Coba with Lunch Private Tour
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Visit Coba and Chichen Itza arqueological World Heritage Site and natural Cenote Ik Il. Private van, certified tourist guide and buffet lunch.

From USD
$76.21
Price varies by group size
10 to 12 hours Scheduling Private Tour Quintana Roo
Chichen Itza - Ik IL Cenote and Ek Balam with Lunch Private Tour
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Visit the arqueological sites of Chicken Itza, Ek Balam and natural Cenote Ik Il. Private van, certified guide and buffet lunch.

From USD
$85.87
Price varies by group size
10 to 11 hours Scheduling Private Tour Yucatan
Chichen Itza Classic Full Day Private Tour
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Discover one of the 7 wonders of the world. Be amazed by its wonderful buildings, visit the colonial city of Valladolid and enjoy the refreshing waters of a Mayan cenote.

From USD
$65.00
12 hours Scheduling Private Tour Yucatan
Chichen Itza Deluxe Full Day Private Tour
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Go to Chichen Itza all inclusive. Be amazed by the wonderful buildings, complement the experience with the visit to the colonial city of Valladolid and a mayan cenote.

From USD
$99.00
12 hours Scheduling Private Tour Yucatan
El Castillo
1 El Castillo or The Kukulkan Pyramid as it is also known is the best-known structure in Chichen Itza. This pyramid was designed for astronomical purposes and this is evident at 3 pm during the vernal equinox and autumnal equinox when the sunlight bathes the main stairway of the pyramid on the western balustrade. It is a remarkable sight and fascinating to think that this was designed centuries ago.
Great Ball Court
2 By all accounts it appears that the Mayans liked their sports, certainly from the Great Ball Court you can see for yourself they did. On a guided tour see this vast court which is 545 feet long and 225 feet wide. It is an open air ball court which has amazing acoustics. You can hear the slightest sound from one end to the other and there have been studies on how this can be but to date it is unexplainable.  
Tzompantli
3 The Walls of Skulls is the Aztec name for this type of platform which we know as a Tzompantli. It is a Toltec structure where sacrificial victims heads were placed. There were three of these type of platforms, but only this one was for this purpose. It has beautiful carved reliefs on the walls of the platform on four different themes. The main theme being skulls but the others are very interesting too.
Cenote Sagrado
4 For the ancient Maya people, a place of pilgrimage was the Cenote Sagrado. This was proven by archaeologists when thousands of items were found at the bottom of this Cenote. The type of items found includes jade, shell, wood, gold, cloth and unfortunately adult and children skeletons. Human sacrifices were made but not as much as once thought. This cenote was important to the people of Chichen Itza.
The Temple of Warriors
5 When on an archaeological tour of Chichen Itza, you will find out that The Temple of the Warriors is among the most impressive and important structures here. This building was the only one large enough to hold gatherings and it has four platforms, that are surrounded square columns, on the south and west sides. All the columns have carvings as do the columns on the top which has serpents and on top of the serpents is a shallow basin.
Platform of the Eagles and the Jaguars
6 Located in between the Temple of Venus and the Platform of Skulls is the extravagantly carved Platform of the Eagles and the Jaguars. On a guided tour see the serpent with many heads that crowns the pedestals on top of the platforms. It is believed that standard bears in the form of Jaguars were then over that. There are figures of eagles and jaguars eating hearts which represented the Warriors who got the sacrificial victims.
The Hall of the Thousand Columns
7 Another sight to see on an archaeological tour is The Hall of the Thousand Columns which is found next to the Temple of the Warriors. It is thought to have been an indoor market or possibly an assembly place. Nowadays it is just rows and rows of stone columns, but you can imagine how magnificent it once was.
Caracol, The Observatory
8 What some people describe as the most interesting of all the structures at Chichen Itza is Caracol which is said to have been an observatory. On the guided tour you can see the circular building, its two-tier platform and a winding passageway that gradually ascends. The narrow slits in the wall allow sun rays to penetrate.

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