by Dream Vacations on June 5, 2012

Chichen Itza Tour MapA few years ago my wife and I had the pleasure of touring one of the new 7 wonders of the world, Chichen Itza.  Chichen Itza, which means “at the mouth of the well of Itza”, has over 40,000 visitors every single day.  Through Apple Vacations we were able to take a guided tour of this amazing archeological discovery and truly get to experience it’s size and beauty up close and personal.  No matter which Riviera Maya resort you are staying in, this Chichen Itza tour is available for purchase.

Chichen Itza was built over 1500 hundred years ago and until recently, tourists were allowed to walk all the way to the top of the pyramid.  But now, because of wear and tear, guests can no longer walk up the step stairs.  The stairs themselves are only 6 inches wide.  The site is divided into 3 distinct sections but can easily be toured in one full day.  There were local vendors all over the place, hundreds of them so be sure to bring some money for souvenirs.  In the video below you can see the scope of how large these ruins really are.  At one time, it has been said that tens of thousands of Mayan Indians would gather to hear “sermons” preached from the top of the pyramid.  One of the most amazing aspects of Chichen Itza is that because of the design, if someone were speaking from the top the echo could be heard for miles.

Each of the structures four stairways contains 91 steps.  When counting the top platform as another step, in total “El Castillo” has 365 steps, one step for each day of the year.  The structure is 78 feet, plus an additional 20 feet for the temple top for a total height of 98 feet.  The square base measures 181 feet across.  Huge sculptures of plumed serpent’s heads sit at the base of the pyramid on the northern staircase.  At sunset during the spring and autumn equinoxes triangle shadows are formed by the platforms making it appear as if a plumed serpent is descending the pyramid.

This is a great addition to your vacation while in Cancun or Riviera Maya, Mexico.