Visit Chichen Itza – Book The Best Chichen Itza Day Trip
Are you thinking about taking a day trip to Chichen Itza, Mexico? Awesome! A visit to Chichen Itza is a good idea!
After spending a few days in Cancun and Playa del Carmen relaxing on the beach, a day trip to Chichen Itza is the perfect day trip from Cancun. It is really easy to get from Cancun to Chichen Itza.
In this post, we will share all the best things to do in Chichen Itza. We will go over the best Chichen Itza tours from Cancun and at the site, Chichen Itza tickets, logistics, and how to plan your trip to Chichen Itza.
Let’s plan a Cancun day trip to Chichen Itza!
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What is Chichen Itza?
As you visit Chichen Itza, you will see an archeological site of the ancient Mayan people. Its ruins date back to 600 AD to the 1200s. Chichen Itza was one of the most important economic, political, and religious cities for the Mayan culture.
Why was Chichen Itza Important?
Chichen Itza was the commercial center. It traded gold and silver and other goods with cities across the Americas. There were over 50,000 people who lived in Chichen Itza
How to get to Chichen Itza?
Chichen Itza is located in the jungle of the Yucatán state. It is a perfect day trip from Cancun or Playa del Carmen. The closest major cities to Chichen Itza are Valladolid (1 hour) and Merida (1.5 hours)
Getting from Cancun to Chichen Itza is pretty easy. If you are visiting Chichen Itza on your own and driving, the toll road is really nice but it will cost you a lot of money to drive on it. (Over $60 US dollars round trip.)
You might want to consider a Cancun to Chichen Itza bus tour.
Cancun To Chichen Itza
Cancun to Chichen Itza is 120 miles. It takes about 2 and a half hours to get there if you drive a car.
Playa del Carmen to Chichen Itza
Playa del Carmen to Chichen Itza will take you about 2 hours and 17 minutes to arrive if you drive a car.
Tulum to Chichen Itza
Tulum to Chichen Itza will take about 2 hours.
Admission to Chichen Itza (Chichen Itza Tickets)
During busy times it is best to buy your Chichen Itza tickets ahead of time. Chichen Itza is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Mexico with over 2 million visitors each year. Getting your tickets ahead of time will save you time as well as ensure your entrance. Some days sell out.
Chichen Itza Prices
Please note that you will need to pay for two tickets. This can be fairly confusing.
Once you walk up to the entrance, there will be booths on your right and on your left. The booths on your right are for tickets sold by the national government. The booths on your left are for tickets sold by Yucatan State. You will need both tickets to get in.
To make things even more confusing, when we bought our tickets from Yucatan State, there were two lines; one for cash and one for credit cards.
Adults $571 MXN (around US $30 based on current exchange rates)
Child $85 MXN (around US $4.83 based on current exchange rates)
Chichen Itza Hours
The Chichen Itza opening hours are from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.
Our Experience at the Ticket Counter
I recommend getting your tickets ahead of time. We went during the pandemic. It wasn’t crowded so we thought it would be fine to show up and just get our tickets onsite.
It was okay, but it was very confusing. As mentioned, there are two separate lines that you have to pay at. One is the Chichen Itza ticket and entrance fee and the other is a tax paid to Yucatan State. I didn’t feel like the signs helped tourists know where to go.
To add to our stress, tour guides were pitching us on tours while we were trying to figure out what we needed to do. The guides may be good at helping you understand the ruins, but at least when we were there, they didn’t have a clue about what line you needed to stand in to get tickets.
Booking Chichen Itza Tours
Even though I did want a tour, I was so unimpressed with the pushy behavior I declined. If you are thinking of visiting Chichen Itza on your own, I wouldn’t. I consider myself adventurous and like to explore at my own pace, but I recommend you book a Chichen Itza tour or at the very least get a self-guided audio tour.
I would purchase a tour ahead of time through a reputable company like Viator. They have some great tours that even have stops at the local cenotes.
Tours of Chichen Itza
If you do not intend to rent a car you will need to purchase a tour of Chichen Itza. There are a lot of options to choose from.
Chichen Itza Tours from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum
Most of the tours include:
- Transportation from hotel
- Skip the line entrance fee
- There are options to add on breakfast, lunch, and drinks
- Options to add on cenote swims
- Option to add on Coba (another archeological site)
My favorite companies are Get Your Guide, Viator, and Isango.
Best Chichen Itza Tours From Tulum
There are lots of Chichen Itza tours from Tulum. All will provide round-trip transportation from and admission. Some Chichen Itza Tulum tours will even pick you up at your hotel.
You can book a Tour that includes lunch. There are also tours that stop at Valladolid and a cenote you can swim in. Personally, I wouldn’t mind booking a tour that included both Chichen Itza and Coba.
It is really easy to book a Chichen Itza tour from Tulum. I have included some of the best tours from Chichen Itza to Tulum.
Best Chichen Itza Tours from Cancun
If you are looking for the best Chichen Itza tours from Cancun there are a lot of options. It is seriously worth going on a Chichen Itza day trip from Cancun!
The Chichen Itza tours from Cancun are very similar to Tulum. You can book a tour that stops at a cenote but it may be a different one because you are coming from the opposite direction.
There are also full-day Chichen Itza from Cancun tours. You can also book a tour that stops in Valladolid.
If I had it to do over, I would book a tour!!!
How Long Should I Spend at Chichen Itza?
Most recommend visiting Chichen Itza for 2-3 hours. We were there for two and I wish we had more time to explore. I would plan for a half-day for your day trip to Chichen Itza.
If you book a tour how much time you spend at Chichen Itza may be decided for you.
Parking at Chichen Itza
As most people choose to take a tour of Chichen Itza, there are plenty of parking spaces available if you decide to drive. There is a small parking fee of 80 pecos or $4 US dollars.
The Ruins of Chichen Itza
As you visit Chichen Itza, you may feel overwhelmed. There are so many ruins of Chichen Itza to explore.
Let’s break down what there is to see and do and go inside Chichen Itza so you will be prepared for your Chichen Itza trip. As you tour Chichen Itza you will recognize the sites and appreciate them even more.
Let’s explore all the best things to do in Chichen Itza!
Buy A Chichen Itza Guide Book
You may also consider buying a guidebook to help you know the historical background of each location. We bought Fodors. It had a nice map and some good information.
1. El Castillo or the Temple of Kukulcan
El Castillo is what has made Chichen Itza one of the new seven wonders of the world. The pyramid was used as a temple to offer sacrifices. As you tour Chichen Itza it will be one of the highlights of your entire visit.
You encounter El Castillo almost immediately once you begin walking through the ruins. It is impressive when it comes into view. If El Castillo was the only structure to see at Chichen Itza, it would still be worth seeing. Fortunately for us, there are also many other breathtaking structures and sites to explore at Chichen Itza.
Can I Walk on the Pyramid at Chichen Itza?
No, you are not allowed to walk up the steps of the pyramid.
What is Inside El Castillo?
Unfortunately, you can not go inside the pyramid. Archeologists have found 9 platforms used to offer religious sacrifices located within the pyramid. They also found a jaguar throne. One entrance is actually located at the top of the pyramid.
How Many Steps Does El Castillo Have?
The pyramid has four sides each with 91 steps. These total 365 steps which is the total days in a solar year. The Mayan people were all about numbers and science.
The Mayan’s were Engineering Geniuses!
Chichen Itza is full of architectural and engineering marvels. If you go on the side of the pyramid and clap your hands. The sound will echo off the pyramid and sound like a bird. It is really cool.
2. The Ball Court
The ball court is an area where the Mayan played the ancient game of tlachtli. It must have been a brutal game because there are six sculptures around the arena with the winners holding severed heads. There are also murals that depict warriors laying siege to a village.
Architectural and Engineering Wonder
Another architectural and engineering marvel in this area is the ability to hear a whisper over 150 yards away. Many of the Chichen Itza tour guides will give you a demonstration.
3. Cenotes in Chichen Itza
What is a Cenote?
A cenote is a natural pit or sinkhole from the collapse of limestone that exposes groundwater.
Sacred Cenote
As you visit Chichen Itza you will come to a large cenote. It is called the sacred cenote. The Mayan people believed that cenotes were entrances to the underworld. There are many cenotes in the Yucatan that you can swim in but in the Sacred Cenote swimming is not allowed.
Human remains, gold, silver, and other precious material lie at the bottom of this cenote.
Hidden Cenote
Recently, researchers have discovered that the El Castillo (the pyramid) was built on top of a large cenote. The Mayan people believed it was the center of the earth. There are tunnels that were blocked off that lead down to this massive sinkhole. Scientists are studying it to find out more about the Mayan culture.
4. Temples of the Warriors
The temple of warriors is another site to check out while you visit Chichen Itza. This is a smaller pyramid but it is not in as great of condition as the El Castillo.
If you do decide to do a Chichen Itza tour from Cancun this a must-see area. Your guide will have some great insight!
5. Building of a Thousand Columns
There are thousands of columns! This indicates that a very large roof once sat on them. Some of the columns are blocked off but you can explore a few sections.
6.The Observatory - El Caracol
The Mayan people knew astronomy. Through the observatory, they could view different planets at certain times of the year. It was very advanced knowledge.
Venus was Important
Venus was an important planet to the Mayan people. They would plan wars and raids based on the location of Venus. There are 20 sightlines of astronomical events (solstice, eclipse…) that could be viewed from the windows of the observatory.
Most of the windows in the observatory tracked Venus.
This is one of the best sites to see besides the pyramid as you tour Chichen Itza from Cancun, Tulum, or Playa del Carmen.
7. Vendors Everywhere
At the end of your tour of Chichen Itza, there are many souvenirs to buy. Be aware, there are vendors everywhere! I was really shocked that an archeological site would allow so many vendors within the site. It appears that this is the livelihood for many people.
They will holler out $1 for souvenirs. When you start looking at the merchandise there are very few things that are $1.
As you exit the site there are even more vendors. You won’t have a hard time finding a souvenir. As you visit Chichen Itza it is a good spot to grab something cool to bring home.
Is Visiting Chichen Itza Worth it?
Yes, you should visit Chichen Itza. The Mayan people designed an incredible city. Exploring the ruins of Chichen Itza should be added to your itinerary.
You won’t be disappointed at all. I highly recommend booking Chichen Itza as part of your Cancun trip.
What to Bring on Your Day Trip to Chichen Itza
If you are looking for Cancun Travel Tips including how to prepare for Chichen Itza, I have you covered. There are a few items that I included in the Cancun Packing List you will want to bring as you visit Chichen Itza.
When you visit Chichen Itza you will want to pack a bag with the items listed above (I have easy links to Amazon if you need anything). Even on nice days, the heat is intense at Chichen Itza. Be prepared to protect your skin and hydrate as you explore.
Is There Food at Chichen Itza?
You can buy snacks while inside Chichen Itza but there are not many choices. Pack a few snacks before you visit Chichen Itza.
Are You Ready to Visit Chichen Itza?
Hopefully, this Chichen Itza guide helps you decide if you want to visit Chichen Itza.
I really think booking at Chichen Itza tour from Cancun is worth it! Or if Booking a Chichen Itza tour from Tulum if you are staying there.
I really enjoyed going and I know you will too. We loved our Chichen Itza day trip just as much as visiting the Xcaret Amusement Park. It is incredible in its own right!
Have so much fun visiting Chichen Itza!
Facebook Community
Do you have any more questions about Chichen Itza? Join my Travel Community on Facebook. This is a great group that can help answer any travel questions you might have. I also try to add any deals that companies send me as well.
What a cool day trip! I’d love to visit someday.
I think it is worth a visit if you are in the area!
I usually decline to work with pushy tour guides too. Good to know this is one place that’s worth it. Glad you had a good time!
I would recommend getting that tour guide before you arrive.
How cool! I haven’t been to Mexico, but I would love to one day. This looks like a place my family would love to explore. We love historic sites. I will definitely put this on my travel list for when I get a chance to go to the area!
We knew we had to take a day trip and see it.
Chichen Itza is the best day trip from Cancun! The Mayan history is so fascinating!
It really is a great day trip from Cancun.
This is somewhere I would definitely like to visit if I ever make it back to Mexico! Lots of great info and tips!
It is pretty cool to see!
We had a very similar experience with admittance to San Gervasio ruins in Cozumel. It was all very interesting, but after paying admittance twice to enter and not really understanding why, we were solicited by a tour guide for better understanding of what we were seeing and declined. Now I wish we had paid for the tour guide. It was very confusing when entering and buying tickets. I agree!
It is tricky business! I would have loved to have learned more but not with that pushy person.
Would love to visit Chichen Itza. So much interesting history.
I think the Mayan people are such a mystery, they did not keep very good records!
How interesting and fun! I’d love to explore the ruins.
They are incredible!
I’ve been wanting to go here! There is so much good info in this post!
Thanks, I hope you get to go!
Chichen Itza looks like a great place to visit for a day! I’ll have to add this to my travel list!
It is a pretty amazing place to explore.
I’m looking forward to traveling more soon! It’s been way too long since we’ve had a “real vacation” to a place farther away.
Beautiful photos and great information. The ticket information and heads up is especially helpful. I’ve been to Cancun, but only made it to see Tulum so a return trip is for sure in order. I’d love to visit Chichen Itza!
It is a journey to get to Chichen Itza but well worth it.
We were just down in Mexico and really wanted to visit Chichen Itza. We ended up at Tulum instead (still very cool), but next time we visit I really want to make it here!
We want to go to Tulum next time.
I love to look at the merchandise that vendors have for sale, especially in Mexico. Chichen Itza is a fascinating place. Thank you for so many details to help with planning a trip.
No problem, I get a little nervous with vendors but we had a good experience when we actually purchased some.
What a fun and inspiring trip for the whole family! Great pictures! Thanks for sharing!
It would be fun for the whole family!
Chichen Itza looks amazing! I have never heard of it so I will be booking soon! Mexico has been on our list for a while.
You should! There are a lot of cool things in this area to explore.
I loved visiting the ruins in Mexico. Although I didn’t make it to Chichen Itza (I went to one in Tulum) I did enjoy saying the words Chichen Itza a lot haha. Next time I visit the area I would love to visit though. Thanks for sharing all of these helpful tips.
I want to see more of the ruins. Tulum is on my list.
Wow! I need to go here. After reading your narrative, it almost looks like a tour (which would allow the ticket purchasing process to be skipped and add other opportunities) is the way to go – especially with Covid. Is that what you would recommend? Thanks for all the great info, and I love the pictures!
Yes, that is what I would recommend. Plus, you can avoid renting a car which was stressful for us.
Chichen Itza is a must see for me! Thanks for the awesome info.
I hope you get to go one day. It is fascinating.
So amazing that they were able to build all of those structures! It looks so spectacular. I’ve never been to Mexico but when we do go this is one place we’ll be going.
It is so neat that they built something that has stood for so long.
My husband actually lived in Mexico for some time and talks about Chichen Itza all the time! We want to visit as soon as we can so thanks for all the tips!
Oh cool! It is a fun place!
We went there on our honeymoon many years ago. It’s sad that you can’t climb the pyramid anymore 🙁
What an amazing place.
Wow! Chichen Itza looks so so so cool! I love all the history. Thanks for providing such a thorough guide!
I would love to visit one day…and I’ll be sure to book everything ahead of time thanks to this post!
This is so interesting and educational. I watched a movie Apocalypse and could recognize those pyramids. Now I know where the place is. I
Wow, the pyramid looks amazing. The sunset pictures looked so cool. I’d love to hit it during the light show.
The light show would be amazing!
Chitchen Itza is an amazing Mayan ruin to visit. When I was there many moons ago, we visited on a day that the President of the Mexico spoke. There were so many military, helicopters and the like we thought there was a crisis happening 😂
Oh wow, that would be crazy!
Will definitely be referring to this article when I go! Very informative.
Awesome, it is a cool site!
Chichen Itza is my kind of place with all the history! And I love Mexico.
I love learning on vacation!
This looks so cool! I am so fascinated by those structures!
It is really cool!
The Mayans were really so advanced! I’d love to go explore here. Such fascinating history!
I wish we new more about them. Their science was outstanding!
This looks like something we would really enjoy. And what a fun name to say too!
I know right!
Fascinating! I enjoy touring ruins!
I really enjoyed it too!
What an interesting place.Would love to visit one day.
It was really cool!