Chichen Itza

#54 - Cancun, Mexico

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Back in the day, pyramids were more popular than you could imagine.

Even the Mayans built pyramids -- for other reasons than the Egyptians, but pyramids nonetheless. This is fascinating since the two are miles and miles away from each other. Chichen Itza is a majestic Mayan archaeological site. The name literally means "at the edge of the Itza's well," inspired by the fact that fresh water runs underground this arid region. But our #54 AbsoluteVisit is not just impressive because of its natural wonders, the ghost city left behind is fascinating to explore and its history is even more intriguing to witness firsthand.

Slide 1: El Castillo and Friends

#1 Chichen Itza Photo - Brad Harbach
Slide 2: Las Monjas Steps

#2 Chichen Itza Photo - Brad Harbach
Slide 3: El Castillo

#3 Chichen Itza Photo - Brad Harbach
Slide 1: Chichen Itza El Caracol

by 1yen
Slide 2: Chichen Itza El Castillo

by Jovan Peric

Overview

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Quick Facts & History

Built by the Maya Civilization, Chichen Itza is a large archaeological area in Mexico that is believed to have been an important pilgrimage place for the Mayas and has been named one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Each structure within the complex of Chichen Itza has a name of its own and was all made from the same type of stone.
One of the most famous structures, the Juego de Pelota, is the largest ball court in Mesoamerica, measuring 168 meters (551 feet) long and 70 meters (230 feet) wide.
Another well-known structure in Chichen Itza, El Castillo (a.k.a. Kukulkan's Pyramid), has a unique quality that appears every year during the spring equinox. As the sun casts its rays on the 75-foot (23 meter) tall pyramid, a shadow appears in the shape of a descending serpent. Unfortunately, people are no longer allowed to climb these famed stairs for preservation purposes.