Visiting Chichen Itza in Mexico

Chichen Itza is one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations. Many people may not have heard of it, but when you see photos of the iconic pyramid, El Castillo, you will certainly recognise it. Known as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you’re on holiday in Mexico, I would definitely urge you to go for the day. I was staying in Cancun for a week, so taking a day trip to Chichen Itza was a great way to explore more of the history of the country. Read on for my tips on getting the most out of your day trip and what to expect.

Travelling to Chichen Itza

As I was staying in Cancun, it was a very early start as we were picked up from the hotel at around 5am. The reason for this was because Chichen Itza is quite far away from Cancun (around two hours drive) and also leaving early meant that we arrived early and avoided the crowds. However, the early start is completely worth it and on a two hour journey you can take a nap in the coach!

What to see when you get there

The most famous landmark of Chichen Itza is the El Castillo pyramid, which I’m sure you will have seen on postcards. However, after you’ve admired this there’s lots of other ruins and architecture to explore. It’s an ancient Mayan city and if you have a tour guide, they will be able to explain more about the history and culture. I recommend having a tour guide for the day, as they help to bring the architecture to life and explain why things are in a certain way.

What to take with you

As well as flat and comfortable shoes, I would recommend taking along some spending money as there are stalls selling things like arts and crafts, jewellery, souvenirs and rugs. I bought my mum some lovely jewellery from there, so if you’re looking to get things like souvenirs, then this is a great place. Other things to take are your camera, sun lotion, sunglasses and a small bottle of water. I have a very handy cloth over the shoulder bag that I like to take with me to day trips like this, as I can fit all of the above in it.

Chichen Itza is a beautiful place and one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ sights, so I would definitely say that it’s worth taking a day trip. It is a long day, especially if you’re staying in Cancun like I was, but it’s so interesting to explore and learn about the ancient Mayan culture and history.

Have you ever been to Chichen Itza? What did you enjoy the most?