Chichén Itzá: The Temple of Kukulkan a World Wonder Beneath the hot summer sun, intermittent rain clouds add to the oppressive humidity. The eyes of all in attendance gaze upon El Castillo, but the Mayans know it as the temple of Kukulkan, the feathered serpent. The pyramid stands as a symbol of human ingenuity and our connection to the celestial heavens above. The temple of Kukulkan is one of the world’s new seven wonders. Over two million people travel annually to see the wonders of the Mayan civilization.
The Legacy
Chichén Itzá rose to prominence during the Mayan classic period and reached its zenith during the post-classic period. Academics state that Itzá represents both a people and an area from which these people migrated, founding a new city in the Yucatán we know today as Chichén Itzá. The city has influential ties to the Toltec civilization in south-central Mexico. Chichén Itzá is known for its incredibly well-preserved archeological site and buildings, making it the most popular tourist destination for those looking to see the Mayan Civilization. It gives visitors a window into the past that is accessible.
Kukulkan: A Masterpiece Of Stone
The Temple of Kukulkan is a feat of architectural and engineering prowess, linking the power of the cosmos to the earth. Its religious and cultural ties to the Mayan people shed light on the importance of calculating their calendar with astronomical precision. It has four sides, with ninety-one steps per side, and the final platform equals 365 days. A shadow runs along the corner onto the western staircase during the Spring equinox. This shadow displays a serpent crawling down to the ground, where the serpent’s heads are built into the temple’s ground platform.
Exploring the City
Beyond the Temple of Kukulkan, Chichén Itzá offers a wealth of fascinating sites to explore. Chichén Itzá was a powerful city and center of trade throughout the Yucatán. It is surrounded by sacbe, or white roads, linking it to other prominent Mayan cities. It has impressive cenotes. In a large cenote named El Cenote Sagrado, “the sacred cenote,” near the temple of Kukulkan, scholars have unearthed recent evidence that suggests that sacrifices were made involving multiple pairs of twins. Twins hold a religious importance as the Hero Twins Hunahpu and Xbalanque are central figures in the Popol Vuh. It contains one of the best examples of a Mayan ball court. The astronomical observatory is called Caracol, “the snail,” where the Maya observed the stars and made meaning from them for religious, cultural, and practical purposes like planting and harvesting crops. The temple of the warriors, church, red house, and columns are some of the significant architectural achievements tourists can see while exploring the site.
Travel and Tips
Getting to Chichén Itzá is easier than ever, thanks to various transportation options. The many tours and transportation options can be overwhelming. You can rent a car and drive there, go on a guided tour, take a bus through a tour company or local ADO bus, and the new Tren Maya (Mayan Train). Usually, I would list different price options and services, but for this Mayan site, there is better information online and offered through hotels and travel websites. Do your research; Cancún Adventures, Xcaret, Tripadvisor, and Viator have several options.
My Adventure
My journey began with a desire to ride on the new Tren Maya from Cancún to Chichén Itzá. Cancún has a train station near the airport. The train ticket costs about thirty-five U.S. one way. The train ride was beautiful and was an easy process with many employees who spoke English and were ready to help those who do not have a decent Spanish base. The newly reorganized Mexican National Guard protects the train and passengers. Though the train and construction have been controversial, many see it as necessary. When you arrive at the Chichén Itzá station, you will be placed on a bus that is a short drive to the parking lot outside the ruins. Entering the park without a tour, I paid about thirty-eight dollars to enter. The entrance contains shops and restaurants for weary travelers. You walk in surrounded by jungle along a short sacbe that opens to a massive and bustling clearing with the impressive temple of Kukulkan dominating the square. It is a once-in-a-lifetime view.
I guided my family on a personal tour, putting my historical research to the test for hours. It is hot, and there is little shade. The site is spread out, but many refreshments and food options await you when you are done. The Sacred Cenote is a decent walk with jungle on both sides of the sacbe and vendors flanking it. One must retrace one’s steps back to the main square. The cenote has a small store selling snacks and cold drinks. The grounds are littered with salesmen, some would say pushy and aggressive, but this can be commonplace in Latin America in bustling tourist areas. They are trying to make money, which is as simple as that. Our trip did not end there as we decided later in the day to continue by train to Merida to explore that city and see another Mayan site, Uxmal.
Be Advised
I will warn readers that the taxi cartel has all the power in the Cancún airport and train station area. They have government contracts and protection. Taxis can be a significant headache and costly. You can easily use Uber, Lyft, a bus, or a van to get into the station or airport but not out of the station. The ADO bus can be a pain to navigate, and there are long wait times when leaving. We almost got our driver beat up for violating these rules. I yelled at him to lock the doors and drive, but he attempted to reason with these drivers. We caught them on a good day, and they educated him on how the operations work. There are plenty of videos where this is not the case, and they will attack the vehicles and drivers but never the tourists. Do not let this dissuade you from your adventure. At no point did we fear for our safety.
Chichén Itzá is not just another archeological site to be explored but rather a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is a living testament to human ingenuity and cultural richness. If you are in the Yucatán, you would be remiss in missing out on this adventure. Anyone seeking history, culture, beauty, and adventure should make their way to Chichén Itzá.
Steven Ramos