All you need to know to visit Chichén Itzá, a wonder of the world

Want to visit Chichén Itzá? If you’re planning to get to know Yucatán, you can’t miss out on life in Mérida, its attractions and a trip to Chichén Itzá. But do you know how to get there?

Chichén Itzá is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, an ancient Maya metropolis, iconic and truly spectacular. If you’re getting to know Yucatán, this archaeological site is a must-see.

Built between the 9th and 12th centuries, the sacred city lies a little over 150 kilometres from Mérida. It was a religious and ceremonial site, as well as a regional trade centre.

We recommend reading Two Moons in Yucatán, 1937 — Octavio Paz’s two-month journey to the peninsula.

It covers an area of about 10 kilometres, with hundreds of restored buildings including pyramids, temples, columns and other Maya structures.

Its centrepiece is the magnificent Pyramid of Kukulcán (or El Castillo), which was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007 and rises about 30 metres.

The El Castillo pyramid has 365 steps, one for each day of the year. You can take a photo of it, but climbing any of the temples or structures is forbidden.

The largest ball court in the Americas

At the archaeological site you’ll find the largest ball court in the Americas, more than 160 metres long and 70 metres wide. In ancient times, this game involved throwing a rubber ball through a ring mounted on a wall, seven metres off the ground. Each team had six players and could use any part of the body except the hands. The captain of the team that made the first successful shot was beheaded as a sacrifice to the gods.

If you’re exploring life in Mérida on your way to Chichén Itzá, take the Gulf coast highway E/Mérida–Valladolid/México 180 E and Kantunil–Cancún/México 180D. The trip takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Getting to Chichén Itzá by public transport

If your aim is to get to know Yucatán and enjoy life in Mérida, a good start is to visit Chichén Itzá. From Mérida there are two options to get there by bus. You can travel first class with ADO. Buses leave at 6:30 a.m., 7:15 a.m., 8:15 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. The journey takes one hour and 45 minutes, and the return is at 4:30 p.m. The price is 140 to 156 pesos.

Alternatively, you can take the second-class bus, Oriente, which takes 3 hours and is cheaper: around 82 pesos. They leave Mérida every hour and return between 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. On the way back you can also take a different bus to Valladolid (3 km from Chichén Itzá) and then return to Mérida.

Mérida’s bus station has 2 separate buildings, one for first-class buses and one for second class.

Both stations have WiFi and toilets. The boards clearly show the bus, departure time and platform. It’s advisable to be there 15 minutes before departure.

Useful facts about Chichén Itzá

• Admission costs between 162 and 480 pesos for Mexicans, residents and foreigners. It’s free for children under 13, students, teachers and older people with valid ID.
• On Sundays, admission is free for Mexicans and residents.
• The site opens at 8 a.m.
• You can hire a guide at the entrance.
• There is a restaurant, toilets, lockers and shops. Souvenirs can also be bought inside the archaeological site.
• The ruins are quite large, so it’s advisable to bring water, comfortable walking shoes, light clothing, a hat and sunscreen.

You may be interested in: Izamal, a magical town for living in Yucatán.