Chichén Itzá
Mayan Archaeological Ruins.

Northern Central Part Of The Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán, Mexico.
Travel & Tour
Pictures, Photos, Information, Images, & Reviews.

George & Eve DeLange

Google Map To Chichén Itzá Archaeological Ruins
In The Northern Center Of The Yucatán Peninsula, Yucatán, Mexico.

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Chichen Itza, "El Castillo."

Chichén Itzá (Chee-chen-eet-sa) Is one of the few Maya ruins which retains its original name as given to us by the Maya and not by the Spainards or archaeologists. It means "the mouth of the well of the Itza." The well is the sacred cenote of the Maya. Other names are Uucil-Abnal (seven bushes) or Uucyabnal (seven great owners).
The site is probably the best known of the Mayan ruins and it has been explored since 1923 for about twenty years, it has never been completely studied.
Chichen Itza shows evidence of being built as early as about 600 AD with most of its building being built in about the the seventh through tenth centuries. It is thought that the site was abandoned about 1200AD.
Chichen Itza may have been the capital for an association of warring groups of invaders who came to this place in kind of an uneasy alliance.
It is now thought that the original builders were not the Toltecs as originally believed. Rather the thought is that the builders were people who migrated up the east coast who were Mayanized Mexicans instead of Toltecs.
Indications are that the site was abandoned in a Katun 6 Ahau which ended in A.D. 1224.
"El Castillo", which was named by Bishop Landa, was dedicated to the feathered serpent god, Kukulcan. El Castillo is probably one of the best known of the Mayan structures in Mexico. The outer part of the structure is about 190 feet square and 79 feet high. Inside this structure is another substructure probabally built 52 years earlier. No one is certain when construction started but it is thought to be in about A.D. 800.
The superimposed temple has four grand stairways that lead to a platform at the top of the pyramid where a temple stands. There are 91 steps to each stairway making a total of 364 steps and one grand step all around the top, making a total of 365 steps, perhaps symbolic of the 365 day year. The main entrance to the temple is on the North side with two serpent columns and a sanctuary behind. On three sides are vaulted chambers with doorways opening to the East, West, and South.
The pyramid has nine terraces of regularly diminishing size. Each terrrace is separated by undecorated molding. The bodies of serpents with heads on the ground form the "alfardas" of the great stairway to the temple. On equinoxes the light plays upon the Western side of The North Stairway of the temple in such a way as to make the snakes on the stairways come alive in movement. Truly a great sight to see! The facade of the building is without decoration except for a medial and cornice molding with insets between.
When the inner temple was discovered, an excavation was made under the north stairway of the Castillo to the stairway of the inner pyramid. Then the excavation continued up the inner temple to an outer room and inner room in the inner pyramid which contains a chocmool in the outer room and the famous "red jaguar" in the inner room. The red jaguar which is inlaid with jade spots and eyes and pyrite teeth was probably a throne for a priest or ruler. There are some other thrones which are not as nice in the Temple of Jaguars at the Great Ball Court located across the plaza.
When visiting El Castillo, expect to do a lot of climbing in order to see it all. You will soon learn the famous "Jaguar Crawl" as you explore El Castillo!

YOU HAVE TWO CHOICES:
For touring the majesty of Chichen Itza and/or the newly uncovered Ek Balam, we suggest flying into either Cancún or Mérida.
If you choose Cancún, you will use the Cancún International Airport (IATA: CUN, ICAO: MMUN) which is located in Cancún, Quintana Roo, on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It is Mexico's second busiest airport, after Mexico City International Airport in Mexico City, but it is the largest in Mexico and Latin America for International passengers.
If you choose Mérida, you will use the The Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport, formerly known as Mérida-Rejón Airport (IATA: MID, ICAO: MMMD) is the international airport located in the Mexican city of Mérida, Yucatán. It is located on the southern edge of the city.
The airport handles both domestic and international flights, and is open 24 hours a day.

There are many very good hotels and motels in either Cancún or Mérida, with Mérida being a little quieter and less touristy. Priceline.com can arrange that for you. In fact, we think they are the best way to do it!
Priceline.com can arrange tours, or you could call the hotels Concierge Services and let them make those arrangements for either a car or a tour of Cancún and/or the surrounding areas such as Chichen Itza, or the the newly uncovered Ek Balam. If you call the hotels Concierge Services ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you.
We have used both methods, many times, when traveling in Mexico. We have found them to be safe! We have never experienced a problem, doing it this way!

Since we have personally, booked flights, hotels, and vacations, through Priceline.com; we can highly recommend them. Their website is very easy to use!
We have some links to Priceline.com on this page, since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car.
We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active.

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Chichen Itza, "The Red Jaguar."

Chichen Itza, "The Red Jaguar."

"Chac Mool" Or "Choc Mool" Inside Outer Room Of Inner Temple

Through This Road In The Jungle. We Discover Chichen Itza.
And The
Temple Of Kukulkan !

Also Called:
"El Castillo."
190 Foot Square
And 79 Feet High.
The DeLange's
Start Their Climb! Audrey, Noel, & Laurine
DeLange
Doing The "Jaguar Crawl."
Up The 91 Steps
To The Top !

George DeLange At
West Side Of Temple
At Top Of El Castillo. George DeLange
Checking Out
Carvings At Temple
Of El Castillo.

George DeLange
At Temple Of
El Castillo
West Side
"Temple Of TheWarriers."
In Background Facing East. George DeLange
Checking Out
The Serpents.
At Base Of North Stairway.

Hole Through
Outer Temple
To The
Inner Temple Made
Under North Stairway
Of El Castillo. Arch Inside Entrance
To Inner Temple.

Tourist Doing
"Jaguar Crawl"
Up The Steps Of
The Inner Pyramid ! Its A Long Way Up !

Chocmool
Inside Outer Room
Of Inner Temple. Red Jaguar Throne
Inside Inner
Second Room
Of Inner Temple.

Close Up Of Red Jaguar.
Pyrite Fangs
Glowing In The Light !
Jade Eyes And Spots ! Audrey DeLange
Checking Out The Serpents
Located At Base
Of North Stairway
The West Serpent
(Next To Her).
Apprears To Slide Down
The Pyramid
During Equinox !

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