Our Experience Visiting Chichen Itza + 16 Things You Need to Know

Chichen Itza is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and is an absolute must-see during your time in Mexico.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the most important city in the Yucatán thousands of years ago. It was home to around 30,000 people at one point. The site is huge – approximately 3.2 square kilometers.

And I’ve been fascinated by Chichen Itza since my school days – to me, a little girl growing up in Ireland, it seemed like a mystical, magical, surreal place on the other side of the world. So, when my husband broached the topic of backpacking through Central America, I was instantly on board, as it meant I’d get to tick Chichen Itza off my bucket list.

And when we did finally visit here in February, it didn’t disappoint. But, I will say my favorite memories from here were of the morning (before the crowds arrived). As you can imagine, it gets VERY busy here! Would you believe, around 2.5 million tourists visit Chichen Itza every year?

So, here’s a look at our experience visiting Chichen Itza – what we did right and what we’d do differently if we get the chance to visit this wow-worthy site again!

Our experience visiting Chichen Itza

We visited Chichen Itza from Valladolid. We got an early ADO bus from the bus station in Valladolid, which got us to the gates at 8:30 am. This worked perfectly for us as it meant we had around an hour to ourselves before the guided tours arrived.

💡 A ticket to enter Chichen Itza costs around $35 USD (648 MXN) in total.

We made a beeline straight for the iconic pyramid, El Castillo, as this is the most famous structure here, and once upon a time, it served as a temple to the god Kukulcán. It towers above the other buildings here, as it’s around 100 feet tall. And there are 365 steps to the top of the pyramid (one for each day of the year). You can’t climb them, though!

Next, we took the time to explore the Great Ball Court, the largest of its kind in Mesoamerica, where an ancient game that involved throwing a ball through a stone hoop was played. And after this, we checked out the Temple of the Warriors – rows of carved columns. It’s very photogenic!

Finally, we headed for the Sacred Cenote, a large natural sinkhole that served as a site for offerings and sacrifices, providing us with a glimpse into the spiritual practices of the time.

Now, we didn’t get to do this, as sadly, we didn’t know about it, but we 100% recommend seeing the Chichen Itza Night Show if you can. Friends of ours did it, and they said it was their favorite part of the experience.

The Chichen Itza Night Show:

My recommendation is (if you’re staying in the area) to come back and do the Night Show on a separate evening, as it’s still definitely worth seeing Chichen Itza during the day.

Also known as the Noches de Kukulkan, for this, you’ll get around an hour to walk around Chichen Itza, which looks breathtaking under the stars. Then, you’ll be seated in front of the Temple of Kukulkan for a light show that’s projected onto El Castillo, accompanied by music and storytelling (in Spanish).

Although we didn’t know about this when we were here, it sounds like an amazing, bucket-list activity. The show runs from 7 pm to midnight on Wednesday to Sunday, and tickets cost from 755 MXN (around $39 USD). Or you can book a guided tour that includes tickets for the show here!

How long do you need to see Chichen Itza?

I would say that 4-5 hours is a good amount of time to spend here. With that amount of time, you’ll get to tick off all the attractions here (El Castillo, the Temple of the Warriors, etc) as well as wander through the traditional market here and check out the cenote.

Can you visit Chichen Itza on your own (without a tour)?

Yes, you can visit Chichen Itza without a tour – that’s what we did, and we had an awesome experience.

As I said earlier, we were staying in Valladolid and we caught an early ADO bus from the bus station in Valladolid, which got us to the gates at 8:30 am. This cost us around $8 USD each way, and the journey was 45 minutes. We bought our tickets at the gate. And we spent around 5 hours walking around the massive site and then queued for the ADO bus back into Valladolid. All the buses are well signposted, so you’ll know which one to queue for.

If you’re staying slightly further afield (in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or Tulum), you can still make your own way here. By bus is my recommendation as there are lots of bus companies operating this route. But please note the bus journey will be lengthy. From Cancun, it’s 2.5 hours each way on the bus; from Playa del Carmen, it’s around 3 hours each way. And from Tulum, it’s a little closer at around 2 hours each way.

You can get a train to Chichen Itza – from the Estacion Tren Maya Cancun Aeropuerto to the Estacion Maya Chichen Itza, the ride will take around two hours and costs from $15 – $75 USD per ticket. The train only operates every 3 hours, so you will definitely need to book it in advance.

What is the best time to visit Chichen Itza?

We recommend getting to Chichen Itza as soon as it opens (at 8 am) if you can, as that way you’ll beat all the bus tours.

As for the best month to come to Chichen Itza, November is ideal. The weather is usually nice and cool, and you won’t have to deal with the sticky humidity that summer brings. Plus, it’s not as crowded since it’s after the busy tourist season.

But if you want to see the famous Equinox when the serpent shadow appears on the Temple of Kukulcán, aim for around March 20th or September 22nd – just be prepared for bigger crowds then.

What is there to see at Chichen Itza?

Some of the best things to see at Chichen Itza include –

• El Castillo – The centerpiece of Chichen Itza is the Pyramid of Kukulcán, also known as El Castillo, a massive step pyramid that stands as a testament to the Maya’s architectural ingenuity and astronomical knowledge.

• The Great Ball Court – This is the largest and most ornate in ancient Mesoamerica, where the Maya played their traditional ball game.

• The Temple of the Warriors – Features intricate carvings and rows of columns, it is believed to have been a central place for religious and ceremonial activities.

• Sacred Cenote – A natural sinkhole that held ceremonial significance as offerings and sacrifices were held here.

• The Observatory – Also known as El Caracol, this structure was built around 900 AD. And the building gets its name from the spiral staircase inside that leads up to the top. The Maya used it to check out the stars, like during solstices and equinoxes, and to keep tabs on Venus, which was a big deal for their calendar and rituals.

Tell me about the history of Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza was a major city from the Late Classic to the early Postclassic period, approximately from 600 A.D. to 1200 A.D. The city is renowned for its diverse architectural styles, blending elements from the Maya and Toltec cultures.

It was one of the biggest Mayan cities in the world, and it is also believed to have had the most diverse population in the Mayan world, which could be the reason why the architectural styles are so diverse here.

Is it worth visiting Chichen Itza?

100%, it’s worth visiting Chichen Itza! It was a bucket list item for me, and it didn’t disappoint. I loved wandering around the base of El Castillo and the Temple of the Warriors before the crowds arrived. However, I will say that to experience it like we did, you will need to get here as early as 8:30 am.

Now, if you decide to go with a guided tour, just know that there will be more crowds, but you’ll benefit from the knowledge of a local guide as you walk around the site.

Getting to Chichen Itza

From Cancun:

From Cancun, Chichen Itza is an easy 2-hour drive on the cuota (toll road). The road is in fairly bad condition for the last few kilometers into the site. You can also catch a public bus from Cancun’s bus station to Chichen Itza; this will take around 2.5 hours. Or you can take a train here, which is under two hours but is more pricey than the bus.

As for guided tours, this is our favorite tour of Chichen Itza from Cancun.

From Valladolid:

It’s a 45-minute drive, or you can get a bus here from the bus station in Valladolid. While, if you fancy a guided tour, we highly recommend this small group tour.

From Playa del Carmen:

From Playa del Carmen, you’re looking at a nice 2.5-hour drive to Chichen Itza. You can also take a public bus here, which will take around 3 hours. Alternatively, this guided tour from Playa del Carmen is a great option.

From Tulum:

It’s a 2-hour drive from Tulum to Chichen Itza and approx. 2.5 hours by public bus. You can also join this highly-rated guided tour if you prefer.

Where to Stay for Chichen Itza

As I said, we stayed in Valladolid at Hotel Casa Bamboo on Calle 46. And we loved it. The rooms are decorated in a boho style, and our room was light-filled and airy. There’s also a small outdoor pool in the central courtyard.

If you fancy being closer to the ruins, then La Casa de las Lunas hotel is a great choice as it’s less than a 5-minute drive from Chichen Itza. Expect to pay around $30 USD per night here.

We love Chichen Itza!

Visiting Chichen Itza was one of my favorite things I did in Mexico. I mean, it’s one of the most popular tourist sites in the country for good reason. And I really hope you enjoy visiting Chichen Itza as much as I do!

You may also enjoy reading –

Best Things to Do in Bacalar Mexico

3 Days in Palenque Chiapas

How to Visit Chacahua Mexico

PIN THIS

Last Updated on October 11, 2025 by snaphappytravel