The magic of Chichen Itza: exploring one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
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You can't visit Mexico without seeing Chichen Itza, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. We arrived early (like, dawn-early) because the crowds really pile up later. And believe it or not, we were among the first 5 people to enter our fourth New Wonder of the World! The line behind us got pretty big, even for opening time, so this is the first tip we’re giving you. 😉 Getting there as the gates open means you can almost have El Castillo, the iconic pyramid, all to yourself. Trust us when we say that seeing it in the soft morning light is worth the extra coffee!
What surprised us is that there’s so much more than just the pyramid! The Temple of the Warriors, the sacred Cenote, and the massive ball court where Mayans played their ritual game, it’s all there. The ball court especially blew our minds, the acoustics are so intense you can hear someone clap from the other end. No wonder you can hear clapping every minute or so!
One insider tip? Don’t forget to visit El Caracol, the observatory tower tucked in the back. It’s often overlooked but gives this incredible insight into how advanced Mayan astronomy was.
Visiting Chichen Itza on our own allowed us to explore at our own pace, taking around 1.5 hours to really appreciate the details. A large portion of this was spent taking photos, of course! If you want an even more detailed experience, you can hire a tour guide near the entrance.
