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| Chichen Itza | ||
| State | Yucatan | |
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| Residents | unknown | |
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| height | unknown | |
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Chichén-Itzá probably the best preserved ruins of the Maya culture Yucatan be the most visited for sure. When a cruise ship docks in Cancún, a good dozen buses are waiting to take passengers to the temple complex. With over 8,000 visitors every day, this attraction is now behind Teotihuacan the archaeological site with the second highest number of visitors in Mexico.
background
According to legend, the king migrated from Tula “Ce Acatl Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl” from central Mexico to the distant Yucatán to become a star himself while his entourage took care of Chichén Itzá. This cannot be proven, but surprisingly many similarities with Tula can be found, so that today Tula is also called the prototype of Chichén Itzá.
Settlements dating back to the pre-classical period could be proven archaeologically without the settlement being able to acquire any great importance. In the classical period, however, it became a city with its own royal seat. At first she was still in the shadow of Ek Balam. According to the inscriptions, the change took place around 900 AD, which is also architecturally recognizable. Buildings from this period increasingly contain Toltec style elements, which are often associated with the legend of Tula. However, the king of Tula is said to be only in the 11th century. AD have left their original homeland, which raises some questions. In any case, Chichén Itzá increasingly developed into a cultural and religious center, even if the latest findings show that the direct domain of Chichén Itzá only extended over part of the Yucatán peninsula. Good relations with some ports and the direct access to the most important trade routes that resulted from this strengthened the city's position. In the south, areas of influence of the Mayan metropolis could Cobá be removed. A military victory over the city allied with Cobá Yaxuná in the year 950 AD could be proven. At the beginning of the 13th century there were armed conflicts, including with the metropolis Mayapán. Another legend describes the three allied cities of Chichén Itzá, Mayapán and here Izamal. According to the story, the then King of Mayapán Hunac Ceel gave the ruler of Chichén Itzá Chac Xib Chac a love potion, so that he fell madly in love with the bride of the King of Izamal and kidnapped her. So it was easy for Mayapán to find enough allies to attack Chichén Itzá. In the end, they defeated Chichén Itzá, historically secured, and devastated the city. In the following years the regional influence of Chichén Itzá decreased and the Itzá moved from here to the Petén-Itzá-See Guatemala to their new capital there Tayasal to found. Chichén Itzá was eventually abandoned.
The Spaniards found only abandoned temples here. The city was rediscovered archaeologically in 1840. But it wasn't until a year later when John Lloyd Stephens and Frederick Catherwood visited the city that it really moved into the limelight. The stories of Stephens and especially the drawings of Catherwood wowed the world.
Today Chichén Itzá is one of the UNESCO world cultural heritage and to the seven new wonders of the world. Since access to all buildings is currently blocked, one or the other view escapes, but the complex remains impressive. And if you enter the facility early in the morning, you will often find the facility still dreamily wrapped in fog and deserted.
getting there
By plane
Nearby lie with Merida and Cancun two international airports at the same time, with Cancun being more frequented during the season.
In the street
There is no major official ADO bus station here, but there is every ADO bus in between Merida and Playa del Carmen stops in the parking lot in front of the main entrance.
By boat
Although the place is inland, almost every cruise ship stops in Cancun, from where passengers are loaded onto buses to Chichén Itzá.
mobility
The complex itself can only be explored on foot, which is also quite possible. Headgear, sunscreen and water should be part of the equipment, as there is not shade everywhere. Even if you are not allowed on the pyramids here, good footwear is recommended. If you have to go from the parking lot and bus stop to the hotels on the premises or the side entrance without buying an entrance ticket, then the route leads completely around the premises. Especially with the warm temperatures, it is not advisable to walk along the main road. The only alternative, however, is the taxi, which costs around € 5 for the relatively short journey.
Tourist Attractions
The city is in very good condition and literally overturns with well-restored buildings and beautifully preserved reliefs. If you include the buildings in the area, it is not possible to see all of them in one day. Structures that have been partially restored can even be found on the hotel grounds. But from the abundance of buildings some protrude that make a breathtaking day trip over the site. Overall, the facility is divided into a southern and a northern part. The southern part is mainly made in the Puuc style and offers most of the characters with dates. The northern part is on an artificial platform and can have many Toltec style elements.
No matter which entrance you take, you walk straight to the most imposing building. From here the tour starts in an anti-clockwise direction across the site (see overview map):
- 1 Pyramid of Kukulcán (El Castillo).
The highlight of the area comes right at the beginning of the tour. This pyramid is not only beautiful, but can also shine with some amazing details. First of all, the whole structure is a complex calendar. So all 4 stairs have 91 steps each, and the temple house stands on it with one more step, so a total of 365 days a year. A total of 52 plates on the sides indicate the 52-year cycle on which the two Maya calendars (one with 365 days / year and one with 260 days / year) meet. The opinion of some guides on the site that this is the proof of a calendar of 52 weeks with 7 days each arises from the desire for sensations rather than a sound archaeological basis. Rather, the peak of Mayan calendar art shows itself twice a year during the equinox. Then a play of light and shadow is thrown on the stairs, which, combined with the snake heads at the end of the stairs, gives the viewer the impression that a large snake is crawling down from the pyramid. But the pyramid can do even more, because if you stand in front of the pyramid and clap your hands, you get a surprising sound back as a reverb, which corresponds to the call of the sacred bird of the Maya - the Quetzal - is modeled on. If all of this is not enough for you, you can comfort yourself with the fact that there is a smaller one in the pyramid. This also has nine steps, but only one flight of stairs. It should be emphasized here that on the inner pyramid there is a throne in the form of a jaguar with eyes made of jade. Up until a few years ago, this could still be viewed via a small corridor, but this access (at the foot of the north staircase) is now also closed.
- 2 Ball playground (Juego de pelota). One of seven (!!) ball playgrounds. However, this has not yet been uncovered. This gives the viewer an impression of what the entire complex looked like before the restorations began and without having to go deep into the rainforest.
- 3 The market (Mercado).A square courtyard gallery with numerous columns. The multiple depictions of warriors in the Toltec style point to the construction in the late phase of the city. The exact meaning of this building has not yet been clarified.
- The sweat bath (Temazcal).The largest sweat bath on the site has been designed in a relatively complex manner. The entrance area consists of a columned hall that has been furnished with several benches. In this there is also a small passage to a small rectangular room that served the function of the sweat bath.
- 4 Palace of a Thousand Columns (Palacio de las Columnas Esculpidas).Originally these rows of round and square columns were covered by a wooden vault. But this has rotted and collapsed over the centuries. The round columns have been created from individual round blocks mortared on top of one another and impress more with their size than their class. Instead, the square columns have been provided with fine reliefs of warriors in Toltec style or snake and bird people. On the back wall of the hall there is a representation of a procession of warriors in Toltec costume. The approximately "only" 500 columns connect several small ball courts, the warrior temple and the market through many colonnades Tula here.
- 5 The warrior temple (Templo de los Guerreros).The warrior temple is located directly at the Palace of a Thousand Columns. The name refers to the pillars of the former entrance hall, on which many warrior reliefs can be seen. Behind it, 35 steps lead to the 12 meter high pyramid. The end of the stairs is lined by two snake heads, on which a small plastic replica can be seen. This probably served as a torch holder in the past. On the pyramid there is a temple with three rooms, which has been moved to the rear edge so that a small forecourt is created. On this one of the most famous sculptures by Chichén Itzá can be found: Chac Mo'ol. This sculpture probably had the function of a sacrificial table. The entrance area of the temple is flanked by two feathered serpentine pillars. Masks of the rain god Chac can be seen on the outer corners of the temple walls. Incidentally, the somewhat smaller temple of the tables adjoins the north side.
- 6 Venus platform. This small platform has stairs on all four sides, each of which is lined with snake heads. The platform is decorated with a hybrid of human and bird. In addition, there are also Venus symbols, which, in addition to the naming of the building, also indicate a calendar function of this platform.
- The great wall. Parts of the facility are surrounded by a wall. The wall has neither the height nor the patency for a defensive function. Remains of columns can be seen in front of the wall, so that the assumption of covered market stalls is obvious. The wall is traversed by a sacbé, the sacred street of the Maya, which leads directly from the interior of the complex to the sacred cenote. Behind the wall, the ground level is a few meters lower. This is the natural level. The northern part of the facility stands on a huge artificial platform.
- 7 The sacred cenote (Cenote Sagrado).The Cenote Sagrado is almost circular and has vertically sloping walls. For centuries, the Maya worshiped the entrance to the underworld here and did not use this natural well as a reservoir for drinking water, but as a place for ritual sacrifices. The archaeologist Edward H. Thompson investigated the bottom of the cenote with the help of an excavator at the beginning of the 20th century. Numerous sacrificial objects were found, some made of gold and jade. In addition, around 50 skeletons were discovered. There is a ramp in front of the cenote, but it does not come from the Maya. Edward Thompson had this built to place his excavator on it.
- 8 Tzompantli.This term comes from central Mexico, comes from the Náhuatl language and was first assigned to this platform by the archaeologists. In central Mexico, the purpose of the Tzompantli platform was to display the skulls of the sacrificed people on it in a wooden frame. This is exactly what can be seen on a large relief on the platform. Therefore, it is believed that this T-shaped, approximately 1.5 meter high platform served exactly this purpose. Further reliefs of great eagles eating human hearts underscore this thesis.
- The big ball court (juego de pelota) - It is true that there are more than 500 ball playgrounds found so far in the Maya world. But it stands out clearly from most ball playgrounds and is another highlight. The dimensions alone are impressive. The playing area alone is 168 x 38 meters and is surrounded by eight meter high walls. In addition to the well-preserved target rings, the reliefs are particularly worth mentioning here. These can be seen six times in the same shape and design, the ones on the north-west wall being best preserved. It shows how the winning and losing teams face each other. Archaeologists still argue about which of the two teams is the winning and losing team. According to the representations, one of the players will definitely lose his head. Blood spurts from its headless torso in the shape of a snake. Blood, from which the tree of life rises, also spurts out of the severed head. Also noteworthy is the excellent acoustics on the field. To what extent the exactly seven-fold echo was specifically constructed and had a symbolic character is still controversial. Some temples are integrated into the complex:
- * North Temple - An open room with two pillars. The walls are decorated with numerous reliefs.
- * South Temple - Numerous reliefs can also be seen here.
- * Temple of Chac Mo’ol - This small temple is located on the outer wall, which impresses above all with its Chac Mo’ol sculpture and the reliefs.
- * Temple of the Jaguar - The most interesting temple is in the southeast part of the ball court. Access is through two serpentine pillars. Inside there are two chambers with numerous reliefs, some of them colored, which show both battle scenes and everyday scenes. In the facade, next to feathered snakes, there is a procession of jaguars.
- The high priest's tomb (El Osario).This is the first noteworthy building after leaving the platform in a southerly direction. Here you are, so to speak, in the old town of Chichén Itzá. At first glance, the high priest's pyramid looks like a small copy of the pyramid of the Kukulcans. The pyramid is a four-sided step pyramid with a staircase on each side with snake heads at the foot ends. But if you take a closer look, you can see some differences. First there is the temple on the top of the pyramid, which, similar to that of the warrior temple, has an entrance area that is flanked by two erect snakes. In the interior there is a sacrificial table that is carried by little men. Inscriptions from AD 998 have been found here. found. If you look further at the facade of the pyramid, in contrast to the simple design of the Kukulcán pyramid, reliefs and ornaments in the Puuc style can be seen here. In the top row there is a serpent body relief, which ends in a sculpture of a snake's head in the corner of the pyramid. Below you can see some representations of fantastic bird creatures. The name of this structure is by the way a creation of the archaeologist Edward H. Thompson, who found a shaft in the pyramid that led to a natural cave with a grave. What is remarkable about the building is the building fragment on the southern flank. This was created from the stones around the temple and shows four chaac masks (depictions of the rain god) lying one on top of the other.
- 9 The red house (Casa Colorada).This building was only restored in 2009/2010 and takes its name from the red wall paintings found inside. A long hieroglyphic script runs across the house. There is another ball court at the back of this temple.
- 10 The deer's house (Casa del Venado).This further platform with a temple building is located near the red house. During the first sighting, the remains of wall paintings were found there, which, among other things, depicted a deer. Unfortunately, after decades nothing can be seen of the wall paintings due to the weather. Only the naming has remained.
- 11 The snail tower (Caracol).The snail tower is undoubtedly the highlight in the southern part of the facility. As early as 1842, Frederick Catherwood captured the beauty of this building with its architecture, which is unique in the Mayan world. Another platform stands on a basic platform with a wide staircase. A tower that has it all is finally built on top of it. There are four entrances to the inside and a narrow spiral staircase leads up to it. Due to its snail shape, this is also the name giver for the entire building. The tower is probably intended for observing astronomical data. The orientation of the three windows that are still preserved indicates this in any case. For example, on certain days, the rays of light shine through all windows for a few seconds to meet at a defined point. A smaller platform with pillars is in front of the building. Unfortunately, like all the others, this building has no longer been accessible since 2004.
- 12 The nunnery (Las Monjas).Over the years, this building was expanded again and again until it had reached these impressive dimensions of 25 meters wide. The larger main building is kept relatively simple, but the smaller eastern part is richly decorated. Particularly noteworthy is the gate in the eastern part. Among other things, there are twelve Chaac masks on the front and corners. Furthermore, a representation of a ruler sitting cross-legged with elaborate feather ornaments can be seen above the door. This representation of the ruler is framed by an oval ornament. Incidentally, the name of the building is based on a fable of the first Spanish soldiers who saw this building. The soldiers suspected that virgins spent their lives here before they were sacrificed. Probably more of an administrative purpose in this building.
- 13 The church (Iglesia).The building is in the immediate vicinity of the nunnery and that's where the name comes from. The Spaniards simply assumed that a monastery also had a church. The building with only one entrance and one room has an almost tower-like overall structure. The lower part, which is kept very simple without any stucco, is remarkable. Above this section there are numerous openings in the wall, so that the assumption is that cloths or something similar may have been attached here in the past. The richly decorated upper part begins above this section. The central element is the middle band, which shows some Chaac masks on the front and the corners. On the front, between the masks, there is an armadillo and a snail on the left and a turtle and a crab on the right. The building is crowned by a roof ridge, which in turn receives some Chaac masks. In general, the structure is considered to be one of the best preserved of the classic Puuc style.
If you haven't had enough, you can rest easy because you haven't seen everything yet. Numerous buildings are still waiting in the rainforest or are currently being restored. But some away from the center can already be visited:
- Temple of the sculpted wall surfaces (Templo de los Paneles Esculpidos). This is located south of the Caracol and shows a portico with small reliefs. Among other things, small people can be recognized on these.
- Dark font (Akab Dzib). This building is located 150 meters east of the nunnery and is one of the oldest temples in Chichén Itzá. The name refers to numerous illegible characters inside the temple. This building has also been changed several times, with an inscription dating back to 870 AD. refers. Construction on the second floor began, but it was never completed.
- Group of the date (Grupo de la Fecha). This area is about 1.5 kilometers south of the nunnery and can be reached via a path that essentially follows an old Mayan road (Sacbé). The complex consists of a few medium temples and is surrounded by a wall. The complex is entered via an archway in classic Mayan architecture. Among other things, there is the Temple of the Date, which bears the date June 30, 878 AD, or the House of Snails, with numerous reliefs and snail shells on the ledge. Also worth seeing is the large altar, which has the shape of a turtle.
- Temple of the Three Lintels (Templo de los Tres Dinteles). If you continue along the Maya road past the group of the date, you will come across this building made up of three rooms in the Puuc style after 2.5 km. There are Chaac masks on the corners of the building. Characters found here refer to the year 879 AD.
- Temple of the Four Lintels (Templo de los Cuatro Dinteles). Only the lintels are left here. The rest has not been restored. The lintels contain characters from the year 881 AD.
Most tourists essentially look at the central ruins and then travel on. Many cruise tourists even only visit the Kukulcan pyramid and leave after lunch. But there is still a lot to discover in the area:
- Ik Kil Parque Ecoarqueológico. Around a cenote, a restaurant and a lodge fit into the jungle. The cenote is already convincing in its natural beauty. Nevertheless, no expense or effort has been spared here to turn it into a bathing paradise. From midday, however, the bathing paradise is frequented by larger tourist groups. So if you want to really enjoy the bathing fun, you should visit the facility in the morning. The restaurant runs a buffet every day for a maximum of 300 people, opens at 8 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m.
- Grutas de Balankanché. Actually, the caves have been known for a long time. Edward Thompson already examined these caves, which are about 5 km away from Chichén Itzá. But he and his subsequent colleagues were all to overlook what the travel guide José Humberto Gómez discovered by 1959. When he studied the cave again, he discovered more branched cave systems behind a rubble wall. These were full of various religious art objects that had been waiting to be discovered for 800 years. After numerous investigations, the cave was opened as a museum with the finds in their original position. Here, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., tour guides lead tourist groups through the cave system within 45 minutes for € 4.00. Guided tours in English take place at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
- Piste. The small village nearby is mainly frequented by tourists who spend a night here to visit the ruins early in the morning and want to avoid the relatively expensive hotels on the ruins.
activities
Of course, the focus here is on visiting the ruins. Unfortunately, no more buildings can be climbed here. But with 8,000 visitors a day to protect the building, this is perhaps urgently necessary and therefore understandable. Although this reduces the feeling of adventure to the ambience of an open-air museum, the facility is still looking for its equal in this aspect. The only thing that bothers here are the other 8000 tourists. You should therefore urgently spend the night here in order to visit the facility early in the morning before the cruise tourists arrive (from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.).
The facility is located in the middle of the dry Yucatán rainforest. Therefore, fauna and flora also have a lot to offer. Especially early in the morning you can see one or two birds on the relatively empty enclosure. The cenotes are particularly popular with birds as a source of water and food. And of course this facility also apparently belongs to the lizards rather than the humans. At least these are the only ones who are currently allowed to climb the pyramids alongside the archaeologists.
There is a very special highlight every evening. Then the northern part of the facility (including El Castillo and the large ball playground) is wrapped in colored light in the form of a light show. There is music and the story of Chichén Itzá is told. The whole thing can also be enjoyed in German via a borrowed receiver with headphones. By the way, the entrance fee to the light show will be credited to the visitor if they visit the facility the next day.
Finally, when the sun is burning and the temperature is high, the focus is on bathing fun. Therefore, many hotels have a pool on offer. However, if you cannot fall back on this luxury or are looking for an alternative, you should definitely visit the Ik Kil Parque Ecoarqueológico (see sights).
shop
Anyone entering the facility should cover themselves with water beforehand. Anyone who has forgotten this can buy a few bottles of water at the "special price" at the kiosk at the high priest's grave. There are also toilets and a few souvenirs here. But if you are looking for souvenirs on the complex, you should wait until the cruise tourists show up (around 11:00 in the morning). Until then, numerous Maya from the area have set up their stands along the Sacbé to the sacred cenote and on the connecting path between the high priest's tomb and Caracol and sell everything that can be labeled Chichén Itzá or the image of El Castillo. There are of course more shopping opportunities at the main entrance and the side entrance. On the latter, the souvenir shop at Hotel Mayaland also has a good selection of international literature.
There are small shops at the hotels to stock up on food and daily needs. But it is certainly cheaper in the Pisté, which is about 5 km away.
kitchen
The hotels Mayaland and Hacienda Chichén offer a large buffet for tourists every day. The guides on the premises often lead their groups here. While eating there is dancing for entertainment in Mayaland and singing in the hacienda. The buffet is not a great enlightenment, but it is okay and you get full every time. Those who do not like the constant comings and goings of tourist groups or who simply attach more importance to the food should either go to the more expensive restaurants in these hotels or take the route to Pisté. Another possibility to participate in a large buffet is the buffet from Ik Kil Parque Ecoarqueológico. This is 3 km away, but offers additional bathing fun and a fantastic ambience (see sights).
accommodation
Chichén Itzá offers the rare opportunity to stay overnight on the archaeological site in the hotel. This is a bit more expensive but very comfortable and worthwhile.
- Hotel Mayaland (100 meters from the side entrance). Tel.: 52 985 851 01 00. The hotel has been here since 1923 and is not exactly an attraction from the outside. But the huge garden is intoxicating. Winding paths lead through a very well-kept park past pools and smaller pyramids or platforms from Chichén Itzá to the hotel bungalows. In the main building there are the slightly cheaper normal rooms, while the bungalows are a bit more expensive. But lying at the foot of a pyramid by the pool costs something. All rooms are very well maintained and stylishly furnished. The hotel has its own entrance to the central area of Chichén Itzá.Price: Double US $ 110 to US $ 144.
- Hacienda Chichén (300 meters from the side entrance). Tel.: 52-985-851-0045, Fax: 52-985-851-0046, Email: [email protected]. Originally, this facility was used by archaeologists. Even Edward H. Thompson is said to have stayed here. Various awards underline the beautiful complex with a good library, art shop and a short distance to the central area of Chichén Itzá.Price: Double US $ 129.
- Hotel Villas Arqueologicas (300 meters from the side entrance). Tel.: 52 (985) 856 6000, Fax: 52 (985) 856 6008, Email: [email protected]. Price: double US $ 70.
- Hotel Dolores Alba, Calle 63 No. 464 x 52 y 54, Mérida, Yucatán, México 97000 (2 km away). Tel.: 52 (999) 928-56-50, Fax: 52 (999) 928-31-63, Email: [email protected]. A little further away from the central area, this facility, located in the green, offers a free delivery service.Price: DR MEX $ 420.
If you like it cheaper and a little simpler, you should accept a morning journey of 5 km. Here is the village of Pisté, which can serve with around 20 different accommodations. Here is a small selection:
- Piramide Inn Resort, Calle 15 A # 30x20, Km. 117 Carrer. Merida-Puerto Juarez, C.P. 97751 runway, Tinum, Yucatan, Mexico. Tel.: 52 (985) 85-1-01-15, Fax: 52 (985) 85-1-01-14, Email: [email protected]. Also offers camping opportunities.Price: DR MEX $ 450.
- Hotel Chichen Itza, Calle 15ª No. 45 runway, Tinum, Yucatan, México, 97751.
- Posada Olalde, Calle 66 slope Yucatan Mexico. Tel.: (0)19858510086, Email: [email protected]. Price: MEX $ 250.
- Grand Mayab Hotel & Bungalows, Calle 15ª No. 45 runway, Tinum, Yucatan, México, 97751. (Carretera Federal Valladolid - Chichen Itza Km. 140 Kaua, Yucatan, Mexico.). Tel.: 52 985 808 1773, Email: [email protected]. Price: USD 72.
health
When visiting the facility, it is essential to ensure that there is sufficient sun protection in the form of headgear and sun lotion. In the central area, shade is in short supply. Of course, it goes without saying that you should be supplied with sufficient water before the visit.
Otherwise, the general guidelines for the south of Mexico apply. A good insect repellent should protect against mosquitoes. In addition, one should take some precautionary measures:
- Malaria prophylaxis should be carried at least in an emergency.
- A typhoid vaccination should be carried out beforehand.
- The hepatitis A, B, tetanus and rabies vaccinations should be refreshed.
 | These medical notices have been carefully researched, but they are made ohne Gewähr. Ein Gespräch mit dem zuständigen Hausarzt oder einer reisemedizinischen oder tropenmedizinischen Beratungsstelle wird bei gesundheitlichen Problemen oder Unsicherheiten empfohlen. Beachte auch: Hinweis Gesundheitsthemen |
Practical advice
Am Eingangsbereich kann man einheimische Guides buchen, die teilweise auch englisch oder deutsch können. Die Kosten für eine etwa 2-3 stündige Führung beträgt etwa US$ 40,00. Je größer die Gruppe, desto preiswerter...
trips
Weitere sehenswerte Ziele in unmittelbarer Umgebung:
- Valladolid. Kleine Kolonialstadt im Landesinneren , ca. 40 000 Einwohner, 40 km von Chichén Itzá Richtung Cancún.
- Mayapán. Diese Stadt besiegte im 13. Jhr. den Rivalen in Chichén Itzá bevor diese im 15.Jhr. selber in einer Revolte unterging.
literature
- : Maya. Gottkönige im Regenwald. Cologne: Könemann-Verlag, 2000, ISBN 3-829-01564-X .
