Why Chichen Itza is a Wonder of the World: A Personal Journey

Chichen Itza stands out as one of the most celebrated historical sites globally. Its architecture is unparalleled, its mystique undeniable. This article delves into a personal encounter with this incredible place and explores the reasons why Chichen Itza is a wonder of the world.

To properly narrate this journey, I must first admit something: I am Mexican and had never visited this incredible pyramid before. I had even less idea about everything surrounding it.

I moved to the state of Quintana Roo, specifically Cancún, four years ago and had never had the opportunity, nor the specific interest, in visiting a site like this—a strange departure from my usual self, given that I’ve always been a lover of the archaeological sites I’ve encountered during my travels in this wonderful country that I am so proud of.

Every kilometer traversed in this astonishing country is an adventure, a new flavor, an aura of colors, and a variety of sensations that never disappoint. Such is the case with Chichen Itza, a place simply breathtaking. After this visit, I am convinced why Chichen Itza is a wonder of the world. To share why, I’ll narrate my adventure at this ancient Mayan city step by step.

Are you ready? Here we go!

View of El Castillo pyramid at Chichen Itza archaeological site

The Journey to Chichen Itza

Despite living in this region for four years, I must confess that the reason I, as a local resident of Cancún, hadn’t been to Chichen Itza is because I don’t use a car. My reason for not using one is my belief in the great irresponsibility associated with buying and driving a car, utilizing gasoline and other resources that are significantly harmful to the environment.

Quintana Roo, Yucatán, and the southeastern region of Mexico are, in fact, considered one of the great lungs of the world. While tourism requires transportation, I believe there are mostly sustainable ways to operate. One such way is not contributing to these issues and using public transportation or even walking as many kilometers as possible each day.

So, when I finally arrived at Chichen Itza, I must confess, it wasn’t by my own hand but rather thanks to an invitation from Odigoo Travel, who asked me to contribute to their magnificent blog. Upon reading their proposal, I didn’t hesitate for a second to accept and take the trip.

The team at Odigoo arranged private transportation from my hotel to Chichen Itza. This turned out to be a significant advantage, given that it’s a type of transport I would never have considered using otherwise. However, with their characteristic expertise, they suggested it for several important reasons, which, with the aim of sharing this valuable knowledge, I will enumerate below.

Navigating unknown territories always warrants caution, but the safe transport in Cancun provided by Odigoo made me feel secure from the moment the uniformed driver stepped out of the van. He was consistently helpful, ensuring I was comfortable and driving safely. Javier, as he introduced himself, was very professional throughout the entire journey.

Having taken other similar transports via Odigoo since then, I can also attest that the vehicles they use are extremely clean. In Javier’s shuttle, the vehicle’s aroma was always pleasant, despite carrying more than 10 people.

One of the aspects I loved most about traveling in a shuttle from Cancún to Chichen Itza is that I met people from many places around the world. This not only allowed me to travel but also to form meaningful friendships that I continue to cherish today, whether it’s sharing a glass of wine, afternoon coffees, or simply whenever they visit this wonderful country.

Javier demonstrated tremendous knowledge of the streets of Cancún and the routes needed to reach our destination. While traffic is a daily reality in any city, his expertise ensured efficient mobility.

Regarding the cost, as a special guest, I didn’t have to pay. However, I learned from some fellow travelers that the costs of these private transports from Cancún to Chichen Itza are genuinely competitive. Walter, an Argentine attendee with whom I now share morning mate sessions, mentioned that he had found similar services to be up to 300% more expensive for foreigners. This suggested that considering the quality of service, the comfort (always in air conditioning, with Javi’s professionalism, and shared control of the music), the provider was offering excellent value.

After the pleasant journey from Cancún and crossing the Coastal Gulf Highway to Yucatán, and having met the incredible people in our group, we arrived in the vicinity of the ancient city and began walking toward its heart.

Exploring Chichen Itza: The Great Surprise

When we started along the path, we reached the Great Plaza, a vast expanse that serves as the perfect introduction to the Temple of Kukulkan, also known as El Castillo. Even though I could see it in the distance, the impression it gave me was immense. It became even more significant when I stood directly beneath it and could admire it in detail for the first time.

I could describe it in many ways, but the overwhelming feeling it evoked had more to do with absolute silence. Everything around me faded away, like muting a TV: suddenly, all the noises, the murmur of people, and the constant hum of my thoughts ceased to exist, replaced by an almost complete stillness.

In the distance, I could only hear drops of water, as if there were a body of water nearby where drops were falling constantly. This gave way to the rhythm of the wind, which sometimes whispered and sometimes roared, capturing my attention.

I walked a bit closer to see it up close; I couldn’t believe how impressive it is, with its white stone, almost like an ancient palace, and that staircase that clearly resembles a stairway to the heavens. Ironically, it’s the same staircase that the great Kukulkan, in its snake form, descends every spring and fall equinox (in this case, we visited during the fall).

Front view of El Castillo pyramid showing steps and alignment

Therefore, the guide explained a bit more to us as we waited for the descent of Kukulkan, the great feathered serpent. While I don’t recall his words precisely, I will reference information that aligns with what he described, such as accounts found on the National Geographic website, which explains the phenomenon:

“The design detail of the temple allows the nine levels to project seven isosceles triangles of light: a luminous and magical serpent topped by the stone head at the beginning of the lintel. This is known as the hierophanies of the equinoxes, a fascinating play of light and shadows that lasts about ten minutes and repeats each year during the fall equinox (between September 22 and 23) and the spring equinox (between March 20 and 21), about three hours before sunset. It is worth noting that, although Chichen Itza’s case is the most famous, it is not a unique phenomenon, as similar occurrences are recorded in Uxmal or Tulum. This demonstrates the special calendrical symbolism in Mayan culture.”

Afterward, the guide explained the relationship between the steps and the calendar. The pyramid consists of 91 steps on each of its four sides, plus a final platform, totaling (91 * 4) + 1 = 365. This number corresponds to the number of days in their calendar, just like ours. This precise astronomical alignment is a key part of why Chichen Itza is a wonder of the world.

While explaining all this and keeping us engaged with anecdotes of Mayan mythology, the feathered serpent, its mysterious origin, and its similarities with other cultures, the moment was approaching. So, we strategically positioned ourselves to observe the equinox phenomenon. After a few minutes, the first traces began to appear. The shadow of the triangles on the staircase began to form gradually until the great Kukulkan became visible in all its splendor, allowing us to witness its passage through this land and its journey to the underworld.

Not without marveling first, I took my camera to capture this significant moment. I wanted to capture a memory of how impressive it was, so I took some photographs.

After this, we walked to the Platform of Venus, where we observed this small temple dedicated to the planet Venus and the death chambers of the mysterious Chac Mool.

Next, we visited the impressive Tzompantli, a structure composed of representations of stacked skulls representing the enemy dead in battles. In this place, the Mayans impaled heads to offer them to the gods.

The Temple of the Eagles and Jaguars also impressed me. Figures of eagles and jaguars holding what appeared to be hearts caught my attention. But the guide explained these were not hearts being devoured, but rather offerings representing the syncretism between the Mayan and Toltec cultures, who peacefully united.

Then, we were taken to the Mayan Ball Game court, which has its peculiarities. In addition to being the largest ballcourt in Mesoamerica, it also held ritual and political influence. Similar to modern times, significant decisions sometimes depended on the outcomes of these games. From the north of this enclosure, the elite watched the game from the Temple of the Bearded Man.

One of the most impressive places in the entire Chichen Itza complex is the Temple of the Warriors, surrounded by a thousand columns. While there aren’t actually a thousand (closer to 200), they create an incredible visual effect, making it easy to imagine warriors hidden among them, ready to defend against unwanted visitors.

Temple of the Warriors and the surrounding columns at Chichen Itza

Afterwards, we attended the Observatory (El Caracol), one of the most important structures for the Maya. Many of their decisions regarding agriculture, ceremonies, and daily life were made after consulting the stars observed from within this structure. This astronomical precision further highlights why Chichen Itza is a wonder of the world.

Observatory (El Caracol) structure at Chichen Itza

We also saw La Casa Colorada (The Red House), which surprised me due to the detail of the designs on its four faces, as well as its reddish tone, which is very different from all the other buildings in the complex.

Then, we headed to the Osario or Tomb of the Great Priest. This structure is a smaller version of the great pyramid of Kukulkan and displays some mythological figures. What intrigued me most about this monument is the thought of the opening at its center, which travels up to 10 meters underground. It is said that perhaps this structure is a tunnel connecting to the Cenote beneath the great pyramid of Kukulkan. However, access remains blocked, so it continues to be a mystery.

A place we visited later within the great city of Chichen Itza is La Casa del Venado (House of the Deer), a site that gets its name from some paintings found inside the building. Although this structure appeared a bit deteriorated due to the passage of time.

Finally, the tour concluded at the House of the Nuns, which obviously receives its name from the Spanish, who thought this place resembled a convent. The architectural style is impressive because it is very similar in design and appearance to other archaeological zones, such as Uxmal and Kabah, both also great representations of the Mayan empire.

Unknowingly, I was living an experience that I had never anticipated, that had never been a specific travel goal for some unknown reason. But I can say, without fear of being wrong, that it changed my life forever.

After this thrilling spectacle of history and architecture, the guide led us to another part of the complex, where we found yet another surprise while reaching the Sacred Cenote Chichen Itza.

Reaching the Cenotes

After a few minutes’ walk, we arrived at the location of the Sacred Cenote. If you were to ask me how to get there, I could guide you with my eyes closed because everything along the way is so wonderful that it’s hard to forget the path. Beyond finding transportation, the path to the Sacred Cenote is on foot, making it much more interesting. Despite the high temperatures, the walk didn’t feel arduous due to the fascination generated by this great Mayan city. Also, the premise of visiting a cenote is, of course, to potentially cool off.

After a short walk at the end of the lateral path from the great pyramid, we arrived at Cenote Sagrado. This cenote is particularly representative of Chichen Itza, as our guide explained, because sacrifices were offered here to the gods. Cenotes were considered by the Maya as portals to the underworld. Is Christ the Redeemer a wonder of the world in the same significant way? Each wonder holds unique cultural importance.

El Cenote Sagrado at Chichen Itza

Paraphrasing the guide and his wise words, he shared this valuable information with us:

“The ancient Maya called these water formations ts’onot. With time and the mix of languages after the arrival and settlement of the Spaniards, the term Cenote was born. The ts’onot was the place where the Maya established communication with water deities, offering various types of gifts, including human sacrifice anchored to a specific prophecy related to virgins and their return to the earthly plane after the sacrifice.”

He added:

“This cenote has a diameter of approximately 60 meters and a depth of 14 meters. Archaeological objects of great cultural value, as well as human remains, have been found at its bottom, indicating periods of use during the peak of the Mayan empire in Chichen Itza. Later in history, it became a place of worship and pilgrimage, as some objects, dating their origin, come from Guatemala and Costa Rica, and even the southwest of the USA.”

At the end of our time there, we left this cenote since, although the view is beautiful, it’s not suitable for swimming due to its vegetation, and it is now a UNESCO-protected site.

Just three kilometers from Chichen Itza, near the magical town of Valladolid, Javier transported us in his secure vehicle to Cenote Ik Kil. Translated into Spanish, this Mayan word means “Place of Winds.” The site has some fascinating peculiarities. For example, the staircase descending to this ts’onot was built by the hands of 80 men without using any explosives or modern technology, imbuing the construction process with a very interesting artisanal magic.

Additionally, an important symbolic detail is that there are 91 steps that make up the entrance path or “stepped tunnel” to the underworld, referencing the four staircases of the Temple of Kukulkan, or in other words, the great pyramid of Chichen Itza.

According to information available about Cenote Ik Kil:

• The cenote Ik Kil has a depth of 48 meters.
• This is equivalent to more than two vertically stacked school buses.
• It’s just a few minutes from Chichen Itza.
• It has a restaurant where you can enjoy à la carte or buffet dining.
• It has hosted Red Bull cliff diving championships.
• It has two platforms for diving.

Cenote Ik Kil with hanging vines and circular opening

One thing I didn’t like was that I couldn’t fly my drone. Generally, when I visit places, I fly it to preserve panoramic memories. However, upon seeing the signs indicating the prohibition, the staff kindly explained that there is an unexplainable electromagnetic phenomenon studied between Chichen Itza and this site, which hinders the proper functioning of these devices. Which is the first wonder of the world varies depending on the list, but ancient sites often hold unique characteristics.

So, I packed up the equipment and began my descent through that tunnel of 91 steps, whose construction, our guide told us, took approximately 18 months. I’m not someone who suffers from vertigo, but I must add that this staircase is so perfectly constructed that it could be said to be foolproof. After a few minutes of cautious descent, I reached the cenote.

What impressed me most about this place was the vegetation, the way those long vines descend, in search of water, a considerable distance (30-40 meters), and seem like living snakes that, for a moment and thinking with the detail provided by the descent, could well be a natural symbol of Kukulkan himself descending to the underworld. After this reflection and sharing it with our guide and foreign friends for some philosophical laughs, we decided to jump from the 4-meter platform.

I must admit that the water in a cenote is much cooler than I would have expected, given the ambient heat. However, the refreshing water can be even a bit cold at first, so I recommend keeping that in mind before jumping to avoid a surprise that takes your breath away for a few seconds, as it did to me.

After the initial shock, the sensation of cold changes to one that is much more imposing and incredible—the feeling of looking down and swimming in water so crystal clear that it seems to come from a movie scene.

Swimming in a cenote is one of the most highly recommended travel experiences. Even if you don’t intend to travel specifically to Chichen Itza or you already know it, I recommend finding transportation to Cenote Ik Kil and taking a stroll through this incredible place and trying its buffet, which is truly amazing.

From Chichen Itza to Valladolid

While Chichen Itza, Ik Kil, and Valladolid are in proximity, they represent distinct types of places:

• Cancun is primarily a modern tourist city.
• Valladolid is designated a “Magical Town.”
• Chichen Itza is, in ancient terms, a whole city, and undeniably magical in its own right.

Placing them in this context, and knowing all we’ve learned about Chichen Itza, we can touch upon Valladolid, but not without first clarifying what constitutes a “Magical Town” (Pueblo Mágico in Mexico).

A Magical Town is a place chosen for its commercial and touristic qualities at the state and regional levels. It should engage in activities that reflect culture, historical value, accessibility, and safety. Additionally, it must meet criteria regarding population size and have a tourism committee committed to a long-term development plan. The town’s historical events must be relevant enough to support tourism development.

Thus, with its enormous history, Valladolid became one of the towns chosen to become a Magical Town. It is a place that bears witness to the arrival of the Spanish and other nations to Mexico, especially to the Caribbean and the southeast, where enormous estates existed, and locals mixed with colonizers in the task of managing the local economies.

Colonial architecture street scene in Valladolid, Mexico

Upon arriving in the town, we were greatly surprised by the tropical colonial architecture, a style very characteristic of places like Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, or Haiti, among others.

It is also surprising that Valladolid’s downtown is largely uninhabited by locals, who travel from the outskirts every day to work in and use the commercial places in the area.

Although this was a quick stop, we were able to access the cathedral located next to the zocalo (main square), a Catholic place of worship with peculiar wooden elements and sacred sculptures.

Leaving the church, we went to the small square, where we found different delights to try:

• Esquites (boiled corn kernels seasoned with herbs and garnished with various toppings like butter, mayonnaise, cheese, lime juice, chili, and salt).
• Prepared corn on the cob.
• Cream ice cream in different flavors.
• Cafés and Mexican food restaurants around the square.

After a short time enjoying a very Mexican craving called “Tostiesquites,” we regrouped and took the transportation back towards Cancún.

The Return Journey

Javi indicated it was time to leave the cenote area. We helped each other exit, like the happy international community we had formed in just a few hours, and began the ascent of the 91 steps to reach the surface. The heat assisted in drying us off, providing a delightful thermal contrast. We returned to the vehicle and started the journey back.

During the trip, Javi’s attentive and culturally enriched conversation made the ride very light and enjoyable. He kindly allowed us to make a stop to buy some refreshing drinks, maintaining an air-conditioned environment at a temperature friendly and democratically agreed upon by everyone. Finally, we reached our destinations. If I could add something about this experience, it would be that the service we received was completely safe transportation throughout the Riviera Maya region.

At no point did they make us feel uneasy or unsafe. On the contrary, they always kept us entertained, provided us with the best advice and secrets of experienced travelers.

In the end, I can conclude that this experience, like others I will narrate, did not disappoint. The service was reliable, and I appreciate the opportunity to have visited such a powerful site as Chichen Itza.

Conclusion: Why Chichen Itza Stands as a Wonder

My personal journey through Chichen Itza solidified my understanding of why Chichen Itza is a wonder of the world. It’s not just a collection of ancient stones; it’s a testament to the advanced knowledge, architectural prowess, and profound connection to the cosmos held by the Mayan civilization. From the breathtaking precision of El Castillo’s equinox phenomenon, reflecting sophisticated astronomical understanding, to the sheer scale and artistry of structures like the Temple of the Warriors and the Observatory, the site embodies human ingenuity at its peak.

The spiritual significance of the cenotes, seen as portals to the underworld, adds another layer of wonder, connecting the physical world to the metaphysical beliefs of its creators. While the personal narrative of the journey, including the experience with transportation and visiting nearby sites like Ik Kil and Valladolid, enriches the travel experience, it is the core of Chichen Itza itself – its history, architecture, astronomical alignments, and cultural depth – that unequivocally earns its place as one of the great wonders our world has to offer. My visit transformed an abstract concept of a “wonder” into a deeply felt appreciation for the legacy of the Maya.