Chichen Itza The Mexico Tourism and Vacations

Chichen Itza: The New Wonder of The World 

      While pyramid ruins like El Castillo and Kukulcan are the main reasons to visit Chichen Itza, there are many other attractions on offer here. Amazing bird-watching and stargazing experiences can be found at the Maya Protected Forest and Bird Sanctuary at Hacienda Chichen. One-day excursions can be started from Merida or Cancun.

In the 9th century, Chichen Itza was a de facto regional city center, its rulers controlling much of the northern and central Yucatan peninsula. Through its port on Isla Cerritos on the northern coast, Chichen Itza became an important commercial center, trading goods, including gold and other treasures.

At the height of the Mayan civilization, it is believed that as many as 50,000 people lived in the center of the city of Chichen Itza. The population may also have been quite diverse, since at least by the standards of the time many people had immigrated to the city from outside the Yucatan, including from Central America.

History of Chichen Itza, the City of Mayan Civilization in Yucatan

Chichen Itza is a town of the Mayan civilization. Chichen Itza is located about 120 miles from the modern resort city of Cancun, on the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Chichen Itza was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, and in 2007, was selected in a global survey as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Although Chichen Itza is a hugely popular tourist attraction, archaeologists are still actively exploring the Mayan culture and achievements in the ancient city's center. (wikitravel.org)

The name Chichen Itza is a Mayan term meaning "mouth of Itza's well". The Itza are a Mayan ethnic group that rose to power in the northern part of the Yucatan peninsula, where the town of Chichen Itza is located. The "well" in the name "Chichen Itza" refers to a number of underground rivers that flow beneath the area, and serve as a water source for the city.

There are several different historical accounts about when Chichen Itza was built and eventually developed into a center of political and economic power. Some records say the founding of the city of Chichen Itza occurred in the early 400s AD. While others say the construction of the city began several years later, in the mid-5th century. 

Certainly, Chichen Itza became a significant center of economic and political activity in the Maya civilization around 600 AD. In 600 AD, Chichen Itza had already become one of the largest cities in the Mayan civilization. It covers almost two square miles of commercial, residential, and other structures made of stone. Chichen Itza even has its own “suburb,” with small houses occupying the outskirts of the city.

The Temples and Buildings at Chichen Itza:

Kukulkan Temple

In the complex of buildings built by the Mayans and Toltecs there is a pyramid-shaped temple, the temple is named the Kukulkan Temple. On each side of the pyramid there are steps leading to the top. At the top of the stairs is the entrance to the room containing the Jaguar King Kukulkan Stone Crown.

El Caracol

Besides the Kukulkan temple, another tourist attraction that you can visit when in Chichen Itza is El Caracol. El Caracol is a temple in the form of a circle and a rectangular platform that is commonly used as an astronomical observatory room.