10 Chichén Itzá facts you must know before you visit

Chichén Itzá holds the prestigious title of being one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, a distinction it earned in 2007 through a worldwide vote. Its grand monuments, such as the Temple of Kukulkán, stand as a testament to the ingenuity and astronomical mastery of the ancient Maya, making Chichén Itzá a must-visit landmark on the global stage.

Measuring 545 feet long and 223 feet wide, the Great Ball Court of Chichén Itzá is the largest of its kind in the Americas to date. The court was primarily used as the site for the sport tlachtli. The game is believed to have originated between 800 and 400 BCE, and is still played in some isolated regions.

Also known as the Temple of Kukulkán, this step pyramid is the site’s tallest structure at 98 feet or 30 meters tall. It’s believed to have been constructed between the 9th and 12th centuries, and is known for the serpent-like shadow slithering down the staircase during the spring and autumn equinoxes, an optical illusion created by the setting sun.

The Temple of Kukulkán isn’t an isolated structure. In fact, it is built over another temple called the Temple of the Red Jaguar, which follows the same structure as the Temple of Kukulkán. Within the Temple of the Red Jaguar is believed to be another temple, all of which are built over a cenote.

While Chichén Itzá played a major political and military role during its prime, historians believe it was originally constructed due to its proximity to fresh water. In particular, the Xtoloc Cenote provided convenient access to fresh water, the lifeline for any civilization back in the day. The abundant stone also made extensive construction a possibility.

The site was originally built due to its proximity to fresh water by the people of Putún and Itzá, who erected Chichén Viejo, which is the oldest part of the city. However, the site was abandoned around 900 CE and was in decline until it received a new wave of Itzá people and experienced a cultural and political renaissance that made it the main center of power in the Yucatán peninsula.

The Maya, the people who built Chichén Itzá, are believed to have originated nearly 3,000 years ago in present-day Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, and Mexico. The empire flourished in the major southern regions between 250 and 900 CE, but pretty much collapsed after that. They even carried out trade via well-defined networks that went as far south as Panama or north as Central Mexico.

Yes, you read that right! Until 2006, visitors at the site were allowed to climb the stairs leading to the temple’s very top. However, after an unfortunate incident where a woman tumbled to her death, the authorities decided to rope off the structure, which meant tourists could no longer climb it.

The Platform of Skulls, a rectangular stone platform, features numerous carved skulls that display the heads of sacrificial victims. It was a way of honoring their gods, memorializing the dead, and even serving as a deterrent to enemies who considered attacking the civilization.

Chichén Itzá’s glory came to a mysterious end in the 14th century when its residents moved out of the city, never to return. Several researchers attribute this to climate change and a series of droughts, likely due to the consistent building and deforestation at the site.