People travel from around the world to visit Mexico for its pristine white sand beaches, amazing weather, and warm and welcoming people.
But one of the biggest attractions of a trip to Mexico is the culture and rich history.
The historic ruins of Chichen Itza have just broken their single-day attendance record, according to Mexican officials. More than 7,500 people visited the site in just one day.
Here are 7 reasons why this is the most popular tourist attraction in Mexico right now:
Cultural Significance
Chichen Itza is an incredible example of Mayan history.
Although there are Mayan ruins located across Mexico, Chichen Itza is by far the most well-known and well-preserved.
It was one of the largest Mayan cities, making it one of the largest historic sites that visitors can explore in Mexico.
Chichen Itza is not only an important UNESCO World Heritage site but also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
It is a bucket list dream for many to see all of these Wonders of the World, and exploring Chichen Itza is a great place to start.
The site was chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders because the “fusion of Mayan construction techniques with new elements from central Mexico make Chichen-Itza one of the most important examples of the Mayan-Toltec civilization in the world.”
The Maya Train
Perhaps the biggest reason why visitor numbers to Chichen Itza have soared recently is because the site is now easier to reach than ever.
The new and long-awaited Maya Train is now open and can take travelers on a sightseeing tour across the Yucatan peninsula, including to the archeological site of Chichen Itza. In fact the Maya Train has its own station dedicated to Chichen Itza and you can arrive here directly either from Cancun or from Merida.
In total the 300-mile roundtrip tour on the Maya Train route will allow travelers to see 29 archeological sites in total but Chichen Itza is both the most significant and the most famous of these.
Easy To Access
Even if you don’t choose to travel via the Maya Train, Chichen Itza is still relatively easy to reach from Mexico’s main tourist cities, such as Cancun.
If you are traveling to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, or anywhere else on the Yucatan Peninsula, then you’ll find plenty of companies offering tours and excursions to Chichen Itza that are easy to access. And you should. This is one attraction in the region that you really won’t want to miss!
Traveling to Chichen Itza on a coach or bus tour will take around 3 hours each way. You can also get to Chichen Itza in a rented car and the roads are relatively easy to navigate. Car rental prices in Mexico are relatively low compared to other places in the world so this won’t eat too badly into your budget.
Its ease of access makes visiting Chichen Itza all the more appealing.
Its Size
Chichen Itza is huge.
The core of the site covers an area of roughly 5 square kilometers (1.9 square miles) and the most instantly recognizable of the many buildings here is El Castillo (Pyramid of Kukulkan) which sits in the center of the site and is the most photographed symbol of Chichen Itza.
The size, scale, and number of buildings within the ancient city can’t be over-emphasized, meaning that many travelers choose to visit more than once because it would be impossible to see everything in one day.
Most people spend at least 3 hours exploring the ancient city, so don’t plan on making a fleeting visit.
Growing Popularity
Thanks to its global reputation and how easy the site is to access, particularly since the new Maya Train was opened, Chichen Itza is only going to grow in popularity.
Where there are crowds, there is often a diminished traveler experience, but you can beat the crowds by visiting the site very early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Tour buses tend to visit in the middle of the day, so avoid this if you’re visiting independently.
Avoiding the middle of the day will also give you the benefit of cooler temperatures which will make you feel much more comfortable as you explore.
Keep It Cool
You may think it’s too hot to spend the day wandering around ancient ruins when you could be relaxing on the beach. But many people combine a trip to Chichen Itza with the chance to cool off in one of the cenotes that surround the site.
There are plenty of cenotes in the Yucatan Peninsula where tourists can swim. These deep, beautiful pools of blue water make a great break from the cultural exploration of Chichen Itza and add to the overall experience, and popularity, of the site.
An Iconic Destination
Almost everyone has heard of Chichen Itza even if they’ve never visited Mexico. You’ve likely seen photos of its pyramids online, in textbooks, or on TV.
Chichen Itza is one of the largest and best-preserved archaeological sites in the world. It is not only important in the context of Mexican history and development but on a wider global scale too.
As a tourist attraction, Chichen Itza is iconic. People want to visit to see it for themselves and so that they can say they’ve been.
As it becomes easier to access and more people visit, the more iconic this destination will become. It is predicted that visitor numbers are only going to continue rising as a result.
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