Excited about visiting Chichen Itza, one of the 7 wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site? You definitely should! Chichen Itza it’s well worth a visit and a great way to know more about the Mayans. However, if you’ve started doing your research, you probably have heard of the crowds of Chichen Itza, and this is something we weren’t keen on experiencing. That’s why we’d like to show you a different way to experience it: Chichen Itza at Night.
The classic Chichen Itza visit
The tip you often hear is to get early to beat the crowds. And if you want to do a traditional visit to Chichen Itza, this is definitely what you should do! It’s not a day for lazing around, so set the alarm, have breakfast on your way to Chichen Itza, and make sure you arrive by 7:45 a.m., 15 minutes ahead of the opening. Later in the morning crowds of buses will arrive from everywhere in Yucatan and Quintana Roo and the place will lose a bit of its magic.
Chichen Itza at Night: Noches de Kukulkan
However, what many people don’t know is that there’s a different way to visit Chichen Itza. ‘Noches de Kukulkan,’ which translates to ‘Kukulkan Nights’, includes two remarkable experiences:
- Entry to Chichen Itza at Night, which allows you to explore most (not all) of the archaeological site and its temples, including the main ones like Kukulkan and the popular ‘football’ pitch. The buildings are beautifully illuminated in various colors, creating a stunning effect.
- A captivating night show featuring lights and shadows projected onto the main temple.
Sitting under the starry night sky in front of the Kukulkan pyramid while learning about Mayan history through the show is one of our most unique travel memories. It’s a different way to experience Chichen Itza that should be considered more often.
The ‘good but not great’ Cenote: Ik Kil
Chichen Itza visits normally go along with visiting the nearby Cenote Ik Kil, which is gorgeous but has the same problem as Chichen Itza: crazy crowds. By opting for the night visit to Chichen Itza, you can enjoy the cenote first thing in the morning, offering a more pleasant experience. However, Ik Kil is massively known, and even doing that won’t guarantee you beating the crowds.
The GREAT’ Cenote: Tsukan
Instead of Ik Kil in the morning, we recommend visiting Cenote Tsukan. In our opinion, Tsukan is less-known but way more impressive and enjoyable than Ik Kil. To say more, it was by far the best cenote we visited in Mexico. By getting early-ish, you will have the cenote for yourself, which is truly special. The ticket includes Mayan cultural experiences, such as visiting a Mayan house and participating in cooking activities if you like.
Where to stay
To make the most of your Chichen Itza at Night experience, it’s advisable to stay in close proximity to the site. There’s a small town called Piste where you will find accommodation. We stayed in a new hotel between Piste and Chichen Itza called Hotel Puerta Chichen. From here you could even walk to Chichen Itza (10-15 minutes) or go by car (3 minutes). The hotel is delightful, featuring a lovely pool, and excellent food, and it’s run by local Mayans who were incredibly friendly and eager to share their culture with us (this is how we got to discover Tsukan Cenote!).
Note: A single night’s stay is sufficient to explore both Chichen Itza and the cenote. You could arrive at Piste at some point in the afternoon or evening, enjoy the pool, and then head to the night show at Chichen Itza. In the morning, head early to Tsukan Cenote and come back to the hotel to do the check-out.
Hope you enjoyed the article!
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