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Cancun may be the most popular tourist destination in Mexico, welcoming guests to luxurious resorts and pristine Caribbean beaches with turquoise waters. But aside from its impressive service, the city lacks one thing and only one:

culture.

Built as a holiday resort in the late 70s, it has not survived the centuries of accumulated inheritance This is also reinforced by the nearby colonial cities of Izamal, Merida and others. But that doesn’t mean visitors can’t experience Mexico’s ancient culture when they fly to Cancun.

In fact, one of Mexico’s most famous historical sites was recently TripAdvisoris a short two-hour drive from Cancun and it can light be considered a day trip:

Why is Chichén Itzá so fascinating?

Chichén Itzá, one of Mexico’s 35 precious UNESCO World Heritage Sites, is an archaeological complex in the northeast of the Yucatán Peninsula, commonly associated with the legendary Mayans and other indigenous cultures that dominated Mexico before the arrival of Spanish settlers.

With most of it now in ruins, visitors easily forget that Chichén Itzá was once a thriving settlement from its construction around 600 AD until its fall in the 13th century. sheer size of the site gives us an indication of its significance at that time.

Within the complex there are more than 20 groups of buildings, of which 26 are Mayan buildings in varying degrees of preservation. Since they are connected by 75 tourist-friendly streets, you can explore the area complete on foot.

It is by far not the oldest Mayan site still in existence, nor the most historically significant, but it is characterized by one of the best preservedIn the centre is the monumental Temple of Kukulcan, which is known locally as The castle (or “The Castle”).

This temple is also a step pyramid richly decorated with stone carvings, and if you are there this fall when the autumn equinox occurs on September 22nd, you may be lucky enough to see Chichén Itzá’s greatest man-made wonder:

When the sun shines its light on the northwest edge of the pyramid, it creates a serpentine shadow that appears to descend the temple – further evidence of the architectural achievement of the Mayas.

Other structures include the Great Ball Court, the Platform of Skulls, where the severed heads of enemies were once displayed, the Platform of Eagles and Jaguars, and the Temple of the Warriors, which is guarded by a series of columns depicting Mayan heroes.

Recently, a brand new section of the ruins was opened to the public for the first time: Chichén Viejo, a secluded complex of villas and palatial temples that once belonged to the Mayan elite, including the 1,372-year-old stucco temple, among the oldest in the city.

This is the best tourist experience for tourists in Cancun

Chichén Itzá is located 122 miles west of Cancun, and if you come by car, The journey takes about 2.5 hoursbut given the well-documented car rental scams at Cancun Airport and the unpredictable traffic, we wouldn’t recommend venturing out on your own.

Instead you should book Sat Mexico Tour ‘Chichén Itzá, Cenote and Valladolid: All-Inclusive Tour‘, which includes not only entry to the mystical ancient city, but also stops at a turquoise sinkhole in the Mexican jungle and in the charming Spanish-built city of Valladolid for lunch.

Pick-up is available in the hotel zone, where most Americans stay during their trip.

The activity includes a live tour guide who will answer all your burning questions about the site and the Mayan civilization –an advantage you would not get if you travel alone.

Lasting 12 hours, it is one of the most comprehensive excursions offered from Cancun and also one of the cheapest. from $29.50 to $59.00 per person To Get your guidedepending on season and seat availability.

According to TripAdvisor, this tour is one of the best experiences in the world, and in Cancún in particular, it is considered the best in the city due to thousands of (mostly positive) traveler reviews.

It is recommended by over 96% of travelers, which means general recognition.

Are there alternative tours?

Although Sat Mexico Tour’s Chichén Itzá excursion ranks highest on TripAdvisor, it is not the only one currently offered from Cancun:

Their competitor TRIP ALLIANCE offers an alternative Chichén Itzá experience, combined with lunch in the much smaller, traditional Mayan city of Kaua instead of Valladolid and an hour of swimming in the Ik Kil Cenote. from $32.20–$64.40.

If your interest lies in the ancient Mayan world and you’re not necessarily interested in visiting smaller ethnic towns along the way, then Amigo Tours LATAM’s Cobá and Chichén Itzá Excursion with Cenote and Lunch (from $61.64) might be of interest to you.

Additionally new passenger train was introduced from Cancun to Chichén Itzá and makes it easier for individual travelers to commute without having to resort to rental cars or guided activities, provided they are not fans of large tour groups.

The archaeological site is just 2 hours and 21 minutes from Cancun, about halfway between the resort area and the Yucatan capital, Merida. However, daily departures are limited.

If you want to visit Chichén Itzá as a day trip, we recommend that you check the current schedules on the official website.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior writer at Travel Off Path, has traveled to over 60 countries (and is currently spinning tales from Paris!) and has a knack for turning off-the-beaten-track experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.

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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other company. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the companies mentioned in the post.