Explore The Yucatán
Arriving at Chichén Itzá, Hwy-180 libre curves around the site to the north, making an arc that merges with the site access road (the original highway straight through) at both ends. All first-class buses drive right up to the site entrance. All buses stop in Pisté as well, at one of two stations, on the west end of town (eastbound buses) or the east end (westbound buses).
The main entry to the site (daily winter 8am–5pm; summer 8am–6pm, last entry an hour earlier; M$111) is on the west side. A huge visitor centre (open until 10pm) houses a museum, restaurant, ATM and shops selling souvenirs, film, maps and guides. Guided tours of the ruins can be arranged here: private tours in one of four languages (Spanish, English, German or Italian) cost approximately M$480 and last ninety minutes; group tours cost a little less. You can also buy tickets and get in at the smaller eastern gate by the Hotel Mayaland, where there are fewer facilities. You can book two-hour horseback trips around the wilder, southern part of the site, Chichén Viejo, at the hotel reception area (M$500 with guide). A sound-and-light-show in Spanish runs nightly (7pm in winter, 8pm in summer; included in price of day entrance ticket); it’s a bit of a yawn, but it does recreate the shadow-serpent effect (see Chichén Nuevo) on the stairs of El Castillo, and it’s the only thing to do in the evening.
About 3km west of Chichén Itzá, Pisté is an unattractive village straddling the road. Its main function is providing visitors with accommodation (see The site), so they can get up early enough to beat the buses that arrive at the ruins around 10.30am. There’s an internet café here, opposite the bus station, at the east end of town.
Read More
