Chichen Itza: A Sensational Trip Back in Time

Chichen Itza (or “Chicken Pizza” as it is sometimes lovingly called) really needs no introduction, it’s one of the most well-known Mayan ruin sites on the planet and was recently named one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World”.  Chichen Itza is an extremely popular site for tourists, not only for its beauty and historical significance, but for its accessible location in the state of Yucatan. A few short hours on a bus and travellers are taken back in time to an ancient city full of mystery.

The facts and figures and historical details about the architecture and culture are fascinating,   The evidence of the astronomical and mathematical knowledge of this ancient civilization is astounding.  This enormous city was built with such precision and such attention to detail, all with only the most primitive of tools and a lot of back-breaking labour, without the use of the wheel.  The carvings and artifacts discovered at Chichen Itza and other Mayan ruins show an advanced civilization with powerful beliefs not only in science but in mythology as well.  The stories are rich and reveal much about the culture, but mysteries still abound.

I could write all day about the intricacies of this building or that carving or the significance of the angles of the structures, but I would rather appeal to your senses.  A visit to Chichen Itza is not just an educational experience (though it certainly is that).  Most tourists won’t remember the dates or mathematical calculations that went into building the pyramid, but the sensations and emotions of the visit will last a lifetime.

After a couple of hours on a bus, you descend the steps and are immediately struck by a feeling that the air is “different”.  A little sticky, it’s humid in the Yucatan, but with a freshness that can only be found in the jungle.  No pollution, no exhaust from thousands of cars, just pure air with the scent of the lush jungle foliage.  You see the HUGE towering palm trees with their rough trunks that seem to reach to the sky and you shade your eyes from the sun as you try to see their feather-like tops.  As you approach the entrance to the archaeological zone, you encounter the first evidence that you are in a place of antiquity, the low wall surrounding the site.  For me, this is when my heart skips a beat and my feet start to tingle, I am standing on ground where the ancients once walked and am about to embark on a great adventure.

Suddenly, you hear a loud ROAR!!!!, the cry of a jaguar echoes through the trees!  You panic for a moment until you realize it’s just an artisan with a small toy that can replicate the jaguar’s voice, “10 pesos, cheaper than Walmart”, he says.  You laugh at yourself, smile at the vendor and continue to make your way down the path surrounded by the deep greens of the plants and trees.  Tropical birds twitter and tweet from hidden branches and iguanas scurry through the fallen leaves as you follow the voice of your guide leading you closer to the heart of Chichen Itza.

And then you see it.  You’ve looked at pictures a hundred times, you’ve read the descriptions, watched the videos, but nothing can prepare you for the moment you first lay eyes on the Kukulkan pyramid.  It stops you in your tracks and you take a moment to try to soak it all in, marvelling at its immensity and wondering how on earth it was built with only human hands, no cranes, no bulldozers, just the sweat and dedication of the Mayan people.  As you approach you begin to note details, this is not just an organized pile of rocks, but an elaborate structure of platforms and steps, inlaid carvings of gods and symbols and sculptures of gigantic serpents.  You imagine the rulers and elite climbing the steps to make speeches to the masses below, their voices carrying with the magnificent acoustics of the site.  You slowly turn around, taking in the entire plaza, the endless rows of columns around the Temple of the Warriors, the Platform of Venus, the Platform of Jaguars and Eagles and the infamous Ball Court where the best players were sacrificed to the gods.  Sweat trickles down your neck as the sun beats down, you take a cool drink of water, close your eyes and embrace the moment.  The power of this sacred ground can be felt deep inside, over 1500 years of history vibrate through the earth and stone and becomes a part of you and you of it.  While cameras whir around you, you take a snapshot in your mind, not only of the sights, but of all the sensations  you are experiencing, the smells, the sounds and the emotions of this magical place.  This is a moment trapped in time, one you will likely never forget.

You continue through the site, learning about archaeology, culture and astronomy, trying to digest the wealth of information shared by the guides and the details you see in each building of Chichen Itza.  You imagine 100 000 people bringing the city of Chichen Itza to life, the children attending the immense school and the market bustling with the cries of vendors.  You envision the elaborate rituals and dances performed to please the gods and the sacrifices made to the sacred cenote. You marvel at the scientists’ abilities to track and map the stars long before the advent of the telescope.  You feel a sadness when you think of the Spanish arriving and destroying such a vibrant culture, robbing an entire people of their language, religion and way of life.  You take a million pictures, clowning for the camera or setting up that perfect artistic shot of light and shadow or video-taping the family waving from in front of the observatory.  All of your senses sated, the sights, sounds, aromas and emotions of this magical place fill you, you depart, taking with you a new perspective on the world.

For more images, please see our Chichen Itza photo set on Flickr.  Join our Chichen Itza Mexico page on Facebook and follow our Chichen Itza Twitter account, become a part of our community and share our love for this wonder of the world.

(Photos by Kelly McLaughlin)