Located over one hundred miles away from Cancun, Chichen Itza was the center of Mayan Civilization for over one thousand years. Even though there's no definitive answer as to why the city of Chichen Itza was abandoned, it has been recorded that the Mayan people rioted against its leaders around 1221 AD when the population began its decline. Subsequent to what was said to be a violent revolt, construction of new temples was halted. Lack of purpose was said to be involved in the abandonment of this once great city.

Pyramid of Kukulcan

Chichen Itza, which translates to "At The Mouth of The Wall of Itza" became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. The most famous of all structures in Chichen Itza is The Pyramid of Kukulcan, aka "El Castillo" (The Castle). The pyramid was dedicated to the feathered Serpent God, Kukulcan. The site has been off limits since 2006, when it became a contender in becoming one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Since becoming one of the New Seven Wonders of The World, visitors were banned from climbing and entering the pyramid.

Tours of Chichen Itza

Full day tours of Chichen Itza are available through cruise lines cruising the Western Caribbean with a stop in Cancun and or Cozumel. Tours of Chichen Itza are also available through resorts that work closely with reputable guides. There are also more in-depth experiences through tour operators such as Globus who have itineraries such as The Wonders of Mexico's Yucatan.  Many Chichen Itza tours are lead by Archeologists who are experienced in Mayan Culture.