Getting up in the middle of the night is always THE BEST way to avoid crowds! . Chichén Itzá, meaning 'mouth of the well of the Itzáes' in Mayan, is a stunning ruin well worth visiting for its spectacular, iconic structures and historical importance, despite its huge crowds. Visible even from faraway Ek' Balam, Chichén is the granddaddy of Maya sites in Mexico. To fully take in the details you should hire a guide, but if that's not in your budget, just walking around offers a fascinating insight into one of the greatest cities of pre-Columbian civilization. At the vernal and autumnal equinoxes (around March 20 and September 22), the morning and afternoon sun produces a light-and-shadow illusion of the serpent ascending or descending the side of El Castillo’s staircase. The site is mobbed on these dates, however, making it difficult to see, and after the spectacle, parts of the site are sometimes closed to the public. The illusion is almost as good in the week preceding and following each equinox (and draws much smaller crowds), and is re-created nightly (except Mondays) in the light-and-sound show year-round. If you’re in the area around the equinox and you have your own car, it’s easy to wake up early for the fiery sunrise of Dzibilchaltún, a site north of Mérida, and then make it to Chichén Itzá by midafternoon, catching both spectacles on the same day. P.S. wear your fucking mask if visiting such a popular sight. The Mexican government decided to temporarily close Chichen Itzá because most tourists thought it was a good idea not to wear one while walking around the complex! #wearamask #putyourfuckingmaskon #chichenitza #chichenitzá #chichenitzamexico #mayanruins #mayanculture #chichenitzayucatan #visitmexico #mexicotraveler #descubremexicovt #vivagrandeshistorias #mexicoatravesdeunalente #rawheroes #mexico_fotografos #mexicotravelchannel #ig_mexico #vive_mexico #mexicoesfotografia #mexicotravel #seemexicotravel #mexico @sectur_mx @postales_mexican @conoce_mexico @mexicodestinos @mexicodesconocido @mexishoots @mexicotravelchannel @mexicoesfotografia @mexicodesconocido @vive_mexico @mexicodestinos @mexico_fotografos @phototripmexico @mexico_mx (at Chichén-Itzá) https://www.instagram.com/p/CNU2qxXsjh3/?igshid=hry9mk07bh3g
