Cancun Mexico 2025 Day 4 Part 1 - Chichen Itza

For Day 4 I am going to break the blog update in to two parts as we had an amazing excursion which was really split between two different experiences. Firstly we visited one of the seven wonders of the world - Chichen Itza (something Brandon has been on about for many years - he wants to see them all in time) and then after that we had an absolutely incredible cenote experience (more on the later tomorrow).

Chichen Itza was a very early start. We were up at around 4:30am to make the two and a half hour journey in to Yucatan. The reason for such an early start was too fold, firstly to try and get to the site before the masses of tourists and secondly to experience the ruins before it gets too hot. We had the most amazing tour guide take us around the site and his explanations of the geology and design of the main temple of Kukulkán was like a mic drop moment. The mathematics behind this Haab solar calendar is just incredible and second only in accuracy to a NASA calendar. The main temple dates back to somewhere around 1200 AD but there are various other temples and cenotes on the site which can be explored.

Despite getting to Yucatan early morning it was still uncomfortably hot as as the tour guide took us around we were all seeking shade at any opportunity. They gave us plenty of water and even offered umbrellas as a method of sun shade. There were lots of Mayan souvenir stalls around the outskirts of the ruins and it was fun buying some knick-knacks and getting in to the haggling game. Brandon bought himself a new summer hat (clearly my Rogue boonie is wearing off on him).

Chichen Itza.

Some of the smaller temples at the Chichen Itza site.

Serpent heads of predominant in lots of the archeology.

This sports arena has incredible acoustic characteristics and when you clap it kind of reverberates and bounces off the opposite end.

Many battles commenced inside this arena with the "winners" being beheaded as they only offered the best to the gods.

Some of the Mayan inscriptions.

Another of the smaller temples.

More serpent heads.

Then the main event standing at 98ft high with 91 steps on each side (4x91 = 364, + 1 step up the top to equate to 365 days in a year).

Brandon has been waiting for this experience for some time.

There are exactly 9 larger steps on each corner which apparently equates to the 9 months of the female gestation period.

There is a small moat around parts of the main temple. If you look closely you can see loads of lizards in there.

Just spectacular from every angle.

Tina and the kids at the Temple of Kukulkán.

Had to do an angled picture as Brandon still keeps critiquing my photography.

The steps at the rear have not been restored like the ones on the other faces of the temple.

More ruins around the site.

In to a small Mayan house to see what living was like back in 1200 AD.

Inside the Mayan house.

Very basic as you would expect.

The temple of a thousand columns which spreads out over 492ft.

Back in 1200 AD these columns probably supported a roof which has since collapsed.

I think they said this was the temple of warriors.

We 5 King's at Temple of Kukulkán. Josh carrying the umbrella for some shade on a very, very hot day.

Me and wifey, last time we visited here we had no kids and it was back in the day where you could actually climb the temple. I think they stopped this for preservation in 2011.

The kiddies at the Temple of Kukulkán.

One last picture of this amazing temple.

Brandon haggled a deal for this hat at Chichen Itza.