We decide to spend 2 nights in Valladolid, Yucatans third-largest city, as it is only a short 30min bus ride from Chichen Itza. The town centre is pleasant enough and there are a number of cheap places to stay.
We arrive at Chichen Itza just as the hordes of tourist busses descend among the site. The ruins are the most famous and well preserved in Mexico. Being named as one of the 7 wonders of the modern world it also means it attracts many visitors who want to tick another one off their list.
The entrance comprises of a huge car park and modern ticket office, complete with market, gift shop, restaurant, ice cream store and a bar. With hundreds of sun burnt holiday makers clogging up the queues this feels more like the entrance to a theme park than an archaeological site.
Despite the mob we manage to squeeze in and get our first glimpse of El Castillo (Pyramid of Kukulcan), which was used as a Mayan calendar, with 365 steps to the top reflecting the number of days in the year.
The site also has the grand Juego de Pelota, which was used by the Mayans as a ball court. Here you can be amused by the number of people walking around clapping away (the sound echoes several times). But if seen from a distance it looks like the hordes of humans have turned into performing seals.
Even with the number of people it is hard not to be impressed by the site, the restoration work allows us to create a better image of what life would have been like when the city was at its peak. However, Chichen Itza does lack the grandeur of Theotithican and it doesn’t have the same lush backdrop as Palenque or the peaceful tranquillity of Monte Alban. It may be the most famous but we wouldn’t necessarily say it was the best.
After spending more time taking photographs of the local iguanas than the ruins we are beginning to feel like we may be a bit over dosed on temples.
We decide to push further to the coast. It’s time to party in Cancun.
