Amongst all of the archeological treasures here, Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1<\/a> is easily the most famous and well-preserved site.<\/p>\n But do not be fooled, Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1 is not just another archaeological site crawling with tourists, this lost jungle city houses fascinating secrets that span centuries and entire civilizations.<\/strong><\/p>\n These sacred ruins are a must see whilst here in Mexico, but before you visit them it\u2019s time to brush up on some of the lesser-known secrets that shroud this enchanting Wonder of the World.<\/a><\/p>\n After reading this, I guarantee that when you experience Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1 first-hand you will get goosebumps as you roam around the ancient city.<\/p>\n Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1 covers 2.5 square miles and is halved into two sites: the South and the Central archeological zones.<\/p>\n The South Zone dates back to the 7th century<\/strong>\u00a0while the Central Zone was built around the 10th century.<\/strong><\/p>\n Our expert guides<\/strong> at PlayaDelCarmen.com will journey with you back in time to explain the history and mystery that continues to permeate this incredible landscape.<\/p>\n Notable structures include the ball court<\/a>, The Temple of Warriors<\/a>, and El Castillo<\/a>.<\/p>\n But before you get there, here are some of the sacred secrets to keep in mind:<\/strong><\/p>\n El Castillo is an intriguing structure, also known as the Pyramid of Kukulkan, or Quetzalcoatl, the 80-foot stone pyramid is a physical depiction of the Mayan calendar.<\/strong><\/p>\n The feathered snake deity, Kukulkan, climbs across the pyramid of El Castillo twice a year.<\/p>\n If you are lucky enough to be visiting during the spring and autumn equinoxes you may catch a glimpse of this incredible phenomenon.<\/p>\n Look at the picture above. Look carefully. During the equinoxes, the sun casts a shadow<\/strong> on the temples 365 steps (one for each day of the year) to create the image of a serpent<\/strong>!<\/p>\n As the sun sets, the snake seemingly slithers down the steps to join a stone serpent head that sits at the base of the great staircase.<\/p>\n Coincidence? I think not.<\/p>\n As you walk around the ball court pay close attention to the walls<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The ball court here at Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1\u00a0is one of the largest ever found and is adorned with carvings that tell of\u00a0the brutal games.<\/p>\n One of the most popular Mayan sports included a game where losers lost their heads.<\/strong><\/p>\n As if that wasn’t grim enough, they later extracted their hearts and presented them as offerings to the gods.<\/p>\n The Mayans often used\u00a0blood to bring their stone\u00a0structures to life by adding some color.<\/p>\n In addition to the two platforms dedicated to the planet Venus in Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1, there is an observatory-like structure,\u00a0El Caracol<\/a>, that was specifically designed to trace Venus’s orbit across the sky.<\/p>\n If you consider the kind of technology that would have been accessible to the populations who lived here over 1000’s of years ago, it seems almost impossible that they would have been able to create something so impressive all by themselves.<\/p>\n There are many theories surrounding the subject, but we would love to hear yours!<\/strong> Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.<\/p>\n \u00a0Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1\u00a0was built around a series of sinkholes, called cenotes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cenotes are\u00a0visually stunning spectacles largely associated with the\u00a0Yucatan area<\/a>.<\/p>\n They attract divers from all over the world because of their unique beauty.<\/strong>\u00a0They are an absolute must if you plan to visit\u00a0Playa Del Carmen<\/a>.<\/p>\n The cenotes provide access to an\u00a0extensive underground water world.<\/strong> Their history is fascinating so you may want to read more on\u00a0how cenotes were formed<\/a>.<\/p>\n The cenotes were sacred to the populations who lived in the city of Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1. The most important – and the largest – was the Cenote Sagrado<\/a>, which still exists today.<\/p>\n Archeologists have uncovered bones and jewelry<\/strong> from the site.<\/p>\n Although Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1 is largely regarded around the world as a Mayan archeological site you may be surprised to learn that another indigenous Mexican group called The Toltecs<\/a>\u00a0also had a major influence on the cities development.<\/p>\n The Toltecs arrived at Chich\u00e9n Itza around the 10th century and were integral in <\/strong>developing the Central Zone of the site.<\/strong><\/p>\n This area showcases a fusion of highland central Mexican and Puuc architectural styles.<\/p>\n However, in the 1400s, its inhabitants abandoned the city<\/strong>, leaving behind all kinds of beautiful works of art.<\/p>\n Strangely, there are no records about why the people left<\/strong>. There have been several theories, including drought and quests for treasure, but nothing has been confirmed.<\/p>\n![\"chichen_itza-1500x850\"](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/chichen_itza-1500x850-780x470.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"230210472_f12f62d307_b\"](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/230210472_f12f62d307_b-780x470.jpg\")
<\/p>\n1. A giant Snake Crawls Across El Castillo<\/strong><\/h3>\n
![\"Snake\"](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Snake.png\")
<\/p>\n2. Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1\u00a0is Painted with\u00a0BLOOD<\/h3>\n
![\"blood\"](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/blood.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. The Mayans were Astronomical Geniuses who Followed Venus<\/h3>\n
![\"caracol\"](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/caracol-780x470.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. An Underground Water World Lies Beneath the Complex.<\/h3>\n
![\"Cenote-Sagrado-de-Chiche\u0301n-Itza\u0301-La-Mordida\"](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Cenote-Sagrado-de-Chiche\u0301n-Itza\u0301-La-Mordida-1-780x470.jpg\")
<\/p>\nCenote Sagrado<\/h6>\n
5. It’s Not Just a Mayan City<\/h3>\n
![\"chichen\"](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/chichen-5-780x470.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Central Zone<\/h6>\n
6. The Reason for its Demise is Still Unknown.<\/h3>\n
![\"chichen](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/chichen-itza-1_3636-780x470.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Plaza of a Thousand Columns<\/h6>\n
![\"sacred-cenote-of-chichc3a9n-itzc3a1\"](\"https:\/\/www.playadelcarmen.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sacred-cenote-of-chichc3a9n-itzc3a1-780x470.jpg\")
<\/p>\n