El Castillo
The equinox serpent.
Daniel Schwen — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Bjørn Christian Tørrissen — CC BY-SA 3.0 · edenpictures — CC BY 2.0 · edenpictures — CC BY 2.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0
The greatest and best-known Maya city of northern Yucatán, on UNESCO's list and voted in 2007 one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It was a major centre from roughly the 7th to the 13th century, and its buildings blend Maya styles with those of central Mexico. At its heart stands El Castillo, also called the Temple of Kukulcán, a symmetrical stepped pyramid with four stairways whose steps, together with the top platform, are said to total 365, the days of the year. At the spring and autumn equinoxes the sun's shadow on the north stairway's balustrade forms a serpent sliding to the ground, drawing thousands of visitors. Other landmarks include the Great Ball Court, the largest in ancient Mesoamerica, the Temple of the Warriors with its rows of columns, the round-domed «Observatory», and the Sacred Cenote, once a place of offerings. Climbing the buildings has been banned for years. The site is vast and exposed to the sun, so arrive at opening, before the Cancún buses and the heat. Bring water and a hat, and expect many vendors along the paths. Many combine the visit with nearby Ik Kil cenote for a swim.
The equinox serpent.
Mesoamerica's largest.
Rows of columns.
Tinúm municipality, Yucatán state; about 45 minutes from Valladolid and 2.5 hours from Cancún
At opening, before the Cancún buses arrive in late morning and before the heat. Staying in nearby Valladolid makes an early start easy.