Mayan Pyramids: Top 5 Things to Know When You Visit
Mayan step pyramid. An ancient wonder of the old world.
The Mayan ruins are one of archaeologist’s most fascinating discoveries in Mexico. Located in Chichen Itza, the Mayan step pyramid and Mayan temple structures are the highlights of this particular visit. It’s a once in a life time visit for many, so you want to know how to get the most out of your trip when you go. Here are things we learned on our excursion and want to share with you so you too can have a memorable experice. And we definitely want the “memorable” part to be fond memories and not frustration!
Remeber to book your experiece through a reputable tour company. This should go without saying, but the last thing you want to do is find yourself in a questionable situation in another country. This should be easy, after all, millions of people have been to this site. One way to see the ancient ruins is to book an excursion while on a cruise. These are well-vetted groups that make a living by partnering with cruise lines. It’s a win / win. The tour companies stay busy, and the cruise lines offer exciting excursions that not only do guests love, but it also breaks up the “boat time.” Remember when you book to see if meals are included in your excursion. If not, there is a market place at the pyramid to purchase food. There is even a Starbucks if you need a caffeine fix.
Pillars and steps- Some pillars are newer than others and are believed to be a later addition
2. Prepare for the trip to Chichen Itza. You might be suprised at how far inland Chichen Itza really is. Many people visit by way of cruise excursion, and many times the ship will dock at Cozumel and you will take a ferry over to the mainland. From there it may be another two hours of driving before you reach your destination. The ferry ride to cross over took about 40 minutes itself. Since these boats are made to “shovel” people around in mass quantity there will usually be seating on the inside of the boat as well as at the top. We suggest trying for seating at the top of the boat. Stabilizers aren’t exactly a thing for these types of vessels. If you are on top you’ll be fine. If you take a seat inside (like we did on the way to the mainland) your sea legs will be tested. Non drowsy Dramamine can help in this situation, so pack some just in case. On the way back we chose the top seating, and we had not only a better view, but also a better ride experience. Since this is such a long, trip considering the travel both ways, it would be good to bring otc meds just in case you find yourself in need.
A hand drawn picture of the Mayan step pyramid as it looked when discovered.
3. Be ready for crowds and sun. By looking at photos this historic site almost looks empty, but rest assured that is because of cleaver photo angles, cropping & editing. It’s not so bad that you should stay away. For an example, when we went the crowds were not as thick as Disney Word would be on a crowded day. It was more like a busy mall the week before Christmas. Nevertheless, know you won’t be there alone. If you go in the summer the sun is going to be hot in Mexico. Take sun screen or an umbrella and enough water. Seriously, don’t overpay for bottled water - just bring some along. You will also need to have your camera ready. Bring your best one and be ready to take more pictures than you normally would think necessary. The reasons are many. The tours often move fast due to the fact that the tour guide needs to get back and so do you if your excursion was booked on a cruise. With that in mind you may not get to circle back around for that “perfect” shot. Another reason to keep your camera’s shutter moving is that when you get back and start looking through your photos you're going to find things you don’t like such as people in parts of the picture you don’t to be there, a blurred image, poor exposure, etc. It is easier to delete an extra picture than to go back and take more. Capture the memories.
Part of the market place at the Mayan ruins
4. Remember to bring cash. Specifically, a lot of dollar bills. You would think cash would be common knowledge, but it was suprising how many people did not have any. For one, our particular cruise line stated that we should not take any as when we read in their cruise line app. This was a mistake and something they changed rather quickly. Cash is king. And the people looking on capitalizing on the tourist industry want that king. Firstly, you will be expected to tip your tour guide and bus driver at the end. Secondly, how terrible to be hungry or in need of something only to find your bank thinks your card is stolen and you can’t use it temporarily. Thirdly, you can buy a lot for a few dollars in Mexico. Due to the exchange rate of the dollar versus the peso you can get a nice souvenir cheap. As a tip, remember to pay with exact change, hence another reason to bring ones. If a vendor sees you have a five, they won’t be keen to give you change but rather will hard sell you on spending the other four. This should not be intimidating though. Everything is negotiable and you can get some nice memorabilia for a dollar at a time. Negotiations are in the culture, and they want to make a sale. If you don’t want anything, just keep walking. Every tourist will hear the phrase, “One dollar or twenty peso’s” at least fifty times. It’s all harmless and you can get souvenirs at a cheaper than expected price. Extra tip: language barrier? Show some cash… that’s a universal language!
Another pyramid base unearthed in mayan ruins by archeologists
5. Don’t try to do too much - unless that’s how you roll. We tried to fit two stops into one day, which would not be a problem if this adventure hadn’t eaten up 8-9 hours in the day. By booking one outing you will have more time to take in what’s around you if you make this your only stop. There were a few people who loved the fact they were going various places and didn’t want to explore this place in any detail. That will be your personal call and up to you to decide what suits your traveling style best. I am pretty adventurous and think that this can easily be a single event on an excursion.
Mayan “wall of fame”
We have given some “for sure” things you will want to consider to make your trip valuable and worth while. We genuinely want you to get the most out of your vacation and excursion so consider the things covered above. In closing be prepared to be amazed at how people so long ago could simultaneously be so full of ingenuity to build such fascinating structures and simultaneously do so many barbaric things. You will know what I mean if you take the tour. You really will get a quick education with your experience if you get the right guide. Do you have any experiences to share with your visit to Chichen Itza? If so, leave it in the comments so we can all benefit other travelers!