Stay Overnight At Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza, the ancient Maya city, has always been popular with tourists. Year after year, it racks up the highest visitor numbers of any archaeological park in Mexico, not least because of its easy access from the highly frequented resort areas of Cancun and Riviera Maya, from which literally dozens of packed tour buses arrive at the archaeology park on a daily basis.

When Chichen Itza was voted as one of the New Wonders of The World, the publicity which surrounded this anointment served to attract even more visitors to the park.

From about 10am onwards each day, the tour buses begin to arrive.  The ruins are also situated in the jungle, so not only do visitor numbers swell, the heat of the day begins to take hold, making exploration of the park less pleasurable and more tiring in the afternoon heat and humidity.

If you really want to experience Chichen Itza properly, there is only one way to accomplish this: by staying overnight at one of the hotels situated right next-door to the park.  By-pass the malaise of tour-bus crowds and enjoy the comfort of the facilities and services the hotels have on offer to guests.

You may arrive at your chosen hotel in the late afternoon, check-in, relax with a cool drink, and perhaps take an afternoon swim.  Some hotels offer spas treatments, too.  You have time to unwind in the quiet tranqulity of the hotel’s grounds before enjoying dinner served in a courtyard surrounded by soft candlelight and lush vegetation.

After a good night’s rest, you wake early to sounds of birdsong: a symphony performed by wild jungle birds, principally tropical Toucans.   Enjoy a leisurely breakfast from around 7am.   The park opens its doors at 8am.

By entering the park at 8am, you have at least two-to-three hours to really enjoy Chichen Itza, without hordes of people everywhere.  People staying at the hotels may enter through small side entrances, just a short walk away.

By the time the tour-bus crowds descend upon Chichen Itza, and the intense heat of the midday sun takes hold, you have seen most of the park’s key features and got some great pictures.

You may return to your hotel to lunch and perhaps take a swim to cool down.  If you are staying a second night at the hotel, you may want to return to the park for further exploration in the afternoon, or enjoy a spa treatment, or just relax in the restful and refreshing gardens of the hotel’s grounds.

We recommend at least one night at a hotel in Chichen Itza, but preferably two nights, for better relaxation.   By staying overnight, you avoid the tour-buses, the rush to the entrance, the jockeying for position for the photographs you want, the jungle heat, and the ‘long’ bus journey back to your hotel at the beach resort.

In short, staying overnight is not only the most pleasurable way to experience the Chichen Itza; it is also the most civilized.

One or two night’s stay at Chichen Itza is surprisingly affordable and worth every cent if you truly want to experience the wonderful Maya ruins without the commercialized crush.

To get there, you can take a mini-van from Cancun or Playa del Carmen, or you may want to rent a car for a couple of days, and visit nearby Coba, another worthwhile archaeology park that you’ll pass on the way to Chichen Itza.

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