Chichen Itza self-guided tour with audio narration & map

Your tour of Chichen Itza begins at the entrance to the archaeological site. As you enter and get your first look at this astounding place, the first thing you’ll see is an ancient wall which once surrounded this place. The next thing you’ll see is pretty hard to miss--it’s the iconic Temple of Kukulcán, Chichen Itza’s most famous structure. But you won’t just be admiring it, you’ll also learn about its remarkable construction and how it was built to honor the equinox.

Continuing along, you’ll come to another of the city’s most amazing sights: the Great Ball Court. Here, Mayans once played an intense, elaborate game somewhere between soccer and basketball--but with a 20 pound ball! Here, you’ll learn not just about the game, but also the peculiar way the court was built.

Next, you’ll pass the ominously-titled Wall of Skulls, where the heads of sacrificial victims ended up! Then you’ll arrive at the Platform of the Eagle and Jaguar Warriors. Here, you’ll find numerous intricate carvings and sculptures depicting the exploits of these highly trained, lethally effective warriors.

After this is the Platform of Venus, which once held offerings to the stars. You’ll learn about the Mayans’ complex belief system as well as how they used this platform.

Soon, you’ll arrive at The White Road, a white stone road which is one of the largest and most intact of its kind in existence anywhere. This takes you to the Sacred Cenote, where ancient Mayans sacrificed people to appease their rain god.

Up next is the awe-inspiring Temple of Warriors, a multi-tiered temple with a dark secret hidden inside.

Your route takes you next to the Hall of a Thousand Columns, where people once shared meals together, and the Ossuary, home to the grave of a High Priest.

Then it’s on to the Observatory. Here, you’ll learn about how the Mayans viewed the heavens, and what they believed the stars told them about their future.

Finally, you’ll arrive at the imposing but oddly named Nunnery, and the Church. These two ancient structures are some of the most frequently photographed spots in the entire city, so you’ll definitely want to have your camera ready! The tour concludes here.