We were up early this morning and arrived at Chichen Itza by 8:30. After walking through a tree lined long corridor of souvenir sellers, the trees opened to a clearing with Chichen Itza’s El Castillo as the centerpiece. We explored the whole site, the ball court, various temples, the wall of skulls… It was all fascinating to us, particularly, how the Mayans carved and moved all those stones, from 600 to 1200 AD. Chichen Itza was one of the largest Mayan cities in its prime.
We spent about three hours at Chichen Itza then drove an hour north to Ek Balam Archaeological Site. Older than Chichen Itza, Ek Balam was occupied for over 1000 years, with construction starting between 100 BC and 300 AD, and continuing to 700-900 AD. It was home to the Mayan king, Ukit Kan Lek Took and two later Mayan kings. We climbed to the top of the largest structure, also known for its carving and art filled rooms. Ek Balam was very interesting to us.
We drove back to Hacienda Chichen Itza, with a stop in Valladolid for lunch and a walk about the city square. Our lunch was one of the best Mexican meals we’ve ever eaten, served in an open air courtyard of the restaurant. Valladolid is home to about 86,000 people and a very busy city.
