The Equinox at Chichen Itzá

[chamba]

Plan now for an event that happens every March, usually on the 21st.
That is an epic day to visit the ruins of Chichen Itzá. dress in all white for good luck.
this is the day of the return of Kukulkan in form of a shadow that appears on the staircase. the shadow connects to the serpent head at the bottom of the stairs.
this is a great day to attend.

[lazydog]

I agree, we went last March and it was really interesting with the energy of the crowds. I'd do it again!

[Margoinmexico]

:wave:I plan on going this year, haven’t done it yet….very excited!

Thanks for the reminder, it is on my calendar! :D

[BethS.]

Any tips on when to arrive, how long it lasts, etc? Will it be very crowded?

[Libelula]

Wow, I bet it's really neat. I will have to put that on my bucket list. I really hate crowds however :( But it sounds like a good crowd.

[Steve O]

I think I have been to Chichen Itza somewhere between 17 and 20 times. Four of those for the equinox. Two in September and two in March. Last March when I was down I remembered it was equinox so my brother (Uncle John) and a friend (Antemlo) drove to Piste to party a little, see the serpent climb down the pyramid, and spend the night. We normally stop in the bar called El Pich and have our ration of cugamas before catching a taxi to the ruins. You want to get there around 3:30 pm. A taxi will drop you off on hwy. 180 and the entrance. It's all blocked off and you have to walk in. There is always a huge crowd with lots of Mayan celebrations going on. If you have never been, put it on your list of things to do. It's a great time.

Rooms are hard to get. I would recommend the Piramid Inn. During equinox a room there runs around $500 pesos. There are smaller places in Piste for around $200 pesos that I have stayed at but wouldn't recommend them for the tourist on vacation.

[BethS.]

We will be staying in Tulum at the time -- is this doable as a day trip? Or is it a must to stay at a hotel nearby?

[PhyllisB]

I would think that if you're staying for the equinox you'd want to stay overnight that night.

I did go to Chichen for a day trip, but we left Tulum at the crack of dawn, drove a few hours, did Chichen, left there around 1:30 or so to head back to Tulum with a stop at Valladolid to check out the main square and a stop at the prison that sells great hammocks. We got back to Tulum - oh, I want to say 7:00ish, in the dark.

If you get there for the equinox stuff at 3:30pm, you wouldn't be leaving for several hours probably. That would be a very late arrival back in Tulum.

[chamba]

I stayed at Mayaland with my infant son, my wife, our nephew(11), another friend of the family(16), and my father. we enjoyed the grounds, the event, and then the stay. we left the next morning. That was good and worth the stay. plus the kids astounded their teachers with the reports they did from their spring break.
I have, however, left after the event (which is moments before sundown) and arrived to Tulum in the dark. I have a place to call home there, and I know the roads so it is a different circumstance. there are some cheaper rooms than Mayaland, and that will be a good way to go.
I like to mention those hamacas from the prison everytime I bring up Chichen because those are the best. take my advice b/c I sleep in those like 85% of my sleeps. My son takes the best naps in a yucatecan hamaca. the prison at EBTUN are the best hamacas you can find on the peninsula. worth the $60+usd.

[PhyllisB]

Totally agree on the hamacas, chamba! They're fantastic. On the pricey side, and you can't bargain the prices down, but worth every penny.

AdGuy used to be a regular poster, and he had a wonderful picture of them that really showed off the great colors and designs - buried somewhere deep in the tulum.info archives.

[minniemex]

Good memory Phillis ~ is this the one you were thinking of?? It is AdGuys picture, I kinda stole it.

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/Minniemex/Board%20Pictures/December2006TulumPictureson16MB563.jpg

[PhyllisB]

Yep, that's the one!

[chamba]

oooohhhhh thats nice.... is there a smiley that drools?
im gonna go take a nap!

[Margoinmexico]

:wave:I sleep in a hammock every night.....I have two of the nicest hammocks I've ever seen, bought them YEARS ago in Oaxaca......:sun:

(I'm going o have to get over the no posting pictures thing soon..maybe on MY vacation....)