Wow, what a difference 30 years make.
It was April, 1991. We were on our honeymoon in Cancun. We took a day trip to Chichen Itza, and remember that there were no crowds. We had access to everything, and I could even climb the large pyramid.
Fast forward to today. Rows and rows of tour buses. We had to park 1/2 mile from the entrance. There was a crush of people.
But, in the end, its the same Chichen Itza. This pre-Colombian city, built by the Mayans, is huge in scale, and so incredibly impressive. There's a reason why Chichen Itza is considered one of the modern Wonders of the World.
The drive from Playa was over two hours, on a wonderfully maintained, but very expensive toll road (about US$16 each way). Once we arrived, we knew immediately that we should have departed earlier in the morning. There was a very long line at the ticket counter, and there were tons of tourists milling about.
Once inside the complex, we followed well-traveled trails to visit the amazing sights. The pyramid is roped off, and climbing is no longer permitted (and I think that's a great idea).
The weather at Chichen Itza was quite a bit warmer than in Playa, and you have to be very careful to drink plenty of water. We did recall many of the sights that we saw during our honeymoon. The main difference we noticed is the increased number of tourists, and the huge number of locals selling crappy souvenirs throughout the venue.
It would be amazing to witness Chichen Itza when it is closed, with no people. It must take on a different light, and be much more magical and spiritual. Even with big crowds, it is a wonder to witness.
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