Historic Site · Pisté, Mexico
Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza was a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people of the Terminal Classic period. Built 455.
Photo: Daniel Schwen via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Pisté, Mexico |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic Site |
| Built | 455 |
| Coordinates | 20.6831° N, 88.5686° W |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Chichen Itza is known for
Chichen Itza was a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people of the Terminal Classic period.
About Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza was a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people of the Terminal Classic period. The archeological site is located in Tinúm Municipality, Yucatán, Mexico, between the cities of Valladolid and Mérida. Chichen Itza was a major focal point in the Northern Maya Lowlands from the Late Classic (c.
History
The layout of Chichen Itza's core developed during its earlier phase of occupation, between 750 and 900 AD. Its final layout was developed after 900 AD, and the 10th century saw the rise of the city as a regional capital controlling the area from central Yucatán to the north coast, with its power extending down the east and west coasts of the peninsula. The earliest hieroglyphic date discovered at Chichen Itza is equivalent to 832 AD, while the last known date was recorded in the Osario temple in 998.
Planning a visit? Visit the official Chichen Itza website — the official site has the current visiting information.
Best time to visit
November to February, the cooler dry season; avoid the midday heat year-round.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Pisté |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Chichen Itza International Airport (CZA) |
| Distance from the airport | 1.1 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- Felipe Carrillo Puerto International Airport Tulum (TQO) · Tulum, Mexico · 68.6 miles away
- Manuel Crescencio Rejón International Airport (MID) · Mérida, Mexico · 71.6 miles away
- Cozumel International Airport (CZM) · Cozumel, Mexico · 106.7 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in Mexico
More historic sites
Frequently asked questions
What is Chichen Itza?
Chichen Itza was a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people of the Terminal Classic period.
Where is Chichen Itza located?
Chichen Itza is in Pisté, Mexico. Its coordinates are 20.6831° N, 88.5686° W.
How do I get to Chichen Itza?
The nearest town is Pisté, and the nearest airport is Chichen Itza International Airport (CZA), about 1.1 miles away (straight line).
When is the best time to visit Chichen Itza?
November to February, the cooler dry season; avoid the midday heat year-round.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichen_Itza — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5859 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://www.chichenitza.com/ — Official website of the landmark / managing body.
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
- https://www.visitmexico.com/en/ — Official tourism / managing-body page — best time to visit.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.