Chichen Itza: Explore the Seven Wonders with a Self-Guided Audio Tour

Uncover the mystery of Chichen Itza, one of the Seven Wonders of The World, with this self-guided audio tour. Explore Mayan civilization and discover the secrets of the iconic El Castillo step pyramid. Book now!

Duration: 3 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Handicraft Market - Welcome to the land that the lost civilization of Mayans once inhabited. This place is filled with relics of the past and mysteries that have yet to be unravelled.

  • Guías oficiales de la Z. A.. de Chichén Itzá Tu Guía Yucatán - The Maya civilization was one of the most dominant and advanced Mesoamerican societies of its time.

  • El Castillo - Easily the most famous landmark in Chichen Itza. El Castillo, also known as the Pyramid of Kukulkan, was built to honor the snake deity Kukulkan. Its impressive and imposing architecture also reveals a lot about Mayan civilization, which you’ll learn as you admire the striking structure.

Note: This 1.5+ mile long tour covers all the essentials of Chichen Itza in 1-2 hours.

  • Gran Juego de Pelota - This field is not just a simple playing field, its ties with Mayan culture are more significant as shown by the six sculpted reliefs that run the length of the walls. If you were to look closely, ball players in multiple scenes become visible.

  • Tzompantli - Tzompantli literally means skull rack, and it was once exactly what it sounds like. This represents a place where the heads of sacrificial victims were placed following their sacrifice. The platform depicts warriors carrying human heads, skulls, snakes and eagles on all of the walls.

  • Eagles and Jaguars Platform - This square platform with stairways on each side was likely used for ceremonial purposes like dance, ritual or public speeches, it was never crowned with a temple.
    It was designed as a flat stage for public viewing.

  • El Caracol - El Caracol is one of the more interesting buildings of Chichen Itza. On top of this structure sit the remains of what was once an observatory. From here, the Mayans would watch the stars and try to infer things about the future based on the movement of the planets.

  • Chichen Itza - This sacred site was one of the greatest Mayan centers of the Yucatán peninsula. Throughout its nearly 1,000-year history, different peoples have left their mark on the city. The Maya and Toltec vision of the world and the universe is revealed in their stone monuments and artistic works. The fusion of Mayan construction techniques with new elements from central Mexico makes Chichen-Itza one of the most important examples of the Mayan-Toltec civilization in Yucatán. Several buildings have survived, such as the Warriors’ Temple, El Castillo, and the circular observatory known as El Caracol.

  • Temple of the Warriors - Much like an expensive wedding cake, the Temple of Warriors has three thick tiers at the bottom with a small temple on top. It also features about 200 columns, each of which sports carvings of Toltec warriors in varying scenes.

  • Red House - It is also known as the House of Little Holes as there is latticework on the top of the building that makes it look like little holes. The building’s Mayan name is Chichanchob, which could possibly mean ‘small holes”.

  • The Ossuary - This pyramid gets its name from the numerous human remains uncovered here by archaeologists. Within a cavern beneath the pyramid, seven tombs were uncovered, believed to belong to members of Mayan high society.

  • El Caracol - El Caracol is one of the more interesting buildings of Chichen Itza. On top of this structure, you can see the remains of what was originally a cylindrically shaped observatory.

  • El Osario - El Osario- otherwise known as the Ossuary - was given its name due to the numerous human and animal bones found on site. It is also known as the High Priest’s Grave.

  • Las Monjas - The Nunnery, or Las Monjas, is one of the largest buildings in Chichen Itza. It’s also one of the most archaeologically significant, owing to the huge number of texts inscribed into the walls, many of which mention a ruler named Kakupakal.

  • La Iglesia - One of the most photographed buildings at Chichen Itza, it’s exterior is almost completely covered with veneer decorations.

Masks of Chac decorate two upper stories. Among the crowd of Chacs there are also an armadillo, a crab, a snail, and a tortoise.

What's Included
  • Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
  • Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
  • Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
  • Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
  • Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
  • Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
  • Learn more: dive deeper into any story you enjoyed with extra stories.
  • Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
What's Not Included
  • Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Additional Information

Uncover the mystery of Chichen Itza, one of the Seven Wonders of The World, with this self-guided walking tour. Learn about the complex Mayan civilization, explore the iconic El Castillo step pyramid, and uncover these ruins’ deepest secrets! This self-guided audio tour allows you to explore this one-of-a-kind site with maximum flexibility & freedom.

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This isn’t an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

  • How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
  • How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
  • Walking Tours: couples can share one using headphones.
  • Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
  • Comprehensive Tour Experience: • The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
  • Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
  • Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
  • Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
  • Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
Location
Chichén-Itzá
After booking the tour, search your email for the phrase "Set up your self-guided tour now." Follow these instructions NOW to finish setting up the tour while you have Wi-Fi/data. Do NOT wait until you are onsite.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.2
(38 Ratings)
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1 star
844shirah
Jul 27, 2024
Great way to experience Chichen Itza at your own pace - Amazing and relaxing way to experience the incredible Mayan ruins in your own pace. Great pricepoint, easy to use app and great facts about the sights. The audioguides are GPS-linked and starts automatically when you are in the rigtht spot (you can also start the manually). Only negative was that a new speak would sometimes start in the middle of another speak (Especilly a problem on the walk to/from the cenote). Could also have done with a map and some pictures, as it was sometimes hard to find the right spots, but we managed :) All in all a very nice experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
U2020ullisat
Apr 29, 2024
Great App - App worked really well on GPS. Good information with a good narrator. We would highly recommend 👍 it was nice to walk at our own pace.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Madisont733
Mar 18, 2024
Must have - The value of this product is unbelievable. It was our first time using a self guided tour and we will never look back. We loved that it followed our movements and began playing as we reached new areas.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Davidpm3325xy
Mar 6, 2024
Great! - Loved it - really informative and thought the tour came more and more into its own, particularly towards the end. Informative without overloading you with information, sometimes skipped ahead to new dialogues if you moved too quickly but otherwise a perfect app. Recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Martijn_e
Jan 8, 2024
Accurate and interesting - Very nice way to get an accurate image of the site and its history. Software worked excellent and stories were compelling. Nice cheap method to learn a lot and ideal if you want to do things in your own pace (instead of following a group)
Review provided by Viator
Jasmin_m
Apr 6, 2024
Good guidance for tour on own pace - Good guidance to experience the site on own pace. GPS worked well and you could stop or repeat explanation if necessary. Helpful to also have the possibility to read not only hear it.
Review provided by Viator
S
Mar 27, 2024
Affordable and informative option - An affordable way to get the most out of chichenitza without the heavy cost per person of a live tour guide. We learned a lot. A good amount of information without being too laborious.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Connector64149984399
Feb 17, 2024
Ok app - needs more work. - Ok, so let’s cut to the chase. If you don’t like the tedium of a guide and a guide droning on and obsessing about obscure facts, then this self-guided tour is for you because you can turn your guide on and off and just keep to the bits you are interested in. Also Chichen Itzá is a sprawling site with a few detours and side alleys. This tour keeps you on track to see everything you need to see. It is of course also a lot cheaper than a regular guide. So yes it is worth it. The app needs, however, I think more work. We followed all the instructions. Downloaded the app before entering the site and loaded the requisite information for this tour. We turned off our mobile data as suggested but found that the gps navigation, tracking and prompting mostly did not track a path accurately around the site and sometimes we found ourselves wondering blindly between paths. When we turned data back on, it seemed to work a little better and we could pick out features but it was still inaccurate. You really need to use it in tandem with a map of the site. Nonetheless, we thought it was better having the app rather than not having it - just needs more work.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jadeshiva
May 7, 2024
Phone overheated. - Look, Chichen Itza is amazing. Prepare for heat that is hot enough to render your smartphone downloaded with the walking guide useless. While my phone did work, the app struggled with locating me on site and the directions from one point to another were not clear. App could be updated with tips such as, "turn right onto the path overloaded with merchants in 150 ft" Probably an amazing app if your phone can function that day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anne
Mar 7, 2024
This is not work at all - The app didn't work, it continually switched on and off. I tried disconnecting it from data, tried using without earphones, finally I gave up and hired a guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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