Chichén Itzá Launches Special Operation for Autumn Equinox Visitors

Chichén Itzá, Yucatán — The Chichén Itzá archaeological site has launched a special operation to handle the crowds expected for the autumn equinox on Sunday, Sept. 20, and Monday, Sept. 21.

Officials said the operation is designed to keep order, protect the archaeological heritage and safeguard visitors and workers. Every year, travelers flock to the site to watch the light-and-shadow phenomenon that projects the silhouette of a serpent onto the north balustrade of El Castillo, also known as the Temple of Kukulcán. The equinox itself falls on Sept. 22 at 6:06 p.m.

Ticket windows open at 8 a.m. and sales end at 4 p.m., the same deadline for the last entry to the site. Professional cameras, video equipment, tripods and drones require prior authorization. Cigarettes, drugs, knives, alcoholic beverages and other restricted items are banned, and smoking or lighting fires inside the site is prohibited.

Starting at 4 p.m., access will be restricted to the Great Ball Court, the Temple of a Thousand Columns, La Casita Maya, the Xtoloc Cenote, the Ossuary and the Observatory. Entry will also be closed to the Serie Inicial complex, known as Chichén Viejo, and to the Great Museum of Chichén Itzá.

The operation includes ambulances, medical care, evacuation routes and designated viewing areas for the descent of Kukulcán.

Ticket Prices and Free Entry

A single ticket for foreign visitors costs 697 pesos. General admission for Mexican nationals and residents is 310 pesos, while the Cultura Vale rate is 289 pesos.

Entry is free on Sundays for Mexicans and foreign residents of Mexico who can prove their status. Exemptions also apply to people over 60, children under 13, retirees, pensioners, people with disabilities, teachers and students with valid credentials, among other cases covered by law. Residents of the 106 municipalities of Yucatán may enter at no cost any day of the week by presenting official identification proving their address.