The Secret of Chichen Itza | Self-Guided Walking Tour

Do you remember that part in the first Indiana Jones movie where he puts the staff in the ground and waits for the sun’s light to pass through it at a specific time to reveal the location of the Ark of the Covenant?

Well, that was fiction, but at the archaeological site of Chichen Itza in Mexico, you can witness a natural astrological phenomenon that Mayan architects purposefully designed when they built El Castillo sometime between 900 and 1,200 years ago. The ‘Descent of Kukulcán,’ also known as the feathered serpent! The serpent descends the steps of the Kukulcán Pyramid, which is also called El Castillo. The phenomenon happens during the spring and fall equinoxes, which in 2022 will be on March 20 and September 22. The action begins at 3:45 in the afternoon, and it is visible for a few days before and after each equinox. On your self-guided Chichen Itza tour, you can learn all about the site and witness this incredible event!

Chichen Itza - Serpent — Chichen Itza – Serpent

The Story of Kukulcán

The story of the feathered serpent began when Toltecs invaded the Mayan Peninsula. The people living there, the Itzaes, were not prepared for war, and the Toltecs could occupy their city with little resistance.

The Toltecs had come to this region because they believed they followed their god, Quetzalcoatl. It didn’t take long before the Mayan people adopted him as their god too, but they called him Kukulcán

To show just how powerful Kukulcán was, the Toltecs gathered thousands of people from all over the Mayan Peninsula on the days of the equinox to witness their grand god descending to Earth to speak to them.

One can only imagine the awe they felt as they witnessed the serpent descending the steps of the Pyramid of Kukulcán. This event was likely accompanied by incredible sound effects due to the intentionally designed acoustics of the pyramid. You have to check it out for yourself to see just how impressive it must have been.

The Design of the Kukulcán Pyramid

You see, the Mayan architects knew all about astronomical events. Using that knowledge, they were able to determine the exact placement of the pyramid to create the effect of the descent of the 10-story serpent. They were good architects because they knew how to make a lasting impression. They used the design of the stairs to create shadows that form the shape of the serpent’s body, the head of which was sculpted at the foot of the staircase so it would be in line with the descending body.

Chichen Itza - Self-Guided Tour — Chichen Itza – Self-Guided Tour

The pyramid itself is called a step pyramid. It is a total of 99 feet high (30 meters), and it consists of several square terraces with stairways that run up the four sides to a temple that sits on top.

The stairways consist of 91 steps on each side, and when added together with the temple platform as the final step, there are a total of 365 steps, the number of days in the Mayan Haab’ year. It’s a veritable masterpiece of architectural design!

With a base of almost 175 feet (53.3 meters) wide on all four sides, this is an enormous pyramid at the site of Chichen Itza. It’s an incredible achievement and one that you won’t want to miss a chance to visit. Action Tour Guide can help with that!

There’s more too! The nine stages of the pyramid–which are bisected by stairs on each side–represent the 18 months in the Mayan calendar year. Archaeologists believe that it was built as a physical representation of that calendar. You might remember that many people predicted the end of the world in 2012 because of that calendar.

In reality, the Mayan calendar starts anew at the end of the cycle. It wasn’t predicting that the world would end (it’s good for us, it didn’t); simply that a new cycle would start.

The pyramid is also aligned at a point of intersection between four cenotes–the Sacred Cenote is to the north, Xtoloc is to the south, Kanjiyum is to the east, and Holtún is to the west. These are all part of the Action Tour Guide self-guided tour as well.

The eastern and western sides of the temple are angled, aligning with the sunset and sunrise. This alignment corresponds with actual calendar events such as harvesting or planting (kind of like an ancient, massive, and complicated palm pilot). It provides a link to other Mesoamerican sites of importance. This pyramid has got it all!

The design and importance of this pyramid at Chichen Itza led to the designation of this Mayan archaeological site as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Descent of Kukulcán

Around 3:45 in the afternoon of the Spring Equinox on March 21, 2021, you can witness the descent of Kukulcán. As the sun continues on its path, you’ll see the body of the serpent moving down the steps until such a time as all of the steps of the pyramid are covered in shadow, with only the head of the snake still bathed in sunlight. Eventually, it too will be covered in shadow.

This is an event that thousands of people have witnessed for hundreds of years, and it continues to draw crowds to this day. Talk about a bucket list item!

The site is one of the most widely recognized and visited Mayan archaeological sites in Mexico. Still, it’s not the only thing to enjoy while visiting this critical site, and Action Tour Guide’s self-guided tour can help you enjoy it all!

Other Things to See at Chichen Itza

The Observatory Temple

Also known as El Caracol for its spiral staircase, this is where you can see the Mayan calculator of the cycle of Venus, something you won’t want to miss.

Tour of the Sacraed Cenote

Chichen Itza translates into the ‘mouth of the well,’ and that’s what a cenote is – a natural well. This well, however, was used for human sacrifice and offerings of treasure!

As you can see, there is a lot to see at this incredible archaeological site. It’s no wonder the site is also one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and it should be on your list of great places to visit.

But, if you’re not into paying for crowded guided tours that end earlier in the day, Action Tour Guide has got you covered. Book our self-guided walking tour, and you’ll have access to your tour immediately, including an offline map. Plus, it’s valid for 30 days after your selected travel date, so you don’t have to worry if your plans change.

You’ll be able to enjoy the Chichen Itza tour on your terms at the time of your choosing. It’s the only way to see Kukulcán slither!

Essential Travel Guide:

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does the serpent appear at Chichen Itza?

The shadow serpent — known as the Descent of Kukulcán — begins forming on the staircase of El Castillo pyramid at approximately 3:45 PM local time during both the spring and fall equinoxes. As the afternoon sun moves across the sky, seven triangles of light and shadow take shape along the northern balustrade of the pyramid, creating the illusion of a giant serpent descending toward the stone snake head at the base. The full effect builds over roughly an hour and is best observed between 4:00–5:00 PM. It remains partially visible for a few days before and after each equinox.

Can you still see the equinox event in 2025/2026?

Yes, the phenomenon happens every year without fail — it is built into the pyramid’s architecture and will continue indefinitely. In 2025, the spring equinox falls on March 20 and the fall equinox on September 22. In 2026, the spring equinox is March 20 and fall equinox September 23. Arrive well before 3:45 PM to secure a good viewing position, as tens of thousands of visitors gather specifically for this event. Weekday visits tend to be slightly less crowded than weekends surrounding the equinox.

Is the serpent visible for multiple days?

Yes. While the equinox date produces the sharpest and most complete serpent effect, the shadow phenomenon is visible for roughly 3–4 days before and after each equinox. The effect is slightly less defined on non-equinox days but still striking. If you can’t be there on the exact date, visiting in the days surrounding it gives you a very similar experience — often with a noticeably smaller crowd.

How crowded is Chichen Itza during equinox?

Extremely crowded. The spring equinox draws an estimated 40,000–60,000 visitors to Chichen Itza in a single day, making it one of the most attended events at any archaeological site in Mexico. Expect full parking areas, long entrance queues, and dense crowds around El Castillo by 2:00 PM. To manage this: arrive at opening time (8:00 AM) to explore the rest of the site calmly, secure a prime viewing spot near the pyramid’s north face by 3:00 PM, and consider staying in Valladolid or Pisté the night before to get there early.

What is Kukulcán and why is he a serpent?

Kukulcán is the feathered serpent deity of Mayan mythology, closely related to the Aztec god Quetzalcóatl. The name literally means “feathered serpent” in the Yucatec Maya language. He was introduced to the Maya by the Toltec people who settled in the region around 900–1200 CE, and was associated with wind, water, Venus, and agriculture. The Kukulcán Pyramid (El Castillo) was built as a physical calendar and temple in his honor — its design ensures that the god symbolically “descends to earth” twice a year during the equinoxes, likely as a message to worshippers about planting and harvest cycles.