Chichén Itzá is to remain open from March 20 to 21 in time for the “descent of Kukulkán” during the spring equinox.
INAH came under a large amount of pressure to reverse its initial decision. Complaints came largely from Yucatán’s state government, as well as tourism operators and service providers.
The capacity of the archaeological site will be capped at 15,000 to allow for social distancing and avoid the spread of COVID-19.
During the spring equinox and summer solstice, the sun strikes the northwest corner of the temple of Kukulkán, also known as El Castillo, creating the illusion of the descent of the feathered serpent in shadow form.
The spectacle routinely attracts thousands of visitors, including new-age practitioners who believe the event has cosmic significance.
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The announcement was made by Yucatán Gov. Mauricio Vila Dosal via Twitter.
This will be the first time in three calendar years that Chichén Itzá will be open during the spring equinox.
During the spring equinox and summer solstice, the sun appears directly through the main door of the House of the Seven Dolls Temple in Dzibilchaltún.
However, due to a now almost year-long closure resulting from a land dispute, Dzibilchaltún will remain closed yet again.
In 2021, Chichén Itzá became the most visited archaeological site in Mexico, easily beating out Teotihuacan, near Mexico City. This is likely explained by Chichén Itzá’s proximity to Cancún and the Riviera Maya.
