Enter Through the Museum: Big Change at Chichén Itzá

Chichén Itzá welcomes thousands of tourists every day, yet its museum attracts only a tiny fraction of them.

That will change. According to INAH employees who spoke with Yucatán Magazine, the museum complex will become the main access point to the archaeological site beginning in March.

Whether this goal is met, however, remains an open question—especially since the road leading to the complex is still unpaved.

Under the plan, the ticketing office will move next to the museum. From there, visitors will walk approximately half a mile to Chichén Itzá’s sacred cenote, where guided tours of the ruins will begin.

The museum has been open for nearly two years, yet very little has changed inside aside from minor adjustments to signage and other museographic elements.

What has changed significantly is the area that will soon serve as Chichén Itzá’s new parking lot. Stretching roughly a mile long, it represents a clear upgrade from the existing infrastructure.

In addition to parking and the museum, the complex will include a planetarium, shops, restaurants, restrooms, and other visitor facilities.

The Vendor Issue

A major question surrounding this renovation is how—or whether—it will address the long-standing overcrowding of market stalls at Chichén Itzá. For decades, the site has been filled with vendors selling everything from handicrafts to NFL-themed ponchos.

While there is broad agreement that the hundreds of vendors detract from the visitor experience, social and political pressures have until now led authorities to turn a blind eye.

Speaking with official guides and INAH staff, there seems to be a general belief that the redesigned infrastructure will create designated vendor spaces outside the core archaeological zone. There is also an unofficial but commonly cited suggestion among INAH officials to allow vendors along the corridor linking the museum and commercial complex to the site—specifically on the path to the cenote—but no farther.

While this could prove a reasonable compromise, past attempts to regulate vendors have met with strong opposition, including blockades and even violence against Chichén Itzá’s director.

The Museum Itself

Despite a few changes since its opening, the museum houses several impressive artifacts, including Pre-classic ceramics and stone sculptures of feathered serpents and jaguars that retain much of their original red, blue, and green pigment.

Then there are what might be called the stars of the show: recently discovered artifacts such as the 2023 ballcourt marker from the Casa Roja complex and a carved lintel from La Serie Inicial, also known as Chichén Viejo.

Another highlight is a detailed recreation of a previous version of the Temple of Kukulcán, which has been closed to visitors for well over 15 years. This model includes replicas of the Chac Mool inside the temple as well as the site’s famous red jaguar throne.

Also notable is the chance to examine the temple facade, adorned with sculpted jaguar reliefs and other highly stylized architectural details.

The museum also displays more modest—but equally fascinating—items. One example is a set of what appear to be miniature ballcourt rings, which in fact served as curtain holders in temples at La Casa Roja and La Serie Inicial. Maya curtains—imagine that!

Entrance Fees

General admission to Chichén Itzá was recently increased again and is now over 600 pesos. However, costs associated with constructing the new infrastructure at the site have left tour operators expecting further increases once the new facilities open to the public. 

The fact that these increases more often than not come with little or no advance notice is particularly problematic for service operators who accept bookings several months in advance from large numbers of visitors. 

Visiting the Museum

Those interested in visiting the museum before the floodgates open would be wise to do so soon. While it is possible to drive yourself, tour buses carrying large groups and taxis from Piste are routinely turned away.

If you would like to join us on a guided tour of Chichén Itzá’s museum before the entire complex officially opens, you can contact us at carlos.rosado@gmail.com.

For more photographs of what to expect at the museum, view the original article about its opening in 2024.