"El Castillo" aka Kukulcán Pyramid

One of the new Seven Wonders of the World and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ruins of Chichen Itza are a spectacular place to visit any time of year, but there is no more exciting time than during a spring or fall equinox. On September 20, 21 and 22, thousands will visit this ancient Mayan ruin to witness a mysterious play of light on stone, when a shadowy serpent makes its way down the steps of the main Kukulcán pyramid.

While numerous Mayan ruins are found in Mexico and its neighboring countries to the south, Chichen Itza remains one of the most significant Mayan ruin sites, visited by thousands of travellers every year. Located in the state of Yucatan, Chichen Itza is easily accessible from Cancun and the Riviera Maya and is a popular day trip or overnight excursion. Considered to be the center of the Mayan civilization, the ancient city covers roughly 15 square kilometers. There are about 30 excavated buildings, with perhaps hundreds more left to be discovered buried in the surrounding jungle. The most impressive structure is “El Castillo”, also known as theis within easy reach of Cancun and the Riviera Maya for day trips or overnight stays. “El Castillo”, also known as the Kukulcán pyramid, stands 32 meters high with staircases climbing its four faces. The snake and the jaguar take prominent place in the carvings and statues of the site, great symbols of the ancient Maya. During the spring and fall equinox periods, sunlight and shadow plays on the stones in such a way that it appears that the body of a rattlesnake is descending the stairs to join the sculpture of a snake’s head at the bottom. It is a mystery just how the Mayans were able to accomplish this cosmic engineering feat, a mystery that continues to bring tourists, historians, astronomers and scientists from all over the world to the Chichen Itza equinox celebrations.

Join Dtraveller for the fall equinox at Chichen Itza, an unforgettable experience. Touch history and feel the magic of this astronomical event. Tours include transportation, bilingual guides, admission to the site, a buffet lunch and a visit to a nearby cenote. Comfortable footwear, sun protection and mosquito repellant are recommended. Contact us now to book your Chichen Itza tour from as little as $77 USD per person.

Tulum is located 82 miles south of Cancun. It has a great cultural importance and is the front door to the north coast Biosphere Reserve of Sian Ka’an. Is one of the most beautiful cities of the Mayan culture with the most spectacular view of the Mexican Caribbean.
Tulum o Tulu’um in Modern Maya or Tulúm in Spanish  is a Pre-Columbian Maya walled city serving as a major port for Cobá located at the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico. One of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites.

The Maya site may have been formerly also known by the name Zama, meaning city of Dawn. Tulúm is also the Yucatec Mayan word for fence or wall, and the walls surrounding the site allowed the Tulum fort to serve as a defense against invasion. From the numerous depictions in murals and other works around the site, Tulum appears to have been an important site for the worship of the Diving or Descending God.

The archaeological site is relatively compact, and is one of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites. Its proximity to the Riviera Maya and Cancún has made it a popular destination for tourists the third most-visited archaeological site in Mexico, after Teotihuacan and Chichen Itza . This tourist destination is now divided into three main areas: the archaeological site, the pueblo (or town), and the zona hotelera (or hotel zone).

From CancunTravel.com, http://www.cancuntravel.com/itulum.asp, Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulum and Cancun Convention and Visitors Bureau  http://cancun.travel/en/experiences/mayan-culture/tulum/.