Can you climb chichen itza 2011

Thanks for your understanding, and we look forward to bringing you an all-new Lonely Planet in the coming months. Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox. To our readers:. Sign up for our weekly newsletter Get more travel inspiration, tips and exclusive offers sent straight to your inbox. In the temple at the top is a jade jaguar on which the high priest would place the still beating heart of a human sacrifice.

I saw that jaguar.. I went up on the inside of el castillo with a guide who explained. Very hot and stuffy for sure. The entrance to see was at bottom by serpents head. Great information sharing with us. Thank you chichen itza tour. When I was there I was in a wheelchair with my wife. I hope they have new wheelchairs now because the tires were flat and they actually fell off the wheelchair before I was done.

But I sit and watch them climb pyramid and my wife along with the crowd I'm thankful she made it down safely but on my side of it at least I don't feel quite as handicapped now the only bad thing is now all the tourists will be packed in all the places I could go with my wheelchair now. This one is top post in this blog.

Thanks for sharing with us Cancun Tour Packages. We climbed El Castillo in the early s. The climb was very precarious coming down as the steps are very short and slippery. However, I am very happy I was able to do it. It is shocking how little respect tourist have as to desecrate this global treasure with graffiti.

Well,In I started my bucket list climb and went up about 10 steps and looked in back of me and had a hard time seeing the steps and I came back down. I lost my courage quickly and I admire the people who made it up and down. I at least had the thrill of climbing a few and I am ok with that. I was there early 90's my girlfriend fell down Chicken ltza. No severe injuries just bumps and bruises. We were told then most people did not survive the falls she was about 45 to 50 steps high.

I am so grateful that I was able to climb to the top of Chichen Itza before it closed! It was fabulous! The Maya pyramids were built to be climbed. They usually have steep stairways rising to the top, where there is often a temple or, at least, an altar. The views over the rest of the ruins and the jungle were enough to reduce grown men to tears of wonder.

Millions of people, in the past, have made the pilgrimage up them. Advice abounds on how to survive the arduous ascent - don't look down until you reach the summit; sip water frequently; try not to do it in the midst of a massive group - and even more advice for the sheerness of the descent - hold onto the guide-rope; come down on your backside, bumping from step to step; do it like a crab, sideways.

Yet, increasingly, the great pyramids are being roped off. Within two or three years, it is likely that no Maya pyramid will be available for the public to climb upon. This really is a call out that, if you wish to experience this, then you will have to visit the remaining sites now.

The other sites have already banned climbing on their buildings. Edit: Since posting this blog entry, I've since learned that Uxmal is starting to rope off more of its structures too. It's still possible to climb the Great Pyramid there, but some of the others can be seen only from ground-level. Climbing these pyramids, especially El Castillo, usually turns up on 'things you should do before you die' lists. With this in mind, disappointed tourists often demand to know why they can't climb on them.

Unfortunately, the issues have arisen from the sheer number of tourists that wanted to experience the climb and the views. Over a million people, annually, climbed the sides of El Castillo. Within a decade, the effect was obvious. Tourists, triumphant in reaching the summit, had left their mark in the form of graffiti. The stone steps, which had survived centuries, were already showing signs of rapid erosion.

Letting people up there was severely damaging the pyramid itself. The climb was already steep, but the crowds rendered the steps shiny with wear. It was hot work getting up there, so sweat poured off them onto the stone, adding another slippery layer. As more and more people flooded into the site, the ascent was generally made with huge groups of people clambering up together, knocking into each other.

In short, it was becoming way too dangerous for those attempting the climb. For a while, the owners of these sites, not wishing to deny the experience of the climb to their visitors, opted for damage limitation.

An ambulance was on permanent stand-by at the foot of El Castillo aka Castillo de Kukalcan. It was used more often than anyone would like, as tourists slipped and fell.

Most injuries were fairly minor, but there were an alarming number that were a little more serious. Then came a tragic event that was a lot more serious. By all accounts, she was a fit, healthy, inspirational woman, with a zest for life. I would have climbed up too, but I can imagine the way down is a little hairy!

This is incredible, Kirt! Wow it would be amazing to see a pyramid in person. Your taking out the color of the photos really gave it a nostalgic look! It really is profound to see a pyramid up close and personal. Thanks for the feedback and thanks for stopping by!! Fascinating description of the climb and even more frightening descent.

Did you then come down sitting down and sliding your backside down each step? Great photos! Thanks for stopping by…. Glad you enjoyed!! You are commenting using your WordPress.

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If you want a large spacious bus with unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks then I would advise on going with VIP package.

However, my husband and I tend to take the route less traveled. We left at am and our bus consisted of one Canadian couple, one Venezuelan family, three Mexican families, and two single ladies from different cities in Mexico. Let our journey begin….

There are many speed bumps along the interstate and lots of police check points. No worries though. The police never stopped our bus and everything went smoothly. The Mayan people still live in this town today. You will see much of their culture is still an important part of their life. The women wear the traditional Mayan dress and they have many of the physical characteristics of early Mayans. It was such a fascinating town! Catholicism is also an important part of their life now.