RoutesHiking trails & RoutesMexicoYucatán
El Caracol Observatory – Temple of the Warriors loop from Chichen-Itza
RoutesHiking trails & RoutesMexicoYucatán
El Caracol Observatory – Temple of the Warriors loop from Chichen-Itza
Easy
4.9
(28)
601
hikers
El Caracol Observatory – Temple of the Warriors loop from Chichen-Itza
01:35
6.28km
10m
Hiking
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Last updated: May 15, 2026
Waypoints
A
Start point
Restaurant
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1
1.34 km
Great Ball Court, Chichén Itzá
Highlight • Historical Site
come in and let it work. The game of life and death
Translated by Google •
Tip by
2
1.55 km
Tzompantli (Skull Platform), Chichén Itzá
Highlight • Historical Site
after so many years, such details can still be discerned
Translated by Google •
Tip by
3
2.05 km
Sacred Cenote (Cenote Sagrado), Chichén Itzá
Highlight • Natural Monument
The Cenote is a naturally formed open well whose diameter from north to south is 165 feet, and from east to west, 200 feet. As part of the cult offered to the water god the pre-Hispanic Maya made ceremonial offerings, throwing into the well many precious objects. Later, they introduced the practice of making human sacrifices. The victims were warriors, children and maidens thrown to the bottom of the cenote.
To one side of the south bank of the well they built some platforms on two levels, which perhaps were used as seats for those who witnessed the ceremonies. Beside this one can see the ruins of a building that was adapted into a steam bath or temazcal, where it is supposed that the victims were purified. Placed against this building is another platform that hangs over the edge of the cenote, from which the offerings would have been made.
To one side of the south bank of the well they built some platforms on two levels, which perhaps were used as seats for those who witnessed the ceremonies. Beside this one can see the ruins of a building that was adapted into a steam bath or temazcal, where it is supposed that the victims were purified. Placed against this building is another platform that hangs over the edge of the cenote, from which the offerings would have been made.
Tip by
4
3.25 km
El Caracol Observatory
Highlight • Historical Site
It is very impressive what knowledge was already available for observing the stars
Translated by Google •
Tip by
5
3.43 km
The Church (La Iglesia), Chichén Itzá
Highlight • Historical Site
The Church is a Temple dedicated to Chaac, god of rain. The building its located in the oldest side of the whole Archaeological Site of Chichen Itza, right next to the “Nuns Complex” or “Nunnery”. It consists of only one chamber and one door that gives acces to the main part of the building. It’s similar to a rectangular chapel, and that’s why the Spaniards named it The Church.
This building stands out from others because of its perserved state, you can see the details on the bas-relief and stone carvings. The most notable motifs of the decoration are the masks of the rain god with a hooked nose protruding from them, located in the corners.
This monument has a rectangular plan and it is only composed of one piece with a single entrance to the west, the facade presents an imposing decoration that is accentuated even more in the front cresting, the frieze is limited in the inferior part by a wide molding adorned with staggered fretwork and in the superior part by an element in the form of a serpent in broken line, the strip with staggered fretwork is repeated higher in the base of the cresting.
Church house Chichen Itza
The church is an example of an architectural style widely distributed in the Yucatan Peninsula known as Puuc between 600 and 1000 AD, whose most notable exponent is the city of Uxmal. After 1000 AD, a style that blends stylistic traditions of the Central Highlands with the Maya can be seen in the architecture of Chichen Itza, this stylistic element, among others, was one of the criteria for designating the city of Chichen Itza within the list of World.
Heritage in 1988 by Unesco. At the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, INAH carried out a series of restoration works at The Church, resulting in this structure being the only one that can be considered as stabilized and with the certainty of having preserved its heritage values.
This building stands out from others because of its perserved state, you can see the details on the bas-relief and stone carvings. The most notable motifs of the decoration are the masks of the rain god with a hooked nose protruding from them, located in the corners.
This monument has a rectangular plan and it is only composed of one piece with a single entrance to the west, the facade presents an imposing decoration that is accentuated even more in the front cresting, the frieze is limited in the inferior part by a wide molding adorned with staggered fretwork and in the superior part by an element in the form of a serpent in broken line, the strip with staggered fretwork is repeated higher in the base of the cresting.
Church house Chichen Itza
The church is an example of an architectural style widely distributed in the Yucatan Peninsula known as Puuc between 600 and 1000 AD, whose most notable exponent is the city of Uxmal. After 1000 AD, a style that blends stylistic traditions of the Central Highlands with the Maya can be seen in the architecture of Chichen Itza, this stylistic element, among others, was one of the criteria for designating the city of Chichen Itza within the list of World.
Heritage in 1988 by Unesco. At the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, INAH carried out a series of restoration works at The Church, resulting in this structure being the only one that can be considered as stabilized and with the certainty of having preserved its heritage values.
Tip by
6
4.70 km
Temple of the Warriors
Highlight • Historical Site
In the open area in front of the actual temple, one of the figures known as Chak Mo'ol stands in the characteristic half-reclining posture. The name Chak Mo'ol goes back to the New York amateur archaeologist Augustus Le Plongeon from the second half of the 19th century, who saw it as the image of what he suspected was a Mayan prince; it has nothing to do with the rain god Chac .
Translated by Google •
Tip by
7
5.02 km
The Castle (Chichen Itza Pyramid)
Highlight • Historical Site
This building, one of the few circular structures built by the Maya, is believed to have been used for astronomical observations, throught openings in the top of the tower.
The so-called Caracol or Observatory is a structure built in the form of a larger circular tower set on a platform with a central staircase. The base is set on another rectangular platform, decorated with a cornice of rounded corners on the upper part. The Caracol is really built of three superimposed buildings.
The first part of the cylindrical tower is formed by two concentric walls which enclose a pair of circular chambers each with four doorways.
The second level comprises the cornice of the first level and a second, narrower one, which frames a frieze. Above the doors, the frieze has a mask o Chaac and a seated figure, framed with motifs made of feathers and serpents.
The third and fourth parts of the tower have deteriorated, but a series of openings or windows can still be glimpsed which perhaps served for making astronomical observations.
On the west side of the larger base there is a staircase whose balustrades are adorned with intertwining serpents´ heads.
The total height of the monument is 75 feet. The structure was constructed during the first period of the Military city.
El caracol Chichen Itza
Mayan Astronomy
The Maya Studied the sun, the moon and Venus, and their observations included some visible bodies such as Mercury, Mars and other stars.
Their priests, the greatest astronomers of the time, succeeded in calculating solar and lunar eclipses, the rising and setting of Venus and the movements of stars and planets, as well as the solar year, with great accuracy.
Even today, scientists are amazed at the development of Mayan astronomy. For the ancient Maya, astronomy and cosmogony were closely linked in their mythical conception of the universe.
Chichen Itza Mayan Astronnomy
Chichen Itza Observatory
The Lords of Time
Known as the “Lords of Time”, the Maya were unique in elevating to the rank of gods not only the idea of time, but also the periods into which it is divided. They represented time as supernatural beings whose mission was to maintain order in the universe. The Mayan gods of time completed their life cycle in a constant circular movement beginning with their birth, developing with the manifestation of their characteristics, and finishing with their death. They were then re-born and a new cycle of birth and death was begun.
The so-called Caracol or Observatory is a structure built in the form of a larger circular tower set on a platform with a central staircase. The base is set on another rectangular platform, decorated with a cornice of rounded corners on the upper part. The Caracol is really built of three superimposed buildings.
The first part of the cylindrical tower is formed by two concentric walls which enclose a pair of circular chambers each with four doorways.
The second level comprises the cornice of the first level and a second, narrower one, which frames a frieze. Above the doors, the frieze has a mask o Chaac and a seated figure, framed with motifs made of feathers and serpents.
The third and fourth parts of the tower have deteriorated, but a series of openings or windows can still be glimpsed which perhaps served for making astronomical observations.
On the west side of the larger base there is a staircase whose balustrades are adorned with intertwining serpents´ heads.
The total height of the monument is 75 feet. The structure was constructed during the first period of the Military city.
El caracol Chichen Itza
Mayan Astronomy
The Maya Studied the sun, the moon and Venus, and their observations included some visible bodies such as Mercury, Mars and other stars.
Their priests, the greatest astronomers of the time, succeeded in calculating solar and lunar eclipses, the rising and setting of Venus and the movements of stars and planets, as well as the solar year, with great accuracy.
Even today, scientists are amazed at the development of Mayan astronomy. For the ancient Maya, astronomy and cosmogony were closely linked in their mythical conception of the universe.
Chichen Itza Mayan Astronnomy
Chichen Itza Observatory
The Lords of Time
Known as the “Lords of Time”, the Maya were unique in elevating to the rank of gods not only the idea of time, but also the periods into which it is divided. They represented time as supernatural beings whose mission was to maintain order in the universe. The Mayan gods of time completed their life cycle in a constant circular movement beginning with their birth, developing with the manifestation of their characteristics, and finishing with their death. They were then re-born and a new cycle of birth and death was begun.
Tip by
8
5.11 km
The Castle (Temple of Kukulcán), Chichén Itzá
Highlight • Historical Site
Can only agree with APunkt. To be there as early as possible. Not only are there fewer people traveling, but it is also cooler. I would recommend a guide. Above all, this can explain and demonstrate the "acoustics".
Translated by Google •
Tip by
B
6.28 km
End point
Restaurant
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
5.98 km
192 m
< 100 m
Surfaces
4.37 km
1.27 km
338 m
261 m
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Today
Saturday 16 May
37°C
22°C
44 %
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Max wind speed: 19.0 km/h
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