Chichén Itzá — UNESCO-listed Maya city

Chichén Itzá stands at the heart of the Yucatán, two and a half hours by road from the Riviera Maya. Across nearly three square kilometres, the site gathers the remains of one of the great capitals of the Postclassic Maya world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the seven New Wonders of the World.

The day starts early, before the heat builds and the crowds gather at the foot of the Kukulcán pyramid. At the equinoxes, its northern staircase lights up with a play of shadows that evokes the descent of the feathered serpent. The visit continues with the great ball court, one of the best preserved in Mesoamerica, the sacred Cenote where offerings were made, and the group of a Thousand Columns. The guide who sets the monuments in context, astronomy, calendar, rituals and political organisation, works in Spanish and English. A French-speaking guide is available at extra cost, but on Tuesdays only, on the archaeological site only and neither during the transfer nor at the cenote. That French-speaking supplement is not offered from Cancun or Tulum. The excursion itself runs from all three cities: allow two hours' drive from Tulum and three from both Playa del Carmen and Cancún, with a return between 7.30pm and 8.30pm depending on where you set out from. Ask us when you book and we will confirm availability and price.

Good to know: drinks are not included, and the life jacket, compulsory at the cenote, is hired locally for 100 pesos.