What it looks like
Mexico's INAH describes El Castillo, or the Temple of Kukulkán, as a square base with nine stepped tiers, set on the ancient city's main plaza. At the foot of the north stairway balustrade sits a large stone serpent head.
The 365 steps
Each of its four sides has a stairway. INAH's heritage description links them to 91 steps per side: 91 × 4 = 364, and the top platform brings it to 365, the number of days in the solar year. That's what makes the pyramid a "stone calendar."
A pyramid inside a pyramid
INAH's visitor guide explains that the building had an earlier, smaller structure that was covered by the current pyramid. The inner temple holds a sculpture of a red jaguar inlaid with jade.
The serpent of light
On certain dates, sunlight casts a series of triangles on the northwest balustrade that look like a serpent's body ending at the stone head. It's popularly known as the descent of Kukulkán (the feathered serpent). Its astronomical meaning is still being studied: it's an archaeoastronomical hypothesis, not a proven single explanation.
Visiting
- Climbing the pyramid isn't allowed; you admire it from the plaza.
- Arrive early to beat the heat and the crowds.
- Bring a hat, water and comfortable shoes: the plaza is wide open with no shade.
Seeing El Castillo with a guide
Both Mary Tours trips include a guided visit to the Temple of Kukulkán. Mary Tours offers two guided options: the Chichén Itzá, Izamal, Selva Maya cenote and Valladolid trip by van, and Maya Train, Chichén Itzá and magical town, which rides the train to Izamal. If you'd rather go on your own, there's a private transfer to Chichén Itzá. The office is at Calle 61 #518-B in Mérida's historic center; schedules and prices are in the booking section.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Stepped tiers | 9 |
| Stairways | 4 |
| Steps per side | 91 |
| Total with platform | 365 |
| Inside | Earlier pyramid with a red jaguar |
Fun facts
- The Pyramid of Kukulkán hides an older pyramid inside.
- Its steps add up to the 365 days of the year.
- A stone serpent head sits at the foot of the north stairway.
Related tours
Archaeology · 11 h
Chichén Itzá, Izamal and Valladolid
Four stops in one day, and none of them rushed
from $1,200 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Departure from the office — An hour on the road to Izamal. The guide uses the drive to set up what comes next.
- 9:00 AM San Antonio de Padua Convent — The story of the 16th-century Franciscan convent told in its atrium, then free time to walk the yellow town.
- 11:15 AM Chichén Itzá — Guided walk through the Temple of Kukulkán, the Sacred Cenote, the Ball Court, the Tzompantli and the Jaguars and Eagles platform.
- 1:45 PM Regional lunch in Kaua — Buffet of Yucatecan dishes: cochinita, relleno negro, lime soup and meat-free options.
- 3:00 PM Selva Maya cenote — The swim lands exactly when the sun is at its worst. Changing rooms and showers on site.
- 4:20 PM Valladolid — Francisco Cantón Rosado park with its original railings, the church of San Servacio and the murals in the town hall.
- 8:00 PM Back in Mérida — We drop you off where the day started.
Included: Air-conditioned transport, General culture guide, Regional buffet lunch
Not included: Chichén Itzá entrance, Cenote entrance, Drinks
Archaeology · 11 h
Maya Train, Chichén Itzá and Izamal
The Mérida–Izamal leg by train, the rest by road
from $1,600 MXN per person
See itinerary
8:00 AM – 7:00 PM · daily
- 8:00 AM Transfer to the station — From the office to the Maya Train station in Mérida.
- 9:18 AM Maya Train ride — Forty minutes from Mérida to Izamal. Ticket included.
- 10:15 AM Izamal — The yellow town, the three-tier Baroque altarpiece and free time on the main square.
- 12:30 PM Chichén Itzá — Guided walk through the Sacred Cenote, the Temple of Kukulkán, the Jaguars and Eagles platform and the Ball Court.
- 2:30 PM Lunch in Kaua — Buffet of typical regional dishes.
- 3:45 PM Selva Maya cenote — The swim of the day, with the heat already easing off.
- 5:00 PM Back to Mérida — Two hours on the road back.
Included: Transport, General culture guide, Maya Train ticket Mérida–Izamal, Midday meal
Not included: Chichén Itzá entrance, Cenote entrance, Drinks
Transfers · 10.5 h
Transfer to Chichén Itzá
Four stops, your own pace and the van waiting
from $2,650 MXN per vehicle
Coupon −$300 MXN per personCaribbean · 14 h
Tulum and the Casa Tortuga cenotes
The only Maya city built facing the Caribbean
from $2,500 MXN per person
See itinerary
6:00 AM – 8:00 PM · daily
- 6:00 AM Boarding — We leave from the downtown office. If your accommodation is on the way, we collect you there — agreed beforehand on WhatsApp.
- 6:30 AM Motorway to the rest stop — An hour and three quarters, with fifteen minutes for toilets and something light.
- 8:30 AM On to Tulum — An hour and a half more to the Quintana Roo coast.
- 10:00 AM Tulum archaeological site — Guided visit to the walled city: El Castillo, the Temple of the Frescoes and the Temple of the Descending God, with the sea behind.
- 12:15 PM Casa Tortuga cenotes and lunch — Four cenotes of different kinds, with a guided route, trails and changing rooms. Lunch is on site.
- 4:00 PM Back to Mérida — Four hours back, with a stop halfway.
Included: Guide accredited by the Ministry of Tourism, Round-trip transport, Lunch, Cenote entry
Not included: Tulum archaeological site entrance, Drinks
Frequently asked questions
How many steps does the Chichén Itzá pyramid have?
91 per side; with the top platform they total 365.
Can you climb El Castillo?
No, you admire it from the plaza.
What's inside the pyramid?
An earlier structure with a red jaguar inlaid with jade, according to INAH.
Are Kukulkán and El Castillo the same?
Yes, they're two names for the same building.
