A practice spanning millennia
A documentary by Mexico's INAH covers more than three millennia of the ball game in Mesoamerica. It was a ritual, social and public practice in many cities, not just among the Maya. Its modern form, ulama, is still played in parts of Mexico.
Chichén Itzá's great court
INAH considers Chichén Itzá's Great Ball Court the largest known court in the Maya region, about 168 meters long and 70 wide. It lies northwest of the main plaza, framed by two parallel walls, and forms a complex with the North Temple, the South Temple and the Upper Temple of the Jaguars.
The rings
The side walls hold stone rings that served as markers. One, about 8 meters up, shows two feathered rattlesnakes intertwined around concentric circles and dates to the Early Postclassic, between 900 and 1250 CE.
Carved scenes and new finds
Reliefs along the walls depict scenes tied to the game and to sacrifice. Still, INAH cautions that the game can't be reduced to one ritual outcome for every player. In 2023, INAH announced the discovery at Chichén Itzá of a circular marker with a complete hieroglyphic text and two players.
Tips for your visit
- Stand at one end of the court to grasp its size.
- Look for the rings high on the walls.
- Get close to the reliefs at the base of the walls.
Seeing the court with a guide
The guided walk on both trips includes the Ball Court. 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 | |
|---|---|
| Size | About 168 × 70 m |
| Location | Northwest of the main plaza |
| Ring height | About 8 m |
| Date of the studied ring | 900–1250 CE |
| Associated temples | North, South and Upper Temple of the Jaguars |
Fun facts
- Chichén Itzá's court is the largest known in the Maya region.
- The rings sit about 8 meters high.
- A marker with a complete hieroglyphic text was found in 2023.
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 big is the Chichén Itzá ball court?
About 168 meters long and 70 wide, according to INAH.
What were the rings for?
They were game markers.
Were players sacrificed?
The reliefs show sacrifice scenes, but INAH cautions against assuming a single outcome.
Is the game still played?
Its modern form, ulama, is still played in parts of Mexico.
