The Magic and Mystery of Chichen Itza in the Mexican Riviera

Multi Centre Holidays are great as you can visit various parts of Mexico all in one holiday, you can also combine different destinations such as combining the USA and Mexico, or a Caribbean island with Cancun - anything is possible. Read our guest blog on the Rivier Maya and contact us for a holiday there, or to plan it in as part of a Multi Centre trip:

The Riviera Maya, just south of the popular resort city of Cancun, is famous for its miles of pristine beaches and amazing views. Many people also travel to this region in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula for its link to the enigmatic Mayan Empire.

2012 is a big year in Mexico, thanks in large part to a misinterpretation of the old Mayan calendar and the belief that December 2012 will mark the end of the world. While the world isn't going to end this year (I hope) millions of people from around the world have been inspired to visit Mexico and witness first hand the magic and mystery of the ruins of the old empire. Chief among these sites is Chichen Itza, one of the Seven New Wonders of the World and a site with amazing astronomical details, including a curious phenomenon that happens only twice a year: the Descent of the Feathered Serpent. That was the reason for my trip to Mexico and I couldn't wait for the experience.

Chichen Itza was one of the largest Mayan cities and was built around the 9th century AD. It is also one of Mexico’s most visited tourist destinations, was granted World Heritage Site status in 1988 by UNESCO World Heritage and was recently selected as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. There are a lot of astronomical marvels at Chichen Itza, but one of the most exciting is the Descent of the Feathered Serpent. The central Pyramid of Kukulkan is built in such a way that on the equinoxes a shadow play is created where serpent heads on the staircases become whole snakes through the shadows of the pyramid’s terraces.

I timed my visit so that I could tour as much of the entire site as possible before the great shadow show started at 4:10 PM. Chichen Itza isn’t just a pyramid, it’s an entire ancient city with outbuildings, statues and ball courts. It’s hard to believe that not so long ago the entire Wonder was covered in dense Mexican jungle, thought to be lost to history. I was excited for the main show however and staked out a prime spot to see the astronomical show.

Just as the sun hit a certain spot and immediately before the heat turned my brain to mush, I looked up and saw it. There it was, a massive snake descending the ancient pyramid. The head was a statue at the base of the pyramid’s stairs and its back was comprised of seven triangles created through shadow, an engineering feat that boggles the mind.

I stood there watching the creature slowly take shape, a giant monster forming right before my eyes. I couldn't help but think back to the ancient Mayans and how important this ceremony was for them and the great lengths they went to in order to create a massive pyramid just for this moment. And then it was over. It was as if a siren had sounded; the snake was gone and the crowds all started migrating towards the parking lots and their giant motor coaches.

I stood back for a minute to look up at the colossus again, marvelling at the ingenuity of the Mayans and wondering not for the first time what other marvels lay strewn about the tropical jungles undiscovered. And that is why I travel, to capture, even for a few seconds, moments like those.

A luxury adventure traveller at heart, Matt Long shares his adventures with more than 16,000 Twitter followers and runs one of the top travel blogs, LandLopers.com.