Unlike many other ancient civilizations, the ancient Maya have resisted the passage of time, and many of them have proudly remained and pertain today to a modern Maya culture. Thanks to today’s Mayas is how we know about beliefs, traditions and what kind of eating habits their Maya ancestors had.

The main ingredients of the Maya food were corn, beans, and squash. This basic diet has remained for centuries, but, the modern Maya diet differs because it incorporated European foods that were unknown by Mayas at the ancient times, such as rice, wheat, chicken, and pork and modern foods are replacing this rich culture more and more day by day.

In the ancient Maya diet, corn was perhaps the most important food and source of nutrients. First, they dried the kernels and removed them from the cob, and then they soaked these kernels in a solution of water and lime, removing the casings from each kernel. Thus, the Maya exposed the amino acids and other nutrients of the corn. The corn could then be grinded and used to make tortillas, that are still popular  in the Mexican diet.

Beans for the Maya were a major source of protein. They mashed them up and spread them inside the tortillas to make tacos.

Squash came in many different varieties, and the Maya used all of the squash, raw, dried and roasted as a snack. Also other fruits and vegetables, like the avocado, papaya, guava, and breadnut, were either cultivated or collected from the wild. Chilies were used as condiments to spice up the beans.

Although meat was not the hub of the Mayan diet, they ate a wide variety of animals were from rabbits to armadillos, monkeys to tapirs, macaws  and other types of fowls, turtles and iguanas but  most common meat eaten by the Maya was turkey and dog which were domesticated. The Maya diet was also supplemented by the exploitation of maritime resources, including fish, lobster, shrimp, conch and shellfish.

The Mayans are believed to be the first people to have discovered and cultivated the cacao plant. They ground the cacao grains and mixed them with chilies, cornmeal and honey to create a drink called xocolatl.

Food distribution was maybe the highlight of the Maya economy. The most prominent activity was trade. For some reason, the Maya did not use burden animals nor wheeled vehicles. All goods that were traded were transported by Mayas on their backs.

The expansion and severe contraction periods of a great boom followed by periods of cyclical collapse characterize the history of Maya lowlands. Many theories about the disappearance of the Mayan civilization are counterposed, some researchers suggest that Mayas may have been down to environmental factors, starvation, dehydration, disease, social disintegration, climate conditions, migration, war and even some others think about the possibility of extraterrestrial intervention or other possible reasons. What do you think?

A labyrinth of caves and underground rivers lies deep in the heart of the limestone landscape of the Yucatán. In ancient times, cenotes or sinkholes, which form when cave roofs weaken and subside, were the only source of fresh water for area inhabitants and settlements were located near these natural wells.

Apart from being a life-giving source of fresh water, cenotes and caves were sacred sites for the ancient Maya who believed that they were the entrances to Xibalbá, the underworld. Priests would visit them in secret to perform rites in honor of the gods.

Located six kilometers to the east of the Mayan metropolis of Chichén Itzá on Highway 180 and considered by many archaeologists to be part of the site, Balancanché or “throne of the jaguar” in Maya is one such cave. Incense burners, statues of Chaac, the Mayan rain god and his central Mexican counterpart, Tlaloc, and other offerings ¬were found at the foot of a huge stalagmite which resembles the ceiba or sacred tree of the Maya, when the caves were first explored. They were left in situ and you can see them during your visit to the caves.

You can listen to a guided tour in English, Spanish or French as you explore the caves. Be warned, the narrow path is not for the claustrophobic. There is a tiny museum and a botanical garden at the site.

• Because Chichen Itza is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
• Because Chichen Itza has been declared as a World Heritage Site, by UNESCO.
• Because Chichen Itza architecture is so well studied and measured that it experiences an unusual phenomenon every year, during the spring equinox. The sunrays falling in the pyramid create a shadow down its stairs, which looks like an image of a descending plumed serpent.
• Because the ballgame court  “Juego de Pelota”, another structure in Chichen Itza, is the largest ball court in Mesoamerica also the and best preserved ball courts in the world.
• Because Chichen Itza is open daily, from 8:00 to 5:00, but admission on Sundays is FREE.
• Because the name ‘Chichen Itza’ literally means ‘At the mouth of the well of the Itzae’ due to the sacred sinkhole  which was used as a sacrificial well.
• Maya built several structures with a sophisticated architecture without the use of a wheel and because no metal tools have thus been found at any of the Mayan ruins it has been assumed that they did not use such tools either.
• Because each structure has its own mysticism and fascination. The Observatory, which is also called “Caracol”, is a quite sophisticated for its time; the structure allows one to appreciate the scientific and astronomical achievements of the ancient Mayas. The church which is known as “La Iglesia” is constructed out of stone and stands festooned with images of Rain God – Chac, apart from other geometrical figures. The Pyramid of Kulkulcan is another interesting adorned with serpent heads at the  bottom and top of the stairways. The Temple of the Warriors is one of the most impressive structures at Chichen Itza.
• Chichen Itza represents the blend of a number of architectural styles, right from the Mexican styles to the Puuc styles.

Twice a year, on March 21 and September 21, the sun  makes a shadow on the side of the stairs on the North side of El Castillo Pyramid in Chichen Itza forming a snake. This, used to be the sign for the Mayas to start planting the corn. This event is called The Equinox.

The fall equinox is one of the best times to visit Chichen Itza. It takes time in September 21, when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, being vertically above a point on the Equator, making a shadow effect simulating the serpent Kukulcan descending by El Castillo pyramid balustrades to join the snake’s head at the base of the temple. The best time to arrive is before 5 pm, to watch dancers and music performances. For optimum view of the serpent, try to be near the great courtyard which faces the western facet of the Kukulcan Pyramid. This time of year can be chilly in the evenings, so be sure to dress accordingly and don’t forget to bring insect repellent, since Chichen Itza is surrounded by jungle. This is a huge event that attracts many visitors, accommodations fill up fast, plan your trip in advance and arrive early. If you are planning to stay overnight at the nearby town, Pisté, book your lodging well in advance

The distance from Cancun to Chichen Itza is 160 km/99.44 mi. You can rent a car and visit Chichen Itza on your own. You pay 300 for tolls, 15 pesos for the parking lot and 90 pesos for the entrance. You can also arrange chichen itza tours with luxury transportation, entrance fee, tour guide and lunch included.