What are the coordinates of Chichen Itza?

Approximately 20.683° N, 88.568° W. Searching "Chichen Itza archaeological zone" in Google Maps takes you to the main entrance.

Is Chichen Itza in Cancun?

No. Chichen Itza is in Yucatan state, while Cancun is in Quintana Roo. It is about 200 km (around 2.5 to 3 hours by road) west of Cancun.

What is the closest city to Chichen Itza?

The closest town is Piste, just outside the site. The closest city is Valladolid, about 40 km (roughly 40 minutes) east. Merida, the state capital, is about 120 km west.

What is the nearest airport to Chichen Itza?

Chichen Itza has a small airstrip that does not handle regular commercial flights. Most visitors fly into Cancun International Airport or Merida International Airport and continue by road.

Why was Chichen Itza built in this location?

The Yucatan has almost no rivers. Chichen Itza grew beside natural sinkholes called cenotes, which gave reliable water; its name means "at the mouth of the well of the Itza."

Is Chichen Itza in the jungle?

It is surrounded by dry tropical forest on flat limestone land, not dense rainforest. The ruins themselves are open plazas with little shade.

Where Is Chichen Itza? Location, Map Position & Distances

Q: Where is Chichen Itza?

Chichen Itza is in the state of Yucatan, in southeastern Mexico, on the Yucatan Peninsula. It lies in the municipality of Tinum, beside the small town of Piste, about 40 km west of Valladolid.

Q: Where is Chichen Itza located in Mexico?

In the interior of the Yucatan Peninsula, in the east-central part of Yucatan state. It sits roughly between Merida (west) and Cancun (east), inland from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean coast.

Where is Chichen Itza - El Castillo in Yucatan, Mexico

Where is Chichen Itza? Chichen Itza is located in the state of Yucatan, Mexico, in the heart of the Yucatan Peninsula. The ruins sit in the municipality of Tinum, next to the town of Piste, about 40 km from Valladolid, 120 km from Merida and 200 km from Cancun.

Where Is Chichen Itza Located in Mexico?

Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula is shared by three states: Yucatan, Quintana Roo and Campeche. Chichen Itza belongs to Yucatan state, in its east-central interior, close to the Quintana Roo border.

Country: Mexico
State: Yucatan
Municipality: Tinum
Nearest town: Piste (about 2 km)
Coordinates: ~20.683° N, 88.568° W
Highway: Federal Highway 180 / toll road 180D between Merida and Cancun

How Far Is Chichen Itza From Cancun, Merida and Tulum?

From	Road distance	Drive time
Piste (town next to the site)	~2 km	5 min
Valladolid	~40 km	40 min
Merida	~120 km	1.5-2 h
Tulum	~150 km	2-2.5 h
Playa del Carmen	~190 km	2.5-3 h
Cancun	~200 km	2.5-3 h

Approximate road distances via the fastest highway; times vary with traffic and stops.

Why Chichen Itza Was Built Here

The northern Yucatan is a flat limestone shelf with almost no surface rivers. Water collects underground and appears in cenotes. Chichen Itza grew around two of them, including the Sacred Cenote, and its name means "at the mouth of the well of the Itza." Learn more about who built Chichen Itza, or start from our complete Chichen Itza guide.

How to Get to Chichen Itza

There are no commercial flights to the site, so every visit is by road. Most travelers land in Cancun or Merida. Options: rental car on toll road 180D, ADO bus to Piste, or a tour with hotel pickup.

The easiest option is a Chichen Itza tour from Cancun, or departures from Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Merida. Once inside, use our Chichen Itza map to find each monument.

Sources

UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Pre-Hispanic City of Chichen-Itza

Where Is Chichen Itza - FAQs

Get to Chichen Itza the easy way

Hotel pickup from Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Tulum or Merida with a certified local guide. Message us for dates and prices.

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