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Frommer's Guide
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FEATURES AND EVENTS
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Spring Equinox
by Tom Clynes
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Held Annually: March 21
Locale: Chichen Itza, Mexico
Nearest Airport:
Cancun (CUN), Merida (MID)
General Information:
Mexican Government Tourism Office, tel. 800-44MEXICO
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During the spring equinox, visitors to Chichén Itzá don't need magic mushrooms to see apparitions of shadowy monsters. As the afternoon sun hits the Mayan El Castillo pyramid, a shadow of the feathered snake-god Kukulcan, who has the power of rebirth, appears to slide down the pyramid toward the sacred well.
While locals always knew about the serpent's springtime journey, scholars only discovered the phenomena a few decades ago. Then, travelers began flocking to the site and the spring equinox became a major event. Dancers and musicians entertain visitors as they wait for the serpent to appear on the day of the year when there are equal hours of sunlight and darkness. The serpent can also appear during the autumn equinox, but rainy-season clouds often obscure it. •
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Inside Scoop |
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Chichén Itzá is the largest set of Mayan ruins in the Yucatan Peninsula. Built during the fifth century B.C., the temple of Kukulcan was abandoned 300 years before the arrival of the Spanish and fell to ruins. It was rediscovered when an American explorer stumbled across it around 1840. Although there are three hotels within walking distance of the temple, more economical accommodations can be found in nearby Pisti or Valladolid.
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