The 2021 Equinox at Chichén Itzá is fastly approaching, and it is something that any traveler across the world is not going to want to miss. Between March 20th, and March 21st, the spring equinox will take place in Chichén Itzá, a Unesco world heritage site.
Light and shadows show the main attraction during the spring equinox at Chichén Itzá, and every year it brings thousands of travelers to witness this incredible event. Keep reading to understand why!
Understanding the Spring Equinox
The spring equinox is the first day of the spring season and happens when the sun passes the equator moving from the southern to the northern hemisphere.
A fun fact about the Spring Equinox is that although it usually happens on the same day each year (March 20th), sometimes it can be a few days earlier or later, depending on the rotation of the earth and if there is a leap year.
Spring Equinox and the Mayan Calander
The Mayans developed three different calendars to mark the year’s cycle, each one still leaving others in awe for their accuracy to this day.
- The first Calander was Tzolk’in, which represented a 260-day cycle. This cycle was greatly associated with good or bad luck.
- Due to the Mayans’ spiritual representation not matching up with the Tzolk’in, they created a 360-day cycle named the Haab which is similar to the Gregorian calendar we use today. This calendar was developed based on the placement of the sun throughout the year.
- To keep track of their history, something extremely important for the Mayans, they developed a third calendar called the Long Count. A cycle of the universe that lasted 2,880,000 days.
Beautiful pyramids like the Temple of Kukulcán in Chichén Itzá were built to represent their grand civilizations, and in times just like the Spring Equinox, unique phenomena occurred to represent the different cycles of the earth.
The Light and Shadow at Chichén Itzá
During the construction of the remarkable Pyramid of Kukulcán in Chichén Itzá, the temple of the warriors, the pre-columbine architecture still surprises us to this day. In the Spring Equinox, when the sun starts to set, several shadows are cast upon the pyramid.
As the sun falls, seven triangular shadows appear on the north side of the pyramid, and the magical shadows create the illusion of the body of a feathered serpent. This phenomenon symbolizes Kukulcán. During the era of the Mayans, Kukulcán, is a god that was thought to have descended to fertilize the crop for the harvest season.
Equinoxes at Chichén
Throughout the year, there is the Spring Equinox and the Fall Equinox, both spectacular events to be a part of in Chichén Itzá. If you are interested in taking part in a once in a lifetime experience, it is highly recommend to visit Chichén Itzá on March 21st (the Spring Equinox) and September 22nd (the fall Equinox)
Visiting Chichén Itzá
At any moment throughout the year, Chichén Itzá, the place of a thousand columns, is a popular and world-renown archeological site. This ancient city is a representation of the time the Mayans ruled parts of Mexico and Central America! Today, it is a tourist location that many people from across the world take part in exploring through the Mayans’ footsteps.
Chichén Itzá offers an array of different day and night time excursions.
Located in the Yucatan Peninsula, there are many different amazing things to do. You can spend a day on the beach, swimming in crystal clear cenotes, and embarking on adventures in the Jungle. See all of the exciting excursions that you can take part in here.
Accommodations
After a trip to Chichén Itzá and a full day of discovering the incredible phenomena during the Equinox, you will need a place to lay your head. Equinox at Chichén Itzá 2021
Sandos Caracol
If you are looking for another Mayan experience to complement your trip to Chichén Itzá, Sandos Caracol is the perfect choice. Situated within the Jungle, experience a natural vacation.
Here you can swim in refreshing cenotes, take part in Mayan Spa Rituals, gaze upon incredible Mayan performances, and so much more, all while enjoying amenities like no other hotel in the Riviera Maya!
Sandos Playacar
A beach getaway is Sandos Playacars specialty. Located on an endless white sand beach, fun, excitement, and relaxation are combined with out of this world amenities and services.
Let yourself be pampered by spa experts in a high-class spa and fitness center or have the wondrous staff cater to your every need by creating an unforgettable vacation experience.
The travel experts at Seek and Go, located on-sight in both Sandos Playacar and Sandos Caracol, offer exclusive packages to Chichén Itzá. So if you want to experience the Spring Equinox like no other place on earth, make sure to see them when you arrive!
Make your first trip of the year one that is unique and witness the incredible Spring Equinox in Chichén Itzá!
