Following pick-up at your hotel in Cancún, Playa del Carmen or the Riviera Maya, journey to the pre-Colombian city and archaeological site of Chichen Itza, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, and now considered one of the "New Seven Wonders of the World." Upon arrival, benefit from the services of a private guide with expertise in archaeology. Hear explanations of the Mayan civilization and the main monuments of one of their most significant sites in your chosen language. Learn how the city played an important role from around 600 to 1200 AD, and remained a center of worship and pilgrimage until the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in the 16th century. Chichen Itza is considered a sacred site by the Mayan people of the Yucatan to this day. Like many cities from Mexico's ancient history, it was eventually abandoned and fell into ruins to be buried by the jungle. It re-entered the popular imagination in 1843 with the publication of the book "Incidents of Travel in Yucatan" by the American explorer John Lloyd Stephens. Get personalized attention from your guide on a morning tour before the large tour groups arrive. You will return to your hotel in Cancún, Playa del Carmen or the Riviera Maya at around 15:00 to enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.