Chichén Itzá

Chichen Itza is a major Maya archaeological site in Yucatan, Mexico, first settled c. 550 CE and reaching its peak as a religious, military, and commercial centre with approximately 35,000 inhabitants during 900-1200 CE. Its iconic El Castillo pyramid rises 24 metres above the Main Plaza, with 365 steps aligned to cardinal directions that produce a serpent-shadow effect during equinoxes. The site features the largest ball court in the Americas (166 x 68 m), the Sacred Cenote used for ritual offerings, and the astronomical observatory El Caracol. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, it is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.