Mexico’s Famous Chichen Itzá Archaeological Site Will Reopen October 5th

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The famous Chichen Itzá archaeological site in Yucatán, Mexico will officially reopen on October 5th, the Yucatán government announced. Originally scheduled for September 18th the reopening was delayed after a spike in COVID-19 cases.

The Chichen Itzá archaeological site will be open daily from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm and will be limited to 3000 people. The cut off for tourists to enter the site will be at 4:00 pm 

Woman admiring the Mayan Kukulkan Pyramid (El Castillo) in Chichen Itza in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Woman admiring the Mayan Kukulkan Pyramid (El Castillo) in Chichen Itza in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Strict hygiene and COVID-19 prevention measures will be in place including: 

  • Mandatory use of face masks
  • Maximum groups of 10 including the tour guide
  • All visitors will have their temperature checked using thermographic cameras 
pyrarmid chichenitza

Mauricio Díaz Montalvo, The director of the Cultural and Tourist Services of the State of Yucatán, assured that both federal and state authorities have carried out all the necessary COVID-19 prevention protocols to reopen Chichen Itzá and enforce prevention methods at the archaeological site. 

pyramid at night

“It is very important that Chichén Itzá is open not only for the cultural aspect, but also for the economic aspect. We are ready to receive all tourists with all the necessary sanitary measures so that little by little, the influx to this place recovers,” explained Díaz Montalvo.

Statue-of-Mayan-god-Chac-Mool-at-Chichen-Itza-Yucatan-Mexico

On September 13th, Quintana Roo Governor, Carlos Joaquín also announced that the following archaeological zones would reopen: 

  • Tulum
  • Cobá
  • San Gervasio
  • Muyil
Tourists climbing the Nohoch Mul pyramid at the Coba archaeological site prior to the pandemic, Coba is a large ruined city of the Pre-Columbian Mayan civilization
Tourists climbing the Nohoch Mul pyramid at the Coba archaeological site prior to the pandemic, Coba is a large ruined city of the Pre-Columbian Mayan civilization

The Cancun international airport has seen a strong recovery since it’s record low arrivals in May of this year.

According to ASUR who manages 11 airports in Southeast Mexico, Cancun saw over 44,000 international passengers in June when the city reopened for tourism.

By August, that number ballooned to 297,389 international passengers arriving and departing through the Cancun International airport. An additional 522,000 domestic passengers were registered at the airport in August bringing the grand total of passengers to 819,365 for the month. 

There are no COVID-19 entry requirements for Mexico giving travelers the ability to arrive in Cancun without the worry of being denied entry. 

Travelers arrive at the international airport in Cancun wearing masks
Travelers arrive at the international airport in Cancun wearing masks

The Yucatan Post