Yucatán, Mexico
Sunrise at Chichén Itzá
Local time now08:34
Dedicate this sunrise · from $4.99Local time at the place (America/Merida) · 20.6843° N, 88.5678° W · calculated live with the same rules as our certificates.
Chichén Itzá was one of the great cities of the Maya on the Yucatán Peninsula. Its pyramid, El Castillo, rises in nine terraces to a temple at the top, with a staircase on each side.
The pyramid is a calendar in stone. On the afternoons around the spring and autumn equinoxes, the setting sun throws a shadow of triangles along the northern staircase, and a serpent of light seems to slide down to the stone snake head at its base. Each morning the sun rises over the flat green jungle around the city.
A sunrise over Chichén Itzá is a gift from a people who watched the sky closely enough to build it into their temples.
The best season
November to April is the dry season, with clear skies and milder heat. The equinoxes in March and September bring the serpent of light; summer is hot and humid with afternoon storms.
Where to watch
The great plaza in front of the northern staircase shows the shadow serpent on equinox afternoons. The site opens in the morning.
Give this moment
Dedicate a sunrise, sunset or full moon night at Chichén Itzá to someone you love, the nearest one or on the day you choose — from $4.99. They get a gift page with a live countdown, and a certificate with the exact minute, ready right after payment.
The SunriseDedicate this sunrise
The SunsetDedicate this sunset
The Full Moon NightDedicate the full moon night
Questions
What time is sunrise at Chichén Itzá today?
It changes by a minute or two every day. This page calculates today’s sunrise and sunset live for the exact point (20.6843° N, 88.5678° W), in local time (America/Merida), with the same rules as the almanacs: the moment the upper edge of the sun clears the horizon.
Can I dedicate the sunrise at Chichén Itzá to someone?
Yes. Choose The Sunrise, The Sunset or The Full Moon Night with this place, the nearest one or on the day you choose: it is dedicated to the person you name, they receive a gift page with a live countdown, and the certificate with the exact minute of the moment is ready right after payment.
What if it is cloudy?
The sun rises and sets whatever the weather. The certificate records the real astronomical moment, and the gift page tells the story of the sky at that minute.
What happens at Chichén Itzá on the equinox?
In the late afternoon, the edges of the pyramid’s terraces cast a zigzag shadow on the northern staircase that looks like a serpent descending to the carved snake head at its foot.
Can you climb the pyramid at Chichén Itzá?
No. Climbing has been closed to protect the monument.
Nearby places
- Sunrise at the Statue of Liberty · New York, United States
- Sunrise at Niagara Falls · United States
- Sunrise at the Grand Canyon · Grand Canyon Village, United States