Updated November 2026
Chichen Itza is open every day of the year, but the experience changes a lot with the season and, even more, with the time of day. The short answer: come between November and April, and arrive at 8 am.
The best time of day
The site opens at 8 am. For the first two hours it is relatively quiet and the temperature is bearable. Tour buses from Cancun and the Riviera Maya start arriving from about 11 am, and by early afternoon the main plaza is crowded and the sun is fierce, with very little shade. If you are on a tour, an early access tour gets you there close to opening time; if you drive, sleep in Valladolid the night before.
Season by season
- November to February: the dry, “cool” season — warm days around 28–30 °C and pleasant mornings. The best weather of the year, but Christmas, New Year and the US holidays bring the biggest crowds.
- March and April: still dry, getting hotter. Spring break and Easter week (Semana Santa) are very busy, and the spring equinox around 20–21 March draws huge crowds.
- May: the hottest month, often above 35 °C in the interior of Yucatán. Go early and drink plenty of water.
- June to October: the rainy season. Usually a short, heavy afternoon storm rather than a whole day of rain, with high humidity. It is also hurricane season (officially June to November, most active from August to October), so travel insurance and tours with free cancellation are wise.
Busiest days
Sundays are busy with Mexican families, because Mexican residents enter the federal part of the site free. The week between Christmas and New Year, Easter week and the equinox days are the busiest of the year. Weekdays outside the holidays are the calmest.
Our recommendation
A weekday between November and March, at opening time. If you are visiting over the Christmas holidays, book your tour early — the most popular departures from Cancun fill up — and choose a tour with free cancellation. For the equinox, read our guide to the Chichen Itza equinox.
