Updated November 2026
The two weeks around Christmas and New Year are the busiest of the whole year at Chichen Itza. Hotels in Cancun and the Riviera Maya are full, Mexican families are on school holidays and the most popular tours sell out. With a little planning, it is still a wonderful time to go — the weather is at its best.
Is Chichen Itza open on Christmas Day and New Year's Day?
Chichen Itza is normally open every day of the year, including 24 and 25 December and 31 December and 1 January, with the usual hours from 8 am until late afternoon. Opening days and times can change at short notice, so check the official information or the booking page of your tour shortly before you go.
How busy does it get?
- The peak: roughly from 20 December to 6 January (Día de Reyes), when Mexican school holidays overlap with the international Christmas break.
- The busiest hours: from about 11 am, when tour buses from Cancun and the Riviera Maya arrive, until mid-afternoon.
- Quieter days: 25 December and 1 January mornings are often calmer than the days in between, as many people stay at their hotels after the celebrations.
Book your tour early
The most popular Chichen Itza tours from Cancun can sell out for specific dates in the last week of December. Book as soon as your dates are fixed and choose an option with free cancellation, so you can still change your plans. Some operators run a reduced schedule on 25 December and 1 January — the booking calendar shows which dates are available.
How to beat the holiday crowds
- Take an early access tour that reaches the site around opening time.
- Or rent a car, sleep in Valladolid and be at the gates at 8 am — see car rental at Cancun Airport. Rental cars are in high demand over the holidays too, so book early.
- Buy your entrance ticket or check the fees in advance — see Chichen Itza tickets.
Christmas in the Yucatán
December is a festive month in Mexico: towns hold posadas, processions re-enacting the search for shelter, from 16 to 24 December; nativity scenes appear in the squares; and on 6 January families share the rosca de reyes, a sweet ring-shaped bread. An evening in Valladolid or Mérida during the holidays is a great way to see local traditions. Read more in Chichen Itza in December and January.
