The Maya name "Chichen Itza" means "At the mouth of the well of the Itza." This derives from chi', meaning "mouth" or "edge", and chʼen or chʼeʼen, meaning "well". Itzá is the name of an ethnic-lineage group that gained political and economic dominance of the northern peninsula. Since July 2007, this site was named one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. The Temple of Kukulcán ("El Castillo") dominates the center of Chichen-Itza. After visiting Machu Picchu in 2019 (another New 7th wonder) and seeing this extraordinary site in 2021, the plan was set in motion to visit all the new 7 Wonders of the World. Jordan, Petra will be next.

Chichen-Itza, Yucatan region, Mexico

September, 2021