Chichen-Itza

If you are searching for reproductions of historical sites in SL, you should visit the virtual Chichen-Itza. This sim was commissioned by the Mexico Tourism Board and it is a reproduction of the most visited archaeological site in the Yucatan Peninsula, built by the Maya civilization.

Before exploring the sim on foot, look for a giant blue butterfly at the arrival area. If it’s not in use, it should be seated on a platform quite close to you. Sit on it and wear the audio you will be given after sitting on the back of the butterfly (after you are given the audio, find it from your inventory and choose Wear), and after a few seconds the butterfly will take off and take you for a sightseeing through the sim. The butterfly will take you to each place and the audio will give you information about it.

This was one of the coolest guided tours I have been in. Riding a giant butterfly was awesome (I wish I could have one of those for me!). The butterfly even takes you INTO the Sacred Cenote (down there, and into the water!).

After the butterfly ride it’s nice to begin exploring the virtual Chichen-Itza on foot.

The most famous construction at the site is of course the Temple of Kukulkan, often referred to as "El Castillo" (the castle). It has the shape of a pyramid with the temple on top.

El Castillo is the first image that comes to my mind when I think of Yucatan. (here’s a picture of the real El Castillo)

At the winter and spring equinox at dawn and sunset when the position of the sun is right, a shadow appears over the pyramid starting from the serpent heads at the bottom of the stairs. Together with the heads it makes up the body of the Serpent God Kukulkan (which is the Maya name for Quetzalcoatl). At those times people from all over the globe travel to the Chichen-Itza to witness the event.

The Mayas used to build higher and larger temples atop of the old ones. So the El Castillo we see today used to be a smaller pyramid temple in the past. A hidden door was discovered at the foot of one of the stairways, leading to a corridor inside the pyramid, leading to the older temple, inside the new one. This doorway can also be found in SL:

Entering this door and walking through the tunnel, you will see a Chac Mool statue and Kukulcan's Jaguar Throne, carved of stone and painted red with jade spots.

Close to El Castillo is the Plaza of 1000 Columns. Quoting the notecard: “The Temple of the Warriors was built by the end of 800 A.D. It is located on the eastern plaza of the central plain of Chichen Itza. The Temple of the Warriors is flanked by 1000 carved columns depicting fallen warriors.”


The Maya name "Chich'en Itza" means "At the mouth of the well of the Itza ". This could because of the cenotes found in the place. According to a Notecard I got at the SL sim, “Cenote (say-NO-tay) is the Spanish equivalent of the Yucatecan Mayan word for a water-filled, limestone sinkhole. In Mexico's northern Yucatan Peninsula, where there are few lakes or streams, cenotes provided a stable supply of water for the ancient Maya people who settled there. The great city of Chichen Itza was built around a cluster of these natural wells, including the one known as the “Sacred Cenote.”

The virtual Chichen-Itza even has a jungle, complete with jungle sounds, a crocodile, and torches leading the way.


Whenever you are next to the flowers or the water, small and colourful humming birds come to greet you. They are very curious and keep following you and staring at you. How relaxing it is to sit down after so much walking around. I'm laying down against a moss covered log, under a lot of yellow flowers, hearing the sounds of jungle animals and looking at a blue humming bird who keeps flying around me and staring at me.


In Chichen-Itza there are also sweat house ruins or Temezcals , believed to be over 1200 years old. According to the notecard found at the display board near the sweat houses, the Mayas used to take thermal baths in order to facilitate healing, purification and relaxation in their lives.

Continue exploring and find the nice marketplace close to the beach.


Here you can even buy Mayan artefacts like the ones in the picture.


Oh, and try the “princess” animation you will find in this boat! Cool dance!


Go to the beach to meet the sea turtles. I saw little baby turtles running to the water.


This place is amazing at night. If only there was a party going on!


This is one of the sweat house ruins or Temezcals I mentioned before. And yes, that me with sunglasses at night - maybe the stars were shinning too bright ;-)


And a picture from inside the Sacred Cenote:


The Temple of Kukulcan ("El Castillo") under the moonlight.


Visit Chichen-Itza in SL! Learn about Mayan history and make cool Mexican friends - and Dutch ones too; they are everywhere ;-)

Here’s the slURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Visit%20Mexico/197/70/39