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Located on the Yucatan Peninsula, Chichen Itza was a large city built by the Maya people. It thrived from about 600 AD until 1221, when the power in the region shifted to Mayapan. It was one of the largest Maya cities and also had the most diverse population in any Maya population. It covered five square kilometers.

Many of the Maya people that lived in Chichen Itza were very skilled craftsmen, including sculptors, weavers, jewelers and potters. The people of built strong allies with regional tribes, and this helped them thrive for two centuries. There is archaeological evidence to support the theory that civil war broke out in about 1221, and the power of Yucatan shifted to Mayapan, leaving Chichen Itza behind.

Chichen Itza may have been a religious center for a period of time and is believed to have been a pilgrimage place for the Maya. Some suggest that the site where Chichen Itza was built was already a popular place of pilgrimage long before building of the city ever began. Some of the most famous buildings in Chichen Itza that have survived include: The Warrior's Temple, El Castillo, and The Great Ball Court.

Chichen Itza is the second most popular site for visitors to Mexico, with approximately 1.2 million people visiting the ruins every year.