Celebrity Cruise -Destination Highlight: Explore Chichen Itza Ruins with VR

A Small-Group Shore Excursion from Cozumel with Celebrity Cruises

We were docked in Cozumel at 7:00 in the morning when this day started. It was early enough that the ship still felt quiet, with most people just getting coffee or heading to breakfast. We met in the theater on the Celebrity Constellation for our excursion called “Destination Highlight: Explore Chichen Itza Ruins with VR.”

I had wanted to see Mayan ruins for a long time. I had previously visited Tulum on another cruise and enjoyed it, but I knew Chichen Itza was supposed to be much larger and more historically significant.

From Cozumel, we took a 45-minute ferry ride to Playa del Carmen. The ride was smooth and uneventful. Once we arrived, we boarded a small coach for the drive inland. One thing that stood out immediately was the group size — there were only twelve of us. Instead of being on a large bus with 50 or 60 people, it felt much more personal and relaxed. You didn’t feel rushed, and it was easy to hear the guide and ask questions.

The drive into the Yucatán Peninsula took about two and a half hours. Early on, each of us was handed a Samsung tablet, which is how the “VR” portion of the tour works. It’s not a headset. Instead, the tablet shows reconstructions, diagrams, and historical images while the guide explains what you’re about to see.

Our guide, Victor, had studied Mayan history in college and had spent a year living near Chichen Itza with descendants of the Maya. He explained things clearly and without exaggeration, which I appreciated.

During the drive, Victor talked about how accurate the Mayan calendar was and how many of their buildings were designed around astronomy, solstices, and equinoxes. On the tablets, we could scroll through about 200 images showing what Chichen Itza looked like when it was first discovered and how the temples may have appeared when they were originally painted in bright colors. Having that background before arriving helped a lot.

Arriving at Chichen Itza

When we arrived, the first thing you notice is how busy it is. Vendors line the walkway selling hats and souvenirs, and it can feel crowded at first. But once you step into the main open plaza and see El Castillo, the main pyramid, it immediately gets your attention. It’s much larger and more imposing than what I experienced at Tulum.

The Main Temple - El Castillo

Victor explained that each side of the pyramid has 91 steps. When you multiply that by four sides, you get 364, and when you add the top platform, it comes to 365 days in a year. The pyramid was designed to function as a solar calendar. That was one of the first moments where it really hit me how advanced the Mayans were in math and astronomy.

El Castillo - Snake heads honoring the Snake God

He also explained that Chichen Itza was built over five cenotes, or natural sinkholes, and that one is located directly beneath the main temple. Inside El Castillo itself, there are smaller temples built within it, layered over time as new structures were built on top of older ones.

One of the more interesting demonstrations happened when Victor asked us to clap our hands in front of the pyramid. When you clap, the sound echoes back about seven times and changes pitch. Instead of sounding like a normal echo, it ends up sounding like a bird call. Victor explained that the stepped design of the pyramid causes the sound waves to reflect in a way that mimics the sacred quetzal bird. It wasn’t something I would have noticed without someone explaining it, but it showed how deliberate the design was.

One of four “91 step” stairways to the top of the temple.

The Great Ball Court

Victor also cleared up a few things I had always heard about Mayan culture. One of those was human sacrifice. Movies often make it seem like sacrifices were forced or only involved enemies. Victor explained that many people actually volunteered and that being sacrificed was considered an honor that could elevate a family’s status.

He also talked about the Mayan ballgame played in the Great Ball Court. I had always heard that the losing team was killed. According to Victor, that wasn’t the case at Chichen Itza. Each team had seven players — six on the court and one captain positioned above. The winning captain would ultimately be sacrificed, and the losing captain would perform the ritual. Again, it was considered an honor, not a punishment.

Wide Angle shot of the Ball Court facing to the Royal Family area

One of two Stone Hoops in the Ball Court

Victor demonstrated how sound carries clearly from one end of the ball court to the other. Even a small noise can be heard across the full length of the structure.

Carvings in the Ball Court that depict two of the seven players on a team.

Temple of the Warriors and Other Structures

We then moved on to other areas of the site, including the Temple of the Warriors. The rows of columns and carvings give you a sense of how large and complex the city once was.

The Warrior Temple

Victor explained how animals like the serpent, jaguar, and eagle were used symbolically throughout the site to represent different gods and aspects of the Mayan belief system.

Carving of the Jaguar on a smaller Temple

Carvings on a smaller temple

We also passed through areas used for burial and cremation. These sections are less visually dramatic than the main pyramid, but they add important context about daily life and religious practices at Chichen Itza.

The cremation platform

Carvings depicting the faces of ancestors that have already transitioned to the land of the Gods.

What to Know Before You Go

Chichen Itza is extremely busy today. Before becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it averaged around 1,000 visitors per day. Now it averages closer to 20,000. Even in early February, it felt crowded, so I would expect the summer months to be significantly busier.

There are also some practical rules to know ahead of time:

• Tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks are not allowed.

• Backpacks are allowed, but no food can be brought inside the archaeological zone.

• Water is allowed.

• Phones and standard cameras are fine.

• GoPros require an additional fee.

The tour moves at a steady pace. Because it’s a small group, it never felt chaotic, but it is structured. Victor guided us from one main structure to the next without free time to explore independently. Personally, I would have liked about 30 extra minutes to walk around and take photos on my own. We did return to the ferry with some time to spare before the ship departed, so it felt like that might have been possible. Still, the guided portion was thorough and well organized.

It’s also a long day. We left the ship at 7:00 a.m. and returned around 4:30 p.m. The tour included a small sandwich and bottled water before entering the site, and a snack bar on the way back. I would recommend eating a solid breakfast on the ship and bringing a protein bar to leave on the bus for afterward.

Is This Tour Worth It?

I have only seen “Destination Highlight: Explore Chichen Itza Ruins with VR” offered through Celebrity Cruises. I haven’t seen this specific VR-based version offered by Royal Caribbean, Carnival, or Princess. Other cruise lines do offer tours to Chichen Itza, but this combination of a small group, tablet-based visuals, and in-depth historical explanation appears to be unique to Celebrity.

This tour is ideal for travelers who are genuinely interested in history and don’t mind committing to a full day. It’s not designed for people who want a quick stop or a large bus experience. The small group size makes it feel more personal, and the added context helps you understand what you’re seeing rather than just walking past ruins.

If you are visiting Chicken Itza on your own check out these tour options: