How does Chichen Itza clap work?

Scientific research led since 1998 suggests that the temple mimics the chirping sound of the quetzal bird when humans clap their hands around it. The researchers argue that this phenomenon is not accidental, that the builders of this temple felt divinely rewarded by the echoing effect of this structure.



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Clap your hands at the base of the pyramid, and the song of a sacred Mayan bird will echo through the air. Been Here? Want to Visit? The Mayan city of Chichen Itza is full of architectural and engineering marvels.

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The step pyramid Temple of Kukulcán at Chichén Itzá, Mexico, a 30m high structure built by the Pre-Columbian Maya civilisation sometime between the 8th – 12th century CE, demonstrates a peculiar acoustic phenomenon: clapping directly in front of it sends back an echo which sounds similar to the local quetzal bird, ...

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After descending the pyramid steps, she was met by an angry crowd who yelled “jail jail jail” and “idiot,” though the woman seemed relatively unphased. Villalobos was then escorted from the site and taken to the nearby community of Tinum, where she received a fine of 5,000 pesos, roughly $250.

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Until 2008 climbing the pyramid was a popular activity for tourists, but this was outlawed to protect the ancient stonework.

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A tourist was booed and doused with water after climbing the protected Mayan monument known as El Castillo, or Pyramid of Kukulcan, at the archeological site of Chichen-Itza in Yucatan, Mexico, on November 20.

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It is known that a handclap in front of the stairs of the great pyramid of Chichen Itza produces a chirp echo which sounds more or less like the sound of a Quetzal bird.

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In the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza sits a pyramid called Kukulcan, also known as El Castillo. Archaeologists have long known that this mysterious structure hides a second pyramid within its walls, but new technology has unearthed something strange: a third pyramid inside the second.

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One of the most interesting recent discoveries about Chichen is related to an essential aspect of Mayan life: water! In Chichen Itza, the cenotes are the only source of fresh water. These underground rivers are pure crystal water, a product of filtration through the limestone subsoil.

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You are in the Mayan jungle, so you will find many insects and mosquitoes. Do not forget your bug spray, it's essential in this region of Mexico. Sunscreen is also fundamental, because as we mentioned above, in Chichen Itza, there's not much shade to protect you from the sun.

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The main Mayan Ruin is the Chichen Itza Pyramid or El Castillo, but there are other equaly important as El Caracol or Observatory, The Temple of The Warriors and the Mayan Ball Game.

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The issue for locals ... the Mayan temple is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and it's illegal to climb the pyramid. The tourist is reportedly from Poland, and was arrested Saturday and released after 12 hours in custody.

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Chichén Itzá was a sacred city of pyramids and temples. The Mayans designed their temples in Chichén Itzá to be used as calendars and for rituals. They were made to track celestial events, and the Mayans displayed an extraordinary knowledge of astronomy and mathematics in their construction.

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Even though fines for trespassers who attempt to climb the Unesco heritage site can reportedly range from $1,800-9,000, the tourist was fined $412 for the transgression, a spokesperson for INAH was quoted as saying by the Mexico Daily Post.

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