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Chichen Itza

Countries in the atlas · Latin America

Mexico

Maya pyramids, the underground cenotes of the Yucatán and the canyons of the Sierra Madre.

Russian passport: online permit · 180 daysRussian Foreign Ministry: avoid parts of the countryprices ×1.6 vs Russia

Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Chichen Itza
Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Yucatán, Mexico

Chichen Itza

Access 1/5 · easyJFMAMJJASOND

Chichen Itza is one of the largest Maya cities. The Pyramid of Kukulcán is built so that at the equinoxes a shadow forms the body of a descending serpent on its staircase.

Nearby are the ball court, the observatory and the Sacred Cenote. A UNESCO World Heritage Site; it is best to arrive at opening time, before the heat.

Getting there
From Cancún, about 2.5 hours by car or bus; from Mérida, about 1.5 hours.
Fees and tickets
A ticket for foreigners costs 697 pesos (105 for INAH and 592 for the state fee); entry 8:00–16:00.
Sources (3)
Cenotes of the Yucatán
Photo: dronepicr · CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Yucatán and Quintana Roo, Mexico

Cenotes of the Yucatán

Access 1/5 · easyJFMAMJJASOND

The Yucatán is flat limestone with water flowing beneath it. Where the rock roof has collapsed, cenotes have opened up: round wells and caves with clear water, tree roots and shafts of light.

You swim in some of them and scuba dive through flooded caves in others. Nearby are the ruins of Tulum on the Caribbean shore.

Getting there
From Cancún, Tulum or Mérida, 20 minutes to 2 hours by car.
Fees and tickets
There is no single rate: each cenote has its own fee and its own rules — a shower before swimming, no sunscreen.
Sources (2)
Copper Canyon
Photo: Comisión Mexicana de Filmaciones from México D. F., mÉXICO · CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

Chihuahua, Mexico

Copper Canyon

Access 3/5 · needs planningJFMAMJJASOND

Barrancas del Cobre is a system of canyons in the Sierra Madre Occidental covering about 65,000 km². It is home to the Tarahumara people, famous long-distance runners.

The El Chepe train runs 652 km over 39 bridges and through 86 tunnels; at Divisadero station there are viewpoints, a cable car and suspension bridges.

Getting there
Fly to Chihuahua or Los Mochis, then take the El Chepe train (the full journey is about 15 hours) or drive to Creel.
Fees and tickets
The El Chepe Express train from Los Mochis to Creel costs from 3,500 pesos one way in high season (according to media reports).
Why it’s hard
A remote mountain region: the train runs on a timetable once a day, and the canyon floors can be reached only on foot with a local guide.
Sources (3)

Before you go

Mexico: entry, safety, money, flights, laws and budget — with sources.

Entry

Russian citizens: visa-free with a free electronic authorisation (SAE), only for arrival by air; it is valid for 30 days for a single entry, and the stay is up to 180 days (the officer sets the exact period). Transit also requires the authorisation or a visa.

Your passport needs at least 6 months of validity; the return ticket is strictly checked on entry.

Rules for any passport

Checked 2 November 2026. These are the rules for a Russian citizen with an international passport on a tourist trip. For other passports and purposes, see the official website — the button above.

Sources (6)

Safety

On 22.02.2026 the Russian Embassy urged postponing trips to the state of Jalisco because of unrest. The Russian Foreign Ministry names Guanajuato, Baja California, the State of Mexico, Michoacán and Chihuahua as the most dangerous states — the Copper Canyon is in Chihuahua.

Sources (1)

Money and cards

The Mir card does not work. Bring dollars in cash; declare cash over $10,000.

Sources (2)

Flights

There are no direct flights. Connections are via Istanbul, Dubai and Doha.

Sources (2)

Laws and bans

  • Since 16.01.2026 vapes and e-cigarettes have been banned nationwide — import, sale and distribution.
  • Taking out archaeological objects is prohibited: 5–12 years in prison.
  • Medicines only with a document showing you need them; narcotics and psychotropic drugs are banned.
Sources (3)

Budget

prices ×1.6 vs Russia · price level 0.59 (US = 1), 2025

Prices are 1.6 times higher than in Russia. Mandatory: the federal tourist fee of 983 pesos in 2026, the Visitax in Cancún and Tulum of about 293 pesos, and Chichen Itza at 697 pesos.

The price level is the ratio of purchasing power parity for household consumption to the market exchange rate (World Bank). These are national averages: resorts and capitals cost more, the countryside less. Flights are not included.

Sources (5)