Spring Equinox at Dzibilchaltun

March 21 at 5 AM is the official day and exact time of the height of the spring equinox. This also marks the time that the sun sends its beams through the Temple of the Seven Dolls at Dzibilchaltun.

The Mayan city of Dzibilchaltun is located 20 kilometers north of Merida. This archeological site doesn't have the giant pyramids of the better known sites of Chichen Itza and Uxmal, but is does have its own special claims to fame. These include the placement of monuments that take advantage of the equinoxes and solstices, the beautiful "museum of the village" Museo del Pueblo, the refreshing cenote where you can take a swim and the Franciscan chapel building at the entrance that blends in with the ruins.

Dzibilchaltun whose name in Mayan means "the place where there is writing on the flat stones" is known for having the longest history of unbroken occupation of any Mayan site, from over 2,000 years ago to shortly before the Spanish Conquest of the Yucatan. It is believed that up to 20,000 people lived here around the year 800 AD.

On March 21 you can witness the incredible accuracy of Mayan astronomy as it was integrated into architecture. The Mayans planned their lives around the sun; their daily lives centered around the sowing and harvesting of their crops. At the spring equinox they planted the crops, and the fall equinox was their signal to begin the harvest. The Mayan built complex structures using advanced geometry and astronomy to map the cycles of the sun.

During the spring equinox, the sun rises early, and so must you if you want to see the "event". When the sun comes over the horizon, its beams shine directly through

Above: The sun shining through the Temple of the Seven Dolls at Dzibilchaltun.

the opening in the Temple of the Seven Dolls, providing a lovely spectable of Mayan exactitude. The equinox 'event' at Chichen Itza is at sunset, so you can actually see both in one day.

This is an event of international importance, so do keep this in mind as you will have to deal with parking, walking and many people. This is a sacred time for many, so please be respectful of those who are meditating and the Mayan who are doing their ceremonies.

While the equinox phenomenon can actually be viewed in Chichen Itza for three days, in Dzibilchatun, it can only be seen on the exact day - March 21 at sunrise.

How to get there: if you have a car, head north on the Merida to Progreso highway, about 10 miles, then turn right at the sign to Dzibilchaltun and travel another 3 miles to the site. For more information on Dzibilchaltun, see our page in the Destinations section.

To read in Spanish click here