Chichen Itza

Yucatan Government Buys Chichen Itza

The archaeological site of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan state in Mexico draws tourists from around the world each year. Recently the Yucatan government made a big purchase, buying the 205 private acres of the Chichen Itza zone for $17.6 million. The land was owned by businessman Hans Jurgen Thies Barbachano. While the ruins of Chichen Itza are federal property the land under the monuments had been privately owned for hundreds of years. The transaction puts and end to years of bickering over the site.According to an article on American Egypt, the previous owner, Fernando Barbachano Gomez Rul (grandfather of the current owner) had to take the battle to court in the early 200s after the state began withholding money from the sale of tickets into the site. In 2004 the federal courts ruled that Chichen Itza was private property. There have been disputes over the rights to sell merchandise to tourists on the site and vendors had been asking the government to buy the land. The site is home to many beautiful Mayan buildings, some of which have been restored. Chichen Itza is a a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second-most visited of Mexico's archaeological sites. Chichen Itza's El Castillo was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World after a worldwide vote in 2007.

Tags: Chichen Itza, Mexico, yucatan

Custom Latin America Tours by Yampu

by Paul Rogers (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

As we were reminded during the presidential inauguration, the United States is still a young nation, especially compared with the ancient civilizations of Central and South America. Man-made wonders such as Machu Picchu and Chichen Itza provide fascinating glimpses into the pre-Columbian past, and Yampu Latin America Tours can guide you to these and other historic sites.

The experienced tour operator (formerly known as Kontiki) has mapped out several new itineraries for 2009. Its Three New Wonders of the World trip, a 14-day journey, features explorations of Chichen Itza, the former Mayan capital in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula; the Incan ruins at Machu Picchu (above) in Peru; and the Christ the Redeemer Statue that looms over Rio de Janeiro.

For those who travel for gastronomic pleasure, there's Yampu's Culinary Tour of Peru. The nine-day adventure includes visits to a remote potato-growing village in the Andes; the salt pans, or salineras, of Maras; and a private cooking lesson in novoandino, a fusion of Peruvian and international cuisine.

Tags: Chichen Itza, Christ the Redeemer, Machu Picchu, Mexico, Peru, rio de janeiro

Chichen Itza

Yucatan Government Buys Chichen Itza

Custom Latin America Tours by Yampu

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