There is no single admission price at Chichén Itzá. What you pay in 2026 depends on your nationality and residency status, and a long list of visitors pay nothing at all. Here is the full picture, including which exemptions apply to you as an international visitor — and which do not.
Figures current as of July 2026. They changed twice this year, so confirm before you travel.
Why your ticket is really two fees
Admission to Chichén Itzá combines two separate charges from two different authorities:
- INAH fee (federal): $105 MXN, under Mexico's Federal Duties Law. This is the same for everyone, Mexican or foreign.
- AAFY fee (State of Yucatán): $205 MXN for Mexican nationals, $592 MXN for foreign visitors, under the State of Yucatán's Treasury Law.
So the price gap between nationals and foreigners does not come from the federal site fee — it comes from the state charge. Worth knowing if you've read complaints online about "tourist pricing" at the site.
For years this meant two queues and two receipts. Since 27 April 2026, the Boleto Único (Single Ticket) merges both into one payment point. Both fees still exist; you simply pay them together now.
The rates
| Visitor | Total | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign visitors | $697 MXN | $105 INAH + $592 AAFY |
| Mexican nationals & foreign residents of Mexico | $310 MXN | $105 INAH + $205 AAFY |
| Yucatán residents | Free | All year |
At roughly 18 pesos to the dollar, $697 MXN is about US$39 per adult. Budget for it: this is the standard international rate and it applies every day of the week.
Free admission — and who actually qualifies
This is where most international visitors get the wrong idea, so let's be precise.
Sundays
INAH policy across all 194 archaeological zones in Mexico: Sunday admission is free for Mexican nationals and foreign residents of Mexico, with official ID or proof of residency.
If you are a tourist without Mexican residency, this does not include you. You pay the full $697 on Sundays like any other day.
And there's a sting in the tail: because of that exemption, Sunday is the busiest day of the week at the site. For an international visitor it is the worst possible combination — full price, maximum crowd. If your itinerary has any flexibility, choose a weekday.
Weekday exemptions
INAH also waives admission on any day of the week for the following groups — but note the condition: they must be Mexican nationals or foreign residents of Mexico.
- Children under 13
- Students and teachers with a valid credential
- Adults over 60 with an INAPAM card
- Retirees and pensioners
- People with disabilities
- Researchers authorised by INAH
- Members of Indigenous communities from neighbouring municipalities
- Tour guides accredited by Mexico's federal Ministry of Tourism
So a student card from your home university will not get you in free — the exemption is tied to residency, not to being a student. If you do hold Mexican residency, bring the physical documentation: a valid credential, not a photo of one.
Yucatán residents
Under Decree 144/2025, residents of Yucatán state enter free any day of the year, proving residency with a valid INE voter card or state driver's licence. The same applies at Uxmal, Ek Balam and the Balankanché caves through 31 December 2026.
Hours and entry
The archaeological zone is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and entry is exclusively through the Visitor Service Center (CATVI). Older guidance about alternative entrances no longer applies. Note that 4:00 p.m. closing: this is a day trip you start early, not one you fit in after lunch.
Costs that are not included
- Parking (as of 30 April 2026): cars and vans $124 MXN; sprinter vans $150; buses and minibuses $199.
- "Noches de Kukulkán" evening light show: $433 MXN for Mexicans and foreigners alike, waived for Mexican nationals on Sundays only.
If you're visiting on a tour
On an organised excursion the operator handles entry and you skip the ticket queue. Two things still fall to you:
- Bring your passport or residency card. If you hold Mexican residency and want the lower rate, only your own document proves it.
- Confirm whether entrance fees are included. Ask explicitly — at $697 per adult, this is the single largest variable in what a Chichén Itzá tour actually costs you, and the most common source of surprises at the gate.
Before you leave Cancún
Chichén Itzá is about a three-hour drive from the hotel zone and closes at 4:00 p.m., so it's an early start. Bring ID, water, sunscreen, comfortable shoes and a hat — there is very little shade on site.
Rates changed twice in 2026. If you want today's figure and today's rules, message us on WhatsApp: we run this route every week and we know exactly what's being charged and which credentials are being accepted at the gate.
