Great Ballcourt of Chichen Itza

For anyone who absolutely adores the Road To El Dorado movie like I do, you’ll be ecstatic to hear that the game Miguel and Tulio play in El Dorado is 100% real! Well … minus Bibo, the armadillo god.

This was an incredibly popular game with the Maya, and they built a court for it in every city. Some of them have sloping walls to make it easier, but Chichen Itza has nearly completely vertical walls, decorated at the bottom with carvings of sacrificial offerings; the captain’s head. Whether or not it’s that of the winning or losing team is up for debate. Below you can see the sacred serpent, inlaid into the wall of the ballcourt.

The accoustics are amazing in this ballcourt as well, you can hear someone talking from across the length of the pitch. Can you imagine what a heated match must have been like? This game was essentially basketball crossed with soccer but without the use of hands, feet, or head. The players used their shins, elbows, and shoulders to get the ball through tiny hoops at the top of the walls.

The game is still played by some nations today, and so if you’re planning a visit to Mexico it might be worth looking into seeing a match! Certainly if you’re going to see the ballcourt or the pyramid of chicken itza, it’s worth seeing the other. Bring good walking shoes, and several water bottles. Mexico’s jungles are hot and you’ll need to replenish your water levels fast. You might also bring a small bag of chips to replenish your salt levels. You’ll also want to book this site as part of a tour, especially if you speak no spanish, and above all, watch out for sink holes! They are very common in Mexico, and have been used since time in memoriam as a water source for it’s local people. Don’t fall in!