El Castillo

During the spring and autumn equinoxes, the late afternoon sun casts a series of undulating shadows against the northwest corner of El Castillo. This creates a stunning visual illusion of a massive feathered serpent deity slithering down the pyramid's balustrade.

El Castillo is the massive step pyramid towering over the center of the ancient Maya city of Chichen Itza, located in the Yucatan state of Mexico. It was constructed by the Maya civilization during the Terminal Classic period.

The pyramid features exactly 365 steps—91 on each of its four sides, plus a final step at the top platform. This precise architectural design effectively serves as a giant calendar representing the days of the solar year.

Climbing the steps of El Castillo has been strictly prohibited to the public since 2006. The ban was instituted by Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History to preserve the fragile structure and prevent injuries to tourists.