With the new year the price of tickets to get into Chichen Itza has increased to 187 234 pesos for non-Mexicans.

The increase is five pesos over last year. Based on current exchange rates, this means citizens of the United States and Canada will be paying the equivalent of more than $14 $18.33 to enter the archaeological zone.

The Diario de Yucatan reports that Chichen Itza is being swarmed by visitors, more than 2,000 per day, and that lines getting into the archaeological zone are long. According to state officials one reason for the long lines is that the computer systems are old making the sale of each ticket take longer.

The light-and-sound show at Chichen Itza, which has been suspended for several weeks, will not return until an unspecified date in 2013, according to Jorge Esma Bazan, director of Yucatan’s Patronato Cultur.

The state agency, which shares management of Chichen Itza with federal agency INAH, announced that it is spending $25 million Mexican to produce a new show that will be created by French painter and video artist Xavier de Richemont. De Richemont recently produced a light show that is project on the new Museo de Maya Mundo (Museum of the Maya World) in Mérida, the capital city of Yucatan state. Photos of the museum opening accompany this article, and you can click here for a video of show.

The French artist plans to show visitors the culture of the Maya world by projecting on the pyramid pictures of gold, rain, and geometric patterns. The show would be projected twice each night and a separate fee will be charged to see it.

Last night Yucatan Governor Ivonne Ortega Pacheco was first in line to witness the opening of the Gran Museo del Mundo Maya de Mérida (Great Museum of the Maya), which she said would be one of her major legacies of her term in office, which ends this month.

The governor cut the ribbon and began a colorful pageant that included musical performance, dancing, light shows and, of course, speeches.

Over the past few weeks exhibits previously displayed or stored in the Museo de Antropologia y Historia (Museum of Anthropology and History) have been moved to the new museum, located on four kilometers north next to the city’s convention center.

The new museum which celebrates the Maya, both ancient and modern, will be free for the next 30 days.

Previously:

Governor Issues Address from New Maya Museum Today

How Will Yucatan Fill Two New Maya Museums?

Confirmed: Maya Museum in Merida Under Construction

Maya Museum to Open in Merida in June

Yucatan Signs Contract for Merida Maya Museum

Construction Begins on Museum Near Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza Museum, Bullet Train Stalled in Mexican Congress

Video Explains Concept Behind New Chichen Itza Museum

The evening light-and-sound show at Chichen Itza has yet to return after being suspended in August.

The Yucatan government which puts on the show has yet to say why it suspended the show in the first place, but others are talking. According to the Diario de Yucatan, the rumor is that restoration and cleaning work conducted by INAH, where some 90 men have been cleaning the great pyramid, El Castillo, is the reason the show has been stopped.

In February, the head of the state’s tourism program announced plans to change the program and said he would request $8.5 million Mexican in government funding to get it done.

The Diario reports that no-show light-and-sound show is angering tourists who believe they have paid for it in their admission fee.

No date has been set for resuming the show. Signs around the archaeological zone simply say, “hasta nuevo aviso” — until further notice.

As most of the world now knows, the Maya calendar runs out on December 21, 2012. A lot of people want to be at Chichen Itza when that happens.

Rob Rocheleau of Massachusetts has put together a tour of like-minded souls to travel to Yucatan and witness the changing of the calendar firsthand at Chichen and other archaeological sites in the region. I had dinner with Rob a few weeks ago, and he told me about his new business, Maya Sacred Adventures, and the upcoming 7-day tour of the land of the Maya during those critical dates.

As you may know from reading this blog, I don’t give much credence to what I consider the New Age interpretations of the ancient Maya, and Rob, in my mind, is of that tribe. That said, his view of Maya cosmology and prophecy is based on studies he has conducted, not with gringos, but with several Maya elders, such as the late Chan K’in in Chiapas, Alejandro Cirilo Perez Oxlaj of the Kiche Maya in Guatemala, and Hunbatz Men in Yucatan. These men are (or were) well known for sharing and explaining Maya culture to Western audiences.

Whether you are a believer or not, Rob’s tour has one important resource you might want to consider — hotel rooms, which are scarce as hen’s teeth for Dec. 21. He’s reserved a slate of rooms in Izamal, a great location that will be central to all the important sites. Furthermore, he’s put together a great itinerary:

- Dec. 17: Arrive at Cancun International Airport for transport to hotel at Izamal.

- Dec. 18: Attend a morning lecture on Maya Calender Systems, then in the afternoon visit the ancient Maya city of Dzibilchaltun, north of Merida. Have dinner in Merida.

- Dec. 19: Travel to and tour Uxmal.

- Dec. 20: Attend a morning lecture about Chichen Itza. The afternoon is open to explore Izamal.

- Dec. 21: The last day of the Maya calendar. Spend the day at Chichen Itza.

- Dec. 22: Return to Chichen Itza?.

- Dec. 23: Attend a closing ceremony, then depart for the airport.??

There are a few slots available for the tour. For more information about Rob and his Maya Sacred Adventures Tour, visit his website HERE.

As Yucatan Governor Ivonne Ortega Pacheco prepares to leave office, she will mount the steps of the still-under-construction Museo del Mundo Maya (Museum of the Maya World) in the capital city of Merida and make one last speech.

The museum, a massive structure that will house many of the region’s ancient Maya artifacts as well as an IMAX theater and other attractions, will not be open. Like other construction projects, it is behind schedule. Originally projected to open in June, some parts of the complex will be opened to the public Sept. 24, according to government officials.

Critics of the governor say she leaves the state in tremendous debt, one group estimating the encumbrance at almost $7 billion Mexican (approximately one-half billion U.S. dollars). That debt includes the construction and maintenance costs of the new museum and the purchase of the main archaeological zone at Chichen Itza. Tonight Governor Ortega Pacheco will get to tell her side of the state’s financial picture, presumably for the final time.

Rumors have run rampant in Yucatan that the museum will never be finished. However, a few days ago the governor visited the other Maya museum in Merida, Museo de Antropologia y Historia, situated on Merida’s version of the Champs Élysées, Paseo de Montejo, to personally select pieces for the new museum.

Work has begun at the original museum to prepare many of its Maya artifacts for shipping a few kilometers north to the new museum, reports the Diario de Yucatan. Some 800 pieces will be transferred.

While it appears the Museo de Mundo Maya will open as promised, there has been little said about the state of Yucatan’s other museum under construction, the Palacio de la Civilizacion Maya in Yaxcaba, a few miles from Chichen Itza. Rumors continue to swirl that it will never receive a visitor. Last spring the governor took the press and other visitors on tour of the museum as it was under construction, but save for that brief visit, the site has been closed to press and other visitors.

Previously:

How Will Yucatan Fill Two New Maya Museums?

Confirmed: Maya Museum in Merida Under Construction

Maya Museum to Open in Merida in June

Yucatan Signs Contract for Merida Maya Museum

Construction Begins on Museum Near Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza Museum, Bullet Train Stalled in Mexican Congress

Video Explains Concept Behind New Chichen Itza Museum

The light-and-sound show at Chichen Itza reportedly has been suspended until further notice.

According to the poster “Pennsy-Al” on the expatriate web forum Yolisto, the notice of the cancellation appeared in an advertisement published in the Merida edition of Milenio, a Mexican newspaper.

The suspension reportedly begins Monday.

Last week tourism ministers from 20 nations gathered at Chichen to take in the famous archaeological city and hold a working lunch at the Hacienda Chichen.

Belisa Barbachano, who runs the Hacienda Chichen, dropped me a quick note about the meeting. “Mexico’s Secretary of tourism, Gloria Guevara, and the leaders of the T20 Ministers of Tourism were joined by a number of international travel organization heads to enjoy a gala lunch at Hacienda Chichen Resort while visiting Chichen Itza for the official T20 photograph with the Castillo as a background (it was raining but the group was able to go visit the site briefly for this special official photo).

The ministers and other VIPs were welcome by Mrs. Guevara at the hacienda with our delicious organic chaya cocktail. A few minutes later she left the T20 and WTO guests for to give her press speech (held at Mayaland leaving all the T20 Ministers and guests at the hacienda to enjoy their cocktail time awaiting her return). Before leaving, Mrs. Guevara introduced me to His Royal Highness Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz, President of SCTA, who found the Hacienda Chichen enchanting and was truly interested to know more about us. I was very pleased with his kind interest and lovely comments, as with other T20 guests and members we found an open display of interest to learn more about the Hacienda Chichen past and present, also about our commitment to responsible tourism, green living.

“The gala lunch was served after Mrs. Guevara’s return from her press meeting. Tables were elegantly dressed with cream and chartreuse linen tablecloths and decorated with handmade Mayan ceramic charters and sculptures, absolutely lovely. Lush fresh Plumeria (flor de mayo) flower arrangements added a heavenly fragrance to the delight of all of us. The Main Casa looked magical. Bibiano and his sons’ guitar melodies added the final touch of joy to the ambiance.

“We requested our own guests to kindly allow us to serve them outside during this event, and I am pleased to say that all of them were most happy to support us — thank God as it turned out that all the delegates also came with the VIP guests.

“Chef Josue Cime and his staff created a perfect culinary feast for these important guests. After a variety of Yucatecan traditional appetizers, the meal started with a chilled cucumber cream, follow by aged beef filet mignon served with a Mayan peppers sauce (Nohoch Pol, Yax Pol, y X’ Max-ulam or piper auritum) and steamed asparagus. To vegetarian guests we served our organic pasta primavera. Dessert was an organic, freshly made mango sorbet. All was elegantly presented by Chef Cime who truly knows how to melt your heart with his culinary gift.

“The rain did not allow these guests to walk around the gardens to enjoy the hotel’s grounds, but as you remember the main house has a special energy and the views of the garden are lovely from its terraces. The program was running late so as soon as the rain let up the group was taken to the Castillo temple to take the official photo and run to Kahua airport as they had a dinner and conference with President Calderon at the Riviera Maya.”

A model of Chichen Itza’s main pyramid, the Temple of Kukulcan, is the world’s largest piece of chocolate candy.

Qzina Specialty Foods has broken the world record for largest chocolate sculpture with the model. The Irvine, California company built a 1/30 scale reproduction of the pyramid that weighs more than 1,800 pounds. The sculpture will be destroyed (does that mean eaten?) when the Maya calendar runs out on Dec. 21, 2012.

See the company’s story on how it accomplished this feat HERE. More photos can be found HERE.

For the past week the public bathrooms at Chichen Itza have been out of order.

A lightning strike last week burned out the pump that ran water to the restrooms. As of Wednesday the pump had not been repaired. That’s when the story hit the newspapers, which usually gets action. There have been no subsequent reports that the problem has been fixed.

If you are going to Chichen over the next few days, take precautions — just in case.