Aptly named ‘House of the Snake’s Jaws,’ this Maya site is best known for one remarkably well-preserved doorway with a hideous fanged visage. Located 11km west of Xpujil and 400m south of Hwy 186, Chicanná is a mixture of Chenes and Río Bec architectural styles buried in the jungle. The city attained its peak during the late Classic period, from AD 550 to 700, as a sort of elite suburb of Becán.
Beyond the admission pavilion, follow the rock paths through the jungle to Estructura XX , which boasts not one but two monster-mouth doorways, one above the other. The top structure is impressively flanked by rounded stacks of crook-nosed Chac masks.
A five-minute walk along the jungle path brings you to Estructura XI , with what remains of some of the earliest buildings. Continue along the main path about 120m northeast to reach the main plaza . Standing on the east side is Chicanná’s famous Estructura II, with its gigantic Chenes-style monster-mouth doorway, believed to depict the jaws of the god Itzamná – lord of the heavens and creator of all things. Note the painted glyphs to the right of the mask. A path leading from the right corner of Estructura II takes you to Estructura VI , which has a well-preserved roofcomb and some beautiful profile masks on its facade. Circle around back, noting the faded red-painted blocks of the west wing, then turn right to hike back to the main entrance.
