Ruinas Chichén-Itzá Travel Forum

Hi! Just wondering if its possible and how to get there by bus? We are planning on going to cancun, playa del carmen and Tulum so we could leave from which ever one is easier? If we stay at one of the hotels near the site...do most have shuttles or taxis to get to it? or should we stay at one right near..so we don not have to worry about it? any info would be great! thanks

Chichen Itza is on the main road from Cancun to Merida so there are many buses. It is a reasonable day trip but this would make it a challenge to see the night light show or see the ruins the very first thing in the morning before most of the visitors arrive. There are a good number of better hotels on the southside of the ruins (?) (ie. the side closest to Cancun and separated from the nearby town which is on the Merida side of the ruins.) The town is the most logical bus stop and has a number of hotels probably including a few more economic options. If your bus only stops in the town you can walk through the ruins to the south (?) side without paying an entrance fee, but you might want to take a taxi especially if you have a lot of luggage.

You can easily ride the bus from Cancun or even from Playa del Carmen, the price is reasonable and it will take about 3 hours. There is a highway that makes the trip fast if you end driving. You might need to find the bus terminal (Terminal de Autobuses), try to get a map, the one in Playa is very easy to find, it's just a few blocks from the tourist shopping street. You will probably need to ride a bus or a taxi to find the one in Cancun.

You can either decide if you want to go back the same day, you could do it if you leave Cancun or wherever you are early and ask in advance, the schedule of the bus that pass by chichen and goes to Cancun.

Walking Chichen takes about 3 hours, they open daily from 8:00 to 17:00 hrs, the light and sound show starts at 19.00 hrs. The entrance fee will be around $9 USD each person plus a fee for video cameras only (regular photography cameras are ok).

If you decide to see the night and sound show (i don´t remember if there is a an extra fee for it, but it does when you want to rent the headphones to understand the audio that is in spanish) you can stay and wait for it, also have lunch or read a book, they place has atm, a buffet (the food is not really the best, but it's in the visitor center, so.. ), they have restrooms and a gift shop. Also, you will see people selling curiosities. There is a ticket counter inside the giftshop, once you arrive, and you decide to go back to Cancun or PdC, ask the cashier there about the schedule.

Chichen is moreless walking distance to Piste, the nearest town, you will find a hotel right next to the entrance-exit of the place, and other sort of resort moreless walking distance from Chichen´s entrance, they are a good choice if it goes with your plan. There is another place called Paraiso Ikkil, that is on the highway very close from the Balakanche cave, another noticeable stop in Chichen, so, where to stay will run pretty much in your transportation.

If you want to consider and compare more prices, you can stay in Piste the closest town to Chichen, my husband and I stayed in the hotel at the entrance of the town (coming from Chichen to Piste (Pees-té (first ee as in bee,last e as in bell), it's a few miles from there, and had dinner in a restaurant on the road, most of the very few restaurants in piste close early. You wont miss that particular hotel because it looks very much decorated with mayan details and they advertise to have a small mayan pyramid, camping is allowed there as well. The room is around $60 USD and, in our case, was ok, clean and had two speacious beds plus a/c. It's ok considering so close from Chichen.

Another option is riding the bus again from Chichen and stay in Valladolid, you will need to ask in Chichen about how to ride the bus after the light and sound show, many of the employees live in Valladolid or Piste, so there should be a ride there, but don´t know what time.

Valladolid is about 30 minutes, 25 miles, maybe, by bus from Chichen, it´s a better size town and you will find a few more things to do, more restaurant options, specially those around the main park and more economic hotels, there is a hostel there as well.

Then, the only thing you will need to figure it out in Valladolid is where to ride the bus to Cancun or Playa, but I guess that is an easy task, since most of the restaurants or hotels will know where. That is a very common question for them.

About shuttle or taxis, I don´t exactly remember to have seen taxis around Chichen, that doesn´t mean there are not. You might need to ask at the entrance of the site or in the gift shop. I am guessing the only place with a shuttle van or small bus should be in the resorts. But, again, that is something you might need to ask. (i.e. mayaland offers tours and other services to Chichen - http://www.mayaland.com/tours.htm)

As a conclusion, you can easily explore Chichen, ride early the bus from Cancun or Playa, enjoy Chichen Itza, ask for the bus to go back to Cancun or to stay in the nearby towns or hotels, if so, wait to see the light and sound show, and explore the stuff to see and peacefully return to the Caribbean.

It's worth it. Have a happy trip!

Ehmm.. pstt.. one more.. you might want to bring sun block cream/lotion, a hat and mosquito repelent.. an energy bar or something to snack on and a bottle of water.

Buses to Chichen Itza are much more frequent from Cancun. You could get there from Tulum via Valladolid, but there are fewer buses and all would require a layover. Piste is the closest village to the site, but it is rather makeshift. Valladolid is much more pleasant and more real as a Maya city.

I suggest Cancun-Valladolid the day before you want to see Chichen. THEN head to the site to be on time for the 8 AM opening. You could leave your luggage at your hotel, even better yet in your room.