Ruinas Chichén-Itzá Transportation

We have visited Chichen Itza twice, one by bus tour from Cancun and once by bus tour from Playa del Carmen. There are many ways to book these tours, I think the cheapest is to find a travel agency outside the hotel to book it.

Our hotel's activity desk in Playa del Carmen (December 2003) listed the bus tour as $75 US, we paid $42 US by booking through an agency in town.

It is about a 2 1/2 hour bus ride from Playa del Carmen to Chichen Itza, shorter or longer depending on how many hotels they have to stop at to pick up passengers.

i would highly suggest getting a rental car from cancun to chichen itza IF you plan to visit on your own and not on a tour. i wanted to drive there myself so i can take my time and have stopovers on the way (in Valladolid Nature Wells or Cenotes). rentals normally cost $80-$100 per day (inclusive of taxes and insurance). you can book rentals at your hotel.

make sure you understand the map to chichen itza. there are two highways to get there, the faster one gets you there in 3 hrs..the other (local) is an addl half to 1 hour with more sightseeing. the signs are a bit confusing so pay attention.

oh and GAS UP before you leave!!!

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The road to Chichen-itza from the Cancun area is really good, flat and straight (see pictures).

It is a paid highway. You enter it and in about half way between Cancun and Valladolid exit, right on the border between Yucatan and Quintana Roo there is a toll booth where you pay about $20. Next toll booth is right when you will exit to Chichen-itza and you will pay additional $5 (see our pictures).

Highway is very nice and clean, sometimes you can see some road kill bot nothing big. You will also see along it local people picking up the wood. But they are minding their own business and are aware of the fast moving cars and are not getting in a way.

The opposite line is divided from you with a small strip of jungle, so no worry about any head on collisions.

There is also one rest stop on the longer stretch and another rest stop and gas station on the shorter stretch. We used this gas station on our way back to fill up. REMEMBER ALWAYS TO FILL UP YOUR CAR AS THE GAS STATION ARE RARE IN MEXICO. NEVER GO BELOW HALF TANK!!!

Honestly I live in New York City area, I have travel by car in Crete, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Germany. Mexico is one of the nicest places I have driven in, comparable to Germany. Everybody stays to the right, if you need to pass you go to the left. No cutting off, no tailgating, no threatening other drivers like it happens around New York.

Do not think twice about renting car in Mexico, JUST RENT IT.

Take care if you are reaching Chichen Itza from Cancun, because there are so few buses who go there and only in 2 or 3 different schedules. If you can not catch them (usually early in the morning) go to Valladolid and from there takeanother bus to Cancun.Even the distance is very short, you will take more than 2 hours to arrive there then plane with time your arrival there.
In Cancun go to Bus satation (ADO) close to downtown,also from Merida you could arrive there.

If you are travelling from Cancun, then there are many buses leaving every hour. If you are staying at one of the major hotels, then there should be a trip arranged by the reps, as they was for us. This leaves early in the morning and comes back mid afternoon. The trip included a stop off on the way at a shop and then for lunch on the way back where we got to see traditional dancing done by local children.

If you are in Cancun or in Playa del Carmen you can take a taxi or rent a car. I went to Chichén Itzà with a package tour from the holiday village where I stayed. But I think it's better to get organized by yourselves, so you can choose where you want to go. For example, when you'll pass through Valladolid, you'll can go to visit the Dzitnup Cenote that must be a beautiful place. Unfortunately I couldn't visit it.

Chichen Itza is on the main highway 180 between Merida (2½ hrs away) and Cancun (1½ hours away) If you take the 'autopista' from either city and enter the village of Piste from the north. When you come to the old Highway 180 turn left and there are signs from there.

From Cancun: from the Cancun Bus Terminal in downtown, there are several 1st Class via ADO and then 2nd Class from Oriente (and others I believe). I took a 2nd Class bus on Oriente for 94$MX because it was the next available bus. The 2nd Class bus was fine, had air conditioner, although not as plush as the ADO 1st Class but it was still comfortable. The only downside was that it tended to stop for anyone along the route, going through a few small towns and essentially became the local bus. This can be good if you want to be dropped off at a hotel along the way or at the ruins entrance. It stopped in Valladolid for about 10 minutes before heading on to Piste.

To Valladolid: To get to Valladolid by bus, you can book an ADO bus from Piste or you can easily wave down an Oriente bus along the highway. I waited a few minutes outside my hotel (they told me about when the buses usually passed) and when I saw a bus coming down the highway, I simply stood up and held up my hand to hail (kind of like a taxi). I confirmed that it was going to Valladolid by asking the driver and then put my bags in the storage. Cost: 17$MX (really inexpensive). Collectivos and taxis go to Valladolid frequently or as arranged.