One thing you certainly can not miss when you are staying near Tulum or Cancun is visiting Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza, one of the most famous archaeological sites in Mexico, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Located in the Yucatán Peninsula, this ancient Mayan city flourished between the 9th and 12th centuries. The site is renowned for its stunning architecture, including the iconic El Castillo (Temple of Kukulcán), a massive step pyramid that dominates the central plaza.
Visitors can explore various structures, such as the Temple of the Warriors, the Great Ball Court, and the Sacred Cenote, a natural sinkhole that held significant religious importance. Chichen Itza offers a fascinating glimpse into the advanced civilization of the Maya, showcasing their astronomical knowledge, engineering prowess, and rich cultural heritage.
How to visit Chichen Itza?
Getting There:
No matter if you are staying in Tulum, Cancun or Playa del Carmen there are 3 options to get to Chichen Itza.
- Rent a car and drive on your own. Depending on which area you’re coming from it’s between a 2 hour and 2,5 hour journey. The drive is pretty easy, because all highways are in good condition and the route is well-marked.
- ADO buses offer a direct connection from Cancun or Playa del Carmen to Chichen Itza. The journey takes around 3 hours and operates daily. There is also a bus-connection from Tulum to Chichen Itza, which takes 2,5 hours.
- A popular way to explore Chichen Itza is by booking a guided tour. Those often come with transportation including hotel pick-up and drop-off.
Best Time to visit:
Chichen Itza can be quite crowded. If you visit the site on your own and are flexible with the time you’re going, try to avoid weekends. The best times to visit are early in the morning right after Chichen Itza opens at 8am or late in the afternoon on weekdays. At this time you avoid the heat and the crowds and can enjoy and explore the beautiful area.
How much does it cost to visit Chichen Itza?
The entry fee for foreigners is 37 USD and is charged at the entrance. The guided tours cost between 30 and 60 USD. These usually include hotel pick up and drop-off, transportation, a stop in Valladolid, a tour through chichen Itza with all the historical facts, lunch and a stop at Cenote Chichikan.
Booking a guided Chichen Itza Tour – Itinerary:
I booked my Chichen Itza tour through getyourguide including pick up from Tulum. I stayed in Tulum Beach so there was no direct hotel pick-up possible. A small shuttle picked me up at a bus station in Tulum at 5 am. We then drove around an hour to a meeting spot, where all the people from the small shuttles got on the bus to Valladolid.
We arrived in Valladolid at around 8am. A charming colonial town, where we had 30 minutes of freetime to explore the area, grab some food and take some pictures. We then headed to the main destination of the trip – Chichen Itza.
We gave our entrance fee to our guide upfront so they figured everything out with our tickets. Once we got in, we could choose if we wanted to explore the site ourselves or follow the guided tour. Doing the guided tour is great, because it offers you a glimpse into the advanced civilization of the Maya with information you’ve not known before. You have around 2,5 to 3 hours to explore this UNESCO World Heritage site. During that time you stop at El Castillo (Temple of Kukulcán), the Temple of the Warriors and the Great Ball Court.
After taking it all in and taking a fair share of pictures the journey continues. Next and final stop of the day is cenote Chichikan to have lunch and cool off in the cenote. After 2 hours it’s time to head back to your accommodation.
