When taking a visit to Cancún, an absolute must is crossing off one of the seven Wonders of the New World from your bucket list and hopping on a bus to go experience the amazing Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza.
Click the video below to see the footage of my husband and I’s trip to Chichen Itza for our postponed honeymoon/1-year anniversary and keep reading to learn the tips to make it the best trip!
My husband and I booked the Chichen Itza Deluxe Bus Tour through Amstar on the resort’s website for $159 USD/person a few days prior to our trip. This excursion was said to include air-conditioned, deluxe bus transportation, a continental breakfast, a visit to the archaeological site, an authentic restaurant experience, a dip in the local Ik Kil cenote, and a pass through of the town of Valladolid. In total, the experience was estimated to last 11 hours, most of which would be spent driving.
We met in the hotel lobby at our pickup time of 8:20 AM where we waited until our bus arrived close to 9 AM. We started out on a smaller shuttle bus and drive for a little while where our real bus, a lime green tour bus, was waiting for us along the road near a GOmart gas station.
At first glance, my husband and I were relieved because it was much better, larger, and comfier than the little shuttle bus, but we noticed it still felt cramped. We settled in and quickly discovered the the bus did not have Wifi or outlets as the listing had promised. However, it did have AC so we were happy.
We began our approximate 3 and a half hour trek inland from the state of Quintana Roo into Yucatán (two of Mexico’s 32 states), where Chichen Itza is located.
Shortly into the trip, we were served a simple continental breakfast of coffee or orange juice, bananas or apples, and our choice of two breads/pastries from a big woven basket.
The ride to Chichen Itza is not one of sightseeing as it’s essentially very straight roads and forest the entire way. The only activity was a construction project alongside the road for a train that will transport tourists from Cancún to Chichen Itza in about an hour less than driving, with an expected completion date of 2023.
Although there wasn’t much to see, our tour guides, from the travel company Cancún Passion, kept us very busy with a mix of Spanish and English translations of information about the tour logistics and Chichen Itza history.
Upon arriving at Chichen Itza, we walked in to the entrance area where we were able to use the restroom and get our tickets. Although we didn’t stop at any, there are options for food and small shopping here if you need it.
As of our visit in July 2021, masks were still mandatory for entrance and were required to be worn throughout the visit per Yucatán state law. We were warned that Federal guards enforced this rule and witnessed it firsthand as someone from our tour tried to get through without one and was stopped. As with most places, masks were permitted to be removed/lowered for drinking and taking photos.
When walking into the ancient site, there are a slew of vendors selling local tourist items such as t-shirts, sculptures, and hammocks. We were warned that these vendors would be present and were recommended not to buy from them as they take away from the magic of the historical site, taunt with low prices that are not true, and sell cheaply made items.
Shortly into our tour we learned that the rumors are true. Yucatán state is HOT. According to my Apple Watch, it was 93 degrees as we were walking around taking in the sites. I definitely recommend staying hydrated and wearing sunscreen!
Chichen Itza is one of the seven wonders of the new world. It’s an archaeological site of ancient Mayan ruins. The main attraction is the Temple of Kukulcan, the temple of the feather serpent god, which stands tall at an impressive 85 ft and has a total of 365 steps on the pyramid. The Mayan century was 52 years (shorter than our 100). A fun fact is that inside of the Temple of Kukulcan is a smaller replica of the famous exterior. The Mayans would build on top of the existing temple to signify sort of a rebirth with the new century. Unfortunately, the temple has been closed to visitors from entering or climbing since 2006 due to vandalism, mistreatment, and accidents.
Chichen Itza boasts an extraordinary amount of features that leave no question why it’s one of the seven Wonders of the New World. At the front side of the Temple of Kukulcan, if you clap you hear the sounds of birds chirping back at you. During the summer and winter solstices, you will see the feathered serpent god’s shadow down the left side of the temple due to the positioning of the sun. On December 21, 2012, the end of the Mayan calendar and supposed end of the world, Chichen Itza had a record number of visitors.
Among the Temple of Kukulcan, there were smaller temples, a nunnery for the women, an observatory, and a sports field. We learned that the game was played with knees and elbows and featured seven players on each team. At the end of the game, the captain of the losing team would lose his head. The sports field had a similar feature to the Temple of Kukulcan where when you would stand under the ring (where you scored in the game) and clapped, the building would clap back at you seven times. It’s a wonder!!
The ruins were incredible to see and we even caught a glimpse of a few lizards. By the end, we were soooo hot and very hungry.
The restaurant was only 10 minutes away, which was the perfect time to allow us to chill for a second and cool off a bit. To get to the food, we walked through multiple rooms of stores but were told we would have time for shopping after.
The restaurant was authentic and nice and was outdoors but shaded by a large, straw roof. We were served buffet style where we had access to a selection of local staples including chilaquiles (one of my favorites), tacos, rice, beans, and sopa lima. At our tables, we were served rice water.
The food was DELICIOUS and had me going back for seconds. During dinner, we were entertained by a lady and a man doing a traditional dance while balancing bottles on their heads.
Afterwards, we walked through the shops and I purchased a small Mexican blanket, which I had been wanting to use in my yoga practice. It’s vibrant and traditional and only cost me $22 USD.
The ride to the Cenote was only 30 minutes and went quickly as we took a little siesta. Once there, we paid for life vests (mandatory) and a locker, changed our clothes, showered, and were off.
The Cenote is every bit as beautiful as I had imaged. In proper sinkhole fashion, the Cenote is accessed by winding stairs. My husband and I decided to jump in from the platform, which was very fun; however, there is also and option to walk down via more stairs. Just be careful, they are very slippery!!
The water is cool and refreshing and honestly made us both feel tremendously better after being in the heat all day. We swam, floated, and splashed around as much as we could in our life vests, and when it was time to go, we changed into our clothes and boarded the bus. It was during this time that we realized we had actually been sold what looks like a poncho (lol) as when we unfolded the blanket I purchased to stay warm we saw a huge hole in the center. #mems
Our activities ended with a rolling tour through the Pueblo (town) of Vallaloid, know for its shopping, where we got to see a taste of authentic Mexican culture. I wished sooo badly I could get out and explore, but I gazed out the window and snapped as many photos as I could instead. Below are some of my favorites:
It was honestly shocking to see how differently people live and I was trying my hardest to take in as much as possible from my glimpses inside the homes of the locals, the clothes handing on the line to dry, the motorcycles everywhere, and the differences in the mundane such as dentist offices and shops, through the window of the bus.
While I loved every second of the rolling tour and wished I had more time to explore, it’s impossible to not acknowledge the poverty and feel a mixed of privileged and blessed at the differences in the way I grew up and live in America.
Even tired after a long day that ended around 11 PM (14 hours), I 100% recommend taking as many excursions as you can and experiencing as much of the local culture as you safely can. Below are a few short tips that I’ll leave you with to make the most out of your Chichen Itza/Cenote tour.
Tips:
- Speak Spanish to the extent that you can. It really enhances your experience and the locals love it.
- Avoid the vendors at Chichen Itza. Instead, visit local shops afterwards where you can get better quality items.
- Pay in pesos. The exchange rate varies shop to shop and you get the best bang for your buck this way.
- Bring cash (again, pesos are best) to shop, pay for unexpected fees, and tip your your guides- they work really hard in hot weather to make sure you get the most out of your excursion.
- Plan your Photos. If going on a tour, planning what photos you want to take can be beneficial as you don’t have a ton of time and want to make sure you are spending time looking with your eyes as well. I recommend wearing sunglasses for your photos as we were definitely squinting in the ones without them!
- Plan ahead. Chichen Itza charges $50 pesos to use GoPros and selfie sticks not permitted so plan accordingly.
- Keep your devices charged and take tons of pics!! I’m all about the memories and cherish photos more than I could ever explain. It’s not everyday that you get to visit one of the seven wonders of the new world so take advantage of it!
- Take Sunscreen and wear it! As mentioned, it gets very hot and you are outside the entire visit.
- Stay hydrated. The part of Mexico that is home to Chichen Itza is notorious for being extremely hot. The heat plus sweat means you definitely need to prioritize drinking enough water.
- Check mask laws. This one goes without saying in this day and age, but is always worth the reminder so you know what to expect! In July 2021, we weren’t allowed entrance without one. Taking one is always the safest bet.
That’s all amigos! I hope my tips helped and you get to experience the beautiful Mexican state of Yucatán for yourself soon!
P.S. Have you ever been to Chichen Itza or are you planning a trip? Have you ever been to any of the other wonders of the world? Let me know your experience and which one I should visit next in the comments below!
