Really interested in an adventure style vacation and thinking of flying into Cancun since it is cheap. Is this a good starting and finishing point? What are the best attractions?
I’ve heard Tulum is great, the seaside setting, etc. but I haven’t experienced it.
You definitely have to go to Chichen Itza though. Remarkable architecture, we took a guided tour, got the history, etc. and it was very interesting. Lots of historical/cultural significance there, with the observatory, ball game court, and El Castillo which shows their knowledge of celestial bodies… very interesting.
See the review I wrote on Chichen Itza I wrote for The Canadian Traveler below.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I’ve heard Tulum is great, the seaside setting, etc. but I haven’t experienced it.
You definitely have to go to Chichen Itza though. Remarkable architecture, we took a guided tour, got the history, etc. and it was very interesting. Lots of historical/cultural significance there, with the observatory, ball game court, and El Castillo which shows their knowledge of celestial bodies… very interesting.
See the review I wrote on Chichen Itza I wrote for The Canadian Traveler below.
References :
http://www.thecanadiantraveler.ca
http://thecanadiantraveler.ca/forum/viewforum.php?f=609
November 19th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Yes fly into Cancun and rent a car at the airport. Check Kayak to see prices or book it:
http://www.kayak.com/cars
Get pesos at an airport ATM or one downtown because toll booths and gas stations don’t take dollars. Click this map to see how many Maya ruins there are on the Yucatan peninsula:
http://www.travelyucatan.com/yucatan-peninsula-map.php
After you’ve gotten your pesos, you can drive to Valladolid. Here’s a few hotels there:
The next morning after breakfast, you can drive north to Ek Balam:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj6aYYQAuqk
Schedule two to three hours to see this site. In the afternoon, drive to Piste, the little town next to Chichen Itza. Here’s some hotels there:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g150808-Chichen_Itza_Yucatan_Peninsula-Hotels.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjOyi2IQKSI
If you plan to see the Sound and Light Show that night, take bug spray. Schedule four to six hours to see this site.
Then drive to Merida. Here are some hotels there:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g150811-Merida_Yucatan_Peninsula-Hotels.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuXyCi9o-og
From Merida, you can explore the Maya sites of Dzibilchaltun, Ake and Izamal.
On the next day, you can drive south to the Maya sites of Uxmal, Sayil and Labna:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuXyCi9o-og
Then return to Merida in the afternoon.
The next day drive back to Valladolid and get off the toll road (180 Cuota) and get on the free road (180 Libre) drive to the little town of Chemax; drive around the town square. At one of the corners, there’s a sign pointing to Coba.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKmDElHz68Q
From Coba, head to Tulum:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g150813-Tulum_Yucatan_Peninsula-Hotels.html
At Tulum, you can visit the Tulum ruins and snorkel at Xel-ha. From there, it’s a two hour drive back to the Cancun airport.
References :
November 19th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Chichen Itza i 2 hours from cancun. It is close to Merida Mexico. It is amazing. I would make an effort to visit chichen itza. Palenque is also another amazing mayan run to visit. It is located in Chiapas Mexico. There are some really cheap awesome places to stay the night at in palenque. You can buy a hammock for $5 american dollars and then sleep in it under a large tiki hut. Tulum is also a great place and is beautiful as it is located on the beach.
http://www.Mayanbeachgarden.com is a great website that lists tons of Mayan ruins in the Yucatan,
References :